Deadline for entry: September 14, 2026
Venue
midamericapastel.com
Juror of Selection/Judge of Awards
Mark Ivan Cole, markivancole.com
Award-winning artist and teacher Mark Ivan Cole, PSA, IAPS/MC began making art as soon as he could hold a crayon. He could be described as self-taught, but that does not give proper credit to the amazing artists– both contemporary and historical–whose works and methods he has spent decades studying. He was juried into the Pastel Society of America as a Signature member in 2018, received his Master Circle designation from the International Association of Pastel Societies in 2025, and has painted, exhibited and taught around the world. When not out with his wife exploring some beautiful places elsewhere on the planet, he is painting landscapes, recording original music, or working on his latest novel at home in Portland, Oregon.
Awards
First Place $750
Second Place $500
Third Place $300
Awards of Merit (3) $200
Honorable Mention (2) $100
Emerging Artist Award $100
Criteria explained in entry process on ShowSubmit.com.
Eligibility
- Open to all MidAmerica Pastel Society members 18 years old or older. MAPS member dues must have been paid by May 31 to enter. No exceptions.
- Artwork's final surface must be at least 80% soft pastel. No oil pastels.
- Original artwork only. Work done under supervision in a class or workshop, and work done from photographs other than the artist’s are ineligible.
- No portion of artwork or source material may be referenced using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- There are no size restrictions on actual artwork.
- Work must have been completed within the last 3 years and not have been shown in any previous MAPS show or exhibit. Check your entry history on ShowSubmit before entering.
- All subjects and styles, including tasteful nudes, are eligible, subject to juror’s discretion.
- The juror’s decision on all entries is final; only juror-selected works will be shown on the MAPS website.
- If for some reason the juror must withdraw, MAPS reserves the right to select another juror.
- Sales: MAPS will take no commission for any sale and assumes no responsibility for completion of sale.
- Should the painting be damaged in shipment, MAPS assumes no liability or involvement in the resolution of such an occurrence. Entry into this show constitutes agreement with the above.
- NFS (not for sale) is permitted.
- The show will be available online at www.midamericapastel.com, beginning October 20, 2026.
Procedure for Entry
- Please read ShowSubmit.com and prospectus instructions carefully to avoid errors.
- You do not need to resize or rename your digital image files — they will be resized and renamed automatically by ShowSubmit. What you need to do:
- Take a photo of your painting. Do not photograph through glass or show the mat, frame, etc.— painting only.
- Upload your cropped, hi-resolution or original images on www.showsubmit.com no later than midnight on Monday, September 14, 2026. If using your mobile or tablet device, use the 'Actual Size' or largest available.
- A step-by-step guide for entry can be found at showsubmit.com/entry-guide, or in the drop-down Main Menu located in the upper-right corner of the ShowSubmit screen. If you need additional help with the online entry system, see the Support section below.
- Changes and additions can be made to the ShowSubmit entry until entry deadline, Monday, September 14, 2026.
Entry Fees
Up to 5 image entries per artist. Entry fee for 1st image is $35. Images 2-5 are $5 each. Entry fee is nonrefundable and must be paid at time of online entry.
Limitations of Liability
Submission of entry shall constitute understanding and agreement with all conditions stated in this prospectus. MidAmerica Pastel Society, or its agents, officers, employees, or members will not be responsible for any errors or omissions in the prospectus. Entry constitutes agreement granting MAPS reproduction rights for the purposes of advertising this show.
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on October 5, 2026.
If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.
Image and Filename Specifications
- File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
- Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
- Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
- Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
- File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
- File Size: There is a 30mb maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.
Additional Entry Information
- You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
- After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (September 14, 2026.)
- Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
- Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
Support
Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Mary Ann Pals ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, MAPS, eligibility, artwork requirements, sales, etc.
Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.