Studio Texas
Exhibition artwork

Studio Texas

The Rolling Hills at Round Top Plein Air Festival 2027

Event Application

April 13 – 17, 2027

Deadline is February 26th. 18 weeks left to enter.
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Overview

  • Twelve artists will be juried in to participate in the 5-day event, painting in and around Round Top, Texas.
  • Studio Texas hosts the event, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to create art experiences and educational opportunities in the visual arts, offering a high level of learning, professional development, and cultural support.
  • Artist housing is provided on a best-efforts basis.

Fees and Registration

  • Entry fee is $75.
  • Artist must send to Studio Texas by February 27, 2026:
    • One artist’s photo (headshot)
    • an artist’s statement (50 words or less),
    • an artist’s bio (120 words or less)
    • Three hi-res images of pieces of art

Jurors of Applications

  • Amanda Danning, Painter and Sculptor, President, Studio Texas
  • Karen Vernon, Painter, Vice President and Secretary, Studio Texas

Orientation

Tuesday, April 13, 2027, 4:00 pm
Location: The Compound, Round Top, Texas

Artists are required to be present at orientation at 4:00 PM. Artist’s substrates will be stamped. Bring your canvases, paper or boards. Rules, regulations, and events will be detailed. Dinner will be available at 6 pm.

Round Top En Plein Air Rules

  1. Participants must attend the orientation and welcome reception on Tuesday.
  2. Artists must bring or have delivered two studio pieces for display
  3. Artist must be present at Awards Ceremony on Saturday to claim prize.
  4. Art may be of any medium.
  5. Artists must submit at least four (4) plein air paintings (complete with event stamp) for judging.
  6. All painting will take place within Studio Texas's defined boundaries and painted “en plein air.”
  7. Painting from photographs and other reliance on photography or digital aids is not allowed.
  8. Paintings must have an event stamp and be created during the official painting period of April 13 - 16 to be eligible for awards.
  9. Art other than the Quick Draw must be submitted by 5 PM, Friday, April 16.
  10. Submission of artwork is defined as being turned into officials at the designated Wet Gallery, framed and hung with wall tags and paperwork completed. ***
  11. All contest paintings must be for sale at a minimum of $450. No exceptions.
  12. Sales split: 40% to Studio Texas and 60% to the artist.
  13. With the exception of art painted for the Quick Draw, no art can be sold before the Blue Ribbon Collector’s Reception.
  14. Off-easel, online, or gallery sales must adhere to the 60/40 commission structure and must be processed by Studio Texas.
  15. Artists may not paint staged still lifes.
  16. Paintings must be en plein air, no use of phones, tablets or electronic devices allowed
  17. Minimum size: 8 x 8 (or 64 square inches), excluding frame. No Exceptions
  18. Maximum size: No side may exceed 36 inches, excluding frame. No exceptions.
  19. All work must be in gallery-quality frames and “wired” (no saw-tooth hangers, no glue, no tape) and ready for hanging. No exceptions.
  20. No Gallery Wrap Canvases.
  21. RAIN: In case of rain, the artists may paint outside, under sheltered spaces, or may paint indoors a public locations. Artists may not paint in a studio setting.

    *** Artwork that cannot be securely hung will be disqualified.

Optional

Accepted artists may display one existing painting to sell at a specified storefront as space permits, the week prior to the event to aid event awareness. Artists will retain 60% of sales as above.

Award Categories

  1. Rolling Hills Plein Air Competition
  2. Artists’ Choice
  3. Quick Draw
  4. Patron Named Awards
All sales will be processed by Studio Texas with a sales split of 60% to the artists and 40% to Studio Texas. Artwork will be displayed at the designated Wet Gallery on Saturday, April 17, 2027, from 2-6 PM and Sunday, April 18 from 11-3 pm.

Quick Draw

  1. Artists may set up their easels before 9 AM but may not start painting until 9 am.
  2. The Boundaries for the Quick Draw contest will be described with a map at Orientation on Tuesday, April 13. Artists must be in plain view of the public. Artists may paint anything they can see from the described location perimeters.
  3. Artwork must be registered by Studio Texas officials by 10:30 am.
  4. Artwork will be displayed on artist’s easel at the designated area-Round Top Realty as instructed by Studio Texas Officials.
  5. Artwork must be completed En Plein Air. Artist may not use the aid of a phone, camera, or electronic tablet.
  6. Artists may not bring personal props for their composition.

Schedule of Events

  • Artist Orientation & Dinner
    April 13, 4 – 7:30 pm
  • Painters Paint at Will
    April 14, 15, 16
  • Painting Turn-In
    Deadline April 16, 5 pm
    Art must be registered electronically and hung.
    Paintings may be turned in at Wet Gallery at any time before the deadline
  • Judging
    April 17, 5 pm
  • Quick Draw
    April 17, 9 – 10:30 am
  • Wet Gallery
    April 17, 1–2 PM Blue Ribbon Collector’s Hour
    2 PM – 6 PM Wet Gallery and awards, open to the public
  • Wet Gallery Open to the Public
    April 26, 11 am – 3 pm
    3 PM — Artists pick up work
Management reserves the right to adjust schedules as needed.

Awards

Awards include $6,000 in cash prizes and manufacturer’s awards will be awarded to winning artists.

Juror

Rita Kirkman

Contact and Location

Amanda Danning
979-863-2979

Responsibilities/Liabilities of the Artist

By entering the event, you agree that you have read and will abide by all the rules outlined as presented. Studio Texas is not responsible for the loss or damage of any artwork for any reason. Studio Texas may use images of the artist and the artist’s work for Education and Marketing purposes.

Sites listed as the Host Sites are private properties. Access has been granted according to the terms described during orientation by individual owners. Enjoyment of these properties can be rescinded at any time for any reason. Abuse of the terms may disqualify participants from current and future competitions.

By submitting artwork to this event, you understand and agree to this statement. Insurance for any loss or damage to artwork is the sole responsibility of the participating artist. The artist also agrees to handle the removal of unsold work as outlined in the prospectus.

Studio Texas will make its best effort to provide lodging for the artists. Each artist will be contacted by April 1, 2027, with specific housing arrangements. Each artist is asked to gift a plein air piece to the host.

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 (February 26, 2027.)
  • 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.

Notifications Are Posted in Your Account

Results will be posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on March 8, 2027. You will also receive an email.

Log in and check your account. We are unable to answer individual inquiries about results.

Support

Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Amanda Danning ([email protected]) for questions about the prospectus, ST, 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.