by David Heyman
Did you ever stop to think how artists get their work up on gallery walls? As much as we might like to think that we will be “discovered” and have customers lining up to purchase our work, the reality of getting your creations in front of the public is often less glamorous. Hard work, a dedication to your craft, and marketing yourself as an in-demand “brand” at galleries are all ways to work your way up the artistic ladder.
One way to get your foot in the door is through juried competitions. Many galleries are looking for quality work to display, and are holding open competitions for artists to submit their work. These range from small regional dealers to national venues that elicit work from all over the country. You can have your work shown throughout these shows and put them up for sale as well.
Art magazines and internet sites have listings for calls for entries to many shows. Some require an entry fee, while others are free of charge to exhibit.
The standard procedure for entry is to submit your image(s) via JPEG through e-mail or on a CD. In the past, all shows required jurying through submission of slides, a lengthy and cumbersome process that has largely been replaced with digital technology. The juror will sit in a dark room and review all entries projected onto a screen. Since your image(s) may only be up for a few moments, it is important to select your most eye-catching and unique pieces, as there can be quite a bit of competition.
All pieces selected by the juror must match your submitted image. In many shows, selected works are eligible for awards in the shows, sometimes consisting of sizeable amounts of money.
Since the big national shows attract seasoned pros, it is best to start with smaller local shows, getting pieces accepted, perhaps an award or two, and your name and artwork starting to be recognized regionally. Then you can move up to progressively larger venues.
If you do not get your work accepted, don’t take it personally. While jurors are supposed to be non-biased, in reality many of them select pieces for inclusion into shows that are based on their preference for art, for example abstract art, or country themes. I have had the experience of submitting an identical piece into two shows – in the first show, the piece was rejected outright; in the second show, not only was the piece accepted, but it won an award!
To find juried art shows, click here. Juried competitions are an important part of an art marketing plan. With experience, you will find they will open many doors to a creative career.