is it good to enter exhibitions and competitions

belle · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: Newcastle

I've emailed a few sites and asked to be on mailing list. If you have entered a competition you usually end up on the list and even, in the case of the Moran portrait prize, you get sent a Christmas card with one of Gretel's (?) paintings on it. Very nice.

noodles · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Perth

hey ...anyone

my first time on this forum thing...

how does one get invites to enter shows and competitions etc...??? is it simply a case of joining gallery mailing lists online or is there something i'm missing??!!

cheers
noods

greenfrog · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 795 Location: Fairfield

Just look for them in the Art Almanac or any other Art magazine or search this site and the web for competitions.
Most I have seen don't need an invite, just apply, pay for fee, either send in a pic or take it in on the day they ask and see how you go.

myriadness · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 53 Location: Sydney

I guess I'm about to play devil's advocate here but I just don't think the quality of art work is always that good in the comps I've seen lately. I know an artist has to start somewhere but I'd think seriously about just throwing your work into every comp that comes along. In my opinion, some of those prizes are like giant garage sales and it's not just the quality of the work but also the way the pieces are hung, often too close together, crooked and badly placed so that works battle with each other for the viewers attention. I'm talking more about the council/art centre prizes, but also so called prestigious prizes sometimes surprise me with the lack of quality on display - last years Portia Geach for example. honestly, I wonder how galleries would be impressed if you had a litany of art prizes up your sleeve given the shonkiness that goes on. There are good comps though. The best prize that I always go to every year is the Dobell prize for drawing. The Moran Portrait Prize was also very good.

My advice is to be selective and maybe visit the prizes before you enter them. Take your time, develop your work and remember - it's not a race!

Jodi B · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 593 Location: Katherine

Guess what, guess what!!!
I just entered 6 of my paintings into the Show and overwhelmed to have picked up
1st in Abstract / mixed media
1st in Acrylic landscape
Overall Peoples Choice
3rd in Oil Landscape
3rd in Acrylic Landscape
Special Mention in Oil Landscape

I know the show is far from prestigious but I'm happy to be able to put something on my CV and more importantly it was great exposure.

Jasmine my 5yo won 3rd Prize in her age group for her painting and Ami my 11yo won first prize in her photography age group.

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3214

winnierose · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 169 Location: Melbourne

Congratulations Jodi, I agree with devilbliss. Your work is lovely.

Jodi B · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 593 Location: Katherine

Awwww, Thanks guys

winnierose · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 169 Location: Melbourne

Myri" great advise. And Jodi. congratulations. You revel in it girl !!!!!!!!

Jodi B · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 593 Location: Katherine

It took a while to build up the courage to put my work 'out there' but now I'm loving the local exhibitions and competions - AND I promise this'll be my last brag for a while.
I just found out I won a nice big BBQ, Outdoor Setting and $500.00 for designing a logo for the Katherine Art Prize and recieved the most People's choice votes at the opening night for my Kakadu painting.

I'm sure it's mostly a 'small town thing' and I'd get eaten alive anywhere else but probably the best place to get a kick start.

gggraph

Doesn't matter how small the town is - getting a vote of confidence from the inhabitants is always a good thing!

Well done.

Grant

Pamela Scherf

I find it's best not to paint for a particular competition but keep painting your passion and go ahead and enter if you have something you would like to enter. This is what I did recently in the Royal Queensland Show (EKKA to us here) as I usually do to advertise my portraiture not expecting anything else as I didn't even have the work for sale and surprise of surprises I won the Champion Portrait of Show with some very complimentary comments from the judges. This recognition goes very well on the CV when people are considering whether to consider you for a commission. They feel more assured about your work and also don't quibble so much about the reasonable price you feel you are asking.
You must keep entering. I thought at one time I'd never win any awards but now I have about 20 under my belt and am now aiming for the big ones.
Pam Smile

KarlH · Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Melbourne

I entered a small painting in a local art comp called "good nature" at the Red Earth Gallery here in Mooroolbark Melbourne.

Last year I won the best local artist with the bulldozer I use as my icon. I was stunned to win the best local artist this year also Very Happy

.

I knew I was being cheeky when I entered a painting of a chainsaw in a nature comp but the judges saw(pun Very Happy

) past it. I will try post it when I get photo.

Boris01 · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 228 Location: Western Australia

Im gonna reply to this old thread on the basis of a conversation I had with a friend a couple days ago

Here in Perth - NO , its not worth entering art competitions ( despite having won a few )

The friend I was talking to teaches art , and this year 14 of his students won 17 prizes and commendations between them so far , all after attending one course

some people may look at it as "hey , he must be a good teacher" , I wouldnt know having not done one of his courses , but seeing the quality of the work turned out I'd beg to differ anyway .
All I see is 14 rank amateurs sweeping up cash and awards that us struggling proffessional artists need to survive ( I know , get a day job , paint better , etc etc )

It seems that here in WA theres either a huge lack of judges who can actually judge art , or a whole heap of nepotism ( I know thats not the right word but I cant be bothered , its late & Im angry ) , or that all these competitions have no real "conditions of entry"

I should gather together a whole heap of people , make a bunch of cardboard cows and enter them in next years royal agricultural show , who cares if theyre not real cows or we're not real breeders , if we flood the comps they'll have no choice but to take us seriously !
( thats a horrible analogy )

It seems the bar is set soooo low as to quality of work ( hell , to enter a $5000 art competition , you don't even need to think of yourself as an artist , just as long as you slap some rubbish on a cheap canvas and pose around all indignant if anyone dares question you ) and the quality of the judging sooo pathetic that it looks pointless for any proffessional artists to even bother

bah , what a week , this is after another friend suggested I give him a couple of my small paintings of a certain series ( he likes them alot , but " you know , wouldnt pay that much for them" ) and he'll take em to Bali , pay some guy to copy them , then come back and "sell em in galleries for hundreds"

I think Ive found a competition that we can ALL enter - Annual Prize for the most Frustrating , Underaprecciated , Low-paying Pointless Job Going . Prize goes to ...
Artists !

Lucky I paint cause I enjoy it and Im proud of the work I do , and some strange people give me money for it . plus I need something to do while the veggies grow

rant over

Boris01 · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 228 Location: Western Australia

oh, plus the guy that emailed me after booking art lessons , cancelling after the first one , not talking to me for a year , and now wants me to teach him exactly how I paint " shadows of clouds on water , ripples and water reflections"

should I tell him it'll take 18 years of trial and error to teach him that , or should I just teach him how to paint in my exact style and to sign my signiature then bump myself off ?

bah humbug