As we prepare to open the 2026 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Annual International Juried Exhibition, I want to take a moment to recognize the artists, jurors, and volunteers who made this year’s exhibition possible.

The response from artists was tremendous. 254 artists submitted 399 paintings for consideration, reflecting both the reach of PWS and the continued strength of our Annual Exhibition. From those submissions, 103 artists and their paintings were invited to participate in this year’s exhibition.

Our sincere thanks go to Chris Krupinski, Juror of Selection, who faced the difficult task of reviewing this large body of work and selecting the exhibition. We are equally grateful to Carrie Waller, Juror of Awards, for bringing her expertise and thoughtful consideration to the selection of this year’s award recipients.

This exhibition also represents something particularly important for PWS this year.

We entered the exhibition season without an Annual Exhibition Chair. Instead, a group of volunteers stepped forward, divided the responsibilities, and kept the exhibition moving forward. They coordinated with our jurors, communicated with artists, managed entries and records, worked on awards, prepared materials, and handled the many details—both visible and behind the scenes—that go into producing an exhibition of this size.

Their work is an excellent example of what makes a volunteer organization successful. When there was a need, people stepped forward, shared the workload, and made it happen.

To everyone who contributed to this effort, thank you. This exhibition would quite literally not have happened without you.

And finally, thank you to all 254 artists who submitted their work. Putting your art before a juror takes both confidence and courage. Whether or not your work was selected this year, your participation is what makes the PWS Annual International Juried Exhibition possible.

I look forward to sharing this year’s exhibition with you and celebrating the remarkable work of our watercolor community.

Wishing you courage, curiosity, and a little watercolor magic.

Lela C. King

President, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society