The Illinois Watercolor Society welcomes anyone with a love —or even an interest—in water media. Some members are highly accomplished professionals. Others of us are dabblers, just having a little fun. Our National Show is juried, with major awards, and includes the path to Signature status. Our Member’s Show is open for all to hang any water-media painting they wish! We publish the news on watercolor events, exhibitions, workshops and classes. Most of all, the Illinois Watercolor Society is a place to gather with new friends and celebrate painting in water media. That means you! Welcome.

IWS yearly membership includes newsletters which highlight IWS sponsored exhibitions and member’s accomplishments. We also send our “E-Blast” several times a year with exhibition and workshop opportunities across the state. Members are able to enter the annual member’s show which have been held at galleries such as the Peabody Estate at Mayslake, the Bloomingdale Park District Museum, Evanston Art Center and McCord Gallery. Members also pay a reduced fee for entry into the national show. In partnership with the Oak Brook Public Library, IWS members’ meetings are free and open to the public. Membership fees allow us to hire accomplished artists to present demos at the library and the IWS website. All of us at IWS appreciate your support.

Membership Levels

Associate Membership
Associate membership benefits include: entry into the annual show at a reduced rate, a newsletter, their name, email address and web link published on the website and IWS event notices. Renewing Associate members fee is $40.

Signature Membership
Signature (active) membership retains all of the benefits of Associate membership plus the privilege of using the initials ‘IWS’ after their signature. Only those qualifying signature members who pay their annual dues each year will be authorized to use IWS after their signature. Signature members also receive a reduced entry rate into the national exhibition. View all the current signature members here.

Qualification for Signature Membership
Signature status will be granted to members (whose dues are current) and non-members through inclusion into 3 IWS national exhibitions and not necessarily consecutively.

New/Renewing Membership Dues

We are currently no longer accepting new or renewing memberships.