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
Upcoming Events in 2026
Apr 6 - May 29, 2026 JWS Members’
Non-Juried Show Riverside
Apr 28, 2026 General Meeting - Ted Head
May 26, 2026 End of Year Social (Save the date for lots of fun)
Jun 20, 2026 1-Day Workshop - Chris Flagg “DRAWN TO LEARN"
Jul 18, 2026 1-Day Workshop - LuAnn Dunkinson "Watercolor Beginner's Basics"
Summer Break
Sep 22, 2026 General Meeting—Kathy Stark
Oct 27, 2026 Fall Juried Show
Oct 27, 2026 General Meeting—Janet Rogers
Oct 28-29, 2026 2 Day Workshop—Janet & Steve Rogers
Nov 24, 2026 General Meeting—Barbara Holt, Artist of the Year 2024
Winter Break
JWS General Meeting
Tuesday, Apr 28, 2026, 6-8 pm
Guest Artist: Ted Head, NWS, FWS
“Feeling Ducky"
Cypress Village, Egret Room
Join us on April 28, 2026 for Ted Head's program "Feeling Ducky.“
Ted is a very popular instructor and an award-winning artist. Ted was honored in 2025 to receive Signature Membership Status with the National Watercolor Society, and is also a Signature Member of the Florida Watercolor Society. His work has been published in the Best of Watercolor SPLASH 11 and SPLASH 16, as well as American Artist Magazine.
One of Ted’s greatest joys is teaching watercolors for over 19 years around the Southeast United States. He has started online tutorial courses. He says he’s put all he knows into these courses, wanting to pass on not only the knowledge he’s acquired, but also the unsurpassable joy of creativity that enriches our lives.
Ted Head will be painting a white duck using just 4 colors, focusing on one of the most important principles of watercolor—strong values. When painting something white, it’s not about adding more color but it’s about carefully observing and developing the darker shapes that surround the light. By pushing contrast and simplifying the palette, we can create a convincing sense of form, depth, and luminous light. This approach not only keeps the painting fresh and unified, but also shows how powerful value alone can be in bringing a subject to life.
See facebook.com/tedheadfineart. Also, www.tedheadfineart.com for his paintings, and www.tedhead.com for his tutorials and 24-page downloadable guide.
Reminder: The April meeting also includes election of the JWS Board for 2026/2027 term and the ratification of the 2026 JWS By-Laws updates (see details on page 3 of April Newsletter of why the updates are needed and what was updated.)
Come early at 5:30 to socialize with fellow artists. 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 and upcoming schedule, click here.
Barbara Holt’s program originally scheduled for the April meeting has been postponed until the November meeting. Save the date for her presentation on the “Joy of Workshopping”.
Shows & Workshops
2026 JWS Members’
Non-Juried Show Riverside
The JWS Non-juried Members' Show Riverside will be Apr 6 - May 29, 2026 at the Grace Gallery (2nd floor of the McCord Building) of the Riverside Park United Methodist Church, 819 Park Street, Jacksonville, 32204. This is an opportunity for members to show and sell your artwork. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned award-winning artist, please share your artwork! Important dates:
* Pick-up/Take-down - May 29
2026 Student Show
JWS is proud to sponsor the fourth annual on-line show for the students of Pine Forest Elementary School of the Arts. The show will be juried, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention awards will be presented at the end of the school year. Students can participate through the school’s art program. If you would like to help and join the celebration on May 19, contact Barbara Holt. Click this link to go to the Entry Form, Show Information and Gallery of Past Shows.
One-Day Workshop
“DRAWN TO LEARN"
by Chris Flagg
Saturday, June 20, 2026
9:30 am - 4:00 pm
This workshop is for beginners in drawing and sketching.
The ability to sketch or draw is foundational to any successful piece of artwork as it creates the framework or roadmap for your artwork. You will learn how to capture the essence of a scene through sketching and look at composition, line, diversity of strokes, tone, value, texture, proportion, perspective and contrast — giving you confidence to “Always be drawing, and never waste time” - Michelangelo
JWS is offering this 1-day workshop for Members Only for $65, to be held at the Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society building. For more information and to register go to "Summer 1-Day Workshops" at Workshops
One-Day Workshop
"Watercolor Beginner's Basics"
by LuAnn Dunkinson
Saturday, July 18, 2026
9:30 am - 4:00 pm
This workshop will teach familiarization with basic watercolor materials and equipment, awareness and understanding of basic watercolor painting techniques.
If you are a true beginner, need a refresher, or just feel like having some fun painting- this workshop is for you! Everyone will go home feeling more comfortable with watercolor and a painting to be proud of!
JWS is offering this 1-day workshop for Members Only for $65, to be held at the Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society building. You can register online after April 15. For more information and to register go to "Summer 1-Day Workshops" at Workshops
Publications & Events
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 - 2025
Rebecca (Becky) Mentz is the 2025 recipient of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society Artist of the Year. She served as VP of Membership for JWS for many years and she has volunteered for many years at Westminster Wood Retirement Community at the JWS outreach program teaching watercolor to the residents. Becky is a very talented artist with many award-winning paintings in her portfolio. She has been recognized by the Florida Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Society, and the Southern Watercolor Society with Signature Membership and is adding the American Watercolor Society to the list of Signature Memberships.
Click to See more about Rebecca Mentz, 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.