Deadline for entry: May 15, 2026
Venue
Mockingbird Gallery in Bend, Oregon
A complete list of events/schedule will be available on the AIS website and social media platforms as soon as confirmed. All current paid AIS members will receive updates via the AIS email newsletter.
A complete list of events/schedule will be available on the AIS website and social media platforms as soon as confirmed. All current paid AIS members will receive updates via the AIS email newsletter.
Please read carefully and follow instructions completely and accurately. There can be no exceptions.
Awards
Best of Show $13,000 Cash. Over $100,000 in cash and awards will be presented.
Judge of Awards
Calvin Liang AISM
Exhibition Requirements
Membership
- Must be a current (or new) paid member of AIS and must be a legal US resident to be eligible to enter the exhibition.
- 2026 AIS membership dues of $65 must be paid prior to entering.
- If dues are not paid prior to the entry deadline, entry will be disqualified.
To join online americanimpressionistsociety.org.
Medium
- Oil, Oil Sticks, Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor, Casein, Gouache, and Egg Tempera.
- No mixed media, collage, photography, digital, oil pastels, colored pencils, AI or any other media.
- No digitally manipulated work, painted giclee prints or any other type of reproductions, no manipulated or painted over photos.
Work Requirements
- Work must be original in concept and execution, impressionistic in style, and must have been completed within the last three years.
- Work done in ANY class and/or under the guidance of an instructor is not eligible for entry.
- Work painted from reference photos must be created from the artist’s own photographs not from any other photo source. You may NOT use photographs commissioned by you and taken by someone else.
- AI generated or AI enhanced artwork is NOT eligible for entry.
- Entries must not violate any copyrights.
- No diptychs, triptychs or multiple panels accepted.
Entries may not have been accepted in any previous AIS show including in gallery and online exhibitions. Work that was entered but not accepted into previous AIS shows may be entered again as long as they meet the above requirements.
Size & Qty
- Maximum size (excluding frame) is 900 square inches, with the maximum length on the longest side of 36 inches (example: 24 x 36= 864,30 x 30=900).
- Three paintings may be submitted.
- Maximum of one painting per artist may be accepted into the show.
Framing
- Work must be suitably framed in a fine art gallery-quality wood frame, wired and ready for hanging.
- No metal frames, gallery wrap canvases or sawtooth hangers.
- Floater frames are acceptable.
- Unsuitable or damaged framing will disqualify.
- Repair or replacement of frame is the financial responsibility of the artist.
- AIS and Mockingbird Gallery are not responsible for damage caused by works framed with glass. Plexiglass is recommended.
Liability & Agreement
All entries will be made at the risk of the entrant. Care and caution will be exercised in the handling of all art work however neither AIS nor Mockingbird Gallery may be held responsible for loss or damage. Artists are responsible for insuring their work at all times - during transit and while they are on the Mockingbird Gallery premises. Digital images are assumed to be accurate representations of the entrant’s original artworks. Artwork that differs markedly from the submitted image will be disqualified. The artist retains copyright to his/her image(s), however, by submitting to this show, artist agrees to AIS's use of the images for publicity (including future AIS event promotion) and archival purposes. Artist agrees to abide by all rules in this prospectus. Submission of entries and entry fee, which is non-refundable, constitute agreement with all conditions set forth in this prospectus.
Any artist whose work is determined to be in violation of any entry and/or exhibition rules will be disqualified, will forfeit any awards received and will be banned from any and all AIS exhibitions for the following three years.
Any artist whose work is determined to be in violation of any entry and/or exhibition rules will be disqualified, will forfeit any awards received and will be banned from any and all AIS exhibitions for the following three years.
Sales Commission
- Artist 60%, Mockingbird Gallery 40%.
- All work MUST be for sale and must be priced according to your standard pricing.
- Paintings that do not reflect the artist's current pricing structure may be disqualified). No price changes will be accepted once you have submitted your entry-please double check your entries for accuracy of information.
- No NFS or por.
- An artist who withdraws an entry after acceptance into the exhibition shall not be eligible to enter any AIS exhibition for the two succeeding years.
- Any accepted work which is presold MUST be included in the show. Presales must be completed through Mockingbird Gallery.
- Sales commission applies.
Entry Fee
- $39 for one painting, $49 for two paintings and $59 for three paintings.
- Entry fee must be paid with credit card on ShowSubmit website.
- Entry fees are nonrefundable whether your paintings are juried into the exhibition or not.
Entry Process
All entries must be submitted through ShowSubmit
2026 AIS National Show Calendar
No exceptions can be made to the following dates.
April 15 – May 15
Entries accepted at www.showsubmit.com
April 15 – May 15
Entries accepted at www.showsubmit.com
May 15
Deadline: Midnight Pacific time (PST). Due to the extremely high number of last minute entries each year, we highly recommend entering well before the final deadline to avoid possible last minute issues that can and do arise, especially if you are not familiar with using the digital entry system. Check the image requirements and entry instructions.
Deadline: Midnight Pacific time (PST). Due to the extremely high number of last minute entries each year, we highly recommend entering well before the final deadline to avoid possible last minute issues that can and do arise, especially if you are not familiar with using the digital entry system. Check the image requirements and entry instructions.
June 8
Jury results will be emailed to entrants and posted on AIS website
Jury results will be emailed to entrants and posted on AIS website
August 24 – September 1
Artists ship accepted work to Mockingbird. Artists must provide a prepaid return shipping label. Paintings will be returned in the same box as sent. Artists are required to ship artwork in a commercial box brands such as MasterPak, Airfloat Systems, Uline or FEDEX. No other boxes accepted. Mockingbird Gallery will refuse delivery of your artwork if not in approved container.
Artists ship accepted work to Mockingbird. Artists must provide a prepaid return shipping label. Paintings will be returned in the same box as sent. Artists are required to ship artwork in a commercial box brands such as MasterPak, Airfloat Systems, Uline or FEDEX. No other boxes accepted. Mockingbird Gallery will refuse delivery of your artwork if not in approved container.
September 2 – 5
Workshops, demos, tours, critiques, special presentations, and more!
Workshops, demos, tours, critiques, special presentations, and more!
September 4
AIS Opening Reception
September 4 – October 3
Exhibition dates
AIS Opening Reception
September 4 – October 3
Exhibition dates
By November 3
Unsold work shipped back to artists. Hand delivered works must be picked up with arrangements with Mockingbird.
Unsold work shipped back to artists. Hand delivered works must be picked up with arrangements with Mockingbird.
Questions
Contact Liz Ahrens, AIS Executive Director
231-881-7685
[email protected]
www.americanimpressionistsociety.org
231-881-7685
[email protected]
www.americanimpressionistsociety.org
Our Goal
“To promote the appreciation of American Impressionism through exhibitions, workshops, programs and other media.”
Membership is open to American Impressionist artists who are legal US residents or anyone wishing to support American Impressionism. Founded in 1998, AIS is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization.
Membership is open to American Impressionist artists who are legal US residents or anyone wishing to support American Impressionism. Founded in 1998, AIS is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization.
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on June 8, 2026.
If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.
Image and Filename Specifications
- File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
- Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
- Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
- Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
- File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
- File Size: There is a 30mb maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.
Additional Entry Information
- You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
- After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (May 15, 2026.)
- Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
- Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
Support
Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Liz Ahrens ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, AIS, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.
Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.