Oklahoma Friendly National Juried Show

Silver City Marshal, oil on canvas

I just got notified that I have work accepted into the National Juried Show, "Oklahoma Friendly 2011". Of the 782 paintings entered, only 20% were selected for the show. I entered 3 pieces and I don't know which painting(s) was accepted. I'll find out soon.

This year's show will be on display at IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan in Oklahoma City. The opening party and celebration will include great Oklahoma music (Buffalofitz), and Oklahoma food (Big Truck Tacos), as well as outstanding National art

The show dates are March 18-April 9, 2011 with an opening reception on March 18th.

More info to follow as it becomes available.

Plans for the new year - calendar

I just printed out a calendar for the new Year. I like to print out a LARGE calendar(44" x 26") that shows the entire year with lots of space to write on. Each month is printed on a letter size sheet of paper and then taped together. The calendar I print out is here from vertex42.com.

I add show deadlines, shipping deadlines, tax due dates (yuk!) etc. This works for me. How do you keep your deadlines organized?

Catching up - Work in Progress

Strawberry Reflections, oil on linen, 30 x 30
September was a crazy month with lots of deadlines. In fact this whole summer was that way. I have 4 paintings that I have set aside for various reasons and I'm trying to finish them up before I start anything new. The 4th set aside painting is really complicated so it may have to wait a bit longer before I tackle it again.

Tick Tock

Bladder Bag, Work In Progress, detail

I've just sarted the 5th painting that I need to have finished by the end of the month. The good news is that I should have one of the 5 today!

Sunflowers - Work In Progress

Sunflowers, step 1, 30 x 20

I have several paintings started because I have several juried shows coming up. 

This is how I'm starting this painting. I have the drawing on the canvas and I'm blocking in the colors. This is a simple composition but complicated elements with stems going every which way so blocking in the basic colors really helps me sort things out.

Bosque Art Classic

Cowboy and Indians, oil on canvas, 18 x 24

I have been so busy painting! I'm hoping I can get a few hours at the easel this morning before I have to pack my paintings for the Bosque Art Classic in Clifton, TX. I entered 4 paintings in the show and had all four accepted.

Why Enter Art Shows?

Cowboys and Indians, 20 x 24, oil on canvas

The next few posts will be about juried art shows. They can be expensive to enter and ship the work. Are they worth it?

Yes and No. It really depends are what you are expecting to get out of the show. 

1) When you are first starting out  it's a great way to get a resume. It's good to start with smaller shows and local shows to get your feet wet.

2) It gives you something to talk about. If you get into a show you can email your list of folks and tell them about it. You can email them again when the show opens. You can email them again to remind them the show is about to close. And of course you email them when you've won that award. NEVER tell folks in email, facebook, twitter, your blog etc that you've been rejected from a show. We all get rejected from time to time. But that's our little secret. We want folks to know about our success not out failures.

3)Think of the show as advertising. You may pay a $30 entry fee, and then another $50 to get the painting to the show and back again. $80 total.(more if it's a large painting and the show tacks on a "repacking" fee) But how much would you spend if you advertised in a magazine? A Lot more! If you get in the show it will be seen by folks that normally wouldn't see your work, in a part of the countrywhere you work isn't often seen. True, a magazine ad reaches more people but the folks that go to art shows are more likely to buy art now or in the future (that's my opinion)

4) You may win an award or sell the painting. I left this for last because I rarely sell at juried shows. I am more likely to win an award than to sell a painting. I think the reason is because the work accepted into shows is based on artist merit. The paintings people BUY are based on emotion.

What do you think?