Participation Rules Le Venezie Watercolor Festival

Participation Rules

1. Eligibility

Open to watercolor artists and enthusiasts worldwide aged 18 and above.

2. Media Requirements

Artwork must consist of at least 90% water-based media (e.g., watercolor, ink).
Must be created on paper using watercolor techniques.

3. Artwork Size

Maximum size: 76cm × 56cm (2K) (larger works will be disqualified).
Recommended sizes: 56cm × 38cm (4K) or 38cm × 28cm (8K).

4. Submission Guidelines

Submit high-resolution JPG images

https://forms.gle/KfQSGn2THmjYFT6E7 uploading the files that must be name with your name and number

Example: MarcoRossi_1

5. Style & Categories

No restrictions on style—realistic, figurative, expressive, abstract, and experimental works are all welcome.
Categories include:
- Figures (portraits, groups, nudes)
- Landscapes
- Still life
- Flowers
- Experimental/Abstract
- Others (e.g., animals)
Originality: All works must be original and created solely by the artist—no reproductions or digital copies allowed.

Competition Theme

No theme restrictions—entries can include figures, landscapes, still lifes, animals, abstract works, and more. Each artist may submit up to three works.

Entry Fees

One work: $30 USD
Two works: $50 USD
Three works: $60 USD
Payment methods: PayPal associazionescambiartistici@gmail.com

Finalists are:

Responsible for their own shipping, framing*, insurance, and logistics costs.
*artists must send their work framed, instructions for shipping will be sent to all finalists.

Key Dates

1. Registration Period

Opens: March 1, 2025
Deadline: September 1, 2025

2. How to Register

fill in the registration form here

https://forms.gle/qgWSkb3vCjjGgspJ6 uploading the files that must be name with your name and number
Example: MarcoRossi_1

3. Selection Process

Preliminary Round (Online Jury Review)

September 1–8, 2025
International judges select finalists based on submitted digital images.
Shortlisted works qualify for the Palazzo dei Trecento exhibition in Italy and the final round.
Finalists receive an official shortlist digital certificate.

Final Round & Exhibition

Finalists who want to exhibit must send their original works to Italy within 3rd of October. This doesn't influence the final results.
Final Judging: September 20 to October 10, 2025
Winners Announced: October 11, 2025 (Opening ceremony in Italy)
Exhibition Opening: October 11, 2025, at Palazzo dei Trecento, Treviso

Awards and Prizes

The competition consists of two stages: the Preliminary Round and the Final Round.

Preliminary Round: A distinguished panel of 13 international judges will review high-resolution images of submitted artworks in an online selection process. Shortlisted entries will qualify for the on-site exhibition at Palazzo Trecento, Italy, and advance to the Final Round.
Final Round: Held offline during the exhibition, this round will determine the Top Awards and the Category Prizes for the competition.

Recognition and Rewards

Certificates

Shortlisted artists (Preliminary Round) will receive a Shortlisted Certificate, issued by the Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival Committee.
Exhibited artists (Final Round) will receive an Exhibition Certificate
Award winners will receive cash prizes, prestigious Award Certificates,

Award Categories | 2025 Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival

1. Top Awards – William Turner Theme Awards

The highest honors of the competition, selected from all shortlisted works:

First Prize (1 winner): $2,000
Second Prize (2 winners): $800 each
Third Prize (3 winners): $500 each

2. Category Awards (Non-monetary; winners receive an official certificate) digital or in paper for those present at the exhibition

Each category will have the following recognitions:

First Prize (1 winner)
Second Prize (2 winners)
Third Prize (3 winners)
Honorable Mention (10 winners)

Competition Categories:

Figurative & Portrait
Landscape
Still Life
Flowers
Exploratory (Abstract)
Other Categories

Note: All cash prizes are in USD. Certificates will feature exclusive designs commemorating the 250th anniversary of William Turner’s birth.

For any inquiries, contact the festival organizers via email at leveneziefestival@gmail.com

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Jurors

1. Jayne Barry (Ireland)

A key figure in the Irish Watercolor Society, founded in 1870, Jayne Barry contributes to the organization’s annual exhibition, which has reflected Irish social and artistic traditions for over 150 years. Under the patronage of the Royal Duke of Rathne, the society has attracted extensive support from distinguished artists and collectors.

2. Marina Mian (Italy)

Passionate about painting since childhood, she has worked with numerous art studios and institutions across Rome and Veneto, participating in major exhibitions such as the Spoleto International Art Exhibition, the Venice Biennale, and the Rome Art Festival. Marina Mian directs the artistic section of pictorial art promoted by the Monastery of Marango, founded in 1984. She collaborates with the initiative «Beauty seekers» a three-year initiative in collaboration with UN agencies and international artists, in which international artists promote humanistic values through art.

3. Manuel Alpañés Ramos (Spain)

President of the Spanish Watercolor Association (AEDA), Manuel Alpañés Ramos is dedicated to the education and promotion of watercolor art.

4. David Gutiérrez Delgado (Spain)

Founder and curator of the Almenara Collection and the Almenara Art Prize, David Gutiérrez Delgado is a key figure in the Spanish watercolor community.

5. Sandra Miranda Pattin (Italy)

Sandra Miranda Pattin is a renowned artist, curator, and founder of Chiasso Perduto, an artistic residency in Florence, Italy. She also founded ArtSEEN Journal, an international art magazine and TV channel. As the former Project Director of the Florence Biennale, she curated exhibitions and prestigious awards for artists such as Marina Abramović, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, David Hockney, and Gilbert & George. Sandra has curated over 50 exhibitions worldwide and has received numerous accolades, including First Prize for Photography from the Mantua Chamber of Commerce.

6. Kara Lysandra Ross (USA)

Kara Lysandra Ross is the Co-Chair and COO of the Art Renewal Center (ARC), a leading organization in the realism movement. She holds a degree in art history from Drew University and is a specialist in 19th-century French and British academic painting. She co-edited the Catalogue Raisonné of William Bouguereau and has worked with major auction houses, including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonhams, as an art authentication expert. She also pioneered ARC’s live exhibitions, showcased at prestigious venues such as the European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) and the Salmagundi Club.

7. Angela Swanson Jones (USA)

Angela Swanson Jones is the Director of the ARC International Art Salon Competition. She holds a master’s degree from the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, and has contributed to Fine Art Connoisseur. She co-authored several books, including Desperately Young: Artists Who Died in Their Twenties and A Dictionary of Utah Fine Artists. She is currently compiling a catalogue of Heinrich Hofmann's works.

8. Raffaello Padovan (Italy)

Raffaello Padovan is the Chairman of the Italian Cultural and Art Exchange Association. An expert in European painting techniques, he has served as an art historian, critic, and consultant. With a master’s degree from the Venice Academy of Fine Arts, he has contributed to cultural heritage preservation and international art diplomacy。

9. Gómez-Cambronero (Spain)

A Spanish civil engineer, painter, and sculptor, Gómez-Cambronero is the founder of the Spanish Target Painting Competition.

10. Ismael Terriza Reguillos (Spain)

Ismael Terriza Reguillos is a renowned Spanish journalist, writer, and cultural promoter, as well as a co-founder of the Spanish Target Painting Competition.

11. Tanya Atanasova (Belgium)

Tanya Atanasova is a Bulgarian-born realist painter based in Belgium. She is the President and Founder of the FiKVA Foundation, which supports contemporary figurative and realist artists. Educated at the National Academy of Arts (Bulgaria) and Sint Lucas Academy of Art (Belgium), she has curated numerous artistic initiatives across Europe.

12. Pinglong (China)

Pinglong is an executive director of the Shanghai Artists Association and a leading figure in Chinese watercolor art. He serves as Vice President of the Shanghai Sino-Foreign Cultural and Art Exchange Association and has received multiple national awards, including the Gold Medal at the National Watercolor Sketch Exhibition.

13. Huang Youwei (China)

A distinguished member of the Chinese Artists Association, Huang Youwei is a leading watercolorist and educator. He founded his watercolor studio in Beijing in 1999, pioneering a new realism style in Chinese watercolor painting. His works, often depicting Beijing Hutongs, wildflowers, and streams, have gained widespread acclaim.

14. Laurin McCracken (USA)

Award-winning artist and architect with degrees from Rice and Princeton Universities. His watercolor paintings have been exhibited internationally, including in China, Thailand, Belgium, and are held in major museum collections. A signature member of several prestigious art societies as AWS and NWS, Laurin has also held leadership roles in both the art and architecture worlds.

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