Annual Juried Exhibition:
Watercolor Ohio 2023

Open to OWS members, this competitive juried exhibition is a showcase for the talent, diversity and energy of artists working in water soluble mediums: watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache and egg tempera. Awards of cash and materials totaling thousands of dollars makes this one of the premier art exhibits in the State of Ohio.  This year's exhibition was displayed at the Mansfield Art Center in Mansfield, Ohio from July 9 through August 13, 2023.

A Travel Exhibition of 32 of the paintings, including alll of the award winners, will be on display at venues in Sidney, Findlay and Piqua, Ohio after the initial showing in Mansfield.

Juror's Statement:

Stan Miller

The high quality of submissions for this year’s 2023 Watercolor Ohio Exhibition made it difficult for me to select the accepted entries. I viewed all the paintings numerous times before permitting myself to have any strong opinions. So often those paintings that initially grab your attention will fade in their impact after repeated viewings. As well, those paintings that are soft and quiet with their message often grow stronger with repeated observation. Some paintings emphasize a particular part, others have no particular point of emphasis. Technically one seeks and looks for evidence of mastery of the medium, clarity of execution and authority of expression. In the end, we want a painting that is creative and diverse and yet balanced and unified. Ideally, at the highest level, we seek a work of art that speaks to all of humanity, our human condition, a work of art that steps around the trendy and stands the test of time. I enjoyed seeing the varieties of energy and expression from the poetic abstractionist to the patient novelist in love with detail and description.

This year’s exhibition represents the best in watercolor painting to be found within the United States. I’m proud and honored to have been invited to participate in this event and I hope everyone enjoys the show!