International Feature Photographer Competition Deadline April 1st

Enter now to win a chance for Your Exhibition
in Halifax, Canada

Total Prize Value: $6000

For submission guidelines and details visit: www.viewpointgallery.ca

Open call to photographers world-wide for an opportunity to exhibit your work for one month at ViewPoint Gallery, a contemporary photography gallery located in the heart of one of Canada's most vibrant arts communities, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. ViewPoint Gallery has been exhibiting local and international photographic art for 13 years. Enter now for a chance to have your image featured too!

 Awards     Twelve winning images will receive one month of exhibition in ViewPoint Gallery. The works will be professionally printed, framed, exhibited, promoted and offered for sale in the Gallery.

Entry Fee: $25 for every 3 images submitted. Contest closes April 1st, 2013.

One of the winners of the 2012 Contest was Krzysztof Wladyka: 

"Just wanted to say many, many thanks for providing such a fantastic photography competition, the International Photographers for ViewPoint Gallery.  Your dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism were outstanding from the first day when I was informed that my work had been chosen to the final stage. I was so happy that my work received international exposure ~7000km far from my home and even more excited to get the great news of the sale of my image after it was exhibited. Thanks for making it a pleasurable experience working with you."

What incredible energy there was at the Bus Stop Theatre on March 22nd when 12 artists squared off against each other in a live painting 'battle' for the next round on June 22nd. 

For the two weeks prior to this event, I was totally stressed. I don't do 20 minute paintings. Or rather, I didn't do 20 minute paintings, until this day. It has opened up so many challenges to me. I'm hooked now. I need these creative exercises to loosen up. I love it and recommend it to any artist, whether competing at the event or working in their own studio. 

Here's the concept. Twelve artists in 3 rounds. 
Sarah Jane Conklin
Tom Smith
Ingrid Singing Grass
Barbara O’Neil
Collin Reynolds
Fab Leydecker
Maria Rose Sikyea
Monika Wright
Karine Lahaie
Dustin Peterson
Desmond Dineen
Corey Strong

The first 4 easels are set up in the middle of the room. Paint and canvas are supplied, so you don't have a chance to use your usual colour palette, unless of course it happens to be the one supplied, which I don't think it was for any of us! And the paint brands are different, as well. We artists like to stick to what works best for us. Another challenge. Then the call went out: Artist pick up your brushes. And we had 20 minutes. A reminder went out at 10 minutes. I stepped back. I was done. I looked at the friends stand behind me and shrugged my shoulders, questioning my wisdom, but they agreed. Stop now! one of the audience shouted at me.

With a room full to the brim of spectators and supporters, my nerves calmed as I realized I was finished. Whatever will be, will be. It wasn't half bad. :- ))

I changed out of my painting clothes, not expecting to need them for the final round. Then the voting started and the winner of round one was announced. My goodness, it was Monika Wright! To say I was shocked is an understatement. 

Two more rounds took place, and then the final round was set up with 3 easels, the winners of the previous two rounds and me.  Bigger canvasses this time. Less panic, because I understood the process, but still. The painting frustrated me more. I used too much paint and didn't stop soon enough, but after the voting was done, there I was standing as the winner of Halifax Art Battle 47. 

Now it's on to the next round on June 22nd. For those of you who are local, I want you there! I need your energy to support me and help me get through to the next round in Toronto.  That would be a blast! 

To all those who organized the event,  who attended and to the artists who painted with me, a huge big thank you for opening new creative pathways for me.