Small Works, Big Advice

MEG’s December show, Small Works, was juried by Catriona Fraser, owner and director of the Fraser Gallery. Fraser represents the work of local, national and international artists with an emphasis on contemporary realism and photography. She spent some time at MEG last week sharing her thoughts on both the Small Works show and submitting to juried exhibitions. Some excerpts include:

Do you view works differently when you view .jpgs vs. physical prints when you are making selections for an exhibit? No. Photographers worry the most about this, but they shouldn't. The elements of a good photograph are visible whether it’s a .jpg or a print. Experienced jurors realize that there may be slight differences in color or tone because of the monitors they're using to view the work, so those issues don’t have much of an impact.

(c) Eric Johnson

One of Eric Johnson’s images in the Small Works show is a good example. I loved his photograph “Collection of Baskets.” It reflects a wonderful use of light and shadow, and has great composition...all of these elements come through whether it’s a .jpg or a print.

Are you ever surprised when you see an exhibit after you’ve selected images via .jpg? The images themselves never surprise me because I know they are going to be good. The presentation of the artwork is another story. Poor printing, unprofessional matting and framing, use of acidic materials, poorly cut mats, dirty frames, scratched plexiglass, metallic signatures on prints, the copyright symbol after the artist’s name...all of these things will have a negative impact on the work.

Typically, the only downside between the submitted .jpg and the finished print is when the image has been printed too large for the file size, so the print looks soft and pixelated.

Are there any common mistakes photographers make when submitting work to jurors? A big one is submitting too many similar images. If the juror doesn’t like the first one, the odds are high he or she isn’t going to like any of the others either if they are in the same vein. If you’re submitting a portfolio for consideration, you absolutely want consistency; if you’re submitting 3 or 4 images to a juror for an exhibit, you want variety in subject matter/theme.

For more insight from Fraser, consider attending one of her “Success As An Artist” seminars, held throughout the year. A number of MEG members have attended in the past and found them very useful.

Small Works can be seen through December 31, 2011 at Multiple Exposures Gallery, Studio 312, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA.