Posted by I was really pleased to find out that my submission to Beverley Art Gallery’s 23rd Annual Open Art Exhibition 2022 – 2023 had been accepted. The deadline for the submissions to this exhibition gave me the boost I needed to finally sit down and create a painting that I had been planning and thinking about for months…. ‘Submerge’.
Continuing from last years’ drawings, ‘Movement through a Space’ and Movement in a Space’ (exhibited at Ferens Gallery Open Exhibition in early 2022), I decided to create a painting that depicted movement again, but a dive or submersion movement.
From a collage sat on my work table, that I had created and drawn over for the past few months, I roughly drew out the design onto canvas paper. I had an idea of the main colours that I wanted to use (dark purple and greens) and then off I went.
Acrylics on canvas paper.
I do like to scratch into my paintings – acrylic on acrylic and oil over an acrylic base. For this painting I was just using acrylics so I had to be quick scratching into it! Once the painting had fully dried I quickly mounted and framed it ready to submit to the 23rd Annual Open Exhibition at Beverley Art Gallery.
Acrylics on canvas paper.
I was really pleased to find out early in September 2022 that my submission ‘Submerge’ had been accepted. Unfortunately I could not make the preview, which was such a shame, but I was finally able to visit the exhibition at the beginning of October. I do like Treasure House and Beverley Art Gallery, they have both have a lovely atmosphere and the staff are really friendly and welcoming. The last time I went to Treasure House and Beverley Art Gallery I visited the ‘Reflections of Japan in East Yorkshire’ exhibition 2021 and in previous years I’ve visited the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition and an exhibition on chocolate. The 23rd Annual Open Art Exhibition was also fantastic to visit too. Well curated and set in a lovely space. A huge thank you to Beverley Art Gallery for organising, putting together and hosting the exhibition, Neil Helyard and Mimi Claughton for being guest selectors, and to all the artists who submitted their work – I really was impressed looking around.
Are you thinking about submitting your artwork to an open exhibition or art competition? Read my reflections on exhibiting at the Ferens Art Gallery’s Open Exhibition 2002 and 2022: Would I Submit Work Again to an Open Exhibition? Most agree that having your artwork accepted for a good reputable judged open exhibition can bring plenty of benefits and opportunities, from the experience of creating, preparing and submitting artwork in time to meet the call for entry deadline, to getting your artwork seen by a wider audience in a public exhibition space. But not everyone agrees that judged open exhibitions and art competitions are necessarily a good thing though. I decided to put together a pros and cons list for submitting to judged open exhibitions that, I hope, will help you to decide if they are the right option for you and what to consider if you do decide to submit to one.
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Gillian Hebblewhite 