2023 NMWS Spring Show > Register & Apply
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2023 NMWS Albuquerque Spring Show 
We are pleased to invite current NMWS Members to submit original watermedia for our fall exhibition with Guest Juror/Judge Dale Laitinen. Selected works will be displayed at the Expo NM Fine Arts Gallery. Final awards will be presented at an opening reception on Saturday May 6, 2023. Art will remain on display and available for sale from May 6-28, 2023 per the Exhibition Schedule. Artists may elect to have their painting available for NMWS online sales after the Exhibition until August 31, 2023. There is also an opportunity to participate in a 4 day workshop with Dale Laitinen from May 2-5, for details see information on the NMWS Website here Workshops-Dale Laitinen.
 
CASH prizes total $2000!     Merchandise awards total $800+!
Artists may enter up to 3 paintings. 1 painting = $25, 2 paintings $35, 3 paintings $45, with a maximum of 2 selected for exhibition/judging. Artists accepted into the show must print out an ArtCall label and claim ticket for each painting.  The label is attached to the back of the painting for acceptance in the show and the claim ticket is used to pick up unsold paintings. 
Accepted paintings must NOT be in other shows from March 18 to May 28, 2023, and paintings may not be removed from the exhibition prior to closing of the show on May 28th.
Selection for this show earns NMWS Signature Member points (for details on signature membership, see https://www.nmwatercolorsociety.org/Signature-Member-Group.

PAINTING ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: (for full details on requirements, read the Prospectus)

  • Artists MUST be current NMWS members to participate in the 2023 Spring Exhibition. To become a member, visit Join NMWS!
  • Minimum image size is 80 square inches.  Maximum image size is 30” x 38”. 
  • Each artist can enter up to 3 paintings – juror’s selections are limited to 2 per artist for the exhibition.
  • Entries must be original and entirely the work of the unsupervised artist and must have been completed within the last two (2) years.
  • Only works not previously accepted or shown in National Shows, Western Federation, MasterWorks of New Mexico or either of the NMWS Fall-Spring shows, may be entered.
  • Failure to maintain availability for purchase of an accepted painting or selling the accepted painting elsewhere prior to the NMWS Exhibition will result in a two (2) year exclusion from all NMWS Exhibitions.
*Copies, prints and digitally produced materials of any kind are not allowed*

 


ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS
PIGMENTS AND MEDIA: (The use of high quality, professional grade materials are always encouraged.)
Watercolor, gouache, egg tempera, casein, watercolor pencils and crayons, pigmented Inks that are lightfast and water-soluble, as well as Fluid Acrylics.
“Texture” in a painting may be created by thin layer collage or gesso.  “Texture” created by thick application of any media itself is NOT allowed. That is, NO heavy-bodied acrylics or gel mediums of any kind are acceptable for this exhibition.  No water-based oils.
Collage is only acceptable using plain white papers or papers painted by the artist with approved water media.  No printed or embedded three-dimensional objects, commercial papers and computer- generated art, encaustic, wax, woven, or dimensional build-up of textured materials or photography of any form is allowed.
 


PAPERS AND SUPPORTS:
Supports allowed in the exhibition are 100% Cotton Rag paper or board, Oriental papers and Yupo.  Ampersand Aquabord™, Gessobord™ and Claybord™ are also allowed.  Canvas products/supports are not allowed in this exhibition.
 


PRESENTATION
Traditional
All accepted paintings must be framed in metal or wood frames, with white or off-white mats. Color liners (inner mat) are acceptable and should not to exceed ¼ inch.  Top mats must be white or off white and covered to gallery standards with Plexiglas.  Use of glass is not allowed.  All water-soluble work that is unvarnished must be matted and under Plexiglas.  All paintings must have sealed / finished backs and hanging wire (coated is recommended) that peaks at center 3-1/2” inches from the top of the frame. Please read these NMWS Hanging Standards and share a copy with your framer. Failure to comply with these standards could result in exclusion of your painting from the Exhibition.
https://www.nmwatercolorsociety.org/exhibitions 
 
Alternative
To allow artists to present their paintings in a more contemporary fashion the NMWS Exhibitions Prospectus includes the Alternative Presentation Category.
This category is applicable for paintings presented without Plexiglas, instead sealed with varnish (including the mat), with the understanding that all requirements for Painting Entry, Applicable Materials and Presentation as described in this Exhibition Prospectus have first been met. Additional details and guidelines for varnishing your painting and eligible supports are in the Prospectus.


OPTIONAL POST EXHIBITION ONLINE SALES GALLERY

  • Paintings may be purchased online after May 28th. Sales will be limited to continental US. Delivery arrangements or shipping, including postage cost, is the responsibility of the selling artist, so price your work accordingly.
  • Sales will be handled by NMWS, with a 25% processing fee, to include payment of NM state taxes. Payment to artist will not be released until confirmation of receipt of painting by buyer is confirmed, ideally within 10 days of sale.
  • Failure to maintain availability for purchase of an accepted painting or selling the accepted painting elsewhere prior to or during the NMWS Exhibition will result in a two (2) year exclusion from all NMWS Exhibitions.
     

Paintings are selected by the guest juror (from digital files) for display in the exhibition. Any painting found not to conform to the NMWS Show Prospectus-Acceptable Materials and Presentation standards and guidelines, will be rejected and denied NMWS Exhibition entry without refund.

 
Select the menu items for additional details on schedules, painting delivery, and show location. A printable version of the prospectus is available at

https://nmwatercolorsociety.org/resources/Documents/Exhibitions/SpringProspectus

 
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