A friendly reminder: Submissions to the IWS Annual Juried Exhibition ends Sunday, March 8th at 9:00pm MST. Please refer to the Prospectus (PDF) for complete entry requirements, painting specifications, and standards, or go to ArtCall.org – IWS2026AnnualJuriedExhibition.artcall.org.
Hello IWS Members,
I’m reaching out with a favor to ask.
As we prepare for the 42nd Annual Capitol Rotunda Art Show, we could truly use your help spreading the word. This year is especially meaningful as the Idaho Watercolor Society celebrates 50 years! The Rotunda Show is one of our most visible and impactful public events and its success benefits our entire organization.
Please click here for a printable poster. If you’re willing, please consider printing a few copies and placing them anywhere in your community that you think people might notice them. Great possibilities include local art organizations, community centers, churches, libraries, coffee shops, gyms, recreation centers, workplaces, and neighborhood bulletin boards (anywhere people naturally gather).
You can also share the poster digitally (via email or on social media) with family and friends, and include an invitation to RSVP to our event online on Facebook: https://facebook.com/events/s/the-42nd-annual-capitol-rotund/1214835127154319/
Or if you aren’t on social media here’s our Boise Weekly shareable event listing:
https://www.idahopress.com/boiseweekly/local-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/3500483-the-42nd-annual-capitol-rotunda-art-show-artists-reception
Even if you are not participating in the exhibition this year, your support matters. This show represents who we are as an organization (50 years strong) and helps ensure we continue to have a vibrant presence in Idaho’s arts community for years to come.
Thank you for considering how you might help amplify this event. Every small effort adds up.
Cheers,
Beth Trott, IWS Rotunda Art Show Coordinator
443.824.0624
bethtrott@gmail.com
www.theartofbethtrott.com
https://www.instagram.com/bethtrott/
Registration for Xi Guo’s workshop at WFWS51 in Denver, Colorado is now open. Since Xi lives in Florida and does most of her workshops on the East Coast, or Italy, this is a great opportunity to take her workshop in the West where it is easier for most to attend. If you are an IWS member, you can take Xi’s workshop for $400.00, otherwise it is $450.00 for non members. Workshop is May 5 to May 7, 2026. All the info is on the website, https://coloradowatercolorsociety.org/event-6571135
Currently, IWS does not have a northern representative to share exciting information with its members, so IWS is happy to share her accomplishments with everyone. Coeur d’Alene Press did a nice press release on Priscilla Patterson’s accepted work into the Cheyenne Days Western Spirit exhibition. https://cdapress.com/news/2026/jan/30/local-artist-to-show-works-in-cheyenne-days-western-spirit-art-exhibition/ Congratulations, Priscilla!
Please congratulate the six Idaho Watercolor Society members who had paintings accepted into the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 51st Annual Juried Show:
Jessica Bryant, Fluid Harmony
Gail Greco, North of Ketchum
Shelly Johnson, Beau at Easter
Hugh Mossman, First Snow
Ying Peng, Smoker
Lori Kay Seale, Citizen Dreams Fading Away
32 IWS members submitted 66 paintings for consideration, and only 100 were accepted out of the 877 entries from the 10 WFWS member societies.
Thank you to all that entered!
Shelly Johnson
IWS WFWS Delegate
Greetings Fellow Painters!
Signup for the annual workshop with JJ Jiang is coming up in about 6 weeks. We’re very excited about our instructor, his painting style, and his work shown on his website! He’s a wonderful painter! Please access JJ’s workshop plan (PDF here) in the hopes that you will research his topics and style before the sign-ups. This year we are going to charge a $100 non-refundable down payment when you are guaranteed a spot in the workshop. We are hoping that this will encourage you to research our instructor, look at the theme of the workshop, and check your calendars for conflicts before you sign up. Workshop dates are June 3-5. More details will be forthcoming. If you have questions, you can contact Susan or Jean — but read the information first.
Cheers!
Jean Ah Fong – jnahfong@gmail.com
Susan Kluksdal – gskluksdal@gmail.com
WFWS
Only a Few More Days to enter WFWS51! The WFWS entry deadline is February 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Thank you to all who entered so far. As of Saturday, WFWS51 had received entries from 20 IWS members. Don’t wait until the last minute! You can find the prospectus on the Colorado Watercolor Society’s WFWS webpage (https://coloradowatercolorsociety.org/western-federation-of-watercolor-societies) by clicking the yellow “download prospectus” button. Please contact Shelly Johnson if you have any questions about entering or issues with ArtCall – shellyejohnson@yahoo.com
CAPITOL ROTUNDA SHOW
Deadline to enter is February 25, 2026 or until the 75 painting limit is reached.
For full details on how to participate — including eligibility, submission requirements, and deadlines — visit the ArtCall site – https://iwsrotundashow42.artcall.org/
To All IWS Artists:
It is that time of the year again to submit your work for the 2026 Annual Juried Exhibition. The prospectus is live on ArtCall and accessed here as a PDF file.
To submit your painting in ArtCall put the following link into your browser: iws2026annualjuriedexhibition.artcall.org
Please Note: that the closing date for entries is Sunday, March 8, 9:00pm Mountain Time.
Happy Painting…and Entering!
Carol HasBrouck Browning, Exhibition Chair
The Spokane Watercolor Society is hosting a watercolor workshop by David R. Smith April 9-11, 9:30am – 4:30pm. Visit www.spokanewatercolor.org or open the flyer for more information.
The Colorado Watercolor Society is hosting the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 51st Exhibition at the Curtis Center for the Arts in Greenwood Village, Colorado from May 8, 2026 to June 27, 2026. The show juror is Xi Guo. (https://www.xiguopainting.com/) This show is open to watermedia artists who are members of one of the WFWS Component Societies, including IWS. Your IWS annual dues for 2026 must be paid by the WFWS entry deadline, which is February 1, 2026, or your entry will be disqualified.
Please read the WFWS51 prospectus carefully. You can find the prospectus on the Colorado Watercolor Society’s WFWS webpage (https://coloradowatercolorsociety.org/western-federation-of-watercolor-societies) by clicking the yellow “download prospectus” button. Remember that for WFWS, if your painting is accepted, you will be responsible for matting, but not framing. Your mat must be at least 3 inches on all sides and the outside measurement must be one of the specified sizes. Please call or email me if you need help with the math.
Please call or email me (do not call the Colorado Watercolor Society or ArtCall!) if you have any questions about entering or issues with ArtCall.
Good luck!
Shelly Johnson, IWS WFWS Delegate
208 922-7566