Online Entries Open: December 1, 8:00 AM
Online Entries Close: February 1, 8:00 PM
How to Enter
- Go to https://watercolorsocietyoforegon.com, click Exhibitions. On the drop-down menu, select “Guide to Entering a WSO Show.”
- RESIZE your image to 1200 pixels on the longest side. The WSO website has a guide to resizing images at https://watercolorsocietyoforegon.com/exhibitions/how-to-resize-images/ .
- RENAME your image as follows (example) SmithMary-GoneWithTheWind.jpg
- Note: No special characters can be used in the file name when submitting the images.
- Submit entries on the WSO website at https://watercolorsocietyoforegon.com/exhibitions/submit_artwork/ .
- Additional information can be found in Policy X, A-F on the WSO website.
Submission Requirements for Fall Exhibitions
- Exhibitions shall consist of no more than eighty (80) paintings, selected by a national juror chosen by the Board.
- Only Lifetime and Active Members, current in their dues and residing in the State of Oregon, may submit to WSO juried exhibitions. To renew your membership, go to: https://watercolorsocietyoforegon.com/membership/
- Each selected painting shall be by a different WSO Member.
- Any painting which has been previously accepted and hung in a WSO exhibition is not admissible.
- A maximum of two (2) images may be submitted.
- Images must be in jpg format with the greatest dimension sized at 1200 pixels.
- Images must be named as follows (example): SmithMary-GoneWithTheWind.jpg
- Work shall be completed within two (2) years of the submission deadline.
- Work may be critiqued by a teacher and/or critique group and must have been executed without step-by-step instruction.
- All work must be original in its concept, composition and design, and must be the creation of the artist. Original means “Created directly and personally by a particular artist; not a copy or imitation.”
- Artwork may not be altered once the image is submitted, except for the addition of the artist’s signature.
- All paintings accepted by the juror must be made available and delivered to the Convention Exhibition. Artists who do not make an accepted painting available for the exhibition will not be allowed to enter WSO exhibitions for two (2) years.
Substrates
Acceptable substrates are any archival, 2 or 3-dimensional board, cradle board panel, paper or canvas, natural or synthetic, as explained further below.
- 3-Dimensional Canvas
- Any archival gallery wrapped, water media or regular canvas is admissible.
- All exposed edges must be finished with paint, with no staples or other hardware visible.
- A waterproof coating or protective sealant is required.
- Depth must be 2 inches or less.
- Minimum area, including the frame, is 256 square inches.
- Maximum area, including the frame, is 1,200 square inches.
- 3-Dimensional Cradle Board Panel
- Paintings painted on paper and adhered to a cradle board panel are admissible.
- Paint applied directly to the surface of the cradle board panel is also acceptable.
- All edges must be finished with paint or varnish, with no adhesive, loose paper, staples or other hardware visible.
- A waterproof coating or protective sealant is required.
- Depth must be 2 inches or less.
- Minimum area is 256 square inches.
- Maximum area is 1,200 square inches.
- 2-Dimensional Substrates
- Acceptable 2-dimensional substrates include, but are not limited to:
Aquaboard, Clayboard, Illustration Board, Yupo paper, Tyvek paper, Watercolor paper, Rice paper, Silk paper, Rag paper, and any treated or untreated archival board or paper. - A waterproof coating or protective sealant is optional.
- Minimum area, including the frame, is 256 square inches.
- Maximum area, including the frame, is 1,200 square inches.
- Acceptable 2-dimensional substrates include, but are not limited to:
Media
- Paintings executed in traditional watercolor on paper are acceptable.
- All water media are acceptable and are defined as media that can be diluted with water when applied.
- Media other than water media are acceptable, but are limited to no more than 20% of the painting.
- Collage may be used with no percentage restriction, following these guidelines:
- All collage materials must be the original design of the artist, executed on an acceptable substrate and using acceptable media in the percentages described above.
- Found items such as printed text clippings, computer generated art or documents are not allowed.
- Water-based monotypes (one pull from a plate) are acceptable.
Varnish & Framing
- 3-Dimensional Substrates. (Canvas and Cradle Board Panel).
- All 3-dimensional works must be varnished with a waterproof coating or protective sealant.
- Framing is optional. However, if you choose to frame, framing must meet WSO specifications, pursuant to Policy X.E. Framing specifications are outlined in the acceptance documents.
- If you choose to frame, plexiglass is not required.
- 2-Dimensional Substrates
- Mat(s) are optional.
- Varnish is optional.
- A frame is required and must meet WSO specifications, pursuant to Policy X.E. Framing specifications are outlined in the acceptance documents.
- Plexiglass is optional ONLY if work is varnished.
See additional information below under How to Prepare Your Painting for WSO Competitions.
How to Prepare Your Painting for WSO Competitions
Please follow these rules carefully. All selected paintings must be presented as follows or they may be excluded from the exhibition.
Mats
Mats are optional. However, if used they must:
- Have clean, sharp cut edges and corners.
- Be single or double white or off-white mats only.
- Any liner must be the same color as the outer mat (white or off-white) and must be 1⁄2 inch or less (no colored liners).
- Have no markings of any kind, including but not limited to signatures, paint, pencil, ink and titles.
- Cut mats must show the same image that was submitted on the entry form.
Frames
- Frames must be matte black metal or black wood, free from scratches, dings, and ornamentation of any kind.
- Minimum area of framed painting (height x width) is 256 square inches, for example16x16.
- Maximum area of framed painting (height x width) is 1200 square inches, for example 30×40.
- Maximum profile / face width / front view of frame 2 ½ inches.
- Maximum depth / side view / front to back / projection from wall of frame is 2 ½ inches.
- Clips to hold the painting securely in place must be used, if needed.
Wire
- A secure wire for hanging is required.
Plexiglass
- If work is varnished and presented in a frame, no covering with plexiglass is needed.
- If work is not varnished, it must be framed and covered with plexiglass, clean and free from any smudges and scratches. No standard glass is permitted.
Packing, if shipping
- Do not use any form of Styrofoam or any pellets for packing.
- Use a crate or shipping box suitable for re-shipping.
- Label all packing materials that you wish to have returned to you.
- Delete all previous names and addresses from the shipping box before re-using.
- A pre-authorized Return Shipping Label is required for all paintings being returned to the artist via shipping.
Procedures
- Tape the following to the back of the painting:
- Entry card in the upper left corner.
- Signed Gallery Contract; in lower right corner, do not fold. Galleries will not allow paintings to hang without a Gallery Contract attached.
- OPTIONAL: Artist’s Statement or Commentary (do not fold).
- Enclose a pre-Authorized Return Shipping Label (only if you are having your painting returned via shipping) in an envelope and seal flap over the hanging wire.
- Hand-deliver your painting to the designated place –– OR ––
Ship your painting using a Pre-Authorized Return Shipping Label.
Failure to follow these Rules and Procedures will make your painting ineligible for any awards and will cause it to be removed from the exhibition.