Art Competitions - A Morale Booster
Kathy Austin
Aspiring artists have a tough time getting their works on display. Entering an art competition is one way that an artist can exhibit his paintings. Even getting a place in a prestigious art competition can be a great boost to his or her self esteem. Many a successful artist has to thank these competition for getting them launched on the highway of success.
People generally attend competitions, not necessarily on art. Most people would normally hesitate to put their foot into an art gallery, but would unfalteringly enter into a place where a competition event is taking place and even come out with some pretty bold statements.
The reputation of the Judge or Critic who is going to evaluate the works on display enhances the prestige of the event. The more celebrated the Judge the more impressive the occasion. Sometimes it is a panel of Judges that judge the entries. Those competitions that take place regularly, maybe as an annual or bi-annual event or those that are better established, attract more entries.
Where such a contest is scheduled to be held is very important. If held in a reputed gallery, the prestige of the competition and the prestige of the artists whose works are on exhibit gets greatly enhanced. The nature and value of the prize offered, though relevant, it is the exposure that the artist gets is the chief concern of the budding artist. If held under the glare of the media, the more the exposure.
Almost always art competitions are general in nature, perhaps based on a theme. For example, a competition based on the depiction of a particular event - say thanksgiving. Other variations could include paintings on a particular medium like oil on canvas or on the style of painting like Dali or Picasso or on just about anything that constitutes art. Specific themes bring in a specific set of people who regularly grace such art competitions.
Whether a work of art is liked or not is, for the most part, personal. As such the probability of a piece of art that failed to bag an award but would have got the attention of a Judge or a collector is high. The collector may not buy it himself, but even a positive comment on it could prompt a casual observer to pick it up.
Leaving alone the aesthetic part of art competitions, participating and winning an art competition can be highly profitable business. Every year, quite a number of art competitions take place and the prizes offered could well run into five figures or more. For a serious artist, and more so for a budding one, entering his or her works into as many a competition as possible might result in a win and future fame. These contests symbolize an art world and an art market of their own.
Other than the artistic angle of the art competition, it can also turn out to be a lucrative business. Winning brings in cash prizes and what is needed more, the exposure. As such a serious artist who relies on art for a living has to enter more and more number of competitions. The more the better. One way to do this is to scrounge the Internet for details of where and when these competitions are held and enter them. The more the merrier. The pinnacle of fame might just be within reach.
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