People who are looking to grow their art careers often want to find out how to get discovered, much like some of the best-known professionals within their niches. If you want to achieve greater acclaim and recognition, it is important to create plenty of art and then start sharing it with others. Taking part in an online art competition is a great way to do this. Following is all that you should know about taking part in contests like these.

It is first important to note that some competitions may have strict rules concerning the types of artwork you can submit. They might accept pencil sketches, watercolor paintings, oil paintings, or even pastels. Others, however, might solely be interested in receiving submissions of sculpture. Be sure to find competitions that are best in line with your targeted niche within the art industry.

Submission fees are another important aspect of these contests that you should be aware of. These tend to be nominal sums of money that must be paid every time a new work is submitted. If you are able to make multiple submissions within a single contest, expect to pay multiple fees as well.

These fees are designed to cover a number of competition-related costs. For example, it generally requires a lot of manpower to review the artwork that entrants supply. A lot of the top contests are known for hiring reputable and trusted judges who can job all artwork impartially to choose the best artists and artworks as competition winners.

After all of the administrative costs of a contest have been taken care of, fees for entering can be used to pay prizes to third, second and first place winners. There are even events that offer paid access to artist retreats and workshops that are certainly worthwhile rewards for taking part. Winnings like these are especially beneficial for artists who need to find a feasible way to spend more time working, especially if contests structure payouts in the form of substantial grants.

Even though there can be very significant rewards of participating, among some of the most impressive benefits gained are the increased recognition that will help you start building or furthering your career. More people will have seen your work and more will actually know your name. This will allow you to begin the process of building your network for a build a career that is strong.

You should be sure to follow the guidelines set forth for these events when choosing, creating or finalizing your submissions. For example, a number of contests have solid deadlines for entry that are not negotiable. If you are unable to complete and postmark your submissions before these deadlines, they won't even be considered. You should also look to submit unpublished work that has not appeared in even small-sized art magazines. Diligently adhering to the rules for participation is an important part of making sure that your work is not outright rejected and that you do not lose any acknowledgements you receive further down the road.

When choosing contests to enter, pay careful attention to the group or individual who is hosting the event. This should be a reputable organization or well-known personality. You should also learn more about the competition judges and the various methods that they will be using when determining which works of art are worthy of reward.