Focus on Figures is our annual celebration of the art of the figure. This is an open show invite to all artists to submit work in any medium to be exhibited in our historic GAR Hall. A series of events including a two-day workshop, a drop-in figure session and a portrait demonstration have been scheduled during the run of this exhibit.
Entry Fee
- $25 for first entry, $10 for each additional entry (up to 5)
- Artists can submit up to 5 pieces - up to 2 per artist accepted
- Membership is not required for entry
Eligibility
- All forms of artwork are allowed
- All artwork must be originally created and is the original artist’s work from conception through execution. The artwork must not be a copy of likeness of another’s work or derived from a published painting, drawing, photograph, digital image or print.
- No size restrictions, within reason. For very oversize or very heavy pieces please contact us before submitting.
- Submissions of artwork done during the course of an in-person or online workshop or class is not permitted.
- Work must not have been previously exhibited in a North River Arts exhibition, not including satellite galleries. Work from satellite galleries is allowed.
- Work does not need to be for sale.
- All 2D work must be framed or gallery wrapped (finished edges) and wired for hanging.
- All 2D work must be framed or gallery wrapped (finished edge) and wired for hanging.
- No saw tooth hangers.
- Work deemed unsuitable will not be accepted or hung.
Awards
- Best in Show $250 plus ribbon
- Second Place Ribbon and a $100 Gift Card to NRAS, applicable to any North River Arts Class or Workshop
- Third Place Ribbon
- Honorable Mentions (5) Ribbon
Sales
Work may be for sale; NFS is allowed.
Members charged a 30% commission and non-members charged 50%. Payment to artists will be within 30 days of exhibition closing. All artwork must remain hung until close of show.
Hand Delivery and Shipping
Information will be provided to artists upon acceptance into the Awards Show.
Judge of Selection and Awards
Corey Pitkin
Corey Pitkin’s work is an exploration of ephemeral beauty expressed simply and genuinely. Using old master-esque muted colors complimented with subtle edgework his pieces shift and glimmer yet maintain their precision. His subjects are memories that slip away when you try to hold onto them for more than a moment.
A predominantly self-taught artist, Pitkin’s award winning work has been featured in The Pastel Journal, Art Renewal Center, Portrait Society of America, Pratique des Arts Magazine, International Artist Magazine, and Pastel World Magazine, and is held in collections across the globe. He is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America where he also serves on the Board of Governors and has achieved Eminent Pastelist status with the International Association of Pastel Societies. Pitkin teaches frequently online and regularly travels for in-person workshops. He currently resides in upstate New York with his wife Esther and children Anastasia and Xavier.
A predominantly self-taught artist, Pitkin’s award winning work has been featured in The Pastel Journal, Art Renewal Center, Portrait Society of America, Pratique des Arts Magazine, International Artist Magazine, and Pastel World Magazine, and is held in collections across the globe. He is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America where he also serves on the Board of Governors and has achieved Eminent Pastelist status with the International Association of Pastel Societies. Pitkin teaches frequently online and regularly travels for in-person workshops. He currently resides in upstate New York with his wife Esther and children Anastasia and Xavier.
Workshop
Workshop with Corey Pitkin
April 11 and 12, 9am–4pm
April 11 and 12, 9am–4pm
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on March 3, 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 (February 23, 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
For questions about NRAS or this Prospectus, please contact Julia Driscoll ([email protected]).
For technical support or entry questions, first check our Help Center or Entry Guide. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.