August 7, 2026 – September 30, 2026
Dates
Entry Opens : July 1, 2026
Entry Deadline: August 5, 2026
Exhibit: August 7 – September 30, 2026
Awards Announced Online: August 12, 2026
Judge
Don Taylor
A native of St. Augustine FL, Don graduated from the University of Florida with BS and MS degrees, and a DVM degree from Auburn University. Before veterinary school, Don was a USMC officer and veteran of Viet Nam. He practiced as a veterinarian full time for 25 years and then went on to part time for the next 20 years, finally fully retiring in 2018. Around 1995, he began to seriously pursue his passion with watercolors while still a part-time DVM.
He is a signature member of Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Watercolor West, Southern Watercolor Society, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, LWS, and more than a dozen other state and local watercolor societies. He is an elected member of Allied Artists of America and American Artists Professional League. Early in his art involvement, he was president of the Panama Art Association (1975-76) and a member of the board of directors of the Visual Art Center of Northwest Florida (now the Panama City Center for the Arts) from 2001-2006. He served for 5 years during 2 terms as president of Southern Watercolor Society and has been on the SW board since 2006.
Don’s paintings embrace varied subject matter, most of which comes from his travels around the world. He specializes in architectural art, animal art, and portrait/figurative works. He has won over 55 awards in national competitions. Don’s work has been published widely.
Don started his watercolor travel journals in 2003, having done over 400 watercolor sketches on location around the world and now teaches workshops in Plein Air Journaling in Watercolor and Pen/Ink. In 2024, he published his book “Plein Air Journaling in Watercolor and Pen and Ink” which is available on Amazon. He’s taught local classes in watercolor in his studio at home since 2002. He and his wife, Louisa, have lived in Panama City FL since 1972.
Eligibility Requirements
The Louisiana Watercolor Society accepts original, water-based paintings on paper or panels prepared to accept water media. This exhibit is open to members only.
Original
- Paintings must have been completed after July 31, 2023. We are not obliged to notify the artist of works that are submitted outside the acceptable timeframe,
- Artists who violate the originality rules may be banned from entering any LWS competition for a period of two years.
- No painting or duplicate painting may be submitted to another exhibition – in-person or virtual — that overlaps with any part of the LWS Exhibit.
- Paintings must be the sole work of the artist; they cannot be completed in workshops or classes or under supervision.
- No copies of another artist’s work are allowed.
- Only original hand-painted entries are allowed: No photographs, photocopies, prints, giclées, or work generated/assisted by artificial intelligence (AI).
- If photo references are used, the photo must have been taken by the artist.
- No work that won a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place award in another LWS member show may be submitted.
- No work previously shown in any prior LWS International exhibition is allowed.
Water-based
- Watercolor is the preferred medium.
- Acrylic, casein, gouache, water-based ink, and egg tempera are allowed if used in the style of watercolor without any impasto (i.e. paint build-up).
- Water-soluble oils are not allowed.
Substrates
- Acceptable substrates are natural or synthetic paper, or panels prepared to accept water media.
- Substrates must be two-dimensional only – no collage, paint buildup, glued-on items, etc that raise the surface.
- No other surfaces are accepted.
Awards
1st Place $200, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $100, Three (3) Honorable Mention Ribbons
Fees
$35 for 1-3 paintings. All entry fees are non-refundable.
Non-members may enter by joining LWS for the annual membership rate of $40 ($45 international) and paying the $35 entry fee. Join Here
Sales
Please contact Claudia LeJeune for purchasing informations Email Claudia
Questions
Show Chair: Peggy Kirby: Email Peggy
Release of Liability
- Submitting a work of art to this exhibition shall constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to comply fully with the conditions and terms set forth in this Prospectus.
- By entering, you agree that LWS assumes the reproduction rights of paintings in the exhibit for display on louisianawatercolorsociety.org, on social media platforms, and for promotion of the LWS exhibit.
Entry
- Artists may submit up to 3 paintings.
- Images must be in JPG format only.
- File size cannot exceed 5MB.
- JPGs must be at least 1200 pixels on either side.
- JPGs must be cropped to show only the image – no frame or mat, and must be oriented correctly (vertical or horizontal).
This form is how you enter the show. Provide your registration information, painting information, upload your image(s), and pay the entry fees.
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