Art competitions are a great way to get more exposure for your art, and maybe pick up some great prizes. I’ve been telling myself for some time that I need to enter more art competitions but I don’t – mostly because I like to paint what I want without worrying about “winning” the crowd or judges.

However I just saw this post for an international art competition for Taiwan’s 100th Anniversary:

Get your brushes ready – Radio Taiwan International invites foreign nationals to celebrate the Republic of China’s birthday through paintings! 100 artists’ submissions will be selected by professional judges to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China (the official name of Taiwan’s government). The selected pieces will be shown off to the world in a digital gallery on the event’s website, and exhibited publicly in an outdoor projection exhibit in October to coincide with the nation’s centennial.

First, second, and third place winners will each receive a 7-day, 6-night food and accommodation package upon arriving in Taiwan! (From October 5 to 11, 2011; cost of plane tickets and visa fees not included.)

Prizes
‧One first place prize: US$1,000 and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation
‧One second place prize: US$500 award and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation
‧One third place prize: US$300 award and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation
‧97 honorable mention prizes: ROC 100th anniversary memorabilia

Additionally, the winner of the most online votes will receive one Apple iPad 2. 20 participants in the online voting will also be randomly selected to receive one RTI retro-style radio each.

Eligibility
The contest is open to all foreign nationals living either in Taiwan or abroad. (ROC nationals are not eligible.)

Eligible paintings must include the following elements:
1. The artist’s impression of Taiwan
2. The artist’s blessing for the country’s centennial
3. The digits ‘100’

Judging Criteria
A panel of five professional judges will chose the 100 winning paintings. Evaluation will be based on each piece’s thematic expression (40%), creativity (30%), and use of color (30%).

Specifications

Entries must be A3 sized (420mm x 297 mm) for paintings in traditional media, or 720 dpi (1920 x 1080) in JPG format for digital paintings.

The submission period is from April 15, 2011 to June 30, 2011. Entries received after June 30, 2011 will not be accepted.

for more details visit: http://www.rti.org.tw/ajax/2011/2011_blessing/en/

How to win an art competition

So I’ve decided to enter, and win both $1000 and the ipad 2. This is going to be a bit tricky: I will need to paint something incredible that grabs the audience and gets them to vote for me. I’ll also need to be less jaded, cynical and controversial to get the judges to pick me – nothing too sexy or with political/religious undertones. Something fun and awesome… with the number “100” on it (I hate that requirement, but what can you do?)

I don’t have an idea yet but it’s definitely worth thinking of one. I wish I could do my “google God eating people” painting which is going to be awesome, but I don’t think that will fit; neither will the “hot girl gives fellatio to Taipei 1o1” idea. My “two Taiwanese gods angry as Jesus steals Asian Baby” painting is out, too.

Maybe just people laughing and having fun? A pretty landscape? I’ll think of something.