Entering Art Shows......

Entering art shows can be stressful! Making the work is only the beginning of what can be a lengthy and expensive process. Only after spending months and even years refining techniques, finding your 'voice' in your chosen media and developing a body of work are you ready to enter jurored art shows.

Let me stress, this isn't a course for the faint of heart! If you are going to enter art shows you must have professional looking images of your work. I’ve actually seen people enter images of their work that had been taken outside in their driveway. The landscape painting was propped up against the tire of their car! If you feel the need to take your own photos then learn to crop! You also must be aware of different venues that you feel is a 'fit' for your work. This can take hours and hours of time browsing the internet and buying art magazines that list calls for entries. Then you must fill out the entry forms correctly and try to second guess some of the instructions that aren’t completely clear. Now it’s time to pay the entry fees, which are too high in my opinion, and the postage. If you waited until the last minute to mail in your entry (I’m sure I’m not the only person that does this!) to meet the deadline you must pay for overnight postage. Once the entry has been sent off you try to forget about it because sometimes it takes a month before you hear the verdict and you don't want to spend that much time in agony wondering about the results. You try not to get your hopes up too high. You tell yourself you won't be accepted all the while you hope deep down inside that you will be. Then comes that fateful day when you receive the notice about the show. You get all excited and your heart is pounding in your chest as you open the letter to find out if your work was accepted or not. If you receive good news you are floating on Cloud 9 for weeks, if not you do your best not to cry and tell yourself the idiot juror must have been blind! Unfortunately, you must be able to accept rejection time and time again and not let that deter you from your goals. The only way to get in a juried exhibit is to enter. You don't have a chance otherwise because they are not going to come knocking on your door!

Sometimes I ask myself, why? Why do I enter shows? Why do I spend the money on photography, entry fees, shipping cost (if applicable), and insurance? Why do I put myself through the agony of being rejected? I don't have the answers. I'm not a competitive person by nature but it's just something I'm compelled to do. Maybe the 'high' I receive when I'm accepted or if I'm lucky enough to win a monetary prize it's all I need to carry me through the numerous rejections.

Are you wondering why I'm pondering on this subject? I just mailed my entry to the Oklahoma Centerfold exhibit. I probably don't have a chance on earth being accepted in this national juried art exhibit but I did it anyway and I'm hoping for the best. So keep your fingers crossed for me!