This call for entry has closed and the information below is for reference only.

Looking for open calls for entry? View open calls

Looking for the APS Breaking Boundaries: Excellence in Pastel gallery? View the online art gallery

Appalachian Pastel Society
Appalachian Pastel Society

Breaking Boundaries: Excellence in Pastel

2023 International Online Exhibition October 21 – November 25, 2023 | Online
Deadline was September 8th. Open to Members and Non-Members.
Illinois Winter by Nancie King Mertz
Illinois Winter by Nancie King Mertz

Deadline for entry has passed.
View open calls for entry

Deadline for entry was September 8, 2023
Please download and carefully read the show prospectus prior to entering.

Juror of Selection and Awards

Nancie King Mertz

Awards

  • Cash and Prize Awards
  • First Place, $2000
  • Second Place, $1500
  • Third Place, $1000
  • Exceptional Merit Awards
  • Honorable Mention Awards
  • All accepted paintings from APS Members receive Special Membership points toward Signature Status

Eligibility Requirements

  • 80% of the exposed surface must be dry pastel. No oil “pastels.”
  • There is no size limitation, as the show will be online.
  • Must be entirely the work of the artist and not copied from other artists or publications
  • Must not have been done under supervision (as in a workshop or class)
  • Must not have been exhibited before in an APS International or Member Exhibition
  • Not copied from published photos or from photos taken by others without permission
  • Must have been completed within the last five years.
  • APS Membership not required for entry, but Special Membership points for APS Members will be awarded only if current for the year the show occurs (MUST JOIN OR RENEW BEFORE SENT TO JUROR OR POINTS FOR SPECIAL MEMBERSHIPS WILL NOT BE ACCRUED FOR THIS SHOW) Join or renew on APS Website.

Entry Fees

  • APS Members: $40 for 2 entries, $10 for each additional entry.
  • Non-members: $45 for 2 entries, $10 for each additional entry.
  • Maximum of 4 entries.
  • Payment on-line at time of entry, and non-refundable (renew/join APS on the APS website)

Juror

An award-winning artist, Nancie has spent her lifetime painting in oil & pastel. She graduated from the University of IL–BFA in Painting, where she was a James Scholar; Eastern IL University–MA in Painting. She was awarded the Master Circle Medallion by the International Association of Pastel Societies in 2015, their Eminent Pastelist distinction in 2018 and won the IAPS Prix de Pastel Award in 2019. She is also a Master Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Chicago Pastel Painters, as well as a Signature with Member of American Women Artists and Degas Pastel Society.

Nancie teaches across the US and internationally and is on the faculty for the Plein Air Convention and the IAPS Convention. She was named the 2022 Guest of Honor by the French Pastel Society, where a show of her work was featured in Giverny, France.

Collectors marvel at the beauty she finds in the urban setting and have said she "softens the edges of the city". She produces approx. 150 paintings each year, most on-site. Her husband, Ron, publishes her sold originals in Giclée prints & cards and they own Art De Triumph, 905 Ridgewood Rd, Rockford, IL 61107, a gallery/ frame
shop/learning center, open 7 days a week.

For more information, visit NancieKingMertz.com

An on-line 3-day workshop with Nancie will be held from Wednesday, October 18th through, October 20th, 2023. Lessons will be taught via Zoom Sessions. For registration and further information, please visit the Appalachian Pastel Society website at appalachianpastelsociety.com.

Presentation of Artwork

  • APS reserves right to refuse any painting that does not meet professional gallery standards.
  • No inappropriate subject matter.

Sales

  • Painting price may not be changed after submission.
  • International Show co-chairs will notify artist of any interest in the purchase of a painting.
  • It is the artist’s responsibility to handle payment and delivery of artwork.
  • All entries must either have a sale price or be marked not for sale (NFS).
  • No works marked POR will be accepted.
  • Catalog information will be produced directly from your entry. Spelling, price, and capitals in names and titles will be exactly as you type them. Please enter your information accordingly.

Entry Payment

Entry fee is paid online by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners, JBC, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Link, when completing submission.

As a condition of entry to the 2023 International Juried Exhibition, the submitting artist agrees to the terms and conditions stated herein including granting permission the Appalachian Pastel Society to reproduce the accepted paintings on its website, for advertising and promotional purposes only. No images will be used or published for any other use by the listed society.

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on September 21, 2023.

You may view the notification in your ShowSubmit account by logging in and tapping the Notifications at the top right of the screen, or in your Entry History.

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.

Note: Entries made prior to 2023 may not display the View Notification link.

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 8, 2023.)
  • 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

Need Assistance? For questions about the entry process or using this website, please check our Help Center or Entry Guide first for detailed guides and troubleshooting tips. Most answers can be found there quickly.

If you still need help, feel free to email ShowSubmit Support at [email protected], and we’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday to Friday.