Should all of us try to enter competitions?

[Chris Saper]

I have never ever had client who asked about competitions.( Although I automatically include a brief credentials page with my brochure.)

Credentials matter more when you: want to paint inventory and are looking for gallery representation; when you want to teach; or when you want to publish. Because sometimes you don't know when in your future these might be things you'll want to do, there's no reason not to start assembling them.

Organizations that sponsor competitions spell out the requirements clearly with the prospectus, and they're different so you have to read them carefully.

[Lynn Der]

Chris and Michelle - thanks so much for your input. I've never had a client seem to be very interested in my background at all - I thought maybe it was just my customers!

I think I'll just keep raising my prices gradually, and not worry too much about charging one friend more than the other if time has passed between the two portraits.

Thanks again! You guys are such fountains of knowledge and inspiration!

Lynn Der

[Mike McCarty]

I have a general question about competitions ...

Some competitions say that you can not enter a painting that has previously won in competition. Would this mean a painting that was a finalist, honorable mention? What does it mean to win, in this context?

[Michele Rushworth]

I would imagine each competition would have its own ideas about that. You should probably contact the organizers to find out what they mean.