One of my goals is to get my watercolors into juried shows. I like the prestige of the shows and the increased visibility for my paintings. This means submitting my work in the form of a digital image so the judge of the show can make a decision to accept or reject it.
The first thing is to select which paintings I want to enter. I read carefully the prospectus for each show which details the requirements for acceptance. Then I choose the paintings that I think will be a good match. I make sure the digital images are the right size, then I upload them to the website for the show, making sure I meet the deadline. It’s a lot of work.
The deadline for the Little Gems show at Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes was yesterday, so I spent a good deal of time preparing for it last week. The maximum size for this show is 11×15 inches. Most of my paintings are slightly larger than that, so I needed to paint some smaller images.
I liked the painting (above) of two fishing boats at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle because it was loose and free, but it needed some work. I tried painting it a second time, but the result wasn’t as fresh. So I touched up the original painting by toning down the white of the pilothouses in the reflections and sent it in.
For my second painting, I chose this scene at the docks of Rock Point Oyster Company in Dabob Bay. I painted this scene four times before I was satisfied with it. Each time I painted it, it got a little better.
I had to touch up this painting also before I sent it in. The reflection under the dock was tentative, and left too many white spaces. So I darkened it and let it blend into the paint on its lower edge. I also added some birds.
Will my paintings get into the show? The gallery will notify painters of their acceptance or rejection on June 15. I’ve had a few paintings accepted into this show in previous years, so I’m hopeful one of these paintings might make it. But it all depends on the judge.
Most of the paintings in the show will be oil or acrylic paintings, so perhaps my watercolors will be looked on favorably. Or maybe not. Most of the paintings will be quite realistic and detailed, so perhaps my loose, impressionistic style will be an advantage. Or maybe not. You never know.
One thing’s for sure. The attraction of getting into a show is a great stimulus for making better paintings, and it spurs me on.