National Watercolor Society 2027 Member Exhibition: $10,000 in CASH Awards

National Watercolor Society (NWS) 2027 Member Exhibition is open to all Active NWS Members. This is an ONLINE Virtual Exhibition. $10,000 in CASH AWARDS to honor our NWS Past Presidents. Two (2) $2,000, Two (2) 1,000, Four (4) $500, Four (4) $300, Four (4) $200 and one (1) ScholArtship Award. 

Click HERE for Prospectus 

Exhibition Dates:
Jan 1-Feb 19, 2027     Entries accepted at www.callforentry.org
February 19, 2027       Entry deadline - 11:59 pm, Mountain Time Zone
March 17, 2027           List of Accepted Artists posted to NWS website
May 1-June 30, 2027  Exhibition Dates

JUROR of Selection and Awards:  John Salminen, NWS-GM, AWS-DF, TWSA-DM

National Watercolor Society (NWS) 2027 Member Exhibition is open to all Active NWS Members. This is an ONLINE Virtual Exhibition. $10,000 in CASH AWARDS to honor our NWS Past Presidents. Two (2) $2,000, Two (2) 1,000, Four (4) $500, Four (4) $300, Four (4) $200 and one (1) ScholArtship Award. 

Click HERE for Prospectus 

Exhibition Dates:
Jan 1-Feb 19, 2027     Entries accepted at www.callforentry.org
February 19, 2027       Entry deadline - 11:59 pm, Mountain Time Zone
March 17, 2027           List of Accepted Artists posted to NWS website
May 1-June 30, 2027  Exhibition Dates

JUROR of Selection and Awards:  John Salminen, NWS-GM, AWS-DF, TWSA-DM

John Salminen, NWS Gold Master Signature member, earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in art from the University of Minnesota.

John is a signature member of numerous art societies in the United States, including: the American Watercolor Society-Dolphin Fellow and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America-Distinguished Master. John has won more than 250 awards in national and international exhibitions, including the NWS Purchase award twice and AWS Gold Medal twice, and the TWSA first place award three times. He has had 34 one-person exhibitions in the United States.

John has served on the TWSA and AWS boards. He was President of the International Masters of Watercolour Association centered in Shanghai China and Australia. Among other awards, John has received the Shanghai Biennial Award, the Pakistan Lifetime Achievement Award and the Thailand Ministry of Culture and the Arts award.

John’s work is included in permanent collections in Asia and Europe as well as in numerous private and corporate collections around the world.

John has served as a juror and/or judge of over 90 national and international exhibitions.
Website for John Salminen

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS:

1. Open to all Active NWS Members – Your 2027 NWS Membership Annual Dues must be paid prior to entry. If you are not currently a member, please join as an Associate Member by going to the NWS website: www.nationalwatercolorsociety.org
2. Artists must be 18 years or older.
3. Artists may enter two (2) paintings; only 1 painting per artist is eligible for acceptance into the exhibition.
4. Paintings must NOT have received an award in any national or international exhibition nor previously been accepted in any NWS Exhibition. A repainting of such a painting from the same source material is also not eligible. 
5. Paintings must be watermedia painted on natural or synthetic paper - Yupo, Aquabord, and Claybord. Stretched canvas or canvas boards are not permitted. Collage elements may be incorporated, but they must not exceed 20% of the overall composition or the substrate/painting surface. At least 80% or more must be painted with aqueous mediums. All collage materials must be original designs created by the artist on watermedia paper.
6. Digital media, photography, prints, and reproductions are not permitted.
7. ORIGINALITY, SOURCE MATERIAL, AI: Artwork must be the artist’s original concept and work, created entirely without the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI-generated or AI-assisted imagery, compositions, elements, or enhancements are not permitted at any stage of its development. The artist must be solely responsible for the concept, composition, design, and execution of the artwork. Artwork may not be copied or derived from published, copyrighted, or third-party images.  All photographic reference material must be the artist’s own original photography. Purchased, licensed, authorized, or vintage photographs may not be used, even with permission or paid rights. Artwork created by a student in a class or workshop is not eligible. 
8. 2D Artwork image size: NO minimum or maximum size for this online-virtual exhibition.
9. Artist Responsibility. By submitting artwork, the artist represents that the work is original, complies with all Prospectus requirements, and that the artist has all rights necessary to exhibit and sell the work. The artist is solely responsible for obtaining and retaining any required permissions or releases and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the National Watercolor Society (NWS) from any claims arising from the artwork or its exhibition or sale. 

FEES, SALES & LIABILITY:

• Entry fee is $45 for 1 image / $55 for 2 images (All entry fees are non-refundable without exception and will be considered a donation to NWS).  
• All paintings will be considered for sale at the price established by the artist unless marked $0 or NFS (Not for Sale). Once submitted, prices may not be changed or withdrawn. Accepted painting marked for sale may NOT be offered for sale in any other venue (physical or virtual) during the period of February 19 - June 30, 2027.
• NWS is responsible for all sales and will retain a 30% commission for exhibition sales. Also, NWS is due a 30% commission on “presold” paintings - those sold before the exhibition opens.
• Permission is granted to reproduce the painting in promotion of the exhibition and to use this image for educational and publicity purposes.
• This exhibition does not qualify for NWS Signature status.
• Attention International Artists: NWS wants to make sure you receive all proceeds, including awards. NWS will provide all documents and tax forms necessary.
• Monetary awards remaining unclaimed by 12/1/2027 will be forfeited.

Must be an active member of the National Watercolor Society. 

If you are not currently a member you may join as an Associate Member by going to the NWS website: www.nationalwatercolorsociety.org 

AGREEMENT / CONDITIONS & RULES:

Failure to meet ANY of the conditions may result in the disqualification of your entry and may result in ineligibility to enter any future NWS exhibitions for a minimum of two (2) years and forfeiting any awards.

1. Submission to this exhibition shall constitute an Agreement on the part of the artist to comply with the conditions set forth in this Prospectus. 

2.  If my artwork is selected and it does not meet eligibility requirements set forth in the Prospectus, I will be disqualified. Accepted entries may not be withdrawn by the artist.

For general questions about the exhibition and/or entry, contact: Exhibition@NationalWatercolorSociety.org    

Please submit early, so we can assist you with any technical issues that may arise in the entry process. If you need entry assistance, please contact us before you enter or in advance of the last week.