Simply Watercolor 2026

PLEASE READ FULL PROSPECTUS FOR ACCEPTABLE MEDIUMS AND SURFACES

RIWS Presents: Simply Watercolor
$1000 in cash prizes!
1-3 WATERMEDIA ENTRIES ONLY (Watercolor ONLY; see full description for more information)

Juror: Iain Stewart, AWS, NWS stewartwatercolors.com
Deadline for Entry: October 16th
Drop Off/Delivery: October 22nd - November 12th, Thursday & Friday 10am-4pm & Saturday 10am-3pm
Accepted Entries Notified: October 22rd
Exhibition Dates: November 14th - December 11th
Show Opening: Saturday, November 21st at 1pm
Pickup Date: December 11th
Return Shipping: December 11th - January 11th

PLEASE READ FULL PROSPECTUS FOR ACCEPTABLE MEDIUMS AND SURFACES

RIWS Presents: Simply Watercolor
$1000 in cash prizes!
1-3 WATERMEDIA ENTRIES ONLY (Watercolor ONLY; see full description for more information)

Juror: Iain Stewart AWS, NWS stewartwatercolors.com
Deadline for Entry: October 16th
Drop Off/Delivery: October 22nd - November 12th, Thursday & Friday 10am-4pm & Saturday 10am-3pm
Accepted Entries Notified: October 22nd
Exhibition Dates: November 14th - December 11th
Show Opening: Saturday, November 21st at 1pm
Pickup Date: December 11th
Return Shipping: December 11th - January 11th

Theme: Celebrate the beauty of watercolors with RIWS! All pieces must be painted in watercolor on paper (see prospectus for more details). There is no particular theme for subject matter, just submit watercolor pieces that you love! 

ELIGIBILITY (PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING):

Open to all artists in the United Sates

This show will take place physically in our gallery in Pawtucket and online. Only submit work you are willing to drop off or ship to us!

Work must have been completed within the last 10 years.
Work may not be copied from copywritten material.
No work partially or wholly painted by another.
Work may not have been created in a class or workshop under a teacher’s supervision. 
All entries must be original paintings created from the artist’s own reference material—works based on others’ photos, artwork, or other images are not eligible. 
Work must not have been exhibited in a previous Rhode Island Watercolor Society juried show. 
Work must be the same work represented by the submitted digital images. No altered digital images may be submitted.
Work must be the size represented in the submission form.
Work may be listed as NFS (not for sale) by putting the number 0 in the price section of the painting.
Artwork should be well represented by any digital image submitted.
Work must not exceed 48 inches on its longest side (including frame).
Pieces should not be smaller than 5 inches on the shortest side (excluding frame).
 

Media and Mediums

Surfaces

Acceptable surfaces: Watercolor paper; toned watercolor paper; Yupo and similar synthetic papers; paper coated with water‐based varnish and gesso; canvas paper, textured paper; illustration board; watercolor board; rice paper

Unacceptable surfaces: Composite paper with embedded materials; wood or composite panels; gallery wrapped or stretched canvas; Duralar; Aquaboard, Clayboard or other coated wood or composite panel; unmounted canvas or other fabrics; Tyvec; metal; glass

Acceptable mediums: Watercolor; gouache; watercolor mediums

Acceptable media up to 20%: water-based ink; watercolor pencils; water-based iridescent paints or powders (not glitter)

Unacceptable media: Acrylics, casein, egg tempera, pastels; colored pencil other than watercolor pencil; fabrics; digital media or digitally enhanced images; multiple edition prints; sand; glitter; gold or metal leaf; collage of any kind; oil paints; water‐miscible oil paints; photography; reproductions; 3D media

Exhibition History
Work must not have been exhibited in a previous Rhode Island Watercolor Society juried show. 

Framing and Presentation:
Work MUST be framed under glass or Plexiglass.
Work larger than 36" must be framed with Plexiglass. 
Frames may not be wider than 1.5 inches.
Varnished pieces without glass are NOT acceptable.
Work must be presented in a professional manner. 
No broken or damaged frames.
Work may be floated within the frame, or presented with a single or double mat.
White or off white mats are preferred, but liner mats less than 3/8" may be colored. Entirely colored mats are acceptable only if they are integral in the completion of the artwork.
MUST BE WIRED!!!! with no wire or hanger showing when hung. No tooth hangers. 

$25 for non-members, $20 for members. Checks may be made out to "Rhode Island Watercolor Society".
MEMBERS ONLY: Use code riwsmember in the white box below both your first entry and additional entry/entries on the checkout page.

Shipping:
Please send shipments to the following address:
Rhode Island Watercolor Society
831 Armistice Blvd.
Pawtucket, RI 02861
Please include a pre-paid return label in the box with your painting and send the tracking number to riwsgallery@gmail.com with the subject line "Simply Watercolor Tracking"

To become a member: please visit our website at riws.org or send us an email at riwsgallery@gmail.com, we're happy to answer all inquiries about our membership!

The Rhode Island Watercolor Society reserves the right to exclude from the exhibition any works that do not arrive in sturdy condition, or are deemed too fragile to be successfully exhibited. Work that has not been suitably prepared will be hung at the discretion of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society. Please submit only work that will be available at the time of the exhibition and will remain for its entirety. No accepted entry may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition. Prices for artwork indicated at the time of submission may not be re-negotiated at a later date. Submitted pieces may be used as promotional material by RIWS. No accepted entry may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition. Information on work(s) (including title and price) may not be changed after submission. If the work is sold, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society will receive 35% of the sale.

Submit 1-3 images, $20 each for non-members, $15 each for members (members use provided coupon code for discount)

Open to all artists in the United States

Open to watercolor only (please read full prospectus for details)