New Jersey Watercolor Society
New Jersey Watercolor Society

83rd Annual Open Juried Exhibition

October 5 – 25, 2025 Middletown Arts Center (MAC), New Jersey
Deadline is September 1st. Open to New Jersey artists.
Heaven's Door by Ann Smiga Greene
Heaven's Door by Ann Smiga Greene
Open Calls

Opens July 8, 2025.

Open for entry on July 8, 2025.
Deadline for entry: September 1, 2025
The exhibition is open to residents of New Jersey, 18 years or older. NJWS Associate Members must be New Jersey residents to apply. Signature members may reside in other states.
Middletown Arts Center (MAC)
36 Church Street
Middletown, NJ 07748

732-706-4100
middletownarts.org

Awards

$9000+ in Cash and Merchandise

Juror of Selection

Mr. David Becker, beckerart.net

Juror of Awards

Mr. James Toogood, pafa.org/staff/james-toogood

Eligibility and Entry Fees

  • The exhibition is open to residents of New Jersey, 18 years or older and NJWS Signature members residing in other states.
  • NJWS Signature and Associate Members with 2025 dues paid:
    $30 for 1 painting, $40 for 2 paintings.
  • Non-Members:
    $40 for 1 painting, $50 for 2 paintings.
  • One or two images may be entered, but only one may be selected for the exhibition.
Non-members may join as an Associate Member of NJWS before beginning the entry process (artists must be New Jersey residents, 18 years or older).

For new membership or renewal please go to njwatercolor.org/membership. If you are uncertain if your dues are paid, please email [email protected].

All entry fees are non-refundable.

Artwork Requirements

  • Entries must be original, created entirely by the artist, in water-based media including watercolor, acrylic, casein, and gouache on paper, Yupo, Aquabord, Claybord or other similar water media surfaces. No canvas allowed.
  • Collage may be used but must be made of paper, be the original work of the artist, and must not be dominant in the work.
  • No copies, prints, classwork or workshop creations, computer or digital media, oils, water soluble oils, textural materials, photography, or nude paintings will be accepted.
  • Artwork must have been completed in the last four years. Artwork previously displayed in any NJWS exhibition (in gallery or online) is not eligible and will not be accepted. Please check your records carefully.
  • Minimum painting size (without mat or frame) must be at least 9” x 12”. Maximum framed size must not exceed 48 inches in any direction.

Digital Image Requirements

  • All submissions are done online via ShowSubmit.
  • Images must be cropped to show the image only, no mats or frame, and must be in the correct horizontal or vertical orientation.
  • Images must be in JPG format and should be at least 1500 pixels on the longest side, 300 dpi, and no larger than 30 MB. Images may be adjusted by ShowSubmit to meet the guidelines for this show. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements. Small images will be saved as is and may not display well in the jury panel.
  • Image files do not need to be renamed.
  • NO CHANGES may be made on price, title, or any information after the entry deadline.

Notification of Acceptance

  • Acceptance notifications will be sent to the artist via email.
  • Accepted artists and paintings will be posted on ShowSubmit.
  • Instructions for framing and presentation, hand-delivery of work, and painting label forms will be sent with the acceptance notice.
  • All work must remain available for the duration of the entire exhibition.
  • Paintings delivered for exhibition must match the submitted images. No substitutions may be made.

Framing Guidelines

Traditional Framing Under Plexiglass:
  • All framed artwork must be framed under plexiglass. Glass will not be accepted.
  • Mats must be white or off-white in color. A small colored inner mat is acceptable.
  • All framed artwork must be wired and ready for hanging. No sawtooth brackets.
  • Maximum overall size of artwork, including the frame must not exceed 48 inches in any direction.
Non-Traditional Mounting:
  • Paintings on paper must be firmly adhered to a board or panel and sealed and/or varnished.
  • Wood cradled panels must be at least 1¼ inches depth and have finished (non-raw) edges. Pan els may also be submitted in a floater frame.
  • Artwork must be wired and ready for hanging. No sawtooth brackets.
  • Maximum overall size of artwork, including the frame must not exceed 48 inches in any direction.

Sales/Liability

Work may be for sale; NFS is allowed.
  • The paintings in this exhibition will be available for sale unless designated NFS (not for sale).
  • NJWS will not receive any compensation from any sales. Sales tax, shipping and any other expenses will be the responsibility of the artist.
  • Interested buyers may contact the artist directly or via NJWS on our website at njwatercolor.org. NJWS will notify the artist about interest in the work. All transactions will be between the buyer and the artist or their representative.

Agreement/Conditions

  • By submitting work to this exhibition, the entrant agrees to hold harmless NJWS and the Middletown Arts Center from any claims of damage or loss that may arise. All submitted work may be reproduced in our catalog.
  • NJWS and the Middletown Arts Center reserve the right to refuse paintings deemed inappropriate for this exhibit.
  • Permission is granted to reproduce the painting in promotion of the exhibition and to use the image for educational and publicity purposes.

Questions

For help with taking a photo, entering online or any other questions please contact: Michael Berardesco at [email protected]

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on September 15, 2025.

You may view the notification in your ShowSubmit account by logging in and tapping the Notifications at the top right of the screen, or in your Entry History.

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.

Note: Entries made prior to 2023 may not display the View Notification link.

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 (September 1, 2025.)
  • 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

For questions about NJWS or this Prospectus, please contact Michael Berardesco ([email protected]).

For technical support or entry questions, first check our Help Center or Entry Guide. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.