Thinking about joining the Spokane Watercolor Society (SWS)?
We are a Federal 501c(3) non-profit organization approximately 80 members strong with members from across the United States but primarily from Spokane and the surrounding area. We currently meet in person and/or via zoom. Meetings begin at 10:00 am and are usually over before 12:30pm. Members have access to extra information through the "My SWS" portion of our website and through a member's only group page that is managed independently by a member of the Spokane Watercolor Society. Our website at www.spokanewatercolor.org remains the official source of information concerning Spokane Watercolor Society events.
We invite nonmembers to join us for one of our meetings to see what we are about. Request to attend here. We are a very welcoming group and enjoy meeting new watercolor enthusiasts.
Our ZOOM meetings and in-person meetings include social time where we get to chat with other artists and see what they are working on. This is also a time to meet and greet new members.
A short meeting follows the social time. During this meeting issues significant to Shows, Workshops and Membership are discussed. This time also includes a painting challenge event. The subject of the challenge painting can be found in the "My SWS" area. Members participating in the challenge have their names entered into a drawing for a gift certificate to Spokane Art Supply! Our meetings usually are followed by a demonstration/presentation by well-known artists. Some may even be from among our own membership. Members have access to past recorded presentations and demos on our private "My SWS" member pages.
SWS hosts juried shows each year. We invite an internationally renowned artist to both jury the National Spring Show and teach a workshop. In April of 2023 Iain Stewart taught the workshop and was the juror of our National Show. The guest workshop artists and juror for the National Show in 2024 is Soon Y Warren. A real highlight for our membership is being a part of a show or workshop and sharing the experience with friends and family. SWS reaches across the nation to host our national show each spring and the competition for winning in this show is especially keen - but what an honor to win an award in a national show! We encourage all our membership and nonmembers as well to participate with their finest works.
We work hard to keep our membership fees among the lowest you will find. New member registration fee is $25.00 plus annual renewal fee of $30.00. We have held our fees at this level for the past 6 years but inflation is forcing us to raise our annual fees next year to $40. Click on the Join/Renew tab for registration and payment information. (Online payments are slightly more - $32 and $55 respectively). After December 31, membership renewal will also include a late fee (set by the board of directors annually).
SWS offers a pathway to Signature Membership - if that is part of your goal in belonging to our organization - then you can find more information here. Being a signature member is no easy task but for those who become signature members it is well-deserved, high-recognition by some of the best artists in our nation.
Don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions about specific programs we offer or becoming a member.
Oral Carper (owcarper@gmail.com)
SWS President 2023
Our current Membership Chairperson is Kim Gardell. EMAIL: kgardell@gmail.com
