"Why did my painting not get selected"
This post:
- makes a suggestion to those running open exhibitions and art competitions
- tells you what you can do to find out why your artwork did not make the grade
Dear art organisations - charge a fee!
I know why art organisations do not provide feedback on selection.
- Far too many entries and far too little time.
- There is absolutely no way that 100% of entries are going to get feedback on why they didn't get chosen.
However, what I don't understand is why organisations which, in general, say they are supportive and encouraging in relation to emerging and young artists do not find some way to provide feedback.
For example - they could
- charge a realistic fee for the time required for somebody to review an artwork and highlight some of the reasons why it did not make the cut - via email.
- differentiate fee costs by age. For example such a fee might differentiate between:
- emerging artists under 30
- artists aged 30+
Such a fee could be
- designed to be income-generating i.e. providing the organisation with income if artists were prepared to contribute feedback for free
- self-financing i.e. sufficient to pay somebody to take time out from their normal work to provide feedback.
Just a thought! However you already have competition......
Would you like me to help?
Contact me - I already charge a fee for feedback!
See below for details or see my web page Would you like me to help (in the ABOUT section on my Art Business Info for Artists website - where you can also read more about me and what qualifies me to comment.)
I'm not in this for the money - I want to help people make a difference to their lives and careers.
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| banner for my "Would you like me to help?" page |
What I can offer
In the absence of anybody else providing feedback to aspiring artists, I've started a service which allows aspiring artists - of whatever age - to engage me to get feedback on their art
I've provided formal (fee-paying) and informal business advice to artists for a significant period and have seen a number of them go on to make significant achievements as a resultThose who were astute enough to find my Would you like me to help page on my website have already been getting that advice!
In fact I was sat at Kings Place yesterday afternoon, after viewing the Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Exhibition, talking with two young ladies who are both aspiring young artists who have both won prizes. They are serious about their art, are undertaking further studies and both are entering open exhibitions and art competitions - and wanted advice. One had heard me talk previously and deemed me good value!
They came up with the great idea of them both meeting to talk with me about their art and finding out more about how to get selected - and sharing the fee for my time!
I can offer advice on various matters - including how to improve your chances of getting selected for an art competition or open exhibition.
My advice on art competitions can cover a variety of matters - including:
- why their entry did not get selected - I'm happy to highlight likely reasons
- whether their artwork is suitable for a specific exhibition - i.e. Is it good enough?
- which art competitions and open exhibitions to target with artwork - sometimes the problem is that artists are entering the wrong exhibitions / competitions
- how to make it more likely their artwork will get selected - LOTS of practical matters to attend to which can help give you the best chance
I will warn you that my style is to be honest and direct.
- If you're somebody who only wants warm words of encouragement and nothing else then I may not be the right person to help you.
- However if you prefer a style which is honest and does not 'sugar coat' then I might be what you need.
If you're interested why not have a READ of:
- Would you like me to help? - which includes my hourly fee rate and how the process works
- About the author: Katherine Tyrrell - which tells you more about me and my background
