Written by Lauren Bridgfoot
Are you an artist that’s ever wondered if you should enter your art into a show or competition? Are you studying and worried that you wouldn’t have time or that your education should always come first?
I felt this way for the last three years during my degree, where I prioritised my study rather than my hobbies and left my passion for art back in high school.
Despite drawing being one of my favourite activities all through school, and even an option for university, after I decided not to fully pursue it I felt I had to leave it behind. But that is definitely not the case!
Even studying my honours degree this year, I have found time to reignite my love for art around study (and work).
It was as simple as taking an hour out of my day to relax and bring art back into my life. I soon found that it was easy to do little bits at a time in breaks or on days off.
Once I realised that I was thoroughly enjoying myself and producing artwork I was proud of, I decided that I should show others the work I loved making. Enter: my local agricultural shows.
I had been to one of them a couple years ago and saw that there was an art section, which encouraged people of all abilities to enter. It took a while, but this year I decided to take a leap and create some entries.
Agricultural shows have sections for so many different types of art, from sewing, pottery, drawing, painting, and even wood-work! There’s something for everyone.
I decided to enter the pencil drawing section, both in novice and open sections. I created portraits of two people and their horses that inspire me (one of my first uni lecturers, and one of my current bosses!).
And entering was so easy. All I had to do was have them framed and able to be hung, and I just rocked up to the showgrounds on the specific day to drop them off. The stewards are so helpful and know exactly how everything works, making everything run smoothly.
And despite any nerves about not being good enough or worried my work wouldn’t hold up against judges and other local artists, I walked away with two ribbons! A highly commended in the novice section, and second place in the open pencil drawing!
I couldn’t recommend ag shows highly enough for any emerging artists. It truly was such a low stakes competition (the entry fees are so cheap!) and gave an easy way to start exhibiting my work for the community.
If you’re an artist wanting to get your name and work out there, maybe give agricultural shows a go!
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