Monthly Archives: October 2011

Competitions – Thoughts from Repeat Offender

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And so, it has come and past. The Art of Fashion that is. I decided to go a bit out on a limb and do something that wasn’t really ‘artsy’ but wearable for an art event. I decided to this for two reasons:
a) With only 2 weeks to make the line, while working full time freelancing, and participating in two art shows with the Co-op, I had to do something somewhat simple.
b) I had done this competition in the past and did something incredibly ‘artsy’ and costumey and the person who won that year did a very ready to wear line.

Joyce and Chelsea before the event and after hair/makeup

Maybe it backfired on me – hard to say. I did NOT win. Ha! I am not even sure if I was contender. Is this HORRIBLE? Am I broken? IS ALL LOST!!!???
Um, no.

I am not new to the world of competitions. This is my 5th competition entered personally (I was included in mandatory competitions in the past, that I didn’t take all too seriously, whilst studying Fashion Design at Ryerson University), and 4th where I placed in the top ten. Out of 5 – I won 1. I am batting 20% and I think that is pretty darn acceptable. The competition I did win was the most important out of all of them to win. When I won “What Will Barbie Wear in 2005?” Design competition with my design “Inuit Legend” Barbie (google it) it changed my life. Honestly. I was suddenly thrust into the spotlight for my brief moment with popularity. I was featured in dozens of newspapers across Canada. I was on a handful of live radio and tv shows, including a spot on Canada AM. I did a little mini barbie signing tour. I even got asked to design another barbie for a convention, which I was carted off to Calgary to speak at the convention. It was INSANE!

And then all was quiet. I didn’t really like that much, and for some reason got this idea in my brain that I needed to continue doing this competition thing. 6 years later – I am TIRED.

So, now that I am back from my most recent competition gala, I have had some serious thinking to do. Thinking which in turn has inspired this post.

Types of Competitions

a quick shot of the girls

Internet Competitions:
Competitions that you submit work on the internet and it is either judged by a panel, or most frequently  is voted on by your peers. I don’t enter these competitions anymore. I did once, and that led to a crap-storm of headaches, so I steer clear of these at all cost. Popularity contests can be very disheartening for artists! You have to bug everyone you know to vote for you. They make it seem that random people from internet land are just going to vote for you because they like your stuff. NO – they won’t. Don’t kid yourself. Honestly, the only reason that people even go to those contest pages are because they know someone in the competition and they are there to vote for them. At the end of the day, whether you win or not, it comes down to whether you have enough friends or not, NOT how good your work is. Maybe I am jaded, but this is just my humble opinion.

Art and Design Competitions Where You Must Submit You Work Offline (or non-social voting contests):
I read somewhere, on some blog I used to follow, that you shouldn’t enter competitions that you have to pay to submit. I actually tend to disagree with this. Well, let me explain. There are competitions where they ask for insane amounts of money for an entry. My rule is, if it’s over $30 it’s not worth it. You may not even place in the finals, so that money is lost. I can afford to wager $30 on whether I’ll place in the finals, so I usually take the bet. These fees are usually to pay the competition expenses. After doing various competitions over the past 6 years, I know that these fees don’t cover even a fraction of the costs of running a big competition, which is why big sponsors are always in play. This is a great advantage to the competitor, which I will explain below.

the model, I believe named Sarah, who walked during the fashion show


The  Advantages of Entering Competitions:
- They push you to move outside of your comfort zone
- You get experience working on tight deadlines
- You add new pieces to your portfolio

The Advantages of Placing In The Finals:
- A new accomplishment to add to your portfolio, resume, and website
- Great exposure! This is especially true if the competition is during an event or gala. These events are often sponsored by various companies. These companies attend the event. You meet them, they meet you. You’re network grows. It’s all gravy. This has been an extremely important tool for me to growing my network, which as a designer or artist is KEY!
- There are often various types of media there who are always willing to share great photos, videos, blog posts, and articles with you post event.
- You meet a TON of people who give you feedback into your work.  You also, hear what people are saying nearby about what they don’t like about your work, which is key in your personal growth.
- You hear about new events that are taking place which you can participate in.
- You may even meet buyers who are interested in your work or commissioning a piece from you.

The Advantages of Winning:
- Money – although, more often than not isn’t really that much.
- Other prizes such as photoshoots, personal shows, a booth at an event, or even a spots in shops or galleries to sell your work
- Press! This is in my opinion the most important part. In the fashion and art world, you are as good as your last show. If you’re not doing anything, then no one knows about you, and that can SUCK!
- More contacts in your network
- The honor of winning, and to be able to add this to your portfolio.

Bianka modeling bikini and chiffon gown


The Disadvantages of Entering Competitions:
- It can be a lot of additional work
- It can be expensive, especially when having to submit physical work that is crafted specifically for a theme

The Disadvantages of Placing in the Finals:

- It can be very expensive!!
You may have to submit various new pieces on a very tight deadline. If there is a gala or event, you may have to create a booth. You may have to travel on short notice.

- It can be very labour INTENSIVE
All of the competitions that I have entered have required me to create new work on a VERY tight deadline. Now, if I wasn’t always completely loaded with work either now or back in school this wouldn’t really be a problem. I have no issues with burning the midnight oil. I actually enjoy a good deadline. But if you live off of commissions like I do, you’re often having to put off working on all these extra projects until late in the evening. If your lucky, and you have a good network of people who are looking to help you out, you may have help. However, the preparation of not only the pieces, but organizing all the other aspects of showing your work can be exhausting. By the time competition day comes, you’re usually fighting for energy (not that a little red bull doesn’t help).

- Shameless self promotion – Yes, you have to tell everyone, and try get as much press before hand as possible. That is why you are doing this. As an artist/designer/illustrator/nutcase I don’t really like doing this. I don’t really like the attention. I would rather my work speak for itself in most cases, but if you don’t put yourself out there, there is no reason to do the competition. PERIOD.

The Disadvantages of NOT Winning the Competition
- That crappy initial feeling like you have totally wasted your time and suffer from a severe case of sucking.
- You have to now tell all those people you told that you DIDN’T win.
- You have to “be strong, carry on” and get your mind right back to normal
- You often don’t get to find out what they judges thought of your work and have to try decipher where you may have gone wrong.

whitney rocking out denim and velvet

Overall, I always encourage people to enter competitions because they help you grow as an artist. They force you to put yourself out there. You get to meet great people, and maybe some not-so-great ones as well ;o) If you win, you’ve won. If you don’t, ya didn’t. That’s pretty much it. At the end of the day, you don’t make or break your career on a competition. They are good practice for the real world, and force you to become more comfortable promoting yourself and meeting new people. You learn how to accomplish big things on a very short deadline. Finally, they test your sanity.

Will I do it again? I am thinking not. I feel like I have been there, done that. (famous last words)

So, I will leave you with a little video from the Art of Fashion

Christy Litster. ART OF FASHION from stasbasko on Vimeo.

Happy Creating!