6
Follow Submission Guidelines
Pay close attention to submission guidelines. These can vary significantly between different opportunities. Whether it’s file format, size requirements, naming conventions, or specific themes, adherence to the guidelines demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail. These are rules, not suggestions.
7
Highlight Your Uniqueness
What sets your artwork apart from others? There’s only one you, so the more you’re you, the better. Whether it’s your distinct style, technique, or message, make sure the reviewers understand what makes your work special.
8
Presentation is Key
For artists, having high-quality photographs or scans can make a world of difference in how your work is perceived. If possible, consider hiring a professional photographer or use professional-grade equipment to capture your art yourself. A poorly lit cellphone photo of a painting (that you spent months creating) is not the way. Ensure that your images are not unintentionally pixelated or blurry, and accurately represent the colours and details of your work. If you want people to spend time looking at your work, spend time on the presentation of it.
9
Risks are Good
Showing your work to someone is a risk, but what are you actually risking? Maybe the more important question is what are you risking by not showing anyone your work? Fear of rejection or failure is not a good enough reason to keep your talent hidden. All creative people experience imposter syndrome. Everyone has self-doubt. The only way to get more comfortable showing people your work is to do it more often! Getting out of your comfort zone is the quickest way forward.
10
Perspective on Rejection
Understand that rejections are a part of every artist’s journey. Stay resilient. Not being selected or an outright ‘no’ may simply be a signal that you’re striving for something beyond what you’ve previously achieved. Be encouraged that you are pushing towards new territory! Similarly, if you haven’t experienced any sort of rejection in awhile this could be a signal that you are comfortable staying where you’re at.
It’s also worth noting that if your work is not selected it is not always a reflection of the quality. There may be other factors to consider, for instance a book or exhibition may have a finite number of spots. Or it might be that the work simply falls outside of our scope. Wedding event photography, as an example, is not something we feature (this goes back to Researching the Opportunity).
Conclusion
Submitting your artwork for consideration is an exciting step in your artistic career. Be proud of yourself regardless of the outcome. Just remember that every opportunity to share your work is a learning experience that can help you grow as an artist. We’re excited to see the things you’re creating.
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