Prospectus

Archive Mode. Call NMWS-SC Members Only Juried Spring 2022 Exhibition ended on 1/19/22, 6:00 PM. Call settings are read only. See Current Open Calls

Prospectus

NMWS PAINTING ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:  (please read carefully)

  • Minimum IMAGE size is 8” x 10” or 80 square inches.  Maximum image size 22” x 30”. 
  • Each artist can enter 2 paintings—juror’s selections will be ‘blind’.
  • Entries must be original and entirely the work of the unsupervised artist and must have been completed within the last two (2) years.  *Copies, prints and digitally produced materials of any kind are not allowed*
  • You may NOT enter the same painting in two shows at the same time, whether the exhibit is juried or open submission. As a penalty, the artist could be banned from entering shows for a year.
  • You may NOT enter works that have been previously accepted or shown in National Shows, Western Federation, Masterworks of New Mexico, or in NMWS Fall or Spring shows. 
  • Failure to deliver an accepted painting to a NMWS Exhibition will result in a two (2) year exclusion from all NMWS Exhibitions.

ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS
 
PIGMENTS AND MEDIA (The use of high quality, professional grade materials are always recommended)
Watercolor, gouache, egg tempera, casein, watercolor pencils and crayons, pigmented inks that are lightfast and water-soluble, as well as Fluid Acrylics.

“Texture” in a painting may be created by thin layer collage or gesso.  “Texture” created by thick application of any media itself is NOT allowed. That is, NO heavy-bodied acrylics or gel mediums of any kind are acceptable for this exhibition.  No water-based oils.

Collage is only acceptable using plain white papers or papers painted by the artist with approved water media.  No printed or embedded three-dimensional objects, commercial papers and computer-generated art, encaustic, wax, woven, or dimensional build-up of textured materials or photography of any form is allowed.

PAPERS AND SUPPORTS:
Supports allowed in the exhibition are 100% Cotton Rag paper or board, Oriental papers and Yupo.  Ampersand Aquabord™ and Gessobord™ are also allowed.  Canvas products/supports and Claybord™ are not allowed in this exhibition.
 
PRESENTATION
 
(Please Note: Because New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum staff will be hanging this exhibit, selected artists will be asked to estimate the size of their framed painting and convey that information to the NMWS-SC Exhibition chair within a week of notification of acceptance.)
 
Traditional
All accepted paintings must be framed in metal or wood frames, with white or off-white mats.  Thin one color liners (inner mats) are acceptable and should not exceed 1/4 inch. Maximum total mat size, including thin liner is 3 1/2 inches.  Top mats must be white or off-white and covered to gallery standards with Plexiglas. Use of glass is not allowed.  All water-soluble work that is unvarnished must be matted and under Plexiglass.  All paintings must have sealed/finished backs and hanging wire (coated is recommended) that peaks at center 3 1/2 inches from the top of the frame. Mats must be clean, protected by Plexiglas, and have no debris between the Plexiglas and the mat.
 
Alternative
To allow artists to present their paintings in a more contemporary fashion the NMWS Exhibitions Prospectus includes the Alternative Presentation Category.  This category is applicable for paintings presented without Plexiglas, with the understanding that all requirements for Painting Entry, Applicable Materials and Presentation as described above in this Exhibition Prospectus have first been met.
 
Eligible supports for Alternative

  • Deep supports consist of 1”-2-1/2:“ thick, ready to hang “cradled” Aquabord™, Gessobord™ and/or hardwood panels with allowable paper securely attached and sealed with varnish.  If mounting paper to wood, it is recommended that the paper be protected from the acids in the hardwood support.  Golden recommends two (2) coats of GAC-100 to seal bare wood. Suitable glue such as PVA (poly-vinyl acetate) or soft gel (matte), is recommended to mount paper to wood so that it is both archival and secure. Go to:  Lineco Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) - BLICK art materials, or for  product information and technical details refer to Golden Artist Colors, Inc. | Gels and Mediums Tech Sheet .

  • Shallow supports consist of works on approved supports less than 1” deep (boards or panels), must be framed inside a “floater” frame or a regular frame with or without Plexiglas. If framing without plexiglass and using a mat,  both mat and painting must be varnished, see 2021-08 TS_Varnishing a Watermedia Painting and Mat.pdf (on NMWS Website) for guidance.   If an unvarnished mat is used with the painting, it must be behind Plexiglas. Presentation of unprotected or unsealed paper or mats with any painting is not permitted. 

  • Floated & Framed presentation is also acceptable. This is defined as paintings on approved deep or shallow supports or papers, that are unsealed or floated in a frame with or without a mat, behind Plexiglas (no glass).  This presentation can be used to show off the deckled edges of the paper.

**IMPORTANT: The Alternative Presentation is not an “anything goes/experimental category”.  The use of approved materials as described in the main Exhibition Prospectus, is required for all acceptable entries. This category is an expansion of presentation options for eligible water-media paintings without traditional matting and Plexiglas.
 
Wire: The hanging wires must be firmly attached to sides of frame, of heavyweight strength, and peak at 3-1/2" below the top of the frame. Use of coated wire is recommended.
 
Backs of paintings must be neatly finished: Backs of paintings in wood frames should be finished/sealed with clean paper dust covers, without rips, mars or writing. Cradled paintings with hanging eyelets and wires mounted entirely inside the back are exempt from dust covers.
 
Backs of paintings in metal frames may be: (your choice)

a) finished/sealed with clean, unmarked paper dust covers, without rips, using double-sided tape (no masking tape), OR

b) finished/sealed with white artists’ tape, covering the gap between foam core and frame, while neatly hiding exposed staples, clips, brads, or nails. The visible foam core should be otherwise clean, unmarked, and without ragged edges; OR

c) cut and insert a piece of clean, unmarked foam core, without ragged edges, so that it fits SNUGLY into the back of your painting, filling the space, hiding all staples, clips, brads or nails. The back of the foam core should be flush (even) with the back of the metal frame. Depending on the style of the metal frame, you may need to slightly notch the foam core to accommodate the hanging wire. The “filler" foam core can be adhered to the foam core back of the actual painting (inside and not visible) with double sided tape or glue, so the added foam core doesn't fall out.
 
***If the only foam core you have available at present is marred, has writing on it or is otherwise dented or disfigured, then you may wrap the foam core in brown paper, (like wrapping a gift) so that the visible foam core is completely covered and the paper wraps around it smoothly, with neat edges and corners. The foam core & paper covering should fit securely in the space in the back of your painting hiding hardware, except the hanging wire. Recommended, but not required at present, is to then use wide (2” or wider) artists' tape or brown paper tape, (no masking tape) with good adhesive, to "bridge the gap" between the back of the metal frame and the foam core, (covered with paper or not) to seal the "filler" foam core in place and provide a smoothly sealed painting back.***
 
No name plaques or other identification are allowed on front of frames.
 
Repair Fees: If the wire or frame needs to be adjusted or repaired after delivery to the venue, there may be a minimum $5 charge for repair.
 
Paintings selected by the guest juror (from digital files) for display in the exhibition, which are found, upon physical inspection by members of the NMWS Exhibition Committee, not to meet or conform to the Prospectus standards and guidelines, may be rejected and denied NMWS Exhibition entry.
 
QUESTIONS on PROSPECTUS or on UPLOADING PHOTOS AND REGISTRATION?

Contact NMWS-SC Exhibitions Chair
Karen Steinberg, 915-307-6383/ EMAIL kjsteinberg@aol.com
Or NMWS-SC File Manager
Rachel Murphree, 915-217-3698/EMAIL rcmurphree@outlook.com