Best practices for art competitions

Tips for a successful art competition entry

For some artists, entering competitions can be thrilling, a chance to cast their art into the world with other artists and see how it stands. You just never know how it will all turn out.

But we all know that competition in the art world is fierce. So what steps can you take to best prepare your work for the challenge?

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FOLLOW DIRECTIONS

Yes, I know. We're artists. We live outside the rules. But when entering a competition, realize that you can be bumped for ignoring instructions. Break rules in your artwork, not on your entry form.

Channel your inner Rory Gilmore and pretend like this is a homework assignment and you're aiming for an A+. Print out the entry form, read it a couple times, then highlight the important instructions. Use the form as a checklist, and check and recheck to make sure you haven't missed anything.

Hit all the deadlines. Mark those on your calendar and start submitting a day early, because computers! There's always going to be a glitch or a gremlin in the process. Leave time to work those out.

Playing by the competition rules is part of the sport. Enjoy them.  

Visit Making a Mark by Katherine Tyrrell for more tips on entering art competitions

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TAKE GOOD PHOTOS 

You will be asked for an image of your work, probably an electronic image. Don't throw shade on your own work by submitting sub-par pictures. If you don't have the funds for a professional art photographer (and how many of us do?), here are a few tips for taking your own images.
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• Give your art a fighting chance with accurate lighting and color, and razor sharp focus.
• Photograph your artwork BEFORE you frame it, especially if it is going to be framed under glass; glare on glass will detract or obscure your artwork.
• Only your artwork should be in the photo. Not the frame, unless the frame is part of the artwork. No people. No furniture. No MacDonalds hamburger wrappers. Just the artwork.
• Take high resolution photos. If you must use a cell phone, make sure the high resolution function is turned on. (On an iPhone, this is the hdr setting)  
• Minimize distortion. Keep the camera square to the image. ​
• Delete watermarks. Don't submit watermarked images to competitions. The judge need to see the whole image.

• Label your image files. If the competition doesn't give you guidelines, give the file name your last name and then name of your image.​​ 

To learn more about photographing your artwork, visit these websites
​How to photograph your artwork 
How to photograph your 2D art the right way

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FIRST-CLASS FRAMING

Say what now? You got accepted into the show! Yay!!! The next step is to make sure that your artwork is framed beautifully and wired properly. Professional framing, while expensive, will ensure that your work is show-ready. If you must frame your own artwork, here are some tips to make every piece hang straight and true.

• Use appropriate frames. Choose frames meant to hang on the wall, not be propped up on a dresser. That little propping thingy on the back of the frame holds your image off the wall awkwardly and makes it look unprofessional.
• Use clean, undamaged frames. 
• Use d-rings and wires to hang your work. (Here's a how-to link with pictures) 
• String the wire short of the top of the painting. You don't want the hanging nail to be visible at the top of the painting, so keep the wire a couple inches below the top of the painting.

InFocus has a page of tips on framing and presentation
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Don't take it all too seriously

After all that work, you didn't get accepted. Remember that this isn't a comment on the quality or desirability of your artwork; it just means you didn't get into this particular show. Don't be discouraged. Keep applying to shows, keep upping your application game, and most of all KEEP CREATING!