MAKING A MARK: Call for Entries - Society of Wildlife Artists' Annual Exhibition 2018

Entries from non-members are welcome for the 55th annual exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists is open.

You have until 12 noon on Friday 27 July 2018 to get your digital entry ready and upload it and complete your submission online.

This post highlights the new advisory guidelines on the sort of work the SWLA wants to see submitted.

The Selection Committee of the SWLA seeks to encourage all forms of three and two dimensional artwork (see 'Acceptable media' below) that is based on representing the world’s wildlife. The Committee is particularly keen to encourage all artists with fresh visions to submit work to the Annual Exhibition that shows imagination, artistic ability, originality and genuine creativity.

SWLA Exhibition - Main Gallery last year

Call for Entries: 55th annual exhibition of SWLA

The SWLA call for entries is administered by the Federation of British Artists at the Mall Galleries and you can find more information below and on their website

For full terms and conditions, click here.

Prizes & Awards (subject to final confirmation)

There are many prizes and awards available to win, including:

NEW The Terravesta Prize: £2,000 for the best work exhibited
Birdwatch Artist of the Year Award (£1,000 plus Swarovski equipment)
The Roger Clarke Award: £500
The Langford Press Printmaking Award: £200 cash and the winner's choice of ten titles from Langford Press publications
The Langford Press 3D Award: £200 cash and the winner's choice of ten titles from Langford Press publications
RSPB Award
Dry Red Press Award
PJC Drawing Award
Birdscapes Gallery 'Conservation through Art' Award
Eligible artists
Any artist over 18 may submit.

North Galleries last year

Eligible artwork

The artwork must be of wildlife

see summary quotation below
see further advisory detail re submissions
see the post I did last year The Natural Eye - the sort of wildlife art that gets selected

In summary, the SWLA Selection Committee is looking for:

two and three dimensional artwork inspired by the natural world

work that displays a deep knowledge and understanding of the subject matter, based on ‘in the field’ observation

work that reflects a personal, original, and creative response

work that displays a high level of technical skill

work that showcases interesting approaches and emerging new talent

Wildlife includes any non-domestic animal such as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustaceans and insects.Works depicting domestic animals or purely botanical subjects are not permissible.
Works depicting wildlife divorced from its environment or without place, setting or context are rejected in many cases.
Biological or scientific illustrations are in most cases not permissible.

(large painting of) Studies of dead Pheasant cock and Long-tailed Duck Drake
by Ben Woodhams
watercolour

We receive many submissions that are obviously direct copies from photographs. Whilst some of our artists use photographs for reference, the majority of member artists create their work in response to their own experience of wildlife and spend many hours observing and sketching in the field. This knowledge of the subject is evident in the resulting work. Artists thinking of submitting should consider choosing a subject to which they can have access.

If you have not already done so, visiting the annual show will give you a much clearer idea of the criteria the Selection Committee is seeking.

Artwork in the Threadneedle Space during the SWLA Exhibition in 2017

Number and size of artwork

Maximum of six works submitted. Maximum of six works selected
Works should not be larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension.

Pricing

All work must be for sale.
The price of works must include commission of 45%+VAT
However if foundry fees are applicable, the commission is 33.3%+VAT) .
Minimum price: £200 (except for prints: framed £120, unframed £95).

Small sculptures in the 2017 Exhibition

Ineligible work

Work will not be accepted IF it meets one or more of the following criteria

NOT for sale
NOT completely dry
NOT completed within the last three years
larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension
previously exhibited in London
a botanical subject
portrayal of pets and/or domestic animals,
decorative wares (such as vessels or tiles),
work in metal frames, poorly framed or badly presented.
Photographic reproductions or mechanical prints, giclée prints of original artwork etc., (i.e. COPIES which are often promoted as ‘limited edition prints’) are not acceptable.

Eligible media

In addition to the usual art media of painting, sculpture and original prints (if prints, please detail edition and how many are available) the SWLA is keen to embrace new and innovative medium.

SWLA will accept computer-generated images as ‘original prints’ but ONLY if the digital print only exists as an original print and was created by the artist to be realised specifically as a print.

Sketches of Kittiwakes in a snow storm at Ekkeroy, Finnmark, Norway. April 2017
by Malcolm Ausden
Digital iPad image £200 (sold)

How to submit an entry

This is the detailed call for entries.
To enter an exhibition you need to login or register as a new artist.

Advice on photographing

It is very difficult to assess work from poor photographs. When submitting work for pre-selection, please ensure that the photographs are accurate and show the work at its best. It is worth noting that sometimes work is let down by very poor photography including reflections on the glass, out of focus images or images that are angled from being propped against a wall when photographed. The lack of care reflects badly on the artist and does not help the task of selecting work. Sculptors in particular should use plain backgrounds and make the most of the option to add more views of the submission.

Advice on framing

Artists are encouraged to choose simple plain frames and mounts that will suit the exhibition and not detract from the work itself or interfere with adjacent works when exhibited in the galleries.

Cost of entry

Submission fee: £15 per work (£10 per work for artists aged 35 or under).

Timetable

Friday 27 July, 12 noon: Deadline for digital entries: Upload images of work (in JPEG format / under 5MB) at http://mallgalleries.oess.uk
Friday 3 August, from 12 noon: Check http://mallgalleries.oess.uk to see if your work has been pre-selected
Saturday 1 September, 10am - 5pm: Deliver your work to Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD
Tuesday 4 September, from 12 noon: Check mallgalleries.org.uk on , to see if your work has been accepted to the exhibition. Please note that selectors' decisions are final and no feedback is offered - other than general comments
Thursday 6 September, 10am - 5pm: If not selected for exhibition, collect your work from Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD
Thursday 25 October, 10am: Exhibition opens
Sunday 4 November, 1pm: Exhibition closes
Thursday 8 November, 10am - 5pm: Collect unsold work:

If you do NOT live in the UK

Artists who are not resident in the UK but are resident in the EU or elsewhere are welcome to submit work. You need to consult this page and read the instructions as to registration for VAT carefully.

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Reference: The Natural Eye 2017

Previous Exhibitions

2017 - Review - The Natural Eye Exhibition 2017

MAKING A MARK

Pages

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Call for Entries - Society of Wildlife Artists' Annual Exhibition 2018