Deadline: May 1, 2013

PRIZES

More than $25,000 in Cash Prizes!
5 First Place Awards: $2,500 each
5 Second Place Awards: $1,250 each
5 Third Place Awards: $750 each
15 Honorable Mentions: $100 each

Winners will be featured and finalists’ names  published in the December 2013 issue of The Artist’s Magazine. Nine finalists will be featured in the “Competition Spotlight” in The Artist’s Magazine , 12 finalists will be featured as “Artist of the Month” on our website and the works of twelve finalists will be offered on our website as desktop wallpaper.

Plus, the Student/Beginner Division (for artists age 16 or over who (1) have been enrolled in a post-high school art program for no more than four years OR (2) have pursued art on

their own or in workshops/lessons for no more than four years):

5 First Place Awards: $150 each
5 Second Place Awards: $75 each
5 Third Place Awards: $50 each

Award Winners in the Student/Beginner division will be featured in the January/February 2014 issue of The Artist’s Magazine.

PLUS all Award Winners and Honorable Mentions receive a 1-year membership to the NorthLight VIP Program, which includes a one-year subscription to The Artist’s Magazine.

Visit The Artist’s Magazine information page.

WorkingArtist.org

Madeline Adams
O,R,1,2,4,6,7,9 – AP, 2006
Etching/Drypoint, 9 x 14″, page: 11 x 15″

Deadline: April 30, 2013

$1000 Working Art Grant Purchase Awards

Working Artist Org. is a privately run charitable organization, interested exclusively in the support and promotion of great art and artists.In addition to funding artists through a monthly Purchase Award, any excess resources gained from your donations go to help artists from the local to the global community through special projects ranging from on site exposure to a vast audience – to more esoteric and personal gifts toward a selected artist’s needs.

The Working Art Grant/Purchase Award is a meager one-time purchase award intended to disperse small but vitalizing bursts of funding to support an artist’s ongoing art making process.

The Working Art Grant/Purchase Award is available to all domestic and international artists working in all media. As a stipulation for eligibility to receive the Working Art Grant/Purchase Award, we ask that each prospective recipient be willing to exchange one of their works of our later mutual agreement in return. We reimburse the artist’s shipping costs.

If you are interested in being considered for one of these awards, please send 5 digital images/files of recent available work (total mail size no larger than 2 MB please) via email. No written proposals or CV’s are required unless the artist would like to include them. Instead, please simply include in the body of your email current contact information and a link to an artist’s website if available, and send to: grant@workingartist.org. There is no application form.

Cooperstown Art Association

The National Juried Art Competition

Deadline: May 15, 2013

T he annual National Juried show is open to artists working in all mediums residing in the United States, members and non members. Jurors are selected based on their merits and achievements. Past jurors have included notable nationally acclaimed artists, art administrators and art critics. You can easily download and print the prospectus as a pdf here or send a self addressed stamped envelope to The Cooperstown Art Association: 22 Main St. Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Visit The Cooperstown Art Association for more details.

Interested in more artist opportunities? Here’s two terrific links where I post every week, check often, I’m always adding interesting new grants, residencies and competitions!

Artist Opportunities on Pinterest. Follow to stay updated.

Artist Opportunities Scoop.it.

and….please share!

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

The Artist in Residence program at Badlands National Park was founded in 1996 and is open to all professional artists. Writers, composers and all visual and performing artists are invited to interpret this wind-swept environment through their work. The program provides time for artists to get away from everyday responsibilities to focus on their surroundings and their medium.

Open to Photographers, Visual Artists and Writers.
Residencies are a minimum of four weeks, a maximum of six weeks.

Artist Statements

Painters – Visual Artists Gallery
Artist Statements

Poets – Writers – Composers Gallery

Visit Artist in Residence – Badlands National Park for more information.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Artist Studio

Weir Farm National Historic Site

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park, in partnership with the Joshua Tree National Park Association, offers opportunities each year for on-site residencies through its Artist-In-Residence (AIR) program. The program offers lodging at the Lost Horse Ranger Station for two to six weeks during the months of March, April, October, and November each year.

In exchange for the adventure of living and working in a national park, the resident artist will have the opportunity to create a body of work and to share their work with the surrounding regional and Southern California communities. AIR artist proposals should be site-specific to Joshua Tree National Park, yet applicants are encouraged to pursue better understanding and dialogue about our national parks, desert landscapes, and the relationship between wildlands and the human spirit.

Selected artists for the Artist-in-Residence Program may propose to stay for a residency term preferably ranging from 2-6 weeks during the months of March, April, October or November.

Applications are being accepted for the 2013-2014 residency season.  The deadline for application is June 1, 2013.

For additional information about the program and instructions about how to apply for a residency, visit the Joshua Tree National Park Association website.

Yes, it’s been a while since Fur Friday. My artist residency at Zion National Park got me a little side tracked. But I am here today to introduce you to an amazing illustrator and a very compassionate animal lover.

Cristianne’s illustrations are simply magical! This sounds goofy but I could look at them all forever, they give me such a positive and peaceful feeling! You can see more of Cristianne’s illustrations at her Behance Gallery and also through her website Fandango Media Group. This is a very talented woman!

I only know Cristianne through her illustrations and communicating about her furry family through email. But the little bit of back and forth we have had makes me believe we would become fast friends. I can just tell she is an amazing lady through how she interacts with her fur family!

Please meet Cristianne Fritsch and her multiple cat family.

Names: Patches, Lollipop, Blackie, Tiger, Puma, Nancy, Midge, Midnight, Midday, Skittles & Scooter

Nicknames: Patches: ” Patcherina” , Lollipop: “Loller”, Blackie: “Blackerina” , Tiger: “Tigerinsky” , Puma: ” Pumaruma”, Nancy: “Nancer” , Midge: “The Midge”, Midnight: “Pumpkin”, Midday: “Sunshine” , Skittles: ” Skittlerino, Skittlerinsky”, Scooter: “Little Cat”

Ages: The youngest is about 6 months and the oldest must be somewhere around 5.

Breeds: They are all mixed breeds.

Blackie

How did your animal come to live with you? What’s he/she’s story?

Patches, Lollipop and Blackie already lived in the barn when we moved into this house. As they were wild, we didn’t see much of them until they started eating our late dog Duke’s food. I started feeding them their own food and we established a relationship. It was my first experience having cats. A few months later I noticed that all three of them were expecting kittens. This is how we went from having zero cats, to having three, to having too many! Every single one of them is spayed/neutered now.

Puma, Nancy, Midge and Tiger are Patche’s and Blackie’s offspring. Lollipop’s kittens never appeared. Midnight, Midday, Skittles and Scooter all showed up at different times of the year, out of nowhere. That completes our family of 11 cats.

Most of them live freely outside. Every night I call them (they all come!) and lock them in the garage to protect them from predators. This is where they eat their food, stay warm and sleep without fear. The next day, early in the morning, I give them breakfast and set them free again. They seem to love this arrangement.

Favorite Toys: Empty boxes and a red laser light. They look like the happiest cats in the world whenever I make them chase the laser light. They look so excited and full of life! It probably makes them forget all of their cat troubles MOL. (that’s meow out loud)

Favorite Food: A mix of Purina Friskies (Dry), 9lives (Wet) and Wiska’s Temptations (Treats).

Favorite place to hang out and or sleep: They like to hang out in the yard or porch. When it is time for a nap, they tend to go under one of the trees. This tree is very low to the ground, which makes it a perfect hiding spot for them.

Weirdest quirks or behavior: Puma is constantly staring at walls. He will look at a clean surface and stare at it for long periods of time.

Pet Peeves: Jumping on my desk and walking right between my keyboard and monitor, blocking the view. For long periods of time.

Are you gear head with your animal, i.e. do you buy “accessories” Yes, I’m that way with dogs. As we only have the cats at the moment, I have temporarily “paused” the habit of buying pet clothes and costumes.

If your animal was an artist or another animal, who/what would he/she be?

Patches: Very meticulous and precise. She would probably be an ancient Chinese illustrator. A producer of intricate images.
Lollipop: A natural caretaker. She could be a dedicated art restorer.
Blackie: Loves to express herself through sound. Opera would fit her well. A dramatic opera singer.
Tiger: Very relaxed and patient. I see her as a printmaker.
Puma: Very innocent and loving. He would probably be a children’s book writer and illustrator.
Nancy: Firm and confident. Perhaps a passionate film director.
Midge: Scared of the world. He could become an art therapist, helping others while helping himself.
Midnight: Sweet and melancholic: She could be a poet or a playwright.
Midday: I’m still getting to know Midday. It is still hard to tell what he would be.
Skittles: The most serene of all cats. I see him as an impressionist painter.
Scooter: Very energetic and curious. She would probably paint interesting illustrations on public walls and objects. A street artist.

If your animal has any health issues could you share and give recommendations of treatment to share with others? I’m glad to say they are all healthy at the moment.

Their innocence makes me very happy. It is hard not to appreciate life when I look at them. Together they form such a rich group of distinct personalities! It is fun trying to see the world from their perspectives, based on the way they behave. I think this might help me become more creative and open to different ideas. I can ask myself “How would Lollipop’s illustration of a tree be different than Puma’s?” The answer gives me two different ideas of a tree to illustrate. Two trees to choose from! I should thank them for these “extra trees”, extra imagination and specially for the joy and innocence they bring into my life.

A very special thank you to Cristianne and her furry family for sharing their story! Please make sure to visit Cristianne’s Behance Gallery and show her some love! Make sure to share!

Please share with your art loving and pet loving friends! If you’re interested being featured on Fur Friday, give me a tweet!

Curious George

Artist Lauren Terry

I originally asked the wonderful painter Lauren to be part of Fur Friday because of her terrific cow paintings. I thought what the heck, they could be considered a little furry. Well is was thrilled to learn she actually has a dog as well! Here’s a bit about Lauren in her own words. Make sure to visit her website Lauren’s Cows,  it’s pretty awesome!

Me ‘n Jack

I’m Lauren and I am a 23-year-old actress/artist. I was brought up in the British country side in a small village in North Yorkshire. I have always had animals around me from a young age, growing up on a sheep farm, and today I still spend a lot of time with animals via my work. As I say I paint and my subject of choice is, the cow! So when not painting pictures of cows I am traipsing the countryside with my dog and camera finding cows to take photographs of. I never take my dog in the cow fields though! Not only because I don’t want him to spook the cattle but because he does love to roll in poo! In fact one of my paintings is inspired by my dog Jackson ‘Eau de Vache’!

Eux de Vache

Now it’s time to meet the boy who loves to roll in cow poo…Jackson!

Jack

name: Jackson
nicknames: Jax, Jaxie-Paxie, Velociraptor Dog, Masked Bandit.
age: 5 years
breed: Male Black Labrador
How did your dog come to live with you? What’s his story? Our family has always had black Labradors, Jackson came from a litter of pups bred at a local farm.
Favorite toys: Anything that can be destroyed! Specialties include tennis balls on a rope and anything with stuffing that can be ripped out!
Favorite food: Jax is incredibly fussy for a Labrador! He sticks to his dry biscuit and Pedigree Chum, but enjoys the odd raw carrot and is rather partial to an egg yolk when Dad is making pizza!
Favorite place to hang out and or sleep: Jax is the first of our dogs to have a big cage, his house as we like to call it, in the kitchen. We never shut him in, but he loves to hang out there especially when he’s feeling antisocial! When feeling more social he curls up on the sofa or in front of the fire. He spends his day times following Dad around!

Weirdest quirks or behavior: Boxing! Chasing his tale and not letting go when he gets it. Sleeping in the craziest positions and my favorite – his dancing bear impression where he sits on his bum and waves his arms around in the air.

pet peeves: My brother going in his house, that’s the only thing that makes him growl. Walking on the lead.
best tricks: None. He’s pretty good at lifting his paw, but not too a command. He’s too much of a diva for tricks!
Are you a gear head with your animal, i.e. do you buy “accessories”: No we don’t buy our dogs any accessories. I made him a Christmas bandana to wear round his neck at Christmas which is pretty awesome but that’s it.
If your animal was an artist or another animal who would he be? He’d be Zoro, as he’s very sexy and suave, and has a bandit mask outline in the grain of his hair.
If your animal has any health issues could you share and give recommendations of treatment to share with others? He’s as fit as a fiddle, just a very fussy eater. When he was young a lot of foods would upset his stomach, far more than we’ve had with any other dogs, it’s just finding something that works and sticking to it. Trial and error.
How does your animal help and inspire you in your life? Jackson is a ray of sunshine and absolutely hilarious. Sometimes he is a pain – especially when he sits and drools on you when you’re eating, but I couldn’t be without him. He’s a wonderful family dog and loved by everyone!

Thanks so much to Lauren and Jackson for sharing their stories! Make sure to visit Lauren’s website to see more of her beautiful cows! You can also follow her on Facebook and on Twitter!

Please share with your art loving and pet loving friends! If you’re interested being featured on Fur Friday, give me a tweet!

Stay tuned next week for artist Cristianne Fritsch  and her beautiful cats! Until then Jackson says stay pawsitive!