Deadline for entry: August 24, 2026
About the Exhibition
The North Carolina Statewide Pastel Juried Exhibition is a collaboration of the Appalachian Pastel Society (APS) and the Pastel Society of North Carolina (PSNC). Our mission is to inspire artists, to enhance the public’s appreciation for the lasting value and beauty of the medium of soft pastels, and to establish North Carolina as an emerging cultural market. The 2026 show is hosted by the PSNC and will be exhibited at THE MAKERY, 317 E Roosevelt Ave. Wake Forest, NC 27587
This call requires membership in one of these North Carolina pastel societies at the time of entry. You do not have to be a North Carolina resident to become a member. To join, or renew your membership, please click on one of the following links:
appalachianpastelsociety.org
pastelsocietyofnc.com
appalachianpastelsociety.org
pastelsocietyofnc.com
Venue
The Makery
317 E Roosevelt Ave.
Wake Forest, NC 27587
317 E Roosevelt Ave.
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Awards
- First Place – $1000
- Second Place – $800
- Third Place – $650
- Herb Slapo Award – $250
- PPSCC Award – $175
- PSA, APS – $150
- PPS Legacy – $150
Additional Prizes Provided by:
Dakota, Richeson, Blick Art Supply, Terry Ludwig Pastels, Franken Frames, Canson Paper, J Luda Pastels
Dakota, Richeson, Blick Art Supply, Terry Ludwig Pastels, Franken Frames, Canson Paper, J Luda Pastels
Eligibility Requirements
Please read carefully before entering:
- 80% of the exposed surface must be dry pastel. No oil pastels.
- No size limitation
- Must be entirely the work of the artist and not copied from other artists’ work, photos, or publications. Permission must be granted from the photographer if using a reference not taken by the artist.
- Must not have been done under the direct supervision of, or specifically critiqued by an instructor, whether in an in-person workshop or in an online class.
- No work whose outcome has been significantly or unduly influenced by another artist’s work will be eligible.
- Entries that have been “juried into” previous PSNC or APS Statewide Shows are not eligible. Entries that have “received an award” in any (former PPS), PSNC, or APS society show, including members’ shows are not eligible.
- Paintings must have been completed during the year 2020 or later.
- Must not have been exhibited before or reworked from one exhibited before in a Statewide Show. If a painting entered is found to have been in a previous Statewide Show, no paintings by that artist will be allowed in this show, and the artist will be denied eligibility to enter Statewide shows for 2 years.
- Must not be glazed with a finished surface of matte acrylic, resin, or solvent varnish.
- This exhibition requires membership in one of the North Carolina pastel societies at the time of application on ShowSubmit.
- You do not have to be a North Carolina resident to become a member.
- Entrants must provide a shipping address within the continental United States if such entrant wins a “product” award. Such awards will not be shipped out of the continental United States. This applies to Vendor Merchandise Awards.
Entry Fee
- $40 for up to two paintings and $10 additional each for a maximum of five.
- From paintings submitted, one painting or possibly two may be selected, at the discretion of the juror. However, an accepted artist may only be given one award even though the painter may have had two paintings selected.
- Entry fees are non-refundable.
Exhibition Details
- Entry is online only using ShowSubmit.
- Juror will not see the file name; unsigned work is best.
- Images must not show mat, frame, etc., and must be an accurate representation of the artwork.
- For help, go to the ShowSubmit website or email Kathy Pruett ([email protected]) or Bridgette Comellas ([email protected])
- If an accepted painting is not delivered to the show, no other accepted painting by that artist will be allowed in the show. In addition, the artist will be denied eligibility to the Statewide Show for 2 years. Entry fees will not be refunded.
Presentation of Artwork
- Professionally framed under glass.
- Ready to hang with flat hooks and strong wire. No saw-tooth hanger. No clip frames.
- PSNC reserves the right to refuse any painting that does not meet professional gallery standards.
Delivery and Pickup
Delivery and pickup instructions, packing suggestions, painting labeling, and other information will be sent to those “Accepted” into the show.
Sales
- All entries must have a sale price.
- The Venue will receive a 30% commission from sales.
- The Venue will administer the sales of paintings, collection of and payment of sales tax, and payment to the artist, including 1099 Forms, should that be required by the IRS.
Agreement and Liability
As a condition of entry to the 2026 North Carolina Statewide Exhibit, the submitting artist agrees to the terms and conditions stated herein, including granting permission to the NC Pastel Societies and the Venue to reproduce the accepted paintings on their websites for advertising and promotional purposes only. No images will be used or published for any other use by the listed organizations.
We look forward to seeing your beautiful work!
Esteemed Judge and Juror
Sally Strand, IAPS-EP, PSA-MP
A native of Colorado now living in California, Sally Strand has devoted over forty years to a life in painting. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Pastel Society of America and received the Eminent Pastelist Award from the International Association of Pastel Societies—the highest honors bestowed by these organizations.
Her work has earned numerous top awards, including designation as a PSA Master Pastelist and the IAPS Master Circle Medal. She has presented solo exhibitions in galleries and museums, including a retrospective of her pastel and oil paintings at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. Her paintings are included in private, corporate, and museum collections such as the Butler Institute of American Art and have been featured in books and international art publications.
Strand studied at the American Academy of Art, the Art Students League, and the National Academy of Design, earning her BFA from the University of Denver and her MFA from the Laguna College of Art and Design. In addition to her studio practice, she has taught workshops and master classes internationally, mentoring artists with the same dedication she brings to her own work.
A native of Colorado now living in California, Sally Strand has devoted over forty years to a life in painting. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Pastel Society of America and received the Eminent Pastelist Award from the International Association of Pastel Societies—the highest honors bestowed by these organizations.
Her work has earned numerous top awards, including designation as a PSA Master Pastelist and the IAPS Master Circle Medal. She has presented solo exhibitions in galleries and museums, including a retrospective of her pastel and oil paintings at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. Her paintings are included in private, corporate, and museum collections such as the Butler Institute of American Art and have been featured in books and international art publications.
Strand studied at the American Academy of Art, the Art Students League, and the National Academy of Design, earning her BFA from the University of Denver and her MFA from the Laguna College of Art and Design. In addition to her studio practice, she has taught workshops and master classes internationally, mentoring artists with the same dedication she brings to her own work.
Artist Statement
I relate to small moments of life that are often overlooked. These moments resonate with me because they are familiar – we see ourselves in them. They sometimes suggest things beyond the obvious. Painting mundane objects or tasks provides me with a challenge to portray the commonplace in a compelling way, to make the usual unusual and worthy of notice.
My current body of work, painted with oil and pastels on canvas and paper, depicts moments in everyday life as experienced by the people most significant to me. My paintings have subtle, suggestive narratives: singular moments of life in the world, slices of daily life, the implied passage of time. They bring together my interests in abstract shapes and formal space combined with naturalistic figures and the many nuances of light. Through the familiar and commonplace content of these paintings, I attempt to explore emotion and mood as a form of visual poetry.
I relate to small moments of life that are often overlooked. These moments resonate with me because they are familiar – we see ourselves in them. They sometimes suggest things beyond the obvious. Painting mundane objects or tasks provides me with a challenge to portray the commonplace in a compelling way, to make the usual unusual and worthy of notice.
My current body of work, painted with oil and pastels on canvas and paper, depicts moments in everyday life as experienced by the people most significant to me. My paintings have subtle, suggestive narratives: singular moments of life in the world, slices of daily life, the implied passage of time. They bring together my interests in abstract shapes and formal space combined with naturalistic figures and the many nuances of light. Through the familiar and commonplace content of these paintings, I attempt to explore emotion and mood as a form of visual poetry.
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on September 14, 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 (August 24, 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 Kathy Pruett ([email protected]) or Bridgette Comellas ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, PSNC, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, 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.