Exhibition Rules

General

Show entry is eligible to all current Paid-up members of the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society

Allowed                    

• Original art created in the last two years
• Art shown at a meeting or ‘Painter of the Month’

Not Allowed

• Art created in a class or workshop
• Art that is a copy or a study of another artist’s work (including commercial photography). This is because of copyright laws

• Any art that is not original to the artist
• Art previously exhibited in any CVWS judged show
• Art that is damaged, inappropriate for public display (i.e., nudity), improperly framed, or does  not meet entry requirements
• Clip frames

Sizes and Entries  

• Annual Show sizes: Maximum 46”, minimum size 5” on any outside edge of frame, canvas or board.
• Mini Masterpiece show sizes: Maximum 14” on the outside of frame or canvas edge.
• Maximum of EIGHT paintings, with up to THREE in any category or TWO in the Mini Masterpieces. Each artist is allowed to enter only THREE FULL SHEETS (image size 22” x 30”) TOTAL IN THE SHOW.

Mediums

• Artwork must be water-media painted in a primarily aqueous manner.
• Non-water based media may be integrated but cover no more than 20% of the artwork.
• No oils, water-miscible oils, encaustics, or photography are allowed.

Traditional Presentation Category

Artwork may be presented on watercolor paper, paper-based board, watercolor canvas, Yupo or other synthetic paper.  To be accepted into the show and judged, all traditional presentation paintings MUST be matted and framed (mats may be any color but must be clean and well cut). No clip frames are allowed.

Plexiglass must be used if frame is larger than 16” x 20”.  Frames 16” x 20” or smaller may be   under glass or plexiglass. Floated framed paintings (no mat) must have spacers to keep art from      touching inside plexiglass and be floated on mat board.

Paintings must be backed with foam core, mat board, or other hardboard (i.e., Masonite) no cardboard is allowed.  All frames must be wired. Do not pull the wire tight.  Wire should be secured one-fourth of the total height down from the top of the frame, looped through D-rings. (No eyelet screws are allowed)

Maximum THREE paintings

Open Presentation Category

Paintings may be on wrapped canvas or ‘cradled’ painting panels with a minimum depth of 1½”.  The sides of wrapped canvases must be staple free and neatly finished or painted. Mats and frames are not required. No glass or plexiglass in this category is allowed.

Canvas boards (including clayboard, gesso board or canvas) less than 1½” deep must be framed. These paintings must be protected with a layer of medium, acrylic varnish or paint, including sides.  All work must be wired ready for hanging.

Maximum THREE paintings

Plein Air Category

Plein air paintings may be presented in Traditional or Open format but will be displayed and judged in the Plein Air category. 80% of submitted work must be painted plein air; the remaining 20% may be painted in the studio. The subject may be from any location.

Maximum THREE paintings

Mini Masterpieces Category

Paintings must have a maximum of 14” on the outside of the frame edge or a minimum of 5”. Artwork should comply with either Traditional or Open category rules but will be displayed and judged with the Mini Masterpieces Category.

Maximum two paintings allowed in this category

Bin Paintings

All paintings must be original.  Acrylics on paper or canvas board are allowed.  All work must be matted and backed with clean foam core, mat board or stiff cardboard the same size as the mat and enclosed inside an acetate sleeve that has been fitted to the size of the mat or professionally shrink-wrapped.  No cardboard backing or kitchen shrink wrap is allowed. Bin paintings will not be judged.

Maximum EIGHT paintings per artist in the bins