The Artist Within: Judgement Day

By Lauren Walker

It’s only natural when applying to juried shows means your work may not be accepted. What does it take for your work to make the cut? As part of the 2025 Oshawa Art Association (OAA) Juried Show I had the pleasure of working with amazing judges. As a previous juror, I sat down with Station Gallery Curator Olex Wsalenko and asked what he looks for while judging work.

Composition

Composition is comprised of a few key factors. It is the arrangement and organization of visual elements within a piece, to create a cohesive finished product. It’s how an artist arranges lines, shapes, colours, textures, and other elements, to guide the viewer’s eye. This helps create a sense of balance and ultimately convey the artist’s intended message or emotion.

Principles of Art

• Balance:  the even distribution of visual elements, like shapes, colours, and textures, to create a sense of equilibrium and stability.

• Movement: the visual guide which leads the viewer’s eye around a piece

• Pattern: repeated shape/colour/form

• Unity: the final piece is harmonious

• Contrast:  the difference or opposition between elements, like light and dark, colour and value, or shape and texture.

Be Unique

A work stands out when it takes in to account all the above elements and creates a unique spin.

Be professional

How your work is presented can make a huge difference. Olex looks for pieces which are finished around the edges of the canvas. “It looks far more professional when the edges are completed.”

Be Aware

Knowing who your audience is important when submitting. Galleries are held in different locations which means your audience will vary. If the show is themed, then make sure your work aligns with that.

I hope my information allows you to have better success in the future.

Happy Painting!

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