Saint Louis Watercolor Society’s
23rd Annual Membership Awards Exhibition: “Big Splash 2020”
Prospectus
About Saint Louis Watercolor Society
Saint Louis Watercolor Society (STLWS) was formed in 1996 by a small group of area artists for the purpose of providing educational opportunities to artists who are interested in water media and to exhibit water media artwork to the public. From the original charter group of seven members, the membership has grown to over 200 active members. Regular monthly membership meetings are held 9 times per year with educational demonstrations and lectures by area guest artists. Meetings are open to members, prospective members and guests. In addition, guest artists conduct instructional workshops that are open to members and non-members. Information pertaining to STLWS may be found on our website at stlws.org. The ‘Cold Press Paper’ newsletter is published quarterly and available online.
About the 2020 Big Splash Exhibit
Because of Covid-19 and the mandates for social distancing for all of St. Louis City and County, this year’s Big Splash will be an online only event. Registration will only be handled online, and photos of paintings entered must be uploaded at the time of registration. Viewing of all paintings will be online only. Award winners will be notified after the exhibit has been judged, and only award winners will be invited to an awards presentation to meet the juror.
Eligibility
Exhibition is open to members who paid their annual dues by August 1, 2020. The Treasurer’s record shall be considered final.
Entry Fees
The nonrefundable entry fee is $10.00, with one painting allowed per artist, and paid at the time of entry either by PayPal on our website or by mailing a check to STLWS, PO Box 16893, Saint Louis, MO 63105-1493.
Awards
1st Place, Judge’s Choice
2nd Place, Award of Excellence
3rd Place, Award of Achievement
Award of Recognition # 1
Award of Recognition # 2
Award of Recognition # 3
Award of Recognition # 4
Award of Recognition # 5
Award of Recognition # 6
Award of Recognition # 7
Award of Recognition # 8
Honorable Mention Awards (number determined by judge)
All awards are selected at the discretion of the judge: Keiko Tanabe – Artist, Educator, Author and Juror
KEIKO TANABE was born in Kyoto, Japan, and grew up in an art-loving family. Although as a child she always enjoyed drawing and painting, she chose to study intercultural communication and international education in college. After years of work in her field and extensive travel throughout the world, she realized her desire to someday become an artist. Mostly self-taught, she learned basic drawing and watercolor painting skills at a local community school in San Diego.* Her first project as an artist, together with her father (a renowned scholar of French literature in Japan) was to illustrate his book: “Through the Azure Sea and Sky of Provence: A Tribute to Her Joie de Vivre” (Kosei Publishing, Osaka, Japan).
She embarked on a professional art career in 2005 and started exhibiting publicly. Her paintings have been juried into many exhibitions across the Americas and in Asia and Europe. As a prolific painter and author, she has published over nine books since 2012. Since 2011, she has been invited to and conducted more than 250 workshops and numerous live demonstrations around the world. In 2018 and 2019, she was invited to be a faculty member for the Plein Air Convention & Expo, the world’s largest plein air painting event. She has served as juror to major watercolor shows around the world such as the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, the International Watercolor Society, the Northwest Watercolor Society, and others; and now the St. Louis Watercolor Society.
Keiko currently lives in San Diego.
Exhibition Schedule:
- Online Registration & Catalog sales open
Tuesday, September 1, 2020 - Online Registration & Catalog sales end
Friday, September 25, 2020 - Judging
Friday, October 2, 2020 - Awards Ceremony
Thursday, October 8, 2020
Limited to award winners
Hawken House
1155 S Rock Hill Rd, Webster Groves - Exhibit posts on STLWS website
Thursday, October 8, 2020 - Downloadable Catalog posts to STLWS
Monday, October 11, 2020 - Exhibit removed from STLWS website
Just prior to 2021 Big Splash Exhibit
Requirements and Restrictions
Only original works may be exhibited. Any copies or work done under instruction or from copyrighted photos / artwork will not be accepted. Prints from originals, giclee prints, digital reproductions, and computer art are not eligible.
Paintings must be completed within the last three years.
Paintings which have won an award, including honorable mention, in previous STLWS shows, or which have been accepted in a juried show sponsored by STLWS, are not eligible.
Number of Paintings: Limited to 1 entry per member. Diptychs and triptychs will be considered one entry for entry fee and judging purposes.
All entries must be executed in water media on paper: organic or synthetic paper, no canvas. Water media includes but is not limited to the following: watercolor, gouache, acrylic, tempera, and casein. Water based oils are excluded. Mixed media paintings must be 80% or more water based.
No animal parts may be used in any painting.
Registration must be completed on the STLWS website: Exhibits – Call for Entries – Big Splash – Receiving
Each artist must adhere to the specified dates for entry.
Image Submissions
Photo of artwork submitted should show only the painting. If you have already framed your artwork do not include the mat or frame in the photo. If the artwork is already framed, our website has more information on how to take a photo for uploading: Exhibits – Exhibit Photo Guidance
Sales
Artwork entered may be for sale or designated as Not for Sale (NFS). There will be no commission on sales and people viewing the virtual show will be directed to contact stlws@outlook.com if interested in purchasing a piece of artwork. The inquiry will then be forwarded to the appropriate artist to handle and take responsibility for payment and delivery of the artwork.
Show Catalog
The Show Catalog will be available in two formats:
- A downloadable link located at Exhibits – Call for Entries – Big Splash – Catalog
- A printed version mailed through the USPS for $6 a copy that can be ordered at the STLWS Shop at the time of registration by using a credit card or added to an entry fee check payment that is mailed
Liability
Photos of artwork submitted for display on the STLWS website are copyrighted.
Use of Images
Acceptance into show gives STLWS the right to use the photograph of your work for promotional purposes. Digital archives of accepted entries will be retained by STLWS to be used for the show catalog, any printed material and the website, now and in the future.
Acceptance
The STLWS has the right to refuse any painting that does not meet specifications and has the final authority on whether nudes will be accepted; if done in good taste the STLWS Board will approve their acceptance.
Questions
Address questions to Exhibits Co-Chairs: Carla Giller and Carolyn Cleveland. Their contact information is located in the Membership Directory.
Agreement
Entering this exhibition shall constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to accept all rules and conditions as set forth in this Prospectus.
By completing the online registration form:
- I certify that I am a member in good standing.
- I have read the rules and regulations and my painting is eligible for entry.
- I realize that if my work is selected and if it does not meet eligibility requirements set forth in this Prospectus I will be disqualified immediately.