Enter to win the BC-Wide Portrait Competition, Exhibition, and Live Painting Event!
Application Fee:
Members: $15
Non-Member Fee: $25
Not a member of the Langley Arts Council? Become a Member by clicking HERE to learn more information.
The Langley Arts Council is inviting BC-Based Portrait Artists to compete in the 2023 Portrait Artist of the Year Competition!
Haven't been able to attend the BC-Wide Portrait Competition? Read about it HERE!
Deadline: July 31, 2024
Exhibition Dates: September 20 - October 9, 2024
Exhibition Location: The Aldergrove Kinsmen Community Centre
26770 29th Ave, Aldergrove BC V4W 3B8.
Competition Date: Saturday, September 28th from 9:00 - 3:30 PM
About the Exhibition and Competition
Artists are welcome to enter three works for consideration in the first round of judging through the application at the bottom of this page. All artists will be considered for both the exhibition and the painting competition.
After applications are received, 9 artists will be chosen to compete in this live portrait painting competition. The rest of the artists will be showcased in the exhibition alongside the competition, please note space will be limited so all artists and all their submitted works may not be showcased.
About the Live Competition
The in-person portrait competition will take place on Saturday, September 28th from 9:00 - 3:30. The 9 chosen artists will be given two and a half hours to work on their portraits quietly without an audience. At 11:30 spectators will be invited into the Main Hall Gallery to watch the artists complete their works. Artists will continue to paint until 1:00 PM. Four hours after the start, bushes will be set down, the sitters can view the portraits, and the judges will go around to take in the works. After the judges have deliberated, the top three will be chosen. One artist will be selected as the winner of this year's competition, and two others will receive honorable mention.
Awards
Winning Artist
The winning artist will receive a $100 OPUS Gift Card and $100 cash. A LAC Membership and a spot in the group exhibition which is awarded in 2025 to the winner and two artists who won an honorable mention.
Two Honorable Mentions
The two artists awarded honorable mention will each receive $50 OPUS Gift Cards and $50 cash. A LAC Membership and a spot in the group exhibition which is awarded in 2025 to the winner and two artists who won an honorable mention.
Other 6 Artists Competing as a part of the 9 in the Competition
The other participating artists in the top 9 will each receive a $25 OPUS Gift Card for participating in the event.
Sitters and Sitters Awards
- 3 Sitters will be selected by the Langley Arts Council
- Each sitter will have three artists painting their portraits.
- Sitters will not be announced before the competition and will be drawn at random as the artists arrive for the day of the competition.
- Each sitter will be awarded a portrait of themselves completed by one of the top 9 artists.
More information will be provided to the top 9 artists after they have been selected.
Details For the Top 9 Artists for the Competition
- The top 9 artists will be provided with one 12" x 16" (canvas, linen, watercolor paper, or cradled panel) surface to paint or draw on.
- Top 9 artists will be provided with Kroma Acrylic Paints (black, white, red, blue, yellow), Oil Paints (black, white, red, blue, yellow), or watercolor paints (black, white, blue, red, yellow). Artists are welcome to bring more colours to work with if they choose. The LAC will not be supplying artists with Medium. If artists would like to use mediums in their live painting event they will be asked to bring their own.
- Artists are asked to bring their easel, brushes, and any other additional materials they may need to complete their work.
- Each sitter will choose one artwork to take home with them from the live painting competition.
Jurying Process
To select the 9 artists participating in the completion, the LAC will use the process attached HERE.
Artist Eligibility
- Artists who reside in BC, Canada are welcome to apply to this call.
- Artists 18+ are welcome to apply to this call and competition.
Artwork Eligibility
- This call can only accommodate 2D artworks.
- All artworks must be original, with no photographs or prints.
- Artists are welcome to submit 3 artworks for consideration and will receive a notice via email about the status of their submission after the show's submission deadline.
- All artworks must be for sale, and any sales that take place during the duration of the exhibition must be facilitated through the LAC.
- All artworks must remain hung for the duration of the exhibition.
- Please ensure your work follows the LAC's definition of an 'Original Artwork'
Original artwork is created at the hand of the artist who is submitting the work. The creation process must be the effort of a single individual to convey their own personal interpretation of an image or multiple images. Submitting artists are allowed to use reference photos to inspire their work, but artists must use their own design and composition for the final artwork to be considered original.
Main Hall Gallery and Online Gallery Artwork Specifications
- This call to artists is only accepting 2D artworks.
- All the selected artworks will be on display at the Main Hall Gallery as well as the AIFS Online Gallery.
Click here to see the AIFS Online Galleries.
- Artwork submitted to this call to artists must not have been exhibited at any of our Art in Found Spaces Galleries.
- Artists are welcome to submit 3 artworks for consideration and will receive a notice via email about the status of their submission after the show's submission deadline.
- All artworks must remain on display for the duration of the exhibition.
- Since your artwork will be featured in the online Gallery it is imperative we receive high-quality image submissions from you.
Hanging Requirements
All artwork must be suitably prepared for display. Artworks must be appropriately framed or stretched with finished sides and properly wired for hanging, using d-hooks and wire.
The D hooks should be 4” from the top of the frame or 1/3 of the height of the frame. The stretched wire should be 2” below the top of the frame.
Artwork Sale & Commission
- All artworks must be for sale, and any sales that take place during the duration of the exhibition must be facilitated through the Langley Arts Council.
- The Arts Council takes a 35% commission on all artwork sales in our brick-and-mortar galleries. Since this exhibition will be online as well as in one of the AIFS Brick-and-Mortar galleries there will be a 35% commission taken on sales.
Photographing your Artwork
We've provided two resources for artists on how to successfully photograph their artwork. Since this is a digital platform it is imperative to have good quality images. These resources should help you to achieve that.
"How to Photograph a Painting, Step by Step" by Artists Network Staff
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/oil-painting/how-to-photograph-a-painting-step-by-step/
"How to Document Your Artwork with Jannette Maedel" by the Surrey Art Gallery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOAAmoZp_kg&feature=youtu.be
Insurance
The Langley Arts Council insurance policy does not provide coverage for exhibiting artists. The Langley Arts Council cannot be responsible for theft or damage in any of their Art In Found Spaces Galleries; that being said precaution will be exercised to keep the artwork safe in each exhibition space.
Right to Refuse an Artwork
The Langley Arts Council reserves the right to refuse any piece. Work not properly prepared and or submitted may not be exhibited (consult with the Arts Council regarding any questions or special considerations for hanging an artwork before submission).
Application Fees
Application fees are non-refundable.
To apply, complete the two steps below.
1. Fill out the Application form and SUBMIT. Please note this form may take a few minutes to load.
2. Complete your registration fee payment using the 'Buy Now' button.
Questions about the exhibition or competition? Please contact galleries@langleyarts.ca