American watercolor society

DEFINITION

Known as A.W.S, the American Watercolor Society began in 1866 when a group of eleven painters met at the studio of Gilbert Burling in the New York University Building to form ???The American Painters in Water Color.??? Fellow artist Samuel Colman was elected the first president. Catherine Altvater was the first woman to hold an elected office in the Society.The newly formed society held its first exhibition in the fall of 1867, and these annual exhibitions have continued to the present time. In 1878, the name was changed to its current one, and was incorporated in 1903. Active members number approximately 500, with approximately 2,000 associates. Among them are/have been William Hart, Frederic Whitaker, Eliot Clark, Joe Frassetta, Cheryl Criss, Izzie Barth, and Dean Mitchell. There is an annual juried exhibition open to anyone. Source: "AWS" Catalogue of Thirty First International Exhibition: American Watercolor Society" <br><br>The A W A&#39;s logoThe American Watercolor Society (AWS) is an artists&#39; organization founded in New York City in 1866. It currently has about 500 active members and 2000 associates. The central activity of the AWS is its annual juried exhibition. This exhibit is open to all artists ? members and non-members ? worldwide. Jurors award the painters of selected works more than $30,000 and a number of medals. Works in all aquamedia are eligible, including watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, and egg tempera.Also see the National Watercolor Society (USA) and signature.