Check out what these PleinAir Salon artists and jurors have to say about winning art competitions, including what catches a juror’s eye and how to put your best foot forward.
Advice: How to Win Art Competitions
What Catches a Juror’s Eye?
“A combination of virtuosity and intelligence, offering insight as well as keen perception and confident control.” — Mark D. Mitchell, curator
• “Original concepts, not imitative or a copy
• Good drawing
• Accurate values
• An interesting composition
• Sensitive color, not garish or crude”
—Skip Whitcomb, artist
“When I’m judging an art competition, first impressions are important. Whether I’m looking at the work in person or online, the emotion given by an art piece is essential.” — Richard Montoux, curator
“First and foremost, I look for pieces that show a sense of beauty or are pleasing to look at. Then I look for pieces that show the artist understands how to convey his or her intention. From there, I delve into looking at how the artist achieved their objective.” — D. Eleinne Basa, artist
“When I’m judging a show, the first thing I look for are paintings that stand out in some way visually from the others. An artist’s responsiveness to the subject and a strong emotional component or a unique point of view are qualities that winning paintings always have. And of course, excellent technique and strong composition, as well as an honest use of the artist’s chosen medium, are crucial elements.” — Peggy Immel, artist
“A great painting goes beyond just great technical ability. I must feel the intention of the artist and the choices he or she made to direct the viewer through the painting, hold their attention, and make them feel the emotion in the artist’s heart. The reason for doing the painting must come through.” — Kevin Macpherson, artist
How to Put Your Best Foot Forward
“Take your time and choose a submission that represents the best of who you are as an artist and the direction you’re headed.” — Mark D. Mitchell, curator
• Be original, never copy.
• Keep an open mind, and be tenacious. If your work is rejected by one judge or show jury, the next one may give you an award.
• Be willing to accept rejection; it’s never personal. Keep coming back.
• If jurying is by photograph, make sure to submit a high-quality image that accurately represents your work.
• Take the work seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s a lot more fun that way!”
—Skip Whitcomb, artist
“Carefully select the artwork you enter based on the audience of the competition.”
— Richard Montoux, curator
“Always enter your best work, photographed properly. A lot of times I see great paintings, but the photographs have glare or aren’t cropped. Professionalism is so important in showing your work.” — D. Eleinne Basa, artist
For landscape painters > “It’s easy to be influenced historically as to what constitutes a landscape painting. From Corot to Diebenkorn, these artists were making art for their time, and were therefore directly influenced by their environments. Don’t be afraid to lean into contemporary subjects and narratives.” — Michael J. Ruple, aux gallery director
“Entering a competition can be intimidating, but it’s one of the best ways to learn how your work stacks up against that of other artists, especially if you enter often and can receive comments from the judges.
“Different judges will look for different things. A painting that doesn’t receive recognition from one judge may be the next judge’s favorite piece. In fact, even the same judge will have a slightly different opinion on any given day. A good mantra is ‘Enter your best work, and enter often.’” — Peggy Immel, artist
About the PleinAir® Salon:
In the spirit of the French Salon created by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, this annual online art competition, with 11 monthly cycles, leading to the annual Salon Grand Prize winners, is designed to stimulate artistic growth through competition. The competition rewards artists with $50,000 in cash prizes and exposure of their work, with the winning painting featured on the cover of PleinAir® Magazine.
Winners in each monthly competition may receive recognition and exposure through PleinAir Magazine’s print magazine, e-newsletters, websites, and social media. Winners of each competition will also be entered into the annual competition. The Annual Awards will be presented live at the next Plein Air Convention & Expo.
The next round of the PleinAir Salon has begun so hurry, as this competition ends on the last day of the month. Enter your best art in the PleinAir Salon here.
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