Luminosity & Light

This exhibition is open to all pastel artists 18 years or older. Eligible works must be original pastel paintings created directly by the submitting artist, completed within the last three years (no work done earlier than June 2, 2022). All paintings must be at least 80% soft pastels only; oil pastels are not permitted. There are no size restrictions on actual artwork. Artists may submit up to three entries.

Eligibility requirements include full copyright ownership of entered works and that paintings must be identical to submitted images. Ineligible works include those that have won awards in other national or international pastel exhibitions, those previously entered in a judged PSSC show that won an award (including Honorable Mention), works copied from other artists or based on published images, works created in classes or workshops under instructor supervision, and works created using Artificial Intelligence software. Only visual fine arts in the form of paintings and drawings are acceptable; decorative, computer-generated, or electronically assisted works are not eligible.

Juror of Selection and Judge of Awards is Liz Haywood-Sullivan, a landscape artist and Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America. Entry fees are $40 for PSSC members' first entry and $10 for second and third entries; non-members pay $50 for the first entry and $10 for each additional entry. PSSC members in good standing who have paid 2025 dues in full are eligible for the members' entry fee rate. All entries must be submitted through ShowSubmit.com with payment by the deadline. Awards include Best in Show ($1000 or sponsor-provided prize of equal or greater value), 1st ($500), 2nd ($300), 3rd ($200), and up to 3 Awards of Excellence. Image submissions must be high-quality JPEG files at least 1500 pixels on the longest edge with a maximum file size of 30MB, cropped to show only the artwork without matting, frames, or background.