Mission

The mission of the Illinois Watercolor Society is to advance the education and caliber of watercolor painting throughout Illinois. We hold monthly meetings and demonstrations and host two annual shows. We invite you to attend the next meeting and meet some of the society members, or to join us. All are welcome.

We are seeking people to assist the IWS Board. If you would like to help with the annual Members Show, IWS Facebook page, or IWS website please contact [email protected].

We are holding our meetings in person at:

Oak Brook Public Library
600 Oak Brook Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523

Meeting schedule for 2025
April 5 – Venarella Hinkle
June 14 – Jim Brooksher
August 16 – Tom Francesconi
October 25 – Megan Ripke

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41st National Exhibition

The Next Picture Show
A Fine Arts Center
113 W. First St.
Dixon, Illinois

May 1 – May 31, 2025

Juror of Selection and Awards, John Salminen, AWS-DF./NWS-M/TWSA-DM

Download the accepted artists list here.

Congratulations to new Signature member Rebecca Krutsinger.

Award Winners

First Place
Alexis Lavine – Smoke Break

Second Place
David Williams – Final Days of the Silver Dollar Tavern

Third Place
Ratindra Das – Around the Bend

Award of Excellence I
Aneita Gates – Wait… What?

Award of Excellence II
Chris Krupinski – Dots

Award of Excellence III
Patricia Garey – Temptations

Award of Excellence IV
Diane Shabino – Made to Make

Evelyn E. Schultz Creative Spirit Award
Tom Herzberg – Bride of Frankenstein

Director’s Choice
Anne Hightower-Patterson – Translucent Reflections

Charles Strissel Memorial Award
Elaine Daily-Birnbaum – When Things First Started to Fall Apart

People’s Choice Award
TBA at end of show

Honorable Mention
David Gardner – He Studies Her Hands

Honorable Mention
Robert Mejer – Impulse III

Honorable Mention
John James – Folding Over Laluna

Honorable Mention
Catherine Hillis – Stripes

Honorable Mention
Sonya Schuessler – Luna Park

Honorable Mention
Cheyenne DeMarco – Morning Sun