PAO Pastel Exhibition Call

This is a juried pastel painting competition open to PAO members over the age of 18. Submissions are accepted online via ShowSubmit.

Eligibility and Requirements: All works submitted must be 80% dry pastel. Photo-based paintings must be from photos taken by the artist themselves. Paintings of nudes will be considered for acceptance. Oil pastels will not be considered. Works that have been previously accepted in any PAO exhibition, won awards in other pastel-only exhibitions, or been accepted into art magazines or art material supplier competitions are not eligible. Failure to meet eligibility requirements may result in the artwork not being juried.

Image Submission Specifications: Submit original, high-quality JPEG files only. Images must be at least 1500 pixels on the longest edge and no larger than 30 MB. Crop images to show only the artwork itself with no visible matting, frames, or background distractions. Ensure images are oriented correctly and use the sRGB color profile for best results. ShowSubmit will automatically resize images to 300 DPI and 1500 pixels on the longest edge if they exceed specifications.

Awards: Best of Show $600, First Place $400, Second Place $250, Third Place $150, and Honorable Mention Art Supply Gift Certificates.

Entry Deadline: August 15, 2025. Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the deadline. Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified. You may edit your entry information and substitute images until the deadline.

For questions about the exhibition, contact Peggy Braeutigam or Cheryl Lockhart. For technical support with ShowSubmit, contact ShowSubmit Support.