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Aqueous Open
52nd Annual Aqueous Open International
November 7th - November 28th, 2026
The Pittsburgh Watercolor Society (PWS) founded in 1945 which is now 81 years old! This is a juried exhibit for artists using water based-media on paper. It will be presented at the Manos Art Gallery as well as online at the pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com
FOR FULL DETAILS ON HOW TO ENTER, PLEASE READ THE PROSPECTUS BELOW AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.
FOR a printable copy of CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROSPECTUS GUIDELINES, CLICK here
November 7th- November 28th
The Manos Art Gallery
200 Freeport Rd, New Kensington, PA,15068
& Online via PWS Website
Important Dates
• Registration Deadline - October 10th, 2026 (11:59PM Eastern Standard Time)
•Notice of Acceptance - Week of October 12th, 2026
• Opening Reception - Saturday, November 7th (5 pm-8 pm) The Manos Art Gallery
• Shipped work must arrive at the Manos Art Gallery by: October 24th, 2026
• Hand delivered work: Friday 10/23 (From 11am-4pm)
Saturday 10/24 (From 11am-4pm)
• Pick up/shipping of unsold works: December 2nd (From Noon-6pm) and December 3rd (From 11am-4pm)
Eligibility:
PWS Aqueous Open 2026 Annual International Exhibition is open to all artists 18 or older working primarily with water-based media on a paper surface (YUPO and Tyvek are permitted) and unvarnished. No canvas.
Mediums include: Watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, egg tempera. No pastels, class work, digital images, any form of print or reproductions, 10% collage only.
· Artist’s original work only.
· Minimum size: 12" x 12" image size The reason for the size limitation is due to the exhibit in the online gallery. Small pieces don’t show up well on the walls.
· Maximum size: 40" x 40" framed size
Work must have been completed within the last two years and not previously shown in a PWS exhibit.
Entry fee: for one or two pieces is $45 (US funds) for non-members and $35 (using a discount code) for Pittsburgh Watercolor Society members. The fee is non-refundable.
You can securely pay online using PayPal, even if you do not have a PayPal account. Instructions for paying by check will be provided online.
Enter online at CaFE by October 10th, 2026.
Artists may enter up to two (2) pieces for consideration, and both pieces could be accepted.
· Go to https://https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/18173/CAFE
Create a free artist profile adigital nd upload your images (1 or 2) to your portfolio. The CaFE site will resize images uploaded to the required sizing.
· Click “Apply to Calls” and search for “Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Aqueous Open 2026”
· Follow entry instructions, click to enter and pay securely by credit card or check.
Digital Files: Images must be professional quality,
Showing only the painted image and be accurate for color catalog reproduction. All files must be saved in high-quality (maximum) jpg format. The dimensions must be 1920 pixels or greater on the long side. Resolution should be at least 300 dpi and the file size must be 3.5 MB or less.
For detailed instructions on preparing and sizing digital files, visit the PWS website:
www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/Digital-Entry-Help.
A useful online resource for resizing images is at:
www.picresize.com.
Accepted Work: All work must be framed and ready for hanging (with wire). Absolutely no sawtooth hangers.
· Hand Deliver Work to the Manos Art Gallery: Friday 10/23 (from 11am - 4 pm) and Saturday 10/24 (from 11am - 4pm)
· Ship Work: Acrylic/Plexiglas only; NO GLASS.
· Do NOT pack work in “popcorn”.
· Ship to: Manos Art Gallery, 200 Freeport Rd. New Kensington PA. 15068
· No shipped work will be accepted after October 24th, 2026
· Domestic work and international work shipped through a domestic clearinghouse must include pre-paid, pre-arranged return shipping documents and instructions.
· - International shipments must contain all completed return documentation, air bills, customs forms, and appraisal (if value is over $300).
Framing:
· Matting must be: white, off white, light gray. No colored matts and no double matts.
· Frames should be simple and black, gray, silver or gold, no more than 1½ ‘ wide. The work must be wired and ready to install. No sawtooth hangers.
Awards: Awards are selected from the received work. The Best of Show award was $1400,00 last year with over $5,000 in total cash and prize awards. Awards announced at the Opening Reception on: Saturday November 7th (5 pm - 8pm)
Sales: All work must be for sale at current market value and not concurrently in another exhibit.
Sales will be handled through PWS. Artist will receive 70% of sale price (after sales tax), Manos Art Gallery will receive 20% and Pittsburgh Watercolor Society will receive 10%. If purchased, the artist will be responsible for shipping the painting to the buyer, so price accordingly. Paintings must remain installed until close of show.
Buyers may pick up work December 2nd thru December 6th during the regular hours at the Manos Art Gallery.
The exhibit will be presented at the Manos Art Gallery and also on our online gallery via our website.
PWS Membership Eligibility: Artists exhibiting in Aqueous Open two years out of five become eligible for PWS membership. Members who get accepted in Aqueous Open three out of five years become Signature members.
Inquiries regarding membership to: membership@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com
Rights, Responsibilities and Liability: PWS has the right to refuse any work that does not meet specifications or is not accurately represented by the digital image. Sending an entry implies an agreement with all conditions set forth in this prospectus and grants the right to PWS to reproduce the work for the catalog and publicity. All accepted artists must complete a waiver of liability on acceptance of their work to the exhibition.
Pick-up/Return of unsold exhibited work: Hand delivered work must be picked up on December 2nd from (Noon – 6 pm) and December 3rd (from 11 am - 4 pm)
Shipped work will be returned as promptly as possible.
PWS and Manos Art Gallery will not be responsible for any return shipping charges. A prepaid, return shipping label must be included when the accepted work is shipped to the exhibit.
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Jeannie McGuire / Juror
Jeannie McGuire paints people the way stories are told—loosely, intuitively, and open to interpretation. A Pittsburgh based artist, she is known for her expressive handling of paint and her ability to suggest character and emotion through gesture, movement, and atmosphere rather than rigid detail. Her work invites viewers to linger, to form their own narratives within each scene.
Her creative process often begins with observation. Using her own photography, found snapshots, and life drawings, Jeannie gathers fragments of everyday experience and allows them to evolve on the surface of the paper or canvas. Influences from literature, film, and real-life encounters subtly weave their way into her compositions, reflecting her sensitivity to human thought and behavior. The result is work that feels both spontaneous and deeply considered—impressionistic in spirit, yet grounded by a recognizable subject.
This balance of freedom and structure is evident in works such as Kenneth, which was selected for the American Watercolor Society’s 144th Gold Medal of Honor exhibition. Over the years, her paintings have been exhibited and awarded internationally, with invitational shows in the United States, China, France, and Italy, and features in numerous national and international art publications.
Jeannie’s artistic voice is also shaped by her early career as a commercial graphic designer and photographer, experiences that continue to inform her sense of composition and visual rhythm. Beyond her own studio practice, she remains deeply committed to the broader artistic community, teaching figurative design watercolor workshops and encouraging other artists to develop their own expressive language. She is a member of the American Watercolor Society, the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, and several collaborative artist groups.
Through paint that moves freely and figures that quietly hold their ground, Jeannie McGuire’s work captures the emotional undercurrents of everyday life—fleeting, complex, and unmistakably human.
All work must be for sale exclusively through PWS and not currently being exhibited in another show. Again, for a printable LINK TO CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROSPECTUS GUIDELINES: click here
I, (Artist/Exhibitor), grant permission for PWS and/or the Manos Art Gallery to reproduce my name, information describing my work, representations of my work and any other information I have provided for the purpose of display, promotion and publicity either now or in the future.
Artist/Exhibitor and/or representative of Artist/Exhibitor agree(s) to display, pack, transport and provide for the return of artwork at Artist/Exhibitor’s own risk and expense.
If Artist/Exhibitor or representative of Artist/Exhibitor is not available on-site to display, re-pack or re-transport his/her/their work, Artist/Exhibitor gives permission to PWS and the Latrobe Art Center to do so on behalf of Artist/Exhibitor at Artist/Exhibitor’s own risk and expense.
Release of Liability: PWS and the Latrobe Art Center shall not be liable for any injury to Artist/Exhibitor, their personnel, agents or employees or for any damage or loss of Artist’s/Exhibitor's work, equipment or other personal property arising out of the above exhibitions/displays, the mounting and/or any other activities involved in the preparation and/or presentation of the exhibitions/displays. Artist/Exhibitor agrees to assume all risk of damage to or loss of Artist/Exhibitor’s own art from whatever cause. Artist/Exhibitor further agrees to release and to hold harmless PWS and Manos Art Gallery its officers, directors, employees, volunteers and agents from any and all liabilities and damages to the artwork and/or persons as a result of any part of Artist’s/Exhibitor's participation in the Exhibit.
Indemnification: Artist/Exhibitor shall indemnify, save and hold harmless PWS and the Manos Art Gallery, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers and agents and the participating exhibition venues from any and all claims, demands, causes of action and judgments, losses, costs and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees, arising due to the negligence of Artist/Exhibitor, their employees, agents or other personnel hereunder, including but not limited to any representation, warranty, term and/or condition of this Agreement.
Insurance: Artist/Exhibitor shall be solely and exclusively responsible to insure properly and adequately their work and property.
Assignment: Neither Party shall assign to transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement and any attempt to do so shall be void and of no effect.
Waiver and Effective Nullity: Waiver by either party of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any provision by such party at any time hereafter. The nullity of any provision hereunder shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereunder of the Agreement, which shall survive.
By entering this exhibit, you agree to the above Release of Liability.
Questions? Contact the show chairs at aqueous@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com