Juried Art Competition: What to do when you lose

WHEN YOU’RE NOT A WINNER

This weekend I did some live painting at Paint Out at the Park in Dearborn. It was a super cool juried art competition where dozens of artists were given 4’x4’ boards to paint over the course of three days. The winners were given cash prizes and honored at the event, which was part of the larger Dearborn Homecoming party. 

I had a lot of fun and created a beautiful painting. I painted a couple of teapots, complete with little cups and tea leaves. I’m so proud of my work, even though I only got to spend two of the days on it (thanks, day job). It’s such a cute piece.

But I still lost. 

And in fact, it’s the second year in a row that I’ve lost this competition. 

I mean, there were only three winners among about 40 participants. So it’s not like I was alone. But it still hurt a little. 

So today I spent some time dwelling on the right way to handle a loss at an art competition (now that I’m a seasoned veteran in doing so *eye roll*) and I wanted to share my insights. There are wrong ways and right ways to handle the situation. 

CONGRATULATE THE ARTISTS

You lost, but you don’t have to be a sore loser. Imagine the joy you would have felt accepting that fat cash prize and the glory of winning that comes with extra attention, sales, networking opportunities, and pride. Don’t take that away from your fellow artists by being sour. 

Congratulate them. And mean it. 

Because according to the panel of judges and whoever else, they deserve that win. They worked for it. They earned it. 

That doesn’t mean you didn’t work hard or that you didn’t deserve recognition. It doesn’t mean your piece wasn’t awesome. It just means the panel didn’t choose yours. 

And everyone has different tastes. I had a handful of people tell me mine was their favorite during the live painting, and even a woman who sat and watched me paint until the end, only to ask me where she could buy it and when she could hang it in her living room as I was packing up. That really made my day. 

But she wasn’t a judge. It just so happens that the judges didn’t like my work as much as they did the winning three. 

Just remember that all art is subjective, and you’ll shake that sour bone out of your body real quick. 

Tell the winners you’re happy for them with a simple “Congrats,” and a smile. 

QUESTIONING WHY?

If you’re genuinely wondering why the judges thought someone else’s work was better than yours, that’s okay. 

Here’s what to do:

Research the judges. 

The names of the judges are usually listed before the competition begins. Find out who they are (ask the organizer directly if you have to) and give them a quick search online. 

They’ll be people with some type of higher art education or extensive art experience (I know the judges of Paint Out the Park all had their Masters in Fine Arts.) and they will more than likely have online portfolios or an artist resume website. Gather information about the judges to figure out what they might have appreciated or not liked about your work.

What type of exhibits have they been in? What type of art do they make? Where are they from?

People’s tastes are often formed by their experiences. If they lived in Nevada and loved it, they may be more partial to a painting of cacti than the judge who has never left Wisconsin. If they have formal education, they may place more weight on the elements of design than someone who is self taught. If they create realistic artwork, they may prefer art in that style. 

Try researching the judges before the event next time, and make stylistic choices in your submissions according to who will be granting the awards. 

IT’S NOT A TOTAL LOSS

Because of course, you gained valuable experience. Being in a juried art competition is a cool experience in itself. Learning how they work, how time limits affect your painting, how choices of submission affect your success, and navigating the competitive atmosphere is all an important learning opportunity that you can take elsewhere in your art journey. 

Basically, you’re not a total loser. 

You earned some bumps and bruises on your way and got a little smarter, too. That’s a good thing. Appreciate the chance you had to participate, because gratitude is necessary in this field of work.

YOUR NEXT COMPETITION

For your next juried art competition, there are a few things you can do to get a leg up on the other artists. 

Like I mentioned earlier, research the judges beforehand. Knowledge is a powerful tool for any competition. If you know what they might like, you can cater to it within the bounds of your ability and style. 

Give yourself the most time. I know that’s a flaw I had in both this and last year’s event. I let my day job get in the way and thus had a fraction of the time other people had to really do their best work. Not saying I would have absolutely been a winner with an extra day, but it would have helped my chances. Taking it slow, paying attention to detail, not rushing through it, and giving yourself time for little breaks is essential to creating a masterpiece in a juried art competition.

Prepare beforehand. Make concept sketches or bring a reference photo to the event. Winging it is fun, but when the pressure is on, you want to have a set mind and clear idea of what you’ll actually be drawing. 

If you’re nervous, reach out to fellow artists who will be in the show to see how they’re doing or what they’re bringing. Talking about it and sharing ideas will help calm your nerves and maybe they’ll give you some solid advice. 

If it’s a pre-made submission contest, choose your best existing pieces to submit. The newest, most intellectually profound, and aesthetically pleasing will impress even the most experienced artist judges. Make sure it represents your unique style because if you win, your piece will be paraded around on and offline for a few days.

Just remember to relax, and if you don’t win, that’s okay 🙂 It’s all part of the journey.