Here Come the Judge, the Art Show Judge and Jury
If you are of a certain age you may get the "Here Come the Judge" reference. (If you remember it, let me know in the comments.) This blog post is about art shows that are juried, which means that someone or a group of someones are "judging" your artwork to decide if it will fit into that particular art show.
Who is the Judge/Jury?
True, there are art shows where there is a judge that studies all of the entries at the show and awards 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or more places which can be ribbons and/or prize money. But there also needs to be someone or a group of people that have to be the decider on what hangs in an art show or a gallery in the first place and what doesn't make the cut.
You may wonder who the judge(s) are as well as what their qualifications are to BE a judge or a jury...
- Does an art judge need to have an art education to be a good judge?
- Does an art judge need to be an art gallery owner?
- Can someone judge art even if he/she is not an artist?
- Should an artist who is jurying the art show, jury his/her own artwork?
- Can someone who's paint style is realistic judge abstract pieces?
- Should the names of the artists be "hidden" from the judging?
All good questions and maybe there are yes and no or pros and con answers applicable to each question, although a few of the questions do lean more toward a NO. In a perfect world, maybe the answers are more clearly obvious. I am also a proponent that life experiences can sometimes be just as good if not better than a degree in this or that...Nonetheless, there are basic objectives in the decision making process itself no matter who is making the judgment call.
Basic Judging Criteria Factors
- Appeal Factor
- Theme Factor
- Technical Skills Factor
- Unique Factor
- Greater Meaning Factor
- Presentation Factor
Appeal Factor
This
is the "feel good", "I love it" initial impact when you first see the art piece. You like the emotion you feel when you view it which is pretty straightforward. There usually isn't much evaluation at this point and everyone has an opinion when they look at any piece of art. You
like it or you don't. As the saying goes, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and that judge should have at least one eye and has an opinion when beholding that artwork.
*There certainly SHOULD be the obvious "WOW!" or even the "Awwwww" or the even the wonder of how did this person do that??!!
Theme Factor
Theme
is included here because many art shows have calls for art for a
particular theme, genre, or for categories or sizes of works. Did the
artist submit artwork that fits that criteria in a clear and concise way
so that it CAN be included for consideration, even if it has the "WOW" factor?
Also note here that the artist should submit what the maximum number of pieces that fits all the criteria requested but DO NOT submit more. And you should always submit your best works per theme request.
Technical Skill Factor
This factor is leaning more to the quality of the work and how professionally made it is. While creativity, originality and "WOW" tend to be what a judge may first notice, the technical skill factor is usually the most important review of the art piece. This is when the art experience of the judge(s) is critical. The judge will consider how the artist controlled/mastered the medium, the balance, the color harmony and values. The artwork must have good composition and design no matter what the depiction subject is or if it is an abstract.
The judge may compare between all of the artist's submitted works. Comparison may also include compared against other artists of similar medium and style. Of possible note is that some may argue that a larger piece may have a better chance at consideration than a much smaller piece when all the elements of good design and composition are in place.
The judge should assess the talent level of this artist and how consistent he/she is in the medium presented as well as the artist's rendition using the visual components of color, form, line, shape, space, texture and value. Also his or her use in the principles of art: emphasis, balance, unity, contrast rhythm, proportion, repetition, and harmony. Consideration is how well the art "rules" are demonstrated or even how artfully they were bent.
Unique Factor
Have you ever read the short art book by Austin Kleon, "Steal Like an Artist"? The author has the basic argument that everything that could ever possibly be painted in human history has probably already been painted before. The trick is to somehow find a way to put your own spin on it, your own style in a way to make your version of it stand out in a more interesting way. It would be great if a judge would think, "why didn't I think to do it that way?"
The originality and uniqueness of the artwork is the, I will call it "bonus factor" that may move an artist's work to the top of the heap. These pieces can make the show a lot more interesting!
I'm sure you have entered art shows and a lot of artists have submitted subjects similar to yours, let's say several artists have painted koi fish. What have you done in your depiction to make yours more interesting, or to have a fresh point of view?
Greater Meaning Factor
Judging, or specifically jurying art, is sometimes a quick decision when there could be hundreds of works to consider, but is there a statement or point the artist is trying to get across? What is the artist trying to say with his/her art? The statement could be political, a challenge, humor, a metaphor, an important message or an emotion the artist wants you to feel. Is there something being said by the piece and is that message conveyed so you can readily understand it?
Is there a fulfilled point to the art piece? Sometimes there is with art and the artist may have it articulated in their artist statement.
Presentation Factor
When a call for art goes out, the importance of great quality photos and images cannot be stressed enough, as your initial start of your presentation of work. And remember, do not submit images with a watermark.
If your artwork is selected to appear at the show, occasionally the presentation of the artwork cannot be considered until the piece is actually seen in person and this may only happen at the art drop off. When artwork is submitted online, the work is reviewed at image and face value only, without the frame. It is not an actual view to the so-called finished product.
*Artwork at check in will need to be actually checked out too.
Presentation can include the overall appearance of the work:
- Clean edges - care has been taken not to scratch, scrape, or otherwise beat up the canvas/frame from all angles.
- Should the piece be framed and is it properly framed? The juried image should NOT have the frame in the image submitted but for hanging the artwork at the show, the painting may need to be framed. Typically gallery wrapped canvas would not have to be framed, but read the show rules.
- Does the hardware for hanging meet the requirements in wiring or hanging materials?
- Does the artwork have finished edges? I usually go around the edges continuing the painting from the front around the sides, but if that is not feasible, I paint the edges solid black (best) or an appropriate color from the front of the canvas.
Remember, a bad frame can make great artwork look bad and a good frame can make bad artwork look better. Review your overall presentation and be careful when moving your artwork from place to place!
I recently saw someone on a Facebook group asking what they could do about their artwork that they had wrapped in bubble wrap to move it. Well, for one thing, you DO NOT wrap it with the bubble ON the surface of the canvas. Wrap it with the bubbles OUT, preferably with acid free paper first. The painting had the imprint of the bubbles all over it.
And to Finish Up
When a call for art goes out, it includes the rules/directions, if there is a theme, any presentation specifications, sizes, and other optional info that the gallery has required. If the judging criteria is also listed, make sure you follow ALL of those directions!
There
really isn't a way to "beat the system" and most artists learn rather
quickly that a piece of art can be refused in many art shows yet win
first place in another. Or vice-versa, a winning piece in one show could get
rejected in another art show. After all, judges are humans too.
What can you share about your experience with juried art show?
Suggested Reading
Mining the Mind of an Art Show Judge
Art Evaluation: How to Appreciate Art?
Five Tips for Getting into Juried Art Shows
Local Art: Visit us at Stonebridge Open Space Arts at 15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA - Open Wed to Sat 12-7 and Sun 12-5
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