2026 International Juried Exhibition

Welcome from the President

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 47th Annual International Juried Exhibition, on view online October 8–November 19, 2026.

This year, 254 artists submitted 399 paintings for consideration. We are pleased to present 103 paintings by 103 artists, celebrating the many ways artists use watercolor to share their vision. Congratulations to our exhibiting artists and award recipients, and thank you to everyone who submitted work.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Chris Krupinski, Juror of Selection, and Carrie Waller, Juror of Awards, for the care and expertise they brought to their decisions.

This year’s exhibition was a shared effort, with volunteers taking on the responsibilities that make it possible. Stacy Lund Levy and Pam Wenger managed the CaFÉ call for entries, coordinated with the jurors, and notified artists. Sandy Holbrook developed the prospectus. Pam Neidig managed the webpage and email notifications. Kathie Cashion coordinated the awards, and Karen Reidy managed social media announcements. I am grateful for their time, attention, and commitment to PWS.

Thank you also to our generous sponsors, reciprocal donors, and Friend of PWS. Their support allows us to recognize artistic achievement with meaningful awards.

I invite you to explore the online gallery, spend time with the paintings, and enjoy the individual perspectives represented in this year’s exhibition.

Wishing you courage, curiosity, and a little watercolor magic.

Lela (Chris) King

President, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society

Awards

#1 Christopher Wynn, Bottoms Up - First Place

#2 Alisa Shea, Last November - Second Place

#3 R. Mike Nichols, The Midnight Hour - Third Place

#4 Lana Privitera, Summer Poseys - Fourth Place

#5 Ron Thurston, Back In Black - PWS President's Award of Excellence and Keystone Award

#6 Elke Memmler, Hortensie - PWS Board Award of Excellence

#7 Joy Brinkley-Hill, Chef's Choice 12 - Linda Young Distinguished Service Award

#8 Pam Wenger, Security Blanket - Baltimore Watercolor Society Award of Excellence sponsored by the Baltimore Watercolor Society and Blick Art Materials

#9 Jiangang Sun, Homes Thirty-Seven - Philadelphia Watercolor Society Award of Excellence sponsored by Philadelphia Watercolor Society and Blick Art Materials

#10 Catherine Hillis, Freefalling - Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Award of Excellence sponsored by Pittsburgh Watercolor Society and Blick Art Materials

#11 Mick McAndrews, Philadelphia Navy Yard - Laura Lafferty Memorial Award sponsored by Lela King, Blick Art Materials and Jackson's Art Supplies

#12 Gloria Tseng Fischer, Snack Break - Award of Merit sponsored by M. Graham & Co.

#13 Michelle Vargas, The Purrfect Stretch - Award of Merit sponsored by Dixon Ticonderoga and Blick Art Materials

#14 Janine Helton, Sunstruck - Award of Merit sponsored by Masterpak and Blick Art Materials

#15 Susan Keith, Sterling Memories Of Holiday Dinners - Award of Merit sponsored by Judson's Art Outfitters/Guerilla Painter LLC and West Charlton Frame Co.

#16 Francis Lee, River N32 - Award of Merit sponsored by Rosemary & Co.

#17 Jeannine Swartz, Summer Blues and Yellow Hues - Award of Merit sponsored by Holbein and American Frame

#18 Susie Schreiber, Radiant Light - Award of Merit sponsored by Airfloat Systems

#19 Carmella Tuliszewski, Shelter - Award of Merit sponsored by Winsor & Newton

#20 Frank Spino, Glass Menagerie - Award of Merit sponsored by Matboard and More

THANK YOU TO OUR JURORS

Juror of Selection

Chris Krupinski AWS-DF NWS-G TWSA-DM

JUROR STATEMENT

"Jurying an exhibition is both a privilege and a challenge. With so many accomplished paintings to consider, I found it important to return to the fundamentals that, for me, make a painting compelling.

Composition and design were at the heart of my selections. Before subject matter or technique, I looked for paintings that were thoughtfully organized—paintings in which shapes, values, edges, and color relationships worked together to create a strong visual structure. I considered how the eye moves through a painting, how areas of activity are balanced by areas of rest, and how the artist uses rhythm, repetition, movement, and scale to hold the composition together.

Value and color were equally important. I was drawn to work in which value patterns established clarity and emphasis, and where color did more than describe the subject. Whether bold and saturated or quiet and restrained, successful color creates atmosphere, establishes mood, and contributes to the overall harmony of the painting.

I also looked for paintings that understood when to describe and when to suggest. Watercolor has an extraordinary ability to move between precision and spontaneity, between the deliberate and the unexpected. The paintings I selected approach the medium in many different ways, but each demonstrates an awareness of how the unique qualities of watercolor can serve the larger idea of the painting.

Once those structural considerations were satisfied, I looked for something more difficult to define: connection. A beautifully designed painting can capture my attention, but a memorable painting gives me a reason to remain with it. It may communicate a sense of place, reveal something about a person, transform an ordinary object, capture a fleeting moment, or simply create an emotional response through color, light, shape, and atmosphere.

The works in this exhibition represent a wide range of subjects and approaches, and I believe that variety is one of the strengths of the show. I did not look for a particular style or subject. Rather, I looked for paintings in which the artist’s choices felt purposeful and the visual language supported the intent.

Ultimately, the paintings I selected are those that first engaged me through design and then rewarded me with something more. They demonstrate that strong painting begins with structure, but it is the artist’s individual vision that gives that structure life."

Chris Krupinski Biography

Chris is a Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society, Gold Signature member of the National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America (Distinguished Master), Watercolor West (Master), and Elected member of Allied Artists, to name a few. She is the recipient of over 300 national and regional awards including the top award in the 2024, 2018, 2015, and 2013 Adirondacks Exhibition of American Watercolors, first in Alabama Watercolor Society 2024 and 2018, Best in Show in the Louisiana Watercolor Society 2025,  Illinois Watercolor Society 2023, North East Watercolor Society in 2024 and 2019 and an award winner in the 2025, 2024, 2022, 2021, 2015, and 2013 American Watercolor Society Exhibitions. One of her paintings was selected as First Place in Splash 2024. Her painting was chosen as Best Still Life in Artist’s Magazine’s 2025 Annual competition and Third Place in 2026. Chris has been published in major watercolor publications and has been a featured artist in numerous leading national art magazines. Her work is included in numerous museum and private collections.

Internationally, Chris was selected as one of the "master painters" for the Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters, November 2007, 2010, and 2012 in Nanjing, China. Chris was also selected for the Shanghai Zhujiajiao International Watercolour Biennial Exhibition in 2012. A painting was selected for the 2013-2014 Shenzhen Watercolour Biennial. Chris was an invitee to the 2018 Silk Road International Arts Festival at the Shaanxi Provincial Museum of Fine Arts, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China. She was selected for the 2024 Qingdao International Watercolor Grand Prix Exhibition and won 3rd place. She was invited to participate in the IWS biennial in Cappadocia, Turkey in 2014. Two paintings were shown in the 2014 Thailand Watermedia Exposition and two in the Taiwan 2016 International Exhibition. She has exhibited in the Invitational Watercolor Exhibition, Greece in 2014-2023, an award winner in 2023. She was invited to hang a painting in the Watercolor Masters Exhibition in Gouda, Holland in 2019 and 2023. Chris also was invited to hang paintings in “World of High Watercolor”, Moscow, Russia in 2019 and 2021. She exhibited watercolors in Monza In Acqurello (Italy), the “Festival Internationale Dell’ Acquarello” in 2020 and 2021.

www.chriskrupinski.com

Juror of AWARDS

Carrie Waller

JUROR STATEMENT

"It is an honor to serve as Juror of Awards for the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 47th Annual International Juried Exhibition. As a watercolor artist, I am drawn to paintings that demonstrate a thoughtful command of the medium while expressing a distinctive artistic vision. In selecting the award recipients, I considered originality, composition, value relationships, color harmony, technical skill, and overall visual impact.

Watercolor offers extraordinary possibilities for expressing light, atmosphere, texture, and emotion. I admire artists who embrace these qualities while making intentional choices that support their individual vision. I recognize the dedication and countless hours behind every submission and congratulate all the exhibiting artists, especially the award recipients. Thank you to the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society for this opportunity to celebrate the creativity, skill, and continued exploration of our medium."

CARRIE WALLER Biography

Carrie is a watercolor artist working in a realistic, detailed style. Her studies in Interior Design and Graphic Design as well as her time spent living in Europe and Asia have influenced her as an artist. Carrie currently works from her Arkansas studio after recently moving back from Tokyo, Japan where she resided for over 8 years. Her unique works are bold, vibrant and dramatic.

Carrie has won numerous awards and has been published in many publications including the Watercolor Artist Magazine, The Art of Watercolor, Pratique des Arts, Artist's and Illustrators, International Artist’s Magazine, American Art Collector, Southwest Artist’s Magazine and Splash, The Best of Watercolor series,  14 and 16 through 27. Her works have exhibited all over the world, most recently at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Kyoto Kyocera Museum, and the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum. She has also exhibited in Thessaloniki, Greece, Fabriano, Italy, Santa Marta, Colombia, London, England, Shenzhen, China, Brussels, Belgium, and the Salmagundi Club, New York. Carrie won the $10,000 Grand Prize in the American Women Artist's 2020 Museum Competition. She is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Louisiana Watercolor Society - Master, Mid-Southern Watercolorists and the Watercolor Honor Society. She teaches workshops, online and in person and is an ambassador for Daniel Smith Watercolors. Carrie is currently the Vice President and Awards Director for the National Watercolor Society.