About NWS

With an exciting vision and a new appreciation for an old art form, the California Water Color Society was founded in 1920. As the country grew, painters found inspiration in the expansive western lands and were, in their way, pioneers of a new spirit.

The name of the society has changed twice since that time: first in 1967, to California National Watercolor Society; then in 1975, when the members voted to become simply the National Watercolor Society.

The first exhibition was held at the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art, which later became the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The first twenty-five annual exhibitions were held there. From 1946 through the early 1960’s, they were often at the Pasadena Art Museum but also in Santa Barbara, San Diego, and the San Francisco area. From the late 1960’s through the 1970’s, Laguna Beach Museum of Art was most often the host gallery, in addition to the Otis Art Institute and the Palm Springs Desert Museum. Throughout the 1980’s to the present time, the annual shows have been held at, in alternate years, the Brea Civic Cultural Center and the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton.

Though the Annual Exhibition is the most important event, with an extensive illustratesd catalog to accompany it, various other activities have been planned during the year. Throughout the 1950’s a biennial drawing and print show was presented. Most years there is a show only for Signature Members. In 1956 the Exhibit of California and Canadian Watercolours was held in both countries. In 1960 Mexico City hosted La Sociedad de Acuarelistes de California. The past presidents were honored in 1976 and 1987 with shows at the Brand Library Art Center.

Although NWS is obviously an exhibiting society, it is also an educating society. The slides of its annual exhibitions are available through a rental program. Its travel shows visit collegiate and public galleries and museums throughout the United States and Canada. Special written material are often prepared for these institutions. In conjunction with the annual exhibitions, lectures and orientation programs are made available to docents of the host museums. To broaden the collections of watercolors accessible to the public, the Society donated twenty-five paintings spanning the early years (1925–1954) to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The selections from 1955 to 1980 were on loan to the Laguna Beach Museum of Art until 1989.

As an additional service to the public, an Associates membership category has been implemented. People who are interested in watercolor, or art in general, may become Associates and attend openings, shows, and Society events. They receive all the NWS publications and may submit work for the juried shows for the same fees as Signature Members. This membership provides an opportunity for involved patronage by those who wish to appreciate, encourage, and support the efforts of the society.

In recent years, in an effort to reach members throughout the country, regional representatives have been organized to stay in touch with broad activities in California. It is a way to plan shows in different areas and to find new locations for travel shows, which are selected from annual exhibitions. Regional invitational shows have been held in Colorado and Arizona.

In January 1993 the NWS exhibited, for the first time, watercolors from its permanent collection, featuring award-winning works from the 1955 to 1985 Annual Exhibitions. The show was held at the County of Los Angeles Century Gallery in Sylmar, California.

In 1999, the National Watercolor Society found and purchased a building at 915 South Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, California, 90731-3201. We hope to make this the Society’s center for offices, gallery, workshops, and a place to house our growing permanent collection. We are reaching out to the art lovers of the world with a fundraising campaign to realize this dream.