Watercolor Ohio 2026 Prospectus

Ohio Watercolor Society

49th Annual Juried Exhibition

Canticle Center – Lourdes University

5335 Silica Dr, Sylvania, OH 43560

September 26 – October 30, 2026

Juror of Selection and Awards: Ratindra Das

Ratindra Das is an award-winning artist whose journey into fine art grew steadily alongside a successful career in architecture. While working full-time, he studied painting at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, eventually turning his full energy toward the expressive world of watercolor—a medium that allowed intuition and atmosphere to take center stage. 

As a professional artist he is a Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society, more recently a Gold 

Master in National Watercolor Society, a Distinguished Master in Transparent Watercolor Society, holds a Master Membership in San Diego Watercolor Society and Watercolor West. He is a member Emeritus of the American Institute of Architects. 

His paintings have received national recognition and have been featured in prestigious exhibitions, including the 1st Shanghai Zhujiajiao International Watercolor Biennial, the International Watermedia Masters, and the Taiwan World Watercolor Competition. He is an honorary member of the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute in China. He has published two books, “Watercolor with an Eye for Design” and “Watercolor Beyond Obvious Reality – A Workshop in a Book.”

Das is also a passionate educator and mentor. He regularly serves as a juror for national exhibitions— including the American Watercolor Society—and has conducted workshops and demonstrations throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Italy, Singapore, and China. Whether standing before a class or a blank sheet of paper, he believes in painting not just what we see—but what we feel. 

EXHIBITION CALENDAR  

ELIGIBLE ARTISTS:  Associate, Signature and Lifetime members of the Ohio Watercolor Society.   Nonmembers should join the OWS as an Associate (note restrictions on out-of-state residents) for $35 prior to submitting to the exhibition: https://www.ohiowatercolorsociety.org/join-the-ohio-watercolor-society#join  

ELIGIBLE WORK:

•       Watercolor, thinned acrylic, casein, gouache, and egg tempera.  Water-soluble oil paints are not eligible. 

•       Paintings may be done on any material that supports the paint, including paper, illustration board, canvas and Yupo.  

•       Painting must have been completed within the past three years. 

•       Artist’s original work only. No classwork. No work done under supervision. No copies or likenesses of another artist’s work including published source or reference work not attributable to the artist.  

•       Collage materials must be artist-generated using a water-based medium on a surface that accepts water media, excluding commercially or mechanically printed substrates. The maximum allowed depth of the collage is 2-1/2 inches. 

•       No work previously exhibited in Watercolor Ohio may be submitted. 

•       All entries must be matted, framed and wired, ready to hang 

•       Maximum frame size is 44" in either direction (height or width). 

•       Minimum image size (do not include mat or frame) is 121 square inches (measure to the nearest ½ inch and multiply image height x width). [Typical minimum image sizes are 9 x 13.5”, 9.5 x 13”, 10 x 12.5”, 10.5 x 12”, and 11 x 11”] 

•       Weight: 40 pounds maximum 

•       Glazing: Plexiglas (acrylic)—no glass accepted 

•       Matting: Single mat or top mat (if multiple) must be white or off-white 

 ENTRIES 

All entries for the 2026 Exhibition will be made online through OnlineJuriedShows. Log in and click Enter This Show to begin your submissions

About Your Digital Image:  

•        Digital file must be in JPG format  

•        images should be at least 1920 pixels (minimum 800) on the longest side @ 72 dpi 

•        File size is up to 3.5MB  

•        Show only the image, no frame or mat.  

•        Images that are not correctly formatted are liable to exclusion from jurying.  

•        For help with your entries, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351.

By entering Watercolor Ohio 2026, entrants grant permission for OWS to reproduce their artwork for OWS publicity or publication purposes. 

FEES 

Entry Fees:   First entry is $30—you may submit a second entry for $10.  Only one entry can be accepted for the exhibition. 

Hanging Fee:  Accepted artists will be charged a $20 hanging fee. 

LIABILITY 

The Ohio Watercolor Society and the hosting gallery accept no liability for damage to paintings. All entries listed as “not for sale” (NFS) must have a value stated on the Painting Label (accepted works).

SALES 

30% of the sales price will be retained as a commission for a donation to OWS. The artist will receive 70%. All work sold must remain in the exhibit until its close. 

TRAVEL EXHIBITION                           

The Execu8ve Board voted in July 2025 to eliminate the travel exhibi8on.  This decision was presented on page 2 of the Fall 2005 Newsletter:   https://www.ohiowatercolorsociety.org/blog

AWARDS 

Awards are decided by the juror based on review of the actual paintings. With elimination of the Travel Exhibition, all entries will be eligible for awards.  Awards in previous years have averaged more than $5000 in cash and materials.   

SIGNATURE MEMBERSHIP 

Any artist who has been accepted in two (2) OWS annual exhibitions is eligible for review for Signature membership.  The application deadline is Saturday, June 20, 2026.  Use the form on the “Apply for Signature Membership” page: 

https://www.ohiowatercolorsociety.org/member-info/apply-for-signature-membership