Welcome to Women in Watercolor’s blog newsletter, Women in Watercolor Working Together!

6th Annual WIW International Juried Competition 2025

Entry is OPEN!

Entry closes June 8, 2025

REMEMBER

You can enter ONCE IN EACH CATEGORY, so a total of FIVE (5) paintings may be entered in this year’s show, and ALL of them can WIN an award!!

There are no restrictions on size, what year the painting was completed or if it has been entered in other shows outside of Women in Watercolor.

Make sure you read the FULL prospectus before entering. You can find all of the details in both the prospectus and the frequently asked questions section on the website.

Prospectus: https://womeninwatercolor.com/women-in-watercolor-prospectus/

FAQ Page: https://womeninwatercolor.com/frequently-asked-questions-faq/

Please do your best to choose which category you think is most appropriate for your painting. Remember you can enter up to five paintings, one in each category, so try to pick something that fits best for each one. You can see a description of each category in the prospectus and more questions answered on the FAQ page on the WIW website.

Don’t wait, enter today!

https://womeninwatercolor.com/2025-international-juried-competition/

The FULL PROSPECTUS for the 2025 contest is up on the website NOW.
Over $17,000 in cash prizes, plus thousands more in merchandise prizes and awards!

https://womeninwatercolor.com/women-in-watercolor-prospectus/

Meet the 2025 Awards Judges

You can see more about them on the website: https://womeninwatercolor.com/2025-awards-judges/

How to Enter the WIW International Competition

Directions for Entering WIW 2025

Thank you for your interest in entering the 6th Annual Women in Watercolor International Juried Competition. Here are detailed directions for how to enter the competition!

FIRST: Read the FULL Prospectus on the website and make sure your entries follow ALL of the rules for entry!

1. Go to the Café entry website: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=15222

2. Click “APPLY NOW”. It will bring you to the login page. If you have entered the WIW Juried show in the past you should already have an account; sign in with your username and password. If you don’t know it you can go to “forgot username or password” on that page to get it.

If you don’t have an account yet, click “sign up for free” and set up your new account. Do not set up a new account if you have one from before.

3. Agree to the rules and questions and click save.

4. Click “My portfolio” and then “Add Media” to upload your new painting images into your Café portfolio.

5. Once your images are in your portfolio then click “Apply to Calls” at the top of the screen and you can enter “Women in Watercolor” in the search bar and it will bring you to the 6th Annual Women in Watercolor International Juried Competition.

6. Pick the images you want to enter and click “Save application”.

Remember you can enter FIVE painting, ONE in each category. Make sure you enter them all before you checkout!

7. Choose which category each image will be entered into. They each have to be in a different category and you can enter up to 5 paintings total. Click “save category” and you are ready to checkout.

Congratulations and good luck!

Tips for Photographing a Still Life

By Clare Barboza from Poppy Bee Surfaces

If you’re a painter looking to photograph a still life as reference for your next masterpiece, don’t worry—you don’t need to be a professional photographer. A few simple techniques will help you create images with depth, texture, and clarity, perfect for working from in the studio.

Here’s how to set yourself up for success:

1. Start With Your Scene

Begin by choosing a surface and a backdrop. A simple tabletop works beautifully. I recommend something with texture (like wood, linen, or stone) to add interest without overwhelming your subject. Place your setup near a large window so natural light flows in from one side. This directional light creates beautiful shadows and highlights that give the still life dimension.
It’s important that you also turn off all other lights in the room to avoid unwanted color casts and differing light temperatures. Let the window light do all the work!

2. Incorporate Layers

Great still life photography—just like great painting—often has layers that lead the eye around the composition. Think of layers in two ways:

• Literal layers: Fabric, wooden boards, paper, etc– all add texture and visual interest and can be placed underneath and around the items in your composition. These elements can create a sense of storytelling and atmosphere.
• Spatial layers: Objects placed at different distances from the camera. This creates depth and prevents the image from looking flat.

3. Vary Heights and Textures

Objects of different heights help fill out the frame and keep things visually balanced. Don’t be afraid to stack books, bowls, or boxes under objects to get them where you want. Also, including some negative space can help the overall composition.

4. Keep It Simple

You don’t need a pile of props. Sometimes less is more. A single vase, a handful of fruit, or a simple flower arrangement can be stunning if composed well.

5. Use a Tripod (If You Have One)

A tripod keeps your camera steady, especially helpful if you’re shooting in soft window light, which may require a slower shutter speed. It also frees up your hands to tweak your arrangement between shots.

6. Check Your Focus

Make sure your main subject is sharp. Use manual focus or tap the screen (if shooting with a phone) to set focus exactly where you want it.

Final Thought: Photographing a still life for painting reference is really about setting the stage: light, texture, and thoughtful arrangement. Once you learn to “see” your scene like this, it becomes a fun part of the creative process. So take your time, play with the setup, and enjoy the quiet satisfaction of building a beautiful composition from everyday objects.

More About Clare Barboza and Poppy Bee Surfaces

We are thrilled to announce that Poppy Bee Surfaces is going to sponsor a Merchandise Award for this years WIW Competition!

They make absolutely amazing photography backdrops to use in your painting photography setups. Clare also has online photography classes to learn to take your own photographs and how to use your camera better. It’s a membership that includes access to a library of short classes, monthly photo challenges, an online community and twice monthly Zoom meetings where you can ask questions and get feedback about your work.

Website: https://poppybeesurfaces.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poppybeesurfaces/photos

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppybeesurfaces

Photography Classes: https://poppybeesurfaces.com/pages/online-classes

I personally (Lynn D. Pratt) own her backdrops and can say they are amazing. I have also taken a multiple day in-person photography class with her and it made a huge difference in my photography and still life setup skills! If you already photograph your own reference photos or are looking to start doing so, I highly recommend checking Poppy Bee out!

Members Gallery

Don’t forget to check out our Members Gallery to see work from ALL of our amazing members. If you are not a member yet, and would like to join us, CLICK HERE for more info!

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Edited by Lynn D. Pratt

Women in Watercolor was created to help encourage, support, and promote the outstanding women that are working in this medium on an international level.

Through online competitions, and in-person events we will work together to build each other up, learn from each other and increase our individual and overall success.

Thank you for supporting the Women in Watercolor!