"Should I enter my works into a juried watercolor exhibit"? I have been asked this question by many of my students, it isn't a yes or no answer. Most of the time my answer is absolutely..... try and get into some of these shows. The problem is that most of the good shows are very hard to get into for beginners.
There are many good reasons
to try and enter juried shows:
1. it makes you paint and work to sharpen your skills as a watercolorist.
2. makes you look at your work in a whole new way.... you begin looking at it through the eyes of a judge
3. recognition for your work
4. awards
5. meeting other artist's to network with and learn from
6. signature memberships
The bad side is:
1. costs
2.
rejection
Many times the good reasons out number the bad, but it all depends on each artist and the level they are at.
Enter shows when you feel you have a good piece of work. Even if you don't have a large body of work doesn't mean you can't enter a piece of art that you feel blows your socks off. It doesn't matter if you don't think you can do another like it, You did that piece and if you feel it's great, enter
it.
"What should I enter", is another question I get asked. Think about if you were the judge, what would you pick if you had to pick your work against the works you can find in previous shows all over the internet. Does your piece stack up against those works that got accepted?
When I judge a show, and I have judged quite a few, the first thing I look for is the WOW Factor.
I go through the show or slides quickly looking first
for the paintings that stop me in my tracks.
What stops me in my tracks....works that are well composed with professional techniques and many times compositions and subject matter that I haven't seen done before or in a different kind of way. Paintings that have the wow factor can be all different sizes, but I have to admit that when I see the painting in person and see the size, big always seems more impressive then small. But I have also seen some very impressive small works,
but if you put that small piece next to an impressive large painting, I believe the larger one usually takes the prize.
Don't paint a piece of art strictly working in a style or subject matter that you think will make it into a juried show.Trying to paint in a style you feel the judge will accept or trying to guess what the judge is looking for just won't work...paint pieces because you love to paint that subject matter and paint in your style that you are
accustom to, this makes for a much better masterpiece, and in the end you want to be known for the style that everyone equates to you the artist.
Below I have listed the well-known shows in the country. There are also many online exhibits that you can enter, which I have also listed below
As a beginner, you may want to start with local juried exhibits and move into national ones as you get more acquainted with the process of entering shows.
