"The Mrs." by Heather Arenas, oil on birch

Don't eliminate yourself from the race before it's started.

Having been a juror for several national shows and membership drives, artist Heather Arenas weighs in on the all-time practices for submitting to juried art shows.

Some of these tips may seem obvious to some artists, but they continue to escape others.

You lot could exist throwing your coin away if you lot pay to enter a prove but don't take the actress time to give the jury something usable. Make sure you stay in the game past following these tips.

Here is what a jury looks for in a submission:

Practise.

Ingather your images down to the artwork itself

Having part of an easel in your photograph may make the composition better, but you should avoid including outside objects. Only include what you are being judged on — the painting (or other artwork).

Don't include yourself continuing next to your artwork, parts of the background, the door to your studio or fifty-fifty the sliver that shows that it wasn't cropped straight.

You might exist surprised at the number of submissions that have the artists thumb in the shot considering they had to hold the painting with one hand and the camera with the other. Don't exist that person.

Lastly, the frame is non your art — ingather the frame out every bit well.

"Colorful Subject" past Heather Arenas, oil on birch

Don't

Include your watermark in the image

While watermarks accept their place and fourth dimension,  avoid including an image with your proper noun across the heart of the painting.

"We are judging the painting, not your Photoshop skills"

It is also best if your signature is discreet. Some competitions require that no signature be present at all, so make sure to read the prospectus advisedly.

Do

Submit a clear photograph

It is as well disappointing for a jury to receive a painting that they could assume is wonderful, but they can't see the brushwork considering information technology's blurry.

In that location are several tutorials on photographing your piece of work out there. If you don't have the right equipment, pay someone to practice information technology for you.

It may not be cost effective at first, merely consider if you volition want to make prints of your artwork later when making this decision.

Do

Keep your portfolio consistent

If y'all are submitting more than i slice, the pieces should be similar in subject field or medium — if not both. Submitting a pencil drawing with oil paintings or, worse yet, a painting with sculptures in order to show that you are a multi-talented creative person rarely accomplishes that goal.

Most artists are more than proficient in one medium over another. Jurors want to run into consistency. They just desire to know that y'all are non but a one-hit wonder. Show them that you can recreate your work with the aforementioned level of skill once again and once again.

If you submit figurative work, a still life, and a landscape, it doesn't give the jury a clear idea of the subject area matter that interests you lot. Y'all know better than anyone what you like to create — present that to the jurors.

"All Else Falls Abroad" past Heather Arenas, oil on birch

When you but get 1 shot, make it the best shot you lot tin deliver.

If your goal is to take the reputation equally a serious or professional artist, it is imperative that you lot present your work in that way. Take the extra time to give yourself a fighting chance.

One way to present your work professionally is to sign up for Artwork Archive. Store, organize and generate professional reports easily with the gratis 30-day trial.