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Ann Bridges

9 Years Ago

Submissions To Juried Art Shows

When submitting images of my photography to juried art shows do I include the mat and frame or only the image itself. Thanks

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Jani Freimann

9 Years Ago

Just the image. You can be rejected from a show because your image is not just of your artwork. Usually the shows accept works into the shows based on the image and then, when you've actually entered your piece to hang on a wall of the show, they judge those for awards. That's when the matting and framing matters.

Of course, there are shows that are online and won't ever see your work in person. Still for those, I would only show the image. The prospectus usually states how they want you to enter the work so look that over and make sure that you are following the rules.

Some shows want artwork framed with white matting. Here's an example of what happened to me when I didn't see that part in the prospectus. Don't let this happen to you. :-)
http://janifreimann.blogspot.com/2013/06/mission-impossible-almost-total-drama.html

 

Ann Bridges

9 Years Ago

Thank you Jani

 

Mary Ellen Anderson

9 Years Ago

Just the image. I've had some fairs require a booth shot.

Besides what Jani said make sure that the pieces you submit can be sold before the event. Often accepted pieces are the only pieces accepted and you have to pay them a commission if you've already sold it before the event.

If you do a lot of these you will need to setup an excel sheet in order to not double book stuff.
-- mary ellen anderson

 

Ann Bridges

9 Years Ago

Thank you Mary Ellen

 

Rich Franco

9 Years Ago

Ann,

Yes, just the image itself and more than likely a shot of your booth, if this is a good,important one. They want to know the quality of your work, but also the quality of your presentation. You may have great artwork, but they don't want you to show up with a fold-up table and a box of matted images.

Good Luck!

Rich

 

Nicole Whittaker

9 Years Ago

yes, usually just the image.

 

Rich Franco

9 Years Ago

Ann,

Any of the juried shows that I've entered or tried to enter, want 3 shots of your artwork and one image of your booth,

Rich

 

Regina Valluzzi

9 Years Ago

Agree with above - just the image.

Also bear in mind that many of the juried shows get many many more artists than they could possibly select. The jury may go into "reject mode" (a natural human response to being deluged with entries). In "reject mode" they will be looking for any little defect in presentation that allows them to reject entries and narrow the pool. We all wish that jurors would try a bit to "see" the art behind an imperfect image, but that isn't what usually happens.

So ... don't get rejected on a technicality.

Follow any instruction on formatting, etc. to the letter. Make sure that any document files are saved in portable formats (pdf, jpg) and on standard sized and format media - if they can't read them they may reject you instead of contacting you. Make sure your photos are evenly lit, color corrected, glare free and free from shadows, and in focus. They're used to seeing flattened out "soft-lit" images of artwork similar to the images that print well on FAA - give them that.

If you need a booth shot for a fair, set up a special photo shoot in a space you control for the booth shot. You want a shot with the booth set up in good diffuse light, and without customers browsing around. They want to see the art and the set up without people blocking it. Check focus and resolution, color correct, and get the file size and format right before sending.

 

Rich Franco

9 Years Ago

Ann,

Regina is right about the booth shot and I was rejected from 2 shows,because I didn't have a booth shot included in the 4 toal shots requested, EVEN though, I called and spoke with people hosting the show and they said that was fine,just add another image and we'll let the judges know!

What I will do, since I have friends that I used to do shows with,back in the day, is ask them to set up their booth, in a back yard somewhere, I'll bring my images and hang them and then THAT will be my booth shot! Just haven't decided to submit to any outdoor shows yet..........

Rich

 

Ann Bridges

9 Years Ago

Thank you all for you comments I did one indoor non-juried show with a home-made but nicely done three paneled wall and 2 purchased canvas print racks. Do you think the indoor booth shots would work for submissions to outdoor shows or do I need to set it up in a tent first?

 

Regina Valluzzi

9 Years Ago

If you use indoor shots for your outdoor booth, you may get disqualified. Set up a tent and get your pics before the snow starts.

 

Jani Freimann

9 Years Ago

I thought you were talking about entering juried art shows that your art will be hung for you. Either way, what I said earlier applies.

For art festivals, when showing what your booth is going to like, make sure it is a clean, uncluttered, set-up (no pieces leaning against the booth or stacked), but not too sparse either. You could get rejected for a bad photo of your booth.

 

Regina Valluzzi

9 Years Ago

Ann
Is this your first time doing these shows?

Some advice before you apply:
1. Find and join ArtFair Insiders. It's a web resource where artists report back on art fairs, mostly outdoor mixed art and craft fairs. You can use this to contact other photographers and see which fairs are best for photographers.
2. Be careful to check what people make as you consider online reviews of fairs. An event that is great for someone making beaded earrings may not be good for a photographer.
3. Go to the fair's website and look for a listing of previous exhibitors. You may want to ask a few people how well work in your medium does at that fair before you commit several hundred dollars, and several hundred hours to applying, prepping and attending a fair.
4. Look at Yelper and similar reviews of the event. Who is reviewing, what are they expecting, buying, saying?

In general fairs that are more than 20-30 % craft are difficult for painters. They can be a little better for photographers, but you also need to be wary of too many photographers. I tend to avoid anything that sends out a prospectus or solicits artists with photos of ugly overdecorated teakettles, the same old handmade aging hipster jacket/cloak, and/or delightful little urchins having their faces painted. Sound like a lotta fun, but I'm looking to sell art, not eat hot dogs.

When you've decided to apply, your booth photo should look like your actual booth. And your booth will do best if you have at least on eye catching large "magnet piece" to draw people in, and lots of smaller things for them to buy. I generally do a large eye catching magnet piece right up front to catch traffic and another in the back to bring that traffic all the way into the booth.

Bin items are a good idea. People will buy things out of the flip bin instead of the identical item at the identical price hung and framed. They like to touch stuff, I guess.

 

Ann Bridges

9 Years Ago

Thank you all for your advice.

 

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