Our Mission
We promote watercolor and water media as an important and recognized medium in the arts community and provides support as well as educational opportunities to watercolor artists - whether beginners or professionals.
We offer a variety of educational opportunities including eight (8) monthly meetings with demonstrations and lectures by renowned national or prominent local artists. In the Fall and Spring, we host three-day water media workshops with nationally recognized artists.
We recognize and encourage artistic excellence through juried exhibitions in the Fall and Spring.
Click to - Read more about JWS, Board and Committees, and History
Access Calendar of Events for list of all upcoming events and meetings.
General Meeting - Save the date
Tuesday, January 28, 2025,
6pm to 8pm
Guest Artist: Nancy Melia Banks
Watercolor Techniques for Painting Beach Scenes - Demo
Cypress Village, Egret Room
Nancy Banks will show you how to render clarity and feeling in the water, sky and beach, in her demonstration “Painting Beach Scenes”.
Banks’ watercolor paintings have been accepted in numerous juried shows including Tallahassee, Panama City, and Jacksonville Watercolor Societies. Her paintings have been hung at many prestigious locations including the Cummer Museum of Art, the Jacksonville Art Museum, and the rotunda of the Florida State Capitol building, and have received recognition from Merit and Judges Award to Best of Show.
Check out her website at: nancymeliabanks.com
Come early at 5:30 to socialize with fellow artists. Refreshments will be served.
Please note: Our general monthly meetings are at Cypress Village, 4600 Middleton Park Cir E, Jacksonville, FL 32224 in the Egret Room.
To see more about monthly meetings, locations and upcoming schedule, click here.
Promotion Contest a Success
Over 20 entries have been received for the new watercolors Poster Promotion Contest. Digital entries can still be received by Heather Hill at [email protected] until December 1. Thank you to everyone that entered the contest, and Heather Hill for organizing this new opportunity. The winners will be announced in January.
Shows
2024 Fall Juried Show
The 2024 JWS Fall Juried Show is at Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra from October 18 to December 2.
Key dates to remember:
* Take-down/pick-up December 2, 10 am to 12 pm.
Click here to see this show and other shows including programs and winners from past shows in the gallery.
The 2024 Student show winners are also on display and can be viewed on the student shows gallery page.
2025 Spring Juried Show
The 2025 JWS Spring Juried Show will be exhibited at the St Augustine Art Association from February 7 to March 1.
Key dates to remember:
Opening reception and awards - Friday, Feb 7, 7:00 pm.
Online entries, Jan 24 to Jan 30, 2025.
Delivery/Take-in of framed & matted paintings-
Tuesday, Feb 4, 11 am to 1 pm.
Jurying and judging by Mary O. Smith, Tuesday, Feb 4.
Take-down/pickup - Sunday, March 2, 12 pm to 1 pm.
Click here to see more about this show and other shows including paintings from past shows in the gallery.
Publications & Events
Fall 2 Day Workshop
February 5 -6, 2025
Mary O. Smith
"Plein Air Watercolor Techniques"
Learn how to take your watercolors outdoors. Mary O. will share with you the techniques she uses to stay loose and expressive while keeping to a plan. Limited seats!
Members $250 and Non-members $285.
For more details and to register go to Workshop page.
Newsletter
Read the latest newsletter by clicking on the image of the cover to the right.
Click to
See more about our communications for members, the latest trifold and calendar of events, past newsletters, and links to websites of interest to members.
Artist of the Year - 2024
Barbara Holt is the 2024 recipient of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society Artist of the Year. She has served as VP of Shows for JWS for 8 years and has introduced a student show to the Pine Forest Elementary School for the Arts. She volunteers at Westminster Wood Retirement Community as an outreach program for JWS teaching watercolor to the residents. Barbra is a well-trained, accomplished award-winning artist.
Click to See more about Barbara Holt, AOTY award, guidelines for nomination, and previous recipients.
Donations
JWS recently received a generous donation in the name of a long term member who passed away. Over years, we have received other donations as well as art materials and supplies that honor past and current members. We appreciate the generous support of JWS and its mission. To help with future donations, we have provided instructions and contacts on our membership page. Please go to the bottom of the membership page for more information on donations.