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I thought it would be a good idea to write about what jurors are looking for in watercolor competitions (to, you know, increase our chances of acceptance!). [...]

When someone contacted me to purchase the above painting, Foundations, I hesitated. What if this latest and greatest piece is "the one" that will finally be accepted into the National Watercolor Society? The first time I entered, at least the first record I have of entering this prestigious exhibition, was in 2017. I've entered every year since, with no success.   Because I don't publish my rejections, you are probably not aware that I have the same "not invited" record with the American Watercolor Society. I don't know if I will ever get a piece into either one of these illustrious shows, but [...]

Getting into shows is a great honor and accomplishment, but shipping the paintings is work (and sometimes aggravating as you will see). At the time of this writing I am preparing to ship watercolors to four states: Michigan, California, Florida, and New York. [...]

You've decided to enter an art competition, but are you serious? If you want your painting to be considered for inclusion into a show, it is important that you enter the most accurate and clear image of your painting that is possible. You want the judge's first impression of your work to be a good one!   As I mentioned in Entering Art Competitions Part 2 (see link at bottom of page), the show prospectus will explain the image format and file size requirements*, orientation, and how to name your file.   I sometimes use a local professional to capture my paintings. If you are [...]

When I first came up with the brilliant idea to write about entering art competitions, I didn't think about the numerous differences between the various groups' rules and requirements and how impossible it would be to compare them all. There is no way that I can do a comprehensive comparison between the prospectuses of every group, so I repeat): Every group's prospectus is different, so it's very important to take the time to read it carefully. If you haven't already, I encourage to to read my previous blog, Entering Art Competitions (link at bottom of page).   In general, a watercolor exhibition prospectus includes the following: Name [...]

Have you reached the point in your art journey where you are beginning to consider entering art competitions? I'd like to give you my perspective on the why's, what's and how's of entering exhibitions should you decide to do so. Of course, I will be discussing watercolor exhibitions, but the principles can be applied to other media as well.   Why should you enter? The fact that you are considering entering juried* art exhibitions demonstrates that you have confidence in your artwork and in yourself as an artist. Confidence is a good thing! Regularly entering competitions can inspire you to continue to improve, to [...]

Whether you are an artist or a collector, this excellent advice is well worth the read [...]

Keeping track of all my watercolor paintings, where they are, if they've sold, if they have been entered into a show...well, inventory can be time-consuming and frustrating for this artist, to say the least. A good system takes time to create, but can save you even more time (and frustration) in the long run. [...]