Posted by Ray Mosteller on January 11, 2012 at 7:13pm
Rejections hurt, no question about it. Often, artists seem to take it personal and view it as a slap in the face or disapproval of their work. But in reality, rejections are inevitable if you apply to top quality shows. This site has had numerous discussions about this topic. I've done a bit of research on the subject. Although it is based on the photography medium, it can have similar uses to other mediums as well.Because this is a lengthy discussion and it will likely be cut off before completion, I will post the main discussion in separate entries below and refer everyone back to page 1 for details.
All the jurors are interested in evaluating are the images. No one cares if you put mats on the images to sell them. Adding anything around the images makes the images smaller than your competitors images.
Along these same lines I was wondering, for photography, should I submit just the image...or photoshop on a mat for art bin pieces, rolled edges and shadows for canvases, frames...etc to make them look like they'll be viewed in the booth? They sure present nice this way, buy image obviously gets when you a mat.
1 - I have seen that also. Some artists are so good that they can use the same jury images for their entire career. Jurors change more often than artists change images so it is possible to get away with it. Additionally the work they show up with is just as good as their jury images are.
2 - Shows still don't understand the definitions of photography and digital art and artists are their own worst enemy when it comes to contacting a show and throwing out definitions that benefit them but are not traditional definitions of the medium they should be applying in. For example, painting on a photograph is a traditional photographic process, not mixed media.
3 - Artists will do whatever they can (short of murder) to get into a good show. That's how the "game" is played. Sometimes if caught, all they get is a "you won't get back in next year" speech instead of just having their booth closed down. It's the show's responsibility to enforce their rules on the spot, not for next year.
4 - Photographic skills have nothing to do with art. Photographic skills are a craft and something we're not juried on. Capturing a compelling image is an art and that's what jurying is about. Making the jurors say WOW.
From my analysis, I have also found the following: 1 - some artists supply the same winning images for many years without ever showing any new creations. I'm astonished that they continue to be accepted to the same shows over and over with the same images. 2 - some artists apply in multiple categories, like photography AND digital art, even though all images were the result of capture by camera. 3 - some accepted artists submit bodies of word that I have never seen them exhibit at a show. 4 - often the winning images in photography have no relationship to the best photographic skills.
Actually it wasn't that much effort. And I think it's an exercise that all new artists should do. Simply go to the websites of the top shows and see who's getting invited in your medium. Many shows even show the lead image of the invited artist. And a few shows even show all submitted images. One show even shows the submitted booth image (woodlands waterway festival). By reviewing the images of the invited artists, one can better evaluate their chances of acceptance.
For me, I have learned that to improve my chances of top tier shows, I would have better odds with a different body of work, which I am in the process of building just for those shows.
From my analysis, I have also found the following:
- some artists supply the same winning images for many years without ever showing any new creations. I'm astonished that they continue to be accepted to the same shows over and over with the same images.
- some artists apply in multiple categories, like photography AND digital art, even though all images were the result of capture by camera.
- some accepted artists submit bodies of word that I have never seen them exhibit at a show.
- often the winning images in photography have no relationship to the best photographic skills.
Larry is right! The judges see some of the same images over and over and the work that is unlike any others stands a better chance of being accepted. At the top shows we must assume that anyone in the running of being chosen has fine quality images and a good booth shot -- ASSUMED -- those that get accepted go way beyond that.
Actually that's where truly different work shines. Once the presentation issues are out of the way, they jurors see the work and evaluate it.
It's really a shame that great artists think that they don't need excellent jury images and that their work will show through - NOT, not in ten or twenty seconds.
>If the photos used for applying are very good quality and the booth shot is well done also...how much difference will a truely different style of work make?
I see alot of certain categories of work and art at most shows that make those categories very competitive...and I assume this makes it more difficult for the judges to make desisions for acceptance, as well as looking for new blood in the shows so it will not be the same artists year after year.
I always wonder how important it is to have art that is truely unique and one of a kind...something with virtually no competition because of its uniqueness.
If the photos used for applying are very good quality and the booth shot is well done also...how much difference will a truely different style of work make?
Comments
The booth or display image is for showing the jurors your presentation.
When I shot 35mm slides, I duped my original slides for jury slides.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
That was my line of thinking too Larry, but wasn't sure. Thanks for the confirmation!
All the jurors are interested in evaluating are the images. No one cares if you put mats on the images to sell them. Adding anything around the images makes the images smaller than your competitors images.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Along these same lines I was wondering, for photography, should I submit just the image...or photoshop on a mat for art bin pieces, rolled edges and shadows for canvases, frames...etc to make them look like they'll be viewed in the booth? They sure present nice this way, buy image obviously gets when you a mat.
To answer each of your points
1 - I have seen that also. Some artists are so good that they can use the same jury images for their entire career. Jurors change more often than artists change images so it is possible to get away with it. Additionally the work they show up with is just as good as their jury images are.
2 - Shows still don't understand the definitions of photography and digital art and artists are their own worst enemy when it comes to contacting a show and throwing out definitions that benefit them but are not traditional definitions of the medium they should be applying in. For example, painting on a photograph is a traditional photographic process, not mixed media.
3 - Artists will do whatever they can (short of murder) to get into a good show. That's how the "game" is played. Sometimes if caught, all they get is a "you won't get back in next year" speech instead of just having their booth closed down. It's the show's responsibility to enforce their rules on the spot, not for next year.
4 - Photographic skills have nothing to do with art. Photographic skills are a craft and something we're not juried on. Capturing a compelling image is an art and that's what jurying is about. Making the jurors say WOW.
From my analysis, I have also found the following:
1 - some artists supply the same winning images for many years without ever showing any new creations. I'm astonished that they continue to be accepted to the same shows over and over with the same images.
2 - some artists apply in multiple categories, like photography AND digital art, even though all images were the result of capture by camera.
3 - some accepted artists submit bodies of word that I have never seen them exhibit at a show.
4 - often the winning images in photography have no relationship to the best photographic skills.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
For me, I have learned that to improve my chances of top tier shows, I would have better odds with a different body of work, which I am in the process of building just for those shows.
From my analysis, I have also found the following:
- some artists supply the same winning images for many years without ever showing any new creations. I'm astonished that they continue to be accepted to the same shows over and over with the same images.
- some artists apply in multiple categories, like photography AND digital art, even though all images were the result of capture by camera.
- some accepted artists submit bodies of word that I have never seen them exhibit at a show.
- often the winning images in photography have no relationship to the best photographic skills.
Ray, thanks for sharing all your research work with us. That must have taken you a long time. Good job!
Jacki B
Larry is right! The judges see some of the same images over and over and the work that is unlike any others stands a better chance of being accepted. At the top shows we must assume that anyone in the running of being chosen has fine quality images and a good booth shot -- ASSUMED -- those that get accepted go way beyond that.
Actually that's where truly different work shines. Once the presentation issues are out of the way, they jurors see the work and evaluate it.
It's really a shame that great artists think that they don't need excellent jury images and that their work will show through - NOT, not in ten or twenty seconds.
>If the photos used for applying are very good quality and the booth shot is well done also...how much difference will a truely different style of work make?
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
I see alot of certain categories of work and art at most shows that make those categories very competitive...and I assume this makes it more difficult for the judges to make desisions for acceptance, as well as looking for new blood in the shows so it will not be the same artists year after year.
I always wonder how important it is to have art that is truely unique and one of a kind...something with virtually no competition because of its uniqueness.
If the photos used for applying are very good quality and the booth shot is well done also...how much difference will a truely different style of work make?
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