EXHIBITION TITLE

Turning Tides

EXHIBITION DATES

September 25 through December 1, 2026

LOCATION

CAC Virtual Gallery

QUALIFICATIONS

Open to current members of the California Art Club including Associate Artists, Student Artists, Artists, Out-of-State Artists, Mentorship Program Artists, Student Artists and Signature Artists.

SUBJECT MATTER

This exhibition captures the quiet beauty of nature’s transition, with landscapes shifting in color and tone as the season changes. Artists explore the subtler hues and rich textures of the natural world as it moves towards rebirth, with soft, muted tones and moody skies.

The mission of this competition is to encourage artists to develop and refine their classical art skills and spotlight their mastery by providing a new platform for showcasing contemporary-traditional works of art.

We ask artists to represent Turning Tides via contemporary-traditional methods. Any genre of work will be eligible for consideration. Artwork submitted should have been created in the last three years.

Note: NFS works are now eligible for consideration. Review updated competition guidelines here.

EXAMPLES

Artworks could feature figures wrapped in cloaks, walking along the beachside as the winter fog starts to life. Landscapes can capture vibrant rolling hills, freshly revived by winter rains. Still lifes can feature arrangements of early spring citrus and wildflowers. Seascapes can show dynamic ebb and flow of the tides, with first hints of spring light softening the winter waves. It’s all up to your creative imagination!

Some potential sculptures could highlight expressive creatures emerging from hibernation or migration, or flora-inspired works representing native plants budding in early spring.

GUEST JUDGE

Guest Judge is TBD, and will be announced at a later time.

MEDIUM & DIMENSIONS

Paintings in oil, watercolor, gouache, pastel or acrylic.

Drawings in charcoal, color pencil or graphite.

Sculptures in permanent materials such as bronze, marble, terra cotta, fiberglass, resin or wood. Clay is acceptable, however would need to be cast if listed for sale. Otherwise NFS is fine.

Since this is an entirely virtual exhibition, there is no limit on dimensions.

Please note that no giclees, prints, photography, digital works or digitally altered works will be accepted. This will automatically disqualify artwork from the competition.

COMMISSION

60% Artist; 40% CAC

DEADLINE

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

HOW TO APPLY

Submit all artwork through Online Juried Shows. There is no entry limit.

Images must be jpg and under 4 mb. For best results, images should be at least 1920 pixels on the longest side @ 72 dpi. For help with your entries, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351

ENTRY FEE

Please pay by credit card through Online Juried Shows. For $35, you may submit a single image. Additional images are $8. There is no limit to how many works may be submitted.

Submission fees are non-refundable.

NOTIFICATIONS

Notifications will be sent to artists via email on or around Monday, July 6, 2026. Results will be in your OnlineJuriedShows artist profile.

ARTWORK DROP-OFF/PICK-UP

This exhibition is entirely virtual, so there is no need to deliver your work to any location.

SHIPPING and SALES

If a work sells, the collector will assume shipping costs. There is an expectation that sold works are framed. The artist will be responsible for preparing and packaging the work for shipment. The CAC will handle the sale of the artwork, itself, and any associated tax.

Artwork cannot be removed for the duration of the exhibition.

AWARDS

First Place: $1,000

Second Place: $500

Third Place: $250

Honorable Mention/s: $100

Special Recognition Awards will also be additionally and exclusively available for Student Artist, Mentorship Program, and Associate Artist Members. Recipients of the Special Recognition Awards will receive $50.

The judge for this installment of the Excellence in Traditional Fine Art Competition is TBD.

Multiple opportunities for visibility will be provided for approximately 30-40 works of exceptional artistic merit from each competition. This visibility will include:

· Exhibition on the CAC website

· Featured posts on social media channels

· Winners will be featured in the California Art Club Newsletter

CONSIDERATIONS

Please note the following:

· All artwork submitted will be considered for the showcase regardless of its availability for acquisition.

· Artwork can only be sold through the CAC upon acceptance and through the end of the exhibition.

· Giclees, prints, photography, digital works or digitally altered works will not be accepted. This will automatically disqualify artwork from the competition.

· Please kindly submit artwork that clearly showcases the theme.

· We encourage artists to submit an artwork statement with their submissions as this can sometimes be the tipping point for acceptance.

QUESTIONS

Contact California Art Club's Exhibitions Manager, Eire Hoke at 626/583-9009 or eire@californiaartclub.org.