Ten local artists of the Pikes Peak region of Colorado founded the Society in 1986 to promote excellence in watercolor media and to encourage artistic achievement in the community. Today the P.P.W.S. continues to promote and encourage watercolor through its sponsorship of exhibitions, scholarships, workshops, and its support for the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and other local arts organizations and educational institutions. The P.P.W.S. has fifty members, all living in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. Artists enter through a juried selection process that evaluates the artist's work, resume, and exhibition record. Works by Society members appear regularly in national and international exhibitions and publications.
Members teach art classes, give workshops and seminars locally and abroad.
The Society sponsors an annual Member's Winter Show in November - December at The Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. And a Spring Watermedia Exhibition which has grown from a small regional show to a National juried show. Educational projects of the P.P.W.S. include workshops by nationally recognized artists, scholarships for high school and college art students, events to benefit other Colorado Springs arts organizations, and an annual artist's retreat at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Juror for Selection was Sondra Freckelton. Juror for Awards was Carolyn Hoyle.