The 63nd Annual SWS Membership Exhibition Prospectus will be Available May 1st!
SWS is one of the premier regional watercolor societies in the United States. Watercolor painters from all over the country enter the competition for the opportunity to share their work and be selected for one of the coveted monetary awards. The call for entries for the exhibition will run from May 1 to June 30 as it does every year. We are reminding artists to get those paintings ready. It is important that you consult the prospectus (available on May 1st) to make sure your paintings conform to the guidelines that are provided.
This year’s exhibition is judged by acclaimed watercolor painter, Stephen Zhang, https://www.stephenzhangart.com/. Mr. Zhang will choose around eighty paintings to exhibit.
Here is the exhibition schedule:
Prospectus Published: Thursday, May 1, 2026
Registration Closes: Monday, June 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
Preview Party: Friday, July 19, 2026, 12:30 -2:30 p.m.
(Pritchard Hall at Brentwood Trail Presbyterian Church)
Acceptances Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Shipped Art Due: From August 17 – August 21, 2026
(No early or late arrivals please!)
Paintings Drop-Off: Saturday, August 29, 2026, 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Exhibition Opens: Friday, September 11, 2026
Awards Judging: Thursday, September 3, 2026
Awards Reception: Friday, September 11, 2026, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Exhibition Closes: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Art Pick-Up: Saturday, October 3, , 2026, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Shipped Art Mailed: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
The high quality of the artwork that is shown in our exhibitions is the result of the caliber of artists we attract to enter. Artists can enter three works, but the juror will only select one piece by any submitting artist. That results in a highly diverse show that shows the range of painting styles and subject matter that is seen in contemporary watercolor. To view the award winners from 2024, click this link, 2024 Exhibition Award Winners.
The prospectus will be published on this page on May 1, 2026.