Short Description
Quite possibly the oldest form of painting, watercolor persists today, defying narrow categorization and broad stereotype. Practiced for centuries in concept development preliminary to finished paintings made in oil or other scale-worthy durable media, watercolor also found favor with botanists, illustrators, and portraitists, and was applied to varied and countless surfaces.
The nature of the media itself represents a delicate and dictatorial transparency, fluidity, and a potential for expressive spontaneity. This not only makes it an ideal vehicle for visual art, but also one of training, intensity, philosophy, and play for any who practice it. Where an artist can easily dominate other painting media, forcing a will through viscous layers into a work of art like taming a wild horse, with watercolor there is dialog, compromise, and undeniable forthrightness. In this way the artist practicing watercolor works with a tiger in the room.
This exhibit has no defined expectation for type, subject, or style of work to be considered or selected. Submissions can range from the most traditional to the most conceptual or experimental. The only criteria is that works must feature watercolor, gouache, tempera, ink wash, or other similar painting media as their primary (but not exclusive) media.
Eligibility
AQUACHROME is open to everyone. The only limitation is that entries must represent original works which feature watercolor, gouache, ink wash, or other similar painting media as their primary (but not exclusive) media.
Open to all traditional and non-traditional approaches to watercolor. Media such as ink wash and gouache that are used thinly or are otherwise applied or appear akin to watercolor are acceptable for this project, as are other media used in combination with watercolor as the primary media.
Manifest’s carefully assembled juries change from project to project, and have no collective predisposition towards any particular kind or style of art.
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
Each participating exhibitor will receive a $50 honorarium. The honorarium has no strings attached (other than full participation in the relevant exhibit). It is a modest thank-you for collaborating with us as we chart our future. However, we realize it may also be helpful as practical support for shipping, framing, delivery, or travel to attend the Manifest exhibit reception events.
Since Manifest’s 13th season the annual Grand Jury Award has recognized one exhibited work each year with a significant jury-determined cash prize, representing the ‘best of the best’ shown in Manifest’s many exhibits that year. To mark our transition into Manifest’s 20th season as an arts organization by artists, for artists, we made a major a change.
The Grand Jury Award format now results in the awarding of $1,000 to one work during each of our nine exhibition periods. This expands our support from one to up to nine exhibiting artists each year, and allocates 80% more funding to recognize the merits of exhibited works.
For each exhibition period the winner will be determined by a re-jury process selecting from among the pool of all top-scoring works from each show’s initial jury. This process will apply to all shows during our 22nd season beginning on September 26, 2025, and applies to each exhibit through August 2026, including this one
Entry Fee
Entry Fee: $45 for up to three entries. $5 per each additional entry.
Location
Ohio, United States
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 3 July 2025
- Exhibition Dates: September 26, 2025 – October 24, 2025
Website Link: https://www.manifestgallery.org/aquachrome/
