Art Competitions - Get In!
Getting their art works exhibited is a difficult job for budding artists. An admirable way for an artist to get his works displayed is to participate in an art competition. His or her self respect will get a colossal boost just by getting accepted for a prestigious one. The road to success, for many a thriving artist, has been these contests.
Works of different artist who have entered the competition are judged either by one person or a group of persons enjoying a high standing in the field of arts. The more famous these people the more prestigious the event. These events take place on a regular basis, either annually or biannually. At times an odd event also takes place.
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.
The popularity or otherwise of a competition depends largely on the location where the competition is scheduled to be held. Rather than having one on a footpath or curb, one held in an art gallery or a museum is bound to draw a larger and more exclusive clientele who are more suggestive and likely to make a purchase. The possibility of a winner, a runner-up or even just an participant gaining further exposure chiefly depends on the status of the competition.
The odds of a particular work of art, whether it had won a prize or not, coming to the attention of a knowledgeable collector is possible. Even a favorable comment on it by the Judge or any member of the panel of Judges enhances the value of the work. The collector may or may not purchase it, but someone else might. Some painting may catch the fancy of another spectator who might not be a connoisseur, but who simply likes it. Experiencing art is on the personal level.
Now, what happens when a painting is purchased by some X or Y? He hangs it over his mantelpiece or some other prominent place in his home. He will. Exhibitionism. Friends, relatives and acquaintances who see it inquire about it, and, if they also like it, go out and buy one drawn by the same painter. Repeat. More people get to talk about the artist. Though the process is slow, ultimately it will have a cumulative effect.
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.