PWS was organized in 1974 by a group of watercolor painters, all students of Alfred Dunn at the University of Idaho. Some of the earliest members included Linda Wallace, Kay Montgomery, Junette  Dahmen, Flip Kleffner and Malcolm Renfrew. 

PWS has flourished for forty-two years with a continual membership of thirty to forty artists. In 2016 the group was honored with the City of Moscow’s annual Mayor’s Arts Award for “outstanding achievements in arts education.”  PWS’  long history of working with other artists and community sponsors to provide low-cost workshops, free art opportunities for children, and public art exhibits was, in part, the reason for this award.

PWS members reside throughout the Palouse region and beyond, including the Lewis-Clark Valley and Spokane. Members have ranged in age from ten years to more than one hundred.

Our mission is to encourage and promote watercolor artists and to foster an awareness of water media on the Palouse.  Meetings provide an opportunity to learn from each other in a nurturing and educational environment, and to socialize. We critique each others’ work, view demonstrations on art topics, and share information from workshops. PWS also has an extensive lending library of art magazines, instructional books and DVDs. 

Visitors are always welcome at our monthly meetings, held at 10 am on the first Wednesday of each month.  Meetings are held in the conference room of the United Church of Moscow, located at 123 W 1^st Street in Moscow.