Short Description

Pastel Journal and Artists Network are pleased to present our 27th Annual Pastel 100 art competition! Don’t miss the opportunity to win cash prizes, premium art materials from our amazing sponsors, and publication in a magazine with a worldwide audience of passionate artists and pastel enthusiasts. Enter today for your chance to step into the pastel limelight!

Categories:

  • Animal & Wildlife: Any animal in any setting is fair game for this category. Entries will be judged, among other criteria, on the innovative handling of the subject, the expression and rendering.
  • Abstract & Non-Objective: With unlimited subject matter, entries will be judged on the artist’s use of design, texture, media, lighting and special techniques, among other criteria.
  • Landscape & Interior: Any landscape, from city scenes to imaginary horizons, will be judged, among other things, on the artist’s use of form, space, lighting and mood.
  • Portraits & Figure: Portrait and figure entries can be individuals or groups, and will be judged, among other criteria, on expressiveness and draftsmanship.
  • Still Life & Floral: Entries will be judged, among other criteria, on overall design, unique arrangement of subject matter, handling of medium, lighting and mood.

    Eligibility

    Open to both U.S. and international artists of any age (no minimum specified)

    All works must be original. “Original” means that the work must be from the hand of a single artist who submits the work for entry; pieces that originate from a workshop or a class under the direction of a teacher are not eligible.

    For works based on reference photographs, eligibility requires that the artist must have taken the photographs or have obtained written permission from the photographer to create the work and to enter it in the Contest.

    Artwork or reference imagery generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be considered. Compositions based on published material or other artists’ work are NOT considered original and are not eligible.

    Work must be at least 80% soft pastel; no oil pastel. Nupastels and other “harder” pastels are considered soft pastels.

    How to Apply

    Online Application

    Program Benefits & Awards

    Judges will award a total of one hundred (100) prizes. Twenty-five (25) prizes will be awarded in the categories with five (5) prizes per category and ranked First to Fifth; the twenty-five (25) prize winners will be referred to as the Category Prize Winners. Category Prize Winners will be selected by Category Judges, and each judge will select the five (5) winners in his/her designated category.

    Five (5) Grand Prizes will be awarded outside of category distinctions: one First Prize Winner, one Second Prize Winner, one Third Prize Winner, one Fourth Prize Winner, and one Fifth Prize Winner will make up the Grand Prize Winners. These winners will be named by the Pastel Journal Editors, who will serve as the Grand Prize Jury.

    • The one (1) First Prize “Pastel Journal Founder’s Award in memory of Maggie Price” Winner will receive $3,000 cash award + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The one (1) Second Prize “Pastel Journal Award of Excellence” Winner will receive $2,000 cash award + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The one (1) Third Prize “GOLD Award” Winner will receive $1,500 cash + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The one (1) Fourth Prize “SILVER Award” Winner will receive $1,000 + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The one (1) Fifth Prize “BRONZE Award” Winner will receive $750 cash + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The five (5) First Place Category Winners will each receive $500 worth of Terry Ludwig Pastels (sponsor Terry Ludwig) + free Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The five (5) Second Place Category Winners will each receive a $200 worth of Sennelier pastels (sponsor MacPherson’s) + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The five (5) Third Place Category Winners will each receive $150 worth of Holbein Pastels (sponsor Holbein) + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The five (5) Fourth Place Category Winners will each receive $125 worth of PanPastels (sponsor Golden Artist Colors) + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • The five (5) Fifth Place Category Winners will each receive $75 worth of UART pastel paper (sponsor UART) + Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • Seventy (70) Honorable Mentions will each receive a free Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value).
    • All winners’ names and work will be featured in the Spring 2025 issue of Pastel Journal, on ArtistsNetwork.com, and will receive a digital promotional badge.
    • Total retail value of all prizes is $23499.00.
    • Prizes will be distributed within 6 months of the closing of the Contest.

    Entry Fee

    Early Bird Deadline: Artists Network Members: $25, Non-Members: $35
    Final Deadline: Artists Network Members: $30 Non-Members: $40

    Location

    United States

    Timeline

    • Early Bird Deadline: 24 June 2025
    • Final Deadline: 19 August 2025

    Website Link: https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-competitions/pastel-100/

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