10 Art Competitions to Enter
In 2022, I entered Ann Kulberg’s competition to see if I could get included in the publication called Colored Pencil Treasures, which is published once every 18 months. I had no idea if I would get accepted, and I was really excited when my piece “Ross Castle” was selected. Around the same time, her talent scout emailed and asked if he could include the piece in her monthly magazine, called Color, as well. Um, of course!
I have also entered other art competitions and gotten crickets back. Even with the rejection, I still think it’s worth it to give it a shot from time to time. Check out all of the benefits:
Competitions provide a platform for increased exposure and recognition, enabling your artwork to reach a broader audience that includes art enthusiasts, galleries, and potential patrons.
Achieving recognition or being selected as a finalist can serve as a valuable validation of your artistic skills and enhance your credibility within the art community and increase your confidence.
Also, engaging in art competitions may inspire you to update your portfolio. I am currently working on a piece specifically to enter it into a competition. I hope I can get it done on time!
You can get noticed if the right person likes your art. Perhaps a magazine will ask you to do a tutorial or write a column for their publication.
You can win awards in the form of money, art supplies, and at the very least bragging rights.
Lastly, participating in these events encourages experimentation and growth, as you may find yourself exploring new techniques, subjects, and creative styles in order to meet competition criteria.
All of that said, remember that if you don’t win a competition it doesn’t define who you are as an artist. After all, judging does include an amount of subjectivity. If you get a rejection email, shrug it off and keep creating.
Competitions
Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) International Exhibition:
CPSA hosts two annual international exhibitions that showcase exceptional colored pencil artwork.
These are two of the most prestigious competitions in the colored pencil art community.
The CSPA International Exhibition entry period will be from December 2023 through the end of March 2024. Artwork is then exhibited in the summer of 2024 in the city where the annual convention is held (which changes from year to year). This competition offers $20,000 in prizes along with major accolades and bragging rights. The winning pieces are posted on the CPSA website and published in the CPSA magazine.
Here are a few requirements for this competition:
Artworks must be made using 100% colored pencils. If you use a reference photograph, it must be your own. Also, the works submitted may not be more than 3 years old.
The Explore This! entry period is from mid-September to mid-November. Artworks will be displayed online. Prizes are up to $5000.
Here are a few requirements that are similar for both exhibitions:
Artworks must be made using predominantly (not sure what that means, but okay) colored pencils. It must also include an element that makes it intelligible for their other competition. I’m also not sure what that means, but they have lots of text on their website that you can read. If you use a reference photograph, it must be your own. Also, the works submitted may not be more than 3 years old.
Derwent Art Prize:
Derwent's international competition, the Derwent Art Prize, welcomes artworks in a variety of media, including colored pencils. It offers a substantial prize fund of up to about $5,000 and the chance to exhibit your work.
The deadline is January 20, 2024. The artwork will be on display in London until April 2024.
Here are a few conditions, but be sure to check out the website for more information (the following was copy/pasted from Derwent):
The submitted entry (the “Work”) must be original, created in pencil (including water-soluble, pastel, graphite, charcoal, or colored pencils). Mixed media works are eligible but the main component must be pencil or one of the media previously listed.
The work must not exceed 182 cm in its greatest dimension. There is no minimum size limit.
The Competition is open to both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional works.
Any component part of the pencil can also be used in the creation of artwork.
All entered work must have been completed within the last 3 years.
The work selected for exhibition must be available until 20 April 2024.
It looks like you can use someone’s photograph as a reference photo, but you do need written permission.
The Artist's Magazine Annual Art Competition:
This competition includes a category for drawing, which can include colored pencil artwork. The competition is open to artists working in various mediums. There are $20,000 in prizes. The top prize includes $3,000 and your work on the front cover of the Jan/Feb issue.
The Rules page can be found here. You can use a reference photo taken by someone else, but you must receive written permission to do so. You can enter into a variety of categories including landscape, wildlife, abstract, portrait, and still life.
The time period of entry is from April to July.
Jackson's Painting Prize:
This competition covers various mediums, including drawing and colored pencils, so don’t be put off because it’s called a “painting” prize. It's open to artists internationally and offers valuable prizes. The purpose is to recognize rising artists. Submissions are accepted between December and March of each year.
Sign up on their website to receive news before the competition begins. There aren’t any rules that I can find on their page at the current time.
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery Competitions:
They regularly host online art competitions with various themes, including a drawing and painting category that can include colored pencils. The main prize for entering these competitions is exposure. They promote the winning pieces, so you may get your work seen by more people.
The entry fee is $18.00 for 1 to 2 entries and $26.00 for 3 to 5 entries.
Check out their website here to see current competitions. There are monthly competitions in many categories.
Colored Pencil Magazine’s Annual Art Competition:
Submit your artwork created with 80% or more colored pencils by October 1, 2023, to be considered for the 2023 Annual Competition by Colored Pencil Magazine.
You can use your own reference photo or get permission from a photographer. You can also use a free reference image if you provide the link to that.
The cost is $10 per submission and you can enter 3 pieces.
Prizes include cash, being published in the magazine, and gift cards for art supplies from Blick Art Supplies.
Ann Kullberg Competitions:
Ann Kullberg started the Color Magazine to showcase colored pencil artworks and techniques.
She runs a few competitions every year. The one I mentioned at the beginning of this article is to get your work published in a magazine called CP Treasures. She runs that competition every 18 months. It just closed, so you’ll have to keep an eye out for her to post more information about it in a year and a half. The prizes for this are just that you get published and so you get social creds and you get a magazine copy.
She also has a yearly Member Show, which also just closed. For this competition you get a little cash, your work will be published, and you get bragging rights.
Online Art Contests:
Websites like Artwork Archive, BoldBrush, and Artshow.com often feature online art contests that may include categories for drawing and colored pencil artwork.
Local and Regional Competitions:
Don't forget to explore local and regional art competitions, as many of them have categories for drawing and colored pencil work.
To do that, just google art societies in your area or visit galleries that are near by.
Social Media Challenges:
While not traditional competitions, various art challenges on platforms like Instagram and TikTok can provide exposure and a sense of community among artists.
For example, I know that RT Reference Photos runs competitions if you create a piece using one of their reference photos.
Conclusion
While I've faced rejection in some of my art competition endeavors, I remain convinced of the value of giving it a try from time to time. Art competitions offer many benefits. They provide a platform for increased exposure and recognition, validate artistic skills, enhance credibility within the art community, encourage self-improvement, spur creativity, and can boost confidence. Heck, you might even surprise yourself and win!
Love to hear your thoughts.