Our journey to the International Watercolour Exhibition Fremantle began with an out-of-the-blue invitation from the Italian Watercolour Society, to send 5 paintings to their International Watercolour Exhibition in Bellagio, Italy eight years ago. It took two seconds to say yes and within a short time our five chosen paintings were on their way to join the other eight countries in this stunning part of Italy. It was also a wonderful opportunity to visit Bellagio where we met and became firm friends with our fellow Italian artists……

Since then, we have taken part in four more International Watercolour Exhibitions in Italy, one in China and we have visited the International Watercolour Society’s 1^st Olympiart hosted by IWS India in Delhi. In 2018 we were the guest exhibitors at the annual exhibition of the European Confederation of Watercolour Societies which was hosted by the Polish Watercolour Society – a great honour indeed.

A suggestion from Joseph Zbukvic and one of our Italian friends asking when we were going to hold our own International Watercolour Exhibition were the final pushes we needed – and Fremantle, being WA’s epicentre of culture and the arts, was the obvious place to hold what we believe to be the first exhibition of its kind in Australia. We are extremely grateful to the City of Fremantle for their support, enthusiasm and encouragement……..

The response from Watercolour Societies at home and around the world was staggering – we have 18 different Societies from 18 countries represented in the IWEF. Many of the artists exhibiting are world-class exponents of the watercolour medium, award winners, masters in their own countries. All exhibiting artists share the same sensitivity and admiration for this demanding, versatile, unpredictable and fascinating medium. We are all committed to the promotion of the art of watercolour both at home and internationally.

We hope you enjoy the on-line catalogue. We hope you share with the artists their love of the medium. We hope you end up saying “I didn’t know you could do that with watercolour”.

Thank you and enjoy……..

Susan Payne
President
The Watercolour Society of WA Inc.

AUSTRALIA

The Watercolour Society of Western Australia

The Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre, Alice Springs

The South Australian Watercolour Society

The Watercolour Society of Victoria

Guest Artists from Australia

BELGIUM

Aquarel Institut Belgie

CHINA

Beijing Ching Hua University