Important Basics to Know Before Submitting Your Art to A Jury

One of the greatest pleasures I have is serving as as a juror/curator for exhibitions for Manhattan Arts International and The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS. I personally look at every entry several times and visit the artists’ websites to learn more about them and their art. I enjoy every step of the process. The flip side is the disappointment I feel when artists fail to take important steps when they apply for shows. This article provides the important basics to know before submitting your artwork to a jury.

If you enjoy reading this article you’ll find a similar article that you may want to read: “How to Avoid Getting Rejected in Art Competitions — Mistakes Artists Make”. Another related article I recommend is “Why Artists Win Juried Competitions” which explains what you can do to increase your chances of getting selected. And, I recommend that you read “Why Wasn’t My Art Chosen?” to gain some objective insight on this subject.

Whether you’re submitting your art to a gallery, grant funder or juried art competition, here are some essentials I want you to consider.

Submit Your Best Work

This may seem obvious, but many artists don’t consider the same criteria the juror may use.  In some instances, the entries may not represent the artists’ best efforts or did not comply with the exhibition theme. When I visit their websites and spend time reviewing their portfolios I often find other works of art that would have been better choices.

Study your art as closely and objectively as possible with a critical eye. Look at award-winners’ art from the sponsor’s previous exhibitions to see how high the bar has been raised. If you cannot be objective, ask for objective advice from a respected art professional before you submit your entries.

Read All Instructions

It is excruciatingly painful when artists whose work I like very much don’t carefully read and follow the simple, clear instructions provided on the entry form. They may submit JPEGS that are the wrong size or they are labeled incorrectly, or send a poorly written artist’s statement with grammatical errors.

Remember, you don’t get second chances to make a first impression. Failing to follow instructions indicates a lack of professionalism and attention to  important details.

If you’re unsure about any of the rules and requirements set forth by the sponsor don’t be afraid to ask questions before you send in your submission.

Choose Strong and Cohesive Images

The exhibitions I curate attract top professional artists, many of whom have developed a strong body of work and what’s known as a  signature style. I prefer to see an artists’ submissions that are within a cohesive theme or series, rather than viewing very disparate works in diverse styles and mediums.

Peter N. Van Giesen Creates Strong and Cohesive Paintings

As you can see in the images above, Peter N. Van Giesen, https://peternvangiesen.com/, is an artist who excels in his medium, has attained technical skills, and has a unique artistic vision that sets him apart from other artists. He is an example of an artist who has won my attention and respect and is chosen for many juried exhibitions. His art is known as “Capturing Nature’s Eternal Aura”.

Conversely, an artist who jumps around from one style to another — without developing any of them fully — reflects a lack of certainty, discipline, art education and artistic development.

Submit The Maximum Entries

If the sponsor of the call for artists is asking for three entries and the fee is the same for 1-3 entries, don’t make the mistake of submitting only 1 work of art. The artist who submits 3 equally strong entries has more competing power compared to an artist who only sends 1 entry. The artist who submits only 1 entry may send the message that they lack confidence, experience, and/or capability.

Think about this: The more art you send the more attention you will receive. You’ll have a higher chance of being selected when the juror has more to choose from, especially when you’re competing for a top award.

Consider How the Art will Appear in The Venue

If the exhibition is online choose the artwork that will look best when viewed on a computer monitor.  If the exhibition is in a gallery setting, avoid submitting fragile pieces that they will fear will get damaged easily. If the space is small avoid sending oversized pieces. If the organization is located in a very conservative town stop before sending your controversial works of art that may be better suited for a more sophisticated urban audience.

Common sense will guide you when submitting the pieces that are most appropriate for the venue’s conditions and the audience they serve.

Also Read

“How to Avoid Getting Rejected in Art Competitions”
“Why Artists Win Juried Competitions”
“Why Wasn’t My Art Chosen?”