Art Exhibition Submissions to juried shows are a great way to get art work in front of people. They are often very well attended, and can bring awareness to an artists work that may have been previously overlooked. I love doing them and don’t do them enough. Every year, i try to get myself organized to meet application deadlines. Sometimes I fail. Usually it’s due to second guessing the work I have available to submit. Although I’m happy with the work, I get trapped in the notion that it needs to be the most current paintings I have. Sometimes that’s not possible. I’ve shifted my thinking and submit work that may be a year or two old, but is still indicative of my current style or subject matter. My style is my style. It evolves a little with each painting. I notice it. The viewer may not. I’m over it. I submit (no pun intended).
2024 | 48×36 | $3000
Tonight (April 16) I’m going to bring two paintings to the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa for the Oshawa Art Association organizers to present to their jury for review. This year marks their 58th Annual Juried Show. I’m not nervous. It’s a part of the deal. Submit your work, wait and see. It really depends on the point of view of the jury members themselves. Again, I’m over it.
2024 | 40×60 | $5000
I’m not really expecting anything profound to come of showing. I take everything in stride. However, I do remind myself that a few years ago my son and I attended the exhibition opening. We arrived late. Much to our surprise, I discovered that my work had received an award for the painting I had submitted that year – ‘Give This to Jack and Alice’ which I wrote about here. I was overjoyed. It came exactly at a time when I really needed a little boost of confidence in what I was doing in my art career. It’s a rollercoaster.
The two paintings I am dropping off today have some deep meaning to me. Both are urban landscapes from two different cities. One is based on a reference photo I took in Oshawa from my car, while the other one is based on a street in Guatemala City taken from a taxi. Both of the paintings are fairly large. ’The Finality of Shared Devotion’ measures 48” x 36”. ‘Night Zone Ghost’ measures 60” x 40”. These sizes are not for the faint of heart when it comes to collectibility – but, hey. You really never know.
