Art Competitions - A Good Measuring Stick!

Even though the process of getting a painting juried into an art show is subjective, it is one way to demonstrate your success as an artist.

Getting your artwork into a show  can help you determine how viewers read your work. If your artwork is accepted then someone thought that it was good enough.

In the past, when my work did not get juried into a show, I usually cried as I drove myself home. The sting of rejection was horrible and I wore my heart upon my sleeve! Now, I don't take it personally. I realize that my artwork can still be of a high quality and not make it into a competition. Whether or not your painting gets in a show depends on many factors. Here are some of the criteria that a juror/judge might use:

• Size. Many venues instruct their judge to jury in specific sizes of paintings. Example: maybe a huge amount of tiny paintings were submitted and the juror can only admit a few of them.
• Medium. Some venues tell the juror to accept an equal amount of watercolor, oil and mixed media. If the "call for entries" has only two watercolor paintings submitted along with 300 oil paintings, you can bet that both of the watercolor paintings will get in.
• Style. Let's say that the show is slated to be a contemporary show and your painting is very traditional. Chances of getting your painting into the show are slim. It helps to check out in advance what type of show is being held.

So, do you want to put your work to the test?  Are you tough? One sure way of becoming tough
(I like to call it confident) is to experience both rejection and acceptance.

Why not go for it and see what happens? There is something magical about seeing your framed work displayed under the lights!

Below is a list of local art shows that are held on a regular basis. If you know about them in advance, you can allow yourself a few months to paint something to enter. Now's your chance! Just call and ask the various organizations to send you a form or download the information online and follow the directions. These are the dates that the "call for entry" is due.  The show dates will be a week or two later.

January        Hogle Zoo Annual Art Show
                     contact Jameson Weston 801-584-1739

January         Eccles Community Art Center  (Ogden)
                      Annual Photography Competition
                      801-392-6935

Jan./Feb.      Bountiful/Davis Art Center (BDAC)
                     Statewide Competition
                     801-292-0367

March           Springville Museum of Art (SMA)
                     Annual Spring Salon

                      West Jordan Schorr Gallery "Spring Fling"
                      contact Linda 801-255-6698

                      Taylorsville City Arts Council  Art Show                    

                      Utah Watercolor Society
                      Spring Show
                      www.utwatercolor.net

June              Wasatch Plein Air Painting (Midway, UT)
                      Usually the last part of June through and including July 4th
                      http://www.midwayartassociation.org/

                      Provo Freedom Festival
                      Fine Art Exhibit  801-818-1776

June              Eccles Community Art Center (Ogden)
                      Statewide Competition

July                Utah Watercolor Society
                      Fall Show
                      utwatercolor.net

August           Utah State Fair
                      www.utahstatefairpark.com
                      538-FAIR  (3247)

November     Springville Museum of Art (SMA)
                      Religious/Spiritual Show
                      www.smofa.org
                      801-489-2727

November     American Association of University Women  (AAUW)
                      Annual Show
                      Due to privacy issues no phone number
                      www.aauwutah.org