That Waiting Period for the Art Show Notification
An art call opens for a wonderful art show you hope to have your artworks show in comes into your inbox. You note the details of art show dates, the very important deadline date (!), drop off, pickup dates, and if there is an art reception. You fill your calendar with those notes. You thoroughly read about the show requirements on formatting, images and artworks to be accepted. Now what will you put in the show?
The Notification Wait Begins
All art shows and galleries that send out a call for art want your latest and greatest art, to select the best of the submissions to offer to the public and their supporters to view - of course, in the upcoming show. They want originals (no copyright issues) and art completed in the last 2-3 years, and not something that was previously entered (whether it was accepted or not).
Decisions, decisions...
You, as the artist, rummage through your art inventory list to find just the right entries to submit to the show. Hopefully, you have tracked if your artwork was previously submitted to that show and whether it was accepted or not. Does the show accept 2, or 3, 4 or 5 pieces of art? And what was that commission, again? Ensure that when you price your art that you account in your price, the cut (or commission) that goes to the venue...
The artist then fills out the form to email, or the website with their selected artwork(s) details, and then uploads their well formatted, quality images...looks over everything...then checks again...makes an adjustment...rechecks...and ever so slowly...clicks...Submit... Or to Send...and off into the ether it goes.
Your calendar has the art show's notification date marked on it, and potentially circled in red marker. And the waiting begins.
You have noted on your inventory list the particular artworks that have been submitted to the show - which all could potentially be in limbo until that circled DATE on the calendar. Sunrise, sunset, the days edge toward the circle...In the meantime, back into the studio to paint. Oh that dang Jeopardy must again.
What I Submitted to the Fall Art at the Mill Art Show Yesterday
The Deadline for entry is Monday, July 27 at midnight for the biannual Art at the Mill and the notification is Friday, August 7. I can hear the Jeopardy music playing, can't you?
2026 Fall Art at the Mill at 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA at the historic Burwell-Morgan Mill. The show is sponsored by the Clarke County Historical Association.
The Artist Reception Sunday, Sept 27 2-5
The show runs from Saturday Sept 19 to October 4.
Sometimes I take a risk submitting artworks, I suppose. I painted these Millstones that sit in front of the Burwell-Morgan Mill earlier this year. The art call is up to 5 entries and with a series of 4, if the juror doesn't like them...or all of them - Not to be considered. Gloom and despair and agony on me.
This Millstone series is covered in this blog post here. All of them are 10x10x1.5 acrylic on canvas.
For the biannual Art at the Mill art show, you can submit up to 5 artworks, so here is the fifth submission. This is called "Fishing at the Occoquan River" and is 11x14 in acrylic, framed. This one started as a Plein Air artwork but was finished in studio. Look for the fishing bobbin.
For the last few years I have had at least 2 of my 5 entries to Art at the Mill accepted, but when visiting the Mill, I always take more pictures. When you visit the building - for me its on art drop off, art reception, and potential art pickup days, when the weather is great...its beautiful. It is breath-taking. It is charming. It is so steeped in history, nature, and water noise from the waterfall. And that's just on the outside.
Then there is all of the artwork during the Art at the Mill art shows in the Spring and Fall. Art on another level and HUNDREDS of pieces - nearly 1000 for each show. It is also the AMAZEMENT that such a wonderful art show CAN happen way outside of a city space and be so incredible.
Although I like submitting the maximum number of images for an art show, to hopefully up my chances for something being accepted, with a biannual show with up to 5 pieces, that is 10 artworks a year. Unless an artist is steadily replenishing their art inventory and working toward the best works they can each time, the potential is on the table of running out of inventory at some point!
How do you handle the waiting to hear if your art is accepted AND if it isn't? Drop a comment below.
Nonetheless, the art limbo of not knowing begins.
@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
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