California Watercolor Association

Welcome

The entry form is at the end of the prospectus below.

Reminder: CWA will only accept entries that are painted from your own photo or original concept. The painting must be yours and yours alone from start to finish.

To enter 56th International Exhibition please complete this form and then click the enter button below.

Last Name
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January 31-March 15, 2026
Arts Benicia, Benicia, California

Entry Deadline: October 1, 2025, 5:00 pm PDT
$20,000 Anticipated Awards

Pat Moseuk, Juror of Selection
Pat began painting when she was just 5 years old. By the age of 17, she held her first solo art exhibition. She pursued her education at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, as well as at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree with distinction in Illustration. After working as a freelance designer and illustrator for several years, Ms. Moseuk naturally gravitated towards abstract art. She primarily works with acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, and collage on paper, panels, and canvas. She is a nationally award-winning artist, educator, juror, and a signature member of several watercolor societies, including the American Watercolor Society and the California Watercolor Association.

Dongfeng Li, Juror of Awards
Dongfeng Li completed his undergraduate degree in China before receiving a Master of Art Education from the University of South Alabama and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from Southern Illinois University. He has concentrated on watercolor since 2007 and has exhibited nationally and internationally since that time. His paintings have won more than thirty awards, including from the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, and the Transparent Watercolor Society. He is a signature member of both NWS and AWS, having achieved the status of Dolphin Fellowship. His paintings have been featured several times in Watercolor Artist magazine.

October 1, 2025, 5:00 pm PDT	Entry deadline
November 1, 2025	Acceptance notification
January 2-5, 2026	Receive shipped and hand-delivered paintings
January 6, 2026	Awards selection
January 31, 2026	Exhibition opens
January 31, 2026, 4:00-6:00 pm PDT	Artist Reception and Awards Ceremony
March 15, 2026	Exhibition closes
March 17, 2026, 1:00-4:00 pm PDT	Pick up of hand-delivered paintings

Arts Benicia is a non-profit arts organization located in the historic Commanding Officer’s Quarters in Benicia, California. For 38 years, they have served as a hub for a vibrant community of talented artists from the Bay Area and beyond. They are dedicated to providing dynamic exhibitions, educational programs, and classes that support artists and engage the broader community. Their mission is to stimulate, educate, and nurture cultural life in Benicia and the surrounding region, primarily through the visual arts. Arts Benicia is supported by memberships, grants, donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events. To learn more, visit their website at artsbenicia.org.

CWA 56th International Exhibition is open to all artists 18 years or older.
Paintings must be two-dimensional and primarily of watermedia on a paper surface; Yupo and Tyvek are acceptable.
Pastel or collage may be used as long as watermedia is the dominant element.
No digital media, photography, prints, or reproductions. Source material and composition must be wholly original and not derived from any published images.
All photo reference material must be captured by the artist and should not be copyrighted or published.
Entries must be recent works completed within the last two years, entirely the work of the artist, and not shown previously in a CWA International/National Exhibition.
All paintings must be available for sale. Once entered, the selling price cannot be altered.
No workshop or classwork allowed.
Artists who fail to provide an accepted entry are disqualified from the next two CWA International Exhibitions.

Minimum image: 140 square inches, no side less than 10 inches.
Maximum outside frame: 44x44 inches.
Maximum weight: 35 lbs.

All paintings must be framed in simple, square-cornered frames, ready for hanging.
Paintings must be protected under sturdy acrylics, such as Plexiglas. No glass is permitted.
Mats (optional) must be white or off-white. Colored liner mats are acceptable.
Additional framing details will be included in instructions to accepted artists.
Artists outside of the contiguous USA may send artwork unframed, and CWA will frame for the exhibition for an additional$150 fee. Details will be provided in instructions to accepted artists.

All accepted artists will be notified by email, and the selected artists will be posted online on November 1, 2025. Artists with accepted artwork may be asked for a higher-resolution image for the exhibition catalog. Shipping instructions will be attached to the acceptance email. All accepted paintings will have a handling fee of $60. Accepted work must match the submitted image; paintings not consistent with the submitted image may be disqualified. All accepted paintings will be represented in the exhibition catalog. All entrants to the exhibition will receive a complimentary catalog. Additional catalogs will be available for purchase.

Arts Benicia will handle all painting sales and retain a 40% commission.

No work may be withdrawn before the end of the exhibit. CWA and Arts Benicia reserve the right to photograph the artwork or use images for promotional purposes. Insurance coverage is the artist’s sole responsibility, both in transit and during the exhibit. Neither the CWA nor Arts Benicia insures the artwork and will not be liable for any loss or damage to the submitted artwork. Accepted artists must sign a release of liability. The submission of entries to this competition shall constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to the terms and conditions as outlined in this prospectus.

All entries will be submitted through our website, www.californiawatercolor.org.

CWA MEMBERS
Select Members Login on the CWA Home Page; select the International Exhibition link; confirm your information; enter your painting details and upload your images. Entry Fee for Members (nonrefundable): $50 for one image, $5 for each additional image (maximum of three images, $60 total). Entry fees are payable via PayPal using a credit, debit, or individual account.

NON-CWA MEMBERS
From the CWA Home Page, click on 56th International – How to Enter link, or navigate to Shows/Exhibitions, International Exhibitions, International Exhibition Entry – Non-CWA Members, and follow the instructions. Entry Fee for Non-members (nonrefundable): $60 for one image, $5 for each additional image (maximum of three images, $70 total). Entry fees are payable via PayPal using a credit, debit, or individual account.

YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO COMPLETE YOUR ENTRY:

Title of painting
Size of frame and size of painting image (height x width)
Selling price
Medium
A digital jpg image of your painting, 300 dpi, and no more than 1200 pixels on the longest side. Show only the image without a mat or frame.

You may wish to join CWA prior to entry to save on your entry fee and to enjoy the benefits of membership. You may do this during the entry process.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS OCTOBER 1, 2025, AT 5:00 PM PDT.

QUESTIONS
If you have any questions, please email 56questions@californiawatercolor.org.
You can also call one of the exhibition co-directors: Ruth Miller at 925-683-1120 or Iretta Hunter at 925-330-2988.

PROSPECTUS
Download the prospectus PDF here