121st International Exhibition of Works on Paper

Juror Statements

It is never an enviable task being a juror, particularly when one has to choose just eighty-five pieces from well over four hundred entries. Also evaluating the paintings in a digital format, rather than seeing them in reality brings its own difficulties.

I was delighted to see that my favourite medium of watercolour, with its endearing qualities of translucency and expressiveness, predominated. Sadly, it’s a medium that seems far less fashionable here in the UK these days. However, I also decided to select work in other media, which I hoped would make for an interesting and varied exhibition. My main criteria was to choose work that showed a mastery of drawing, composition, colour and technique. But besides this, one of the most important qualities that I also look for is the personal statement of a painter; it is this that distinguishes his or her work from others.

It has been a pleasure and honour to judge the 2021 International Exhibition and I would like to thank the Philadelphia Watercolor Society for inviting me. The submissions were of an extremely high standard and if your work was not included, please don’t be discouraged. All the artists who entered should be congratulated. Wishing the Society every success with the exhibition.

Mary Whyte

Juror of Awards

It is always an honor to be asked to jury the work of one’s accomplished peers. This year’s PWCS’s international exhibition marks some of the finest examples of watercolor artists working in the world today, and jurying the work was both a privilege and a challenge. The submissions were impressive, and all deserve recognition for their creativity, skill and innovation.