11 Ways to Catch a Juror’s Eye

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Want that wow factor? Here’s what makes a stand-out competition submission.

It’s no surprise that an art juror is going to begin his or her task by studying a painting for certain expected attributes: strong design, solid draftsmanship, a skilled handling of value and color. But once an entry has met criteria like these, what is it in a painting that catches and holds a juror’s attention all the way through to the winner’s circle? What is the secret to that intangible “wow factor”?

At Pastel Journal, we ask this question of all of our Pastel 100 Competition jurors, and they’ve offered some truly great advice over the years. Here are 11 tips for improving the odds that your painting will be one of the stand-outs. After getting the inside scoop, be sure to check out the open art competitions going on now and submit your work!

Note: The deadline for entering the 22nd Annual Pastel 100 is September 7!

How to Get the Jurors’ Attention

Finish Line (pastel, 16×20) by Aline Ordman was Pastel Journal‘s Founder’s Award in Memory of Maggie Price in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

1. Submit your newest and your best work.

“Don’t submit a work that’s already been shopped around to various national shows or on Facebook. I say this because the juror has probably seen it before, and perhaps more than once. If so, he or she might pass it by to give someone else a shot at stardom, so it may prove counterproductive.” — Arlene Richman

Spring Rain (pastel, 11×14) by Norbert Nagel won the Ruth Richeson Pastel Gold Award in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

2. Work from life.

“I’d encourage everyone to work as much as possible from life; photos lie to us, particularly about values and edges. Painting from life is the fastest way to mastery of our craft.”
William A. Schneider

The Gift Box (pastel, 131⁄2×131⁄2) by Marie Tippets took third place in Still Life & Floral in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

3. Paint the essence of a subject.

“Paint the idea, not just what you see.” 
— Stephanie Birdsall

Dancing Light (pastel, 24×18) by Jian Wu won the Richeson Pastel Silver Award in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

4. Convey a complete message.

“Be sure your work accomplishes what you set out to do. I tend to be drawn to paintings that feel complete. Whether loose or tight, impressionistic or realistic, colorful or monochromatic, paintings that say it all and nothing more are the ones that stand out.”
— Terri Ford

PAstel_Isabelle_Lim_VillageBoys#43_28x20
Village Boys #43 (pastel, 28×20) by Isabelle V. Lim took second place in the Abstract & Non-Objective category in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

5. Take risks.

“Explore unique combinations of color; experiment with different techniques; and always strive for creating [pieces] that stand apart.”
— Desmond O’Hagan

“I look for something that makes me see a subject in a new way and rocks my world visually — images that utilize [the medium] in an intriguing way.” — Dawn Emerson

Pastel_Yael_Maimon_TheBreakfastClub5_16x21
The Breakfast Club #5 (pastel, 16×21-1/2) by Yael Maimon took second place in Animal + Wildlife in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

6. Find the drama.

“Look for the drama in your compositions. I always tell students to paint what scares you, because it will push your skills to a higher level.”
Nancie King Mertz

Lumière Intérieure (pastel 271⁄2 x 193⁄4) by Jerzy Moscicki won the Richeson Pastel Bronze Award in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

7. Make it personal.

“Create work that’s personal. And strive to go beyond.”
— Debora L. Stewart

“Don’t try to mimic another artist; allow your own personal style to emerge.” 
— Barbara Jaenicke

Self-portrait (30×201⁄2) by Jia Wei took first place in Portrait & Figure in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

8. Limit detail.

“Consider what you want your painting to be about and how you can simplify the visual story. Limit the detail to areas where you want the viewer to focus. Take chances. Interpret your subject rather than copy it. You have a voice, so paint to tell your story.”
— Vianna Szabo

Navajo Sandstone (pastel, 16×12) by Kathy Falla Howard took first place in Landscape & Interior in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

9. Follow your heart.

“Follow your heart in terms of both content and artistic treatment. Be true to yourself as an artist; it’s the only way to achieve fulfillment in your work.”
— Brian Bailey

“Paint a subject you love — one that speaks to you, challenges you, and gives you an I-can’t-wait-to-paint-it feeling.”
— Stephanie Birdsall

Nandina Graffiti (pastel, 30×22) by Bre Barnett Crowell won the Pastel Journal Award of Excellence in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

10. Practice often.

“Paint, paint, paint. Every day, if you can.”
— Elizabeth Ganji

“It’s helpful to remember that each juror is unique in the type of painting that appeals to him or her … So, it’s best to paint what you love and keep practicing and painting.”
Sarah Blumenschein

Longhorn in the Sun (pastel 12×16) by Malia Bryngelson took first place in Animal & Wildlife in the 21st Annual Pastel 100 competition

11. Have fun!

“Aim for mastery … And enjoy the process; it will show in your painting!”
Diane Rappisi

“Expose yourself often to work that is better than yours. Visit museums. See shows. Take workshops. Get inspired. Use your imagination. Learn the rules, then learn how to break them. And, most importantly, keep painting!” — Rita Kirkman

Meet Jurors for This Year’s 22nd Annual Pastel 100 Competition

Read about the five artists who’ll be seeking out the “wow factor” in the 22nd Pastel 100 Competition, which is open for entries now. Find more entry information here.

Tony Allain | Landscape & Interior Juror

Tony Allain is an award-winning painter, instructor, and author and has been painting for more than 40 years. Born and raised on Guernsey in the Channel Islands, he moved to paint and live in Cornwall, UK to capture the unique clarity of light living on the peninsular of the West Country. Tony has exhibited extensively over the years. His work can be found in many leading galleries as well as private and corporate collections worldwide, including the Maritime Museum, Guernsey and Queen Mary 2, Cunard Ocean Liner. He has exhibited with The Pastel Society of America in New York, the  Royal Society of Marine Artists, London, The International Pastel Exhibition, Suzhou, China and the Pastel Society, Mall Galleries, London. A move to New Zealand in 2006 proved to be a turning point in his career with the acceptance as a Master of the Pastel Artists of New Zealand.


Carol Peebles | Portrait & Figure Juror

Carol Peebles works to continue the tradition of classical realist life drawing through her Atelier classes and commissions. Her work focuses on pastel portraits and figures, drawn from life, to celebrate the people in her immediate environment. Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, she has instructed at Studio Incamminati, PA; The Pastel Society of America at the National Arts Club, NYC; Louisiana State University; The University of New Orleans; and Pennsylvania State University. Carol currently teaches at The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, and her drawing Atelier, BlueEaselClub.com. A New Orleans native, she received her MFA from Penn State University and her BA from the University of New Orleans, but attributes her learning of classical realism to Master painter Auseklis Ozols, Director of the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts.


Robert K. Carsten | Still Life & Floral Juror

Robert Carsten is a pastelist and multimedia artist who studied at the Art Students League of New York, Rhode Island School of Design, and the Accademia di Belle Arti, Italy. He is a signature member, Master Pastelist, and honorary board member of the Pastel Society of America; Masters Circle artist in the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS); Honorary Lifetime Member of the Southwest Florida Pastel Society; and a longtime, popular national and international workshop instructor and exhibitions juror. He was the judge of awards for the 2018 IAPS international online exhibition, and co-juror for Pastel Society of America’s Annual International Exhibition, among others. His pastel paintings have been shown in many museums and galleries, are collected worldwide, and have garnered many awards including several Best of Shows. His work has been featured in Pure Color; Pure Pastel; Acrylic Works 4; Acrylic Works 7; Strokes of Genius; Finding Your Style in Pastel; Pastel Journal; American Art Review; The Artist’s Magazine; and other publications.


Rita Kirkman | Animal & Wildlife Juror

Rita Kirkman has been using pastel since she was 11 years old. Her work is defined by light, color and composition, and since 2003 has consistently won major awards in national and international competitions. She is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and an Eminent Pastelist with the International Association of Pastel Societies. Her work is in public and private collections all over the world, including the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan, Africa, and Australia. She has become a popular workshop instructor, and enjoys seeing students get excited about what pastel can do.


Marcia Holmes | Abstract & Non-Objective Juror

Marcia Holmes is a Louisiana-based contemporary master pastel artist, recently named Visual Artist of the Year on the North Shore of New Orleans. A Mississippi native, Marcia is best known for her abstract impressionist landscapes of water lilies and reflections. Celebrating 20 years of Solo and Museum Exhibitions she’s been featured in American Art Collector, Pastel Journal, and Fine Art Connoisseur. This award-winning, internationally published artist and poet has served as Juror of Abstracts for the Pastel Journal Magazine. Her studio painter’s portfolio feature large-scale abstract paintings in oil and mixed media on canvas. 

You can see the entire list of the 21st Annual Pastel 100 Winners and Honorable Mentions in the April 2020 special issue of Pastel Journal. Check out the Print Issue or Digital Edition!

Enter the 22nd Annual Pastel 100 Competition here!

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