Call for Art

BASIC Tips for calls for art 

Published: October 29, 2022                                Updated: October 30, 2024

What is a Call for Art, or Artists?

The standard term used when an art show, gallery or art exhibit is being announced and artists are encouraged to submit their art following the guidelines, theme, medium, or other requirements by a specific deadline and time period. Fees may or may not apply.

Here are some tips to help in your journey:

1. Enter the maximum number of artwork allowed. HAVE A LOT OF INVENTORY

2. Submit your best artwork. KEEP IMPROVING

3. Follow the directions for that gallery or art show. READ THE DIRECTIONS IN FULL

4. Submit great images, with NOTHING but the art image. LEARN HOW TO EDIT and CROP

5. Ensure the artwork is completely finished. BACKGROUND, FOREGROUND, SIDES, PRESENTATION

6. If there is a theme for the art show, be clear about following that theme.

7. Ensure the title of the art show and your artwork coincide. SUMMER SHOW MAY NOT TAKE SNOW PAINTINGS

8. An art gallery looks for fine art not craft art. UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE

9. Remember to package your art prints correctly, to finish your edges, to wire your artwork correctly, to label your artwork, and submit your artwork inventory sheets as directed. READ THE DIRECTIONS IN FULL

10. Artwork should be family-friendly, and our preference is to be nonpolitical, no nudity, and not overtly controversial. Art can make you stop and think, that is great, but not be offensive.

11. Depending on the size of the gallery, its wall space, and the number of submissions, a jury process of artwork will inevitably incur that some art rejection must happen. It is NEVER a rejection of the artist. The juror(s) should be selecting the best of what was submitted along with what they feel will sell and what their space will hold.

12. Jurors look for the best of the best in the artwork submitted – the quality is what matters first and foremost.

13. Often the name of the artist is not relevant, their artwork is what is considered only. QUALITY OF THE WORK

14. Jurors look for how well the artist executed the artwork looking at the overall composition of the piece. Were the rules of composition followed: for instance, in the piece’s use of the canvas or surface, the rule of thirds, the perspective, color, use of light, the overall balance of the piece. RULES OF COMPOSITION

15. The Judge/Jury also looks at the originality, the freshness, the uniqueness of the piece and its overall affect in the gallery. STAND OUT

Remember, the Judge’s, the Juror’s decisions are final.

PWAS Online Art Store

On occasion, some of the places that PWAS shows art at do not process the sales. Our PWAS website has an Online Art Store found at https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/category/all-products where potential Buyers can take a picture of a QR Code and go online to our store to buy artwork.

16. I'm adding this tip as of 10/30/24 because I see it happen at EVERY single art show Call for Art we do. If you tend to be a fast reader or tend to skip down the instructions, I cannot emphasize enough to take your time reading what is asked for as well as what is NOT asked for. Read the instructions AGAIN before you send your submission.

    a. If the Art Show is in a location/library/winery/show that correlates with the art being put in PWAS Online Art Store, meaning that the sale must or can be sold online in our store, add your details correctly and thoroughly in response to the email sent out. (You don't add the details, respond to the email sent.)

    b. If your artwork is being added to the PWAS Online Art Store review the information added ASAP to ensure and verify your info is added accurately. If you can see your artwork online, so can a potential Buyer so CHECK the info quickly!

    c. Be aware that the Art Store does NOT have choices or option selections.

    d. Review other entries in the Art Store to note how they use the Description area.

    e. Remember, in the Art Store, to help the viewer, if an artwork has special details like the total frame size and artwork sized, frame color, etc. - give those details.

    f. If you have the option to sell the artwork in the Art Store outside of the store or elsewhere, depending on the requirements mentioned in the Call for Art, you MUST let the store managers know ASAP to remove the artwork via store@princewilliamartsociety.com

        i. We do NOT want to run into the problem of you selling your artwork, then someone else purchasing it through the store.

        ii. If a particular Call for Art states that the art must remain on display for the duration of the show, then you are not expected to sell the artwork elsewhere.

REFERENCES

Learn to Take Better Photos

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2022/10/post-246-learn-to-take-better-photo.html

Artwork Rejection

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2022/09/post-225-artwork-rejection.html

Here Come the Judge

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2022/04/post-137-here-come-judge.html

What Is a Jotform?

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2022/02/post-119-what-is-jotform-and-what-is.html

Cropping a Photo Made Easy

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2022/10/post-247-cropping-photo-made-easy.html

Tips to Photograph Your Art

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2023/02/post-302-tips-to-photograph-your-art.html 

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John Hartt (Jortt) painting at Arts Alive 2022

Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

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