That Waiting Period for the Art Show Notification

An art call opens for a wonderful art show you hope to have your artworks show in comes into your inbox. You note the details of art show dates, the very important deadline date (!), drop off, pickup dates, and if there is an art reception. You fill your calendar with those notes. You thoroughly read about the show requirements on formatting, images and artworks to be accepted. Now what will you put in the show?

Millstone 1 at Burwell-Morgan Mill which is home to the biannual Art at the Mill art show in Millwood, Virginia

The Notification Wait Begins

All art shows and galleries that send out a call for art want your latest and greatest art, to select the best of the submissions to offer to the public and their supporters to view - of course, in the upcoming show. They want originals (no copyright issues) and art completed in the last 2-3 years, and not something that was previously entered (whether it was accepted or not).

Decisions, decisions...

You, as the artist, rummage through your art inventory list to find just the right entries to submit to the show. Hopefully, you have tracked if your artwork was previously submitted to that show and whether it was accepted or not. Does the show accept 2, or 3, 4 or 5 pieces of art? And what was that commission, again? Ensure that when you price your art that you account in your price, the cut (or commission) that goes to the venue...

The artist then fills out the form to email, or the website with their selected artwork(s) details, and then uploads their well formatted, quality images...looks over everything...then checks again...makes an adjustment...rechecks...and ever so slowly...clicks...Submit... Or to Send...and off into the ether it goes.

Your calendar has the art show's notification date marked on it, and potentially circled in red marker. And the waiting begins. 

You have noted on your inventory list the particular artworks that have been submitted to the show - which all could potentially be in limbo until that circled DATE on the calendar. Sunrise, sunset, the days edge toward the circle...In the meantime, back into the studio to paint. Oh that dang Jeopardy must again.

What I Submitted to the Fall Art at the Mill Art Show Yesterday

The Deadline for entry is Monday, July 27 at midnight for the biannual Art at the Mill and the notification is Friday, August 7. I can hear the Jeopardy music playing, can't you?

2026 Fall Art at the Mill at 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA at the historic Burwell-Morgan Mill. The show is sponsored by the Clarke County Historical Association.

The Artist Reception Sunday, Sept 27 2-5

The show runs from Saturday Sept 19 to October 4.

Sometimes I take a risk submitting artworks, I suppose. I painted these Millstones that sit in front of the Burwell-Morgan Mill earlier this year. The art call is up to 5 entries and with a series of 4, if the juror doesn't like them...or all of them - Not to be considered. Gloom and despair and agony on me.

>This blog post continues on my blog, Donna's Cave Paintings which includes what I submitted to Art at the Mill this year.

How do you handle the waiting to hear if your art is accepted AND if it isn't? Drop a comment below. (And click a Like too!)

Nonetheless, the art limbo of not knowing begins...

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission