BLUFF STROKES 2024 PAINT OUT
Sunday, Sept 29 thru Saturday, Oct 5, 2024
Artist Prospectus
Revision 7 January, 2024
Subject to Change
Registration and Artist Selection
Registration is limited to 60 artists.
Entry Fee: $50 entry fee must be included with registration. The fee entitles artists to participate in all events (Main, Quick Paint and Nocturne). This will also cover an artist picnic and dinner/drinks at the Patron Party, Friday, Oct. 5.
Artists will be selected by jury of the Bluff Strokes Committee. In addition to art quality, selection criteria will include past awards and sales, mix of new to returning artists, and geographic representation.
Artists who have not been accepted previously should provide a website showing representative work or should send photos of 3 representative works to info@BluffStrokes.org.
Initial selection will be made from registrations postmarked through March 31. Remaining open slots will be filled subject to review of the Committee.
Checks will not be processed unless registrations are accepted. Once cashed, fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Bluff Strokes seeks to make an enjoyable event for all. We reserve the right to deny registration to artists who create uncomfortable situations for volunteers or other artists, or who fail to follow rules.
For your reference, our average price for a painting in 2023 was $566. This has generally increased each year of our event.
Check-in and Stamping
Event headquarters: Steeple Square, 15th St and White St, Dubuque, IA.
Check-in: Sunday, Sept. 29, 8 am to 4 pm.
Check-in will also be available at River Lights Bookstore (1098 Main St) on Monday, Sept. 30, from 10 am to 6 pm. Extra materials may also be stamped there during the week.
At check-in, artists must provide filled-in painting submission cards for prior work paintings.
Guidelines for All Paintings Submitted for Judging or Sale
Painting Boundaries: Dubuque County (except prior works). The area across the Mississippi from Dubuque, including East Dubuque, IL, the Frentress Lake area, Sandy Hook and O’Leary’s Lake area, etc. We will not be sticklers on geography; if you find a great scene just beyond our boundaries, feel free.
In the spirit of plein air, 95% of each painting must be created on site. No painting from photographs or from images on mobile devices, even on location.
Up to 5 paintings may be submitted for judging for awards; 3 Main Event, 1 Nocturne, 1 Quick Paint.
Media may include: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, or gouache.
Each work submitted must be framed. Maximum frame width: 4 1/4 inches.
Maximum mat width (mat is optional): 4 inches.
Unframed dimensions will be accepted up to 324 sq inches. As a guideline, this will accommodate standard painting sizes up to 16 x 20 inches or 18 x 18 inches.
Paintings must be securely wired for hanging; no alligator hangers.
All paintings (except prior works) must be date stamped at event check-in. Stamp must be visible on the back of each painting.
Artists will provide a submission form for each painting submitted (also included in Artist Packet), with artist’s name, title or location of painting, medium, and price. Filling cards out ahead of time will make the process go more smoothly - thank you!
Prices may not be changed after submission, and there will be no negotiating prices at the sale.
Prior Works
Artists may bring 2 prior paintings for sale; above-listed size and framing requirements apply. Artists may bring 2 prior replacement paintings.
Prior Work paintings shall be submitted at the time of artist registration.
Paintings may be from past Bluff Strokes events or may be other examples of your work, including studio paintings.
Paintings will be hung at the beginning of the week.
Main Event
Sunday, Sept. 29 - Thursday, Oct. 3
Each artist may submit 3 Main Event paintings for judging.
Final submission for judging will be Friday, Sept. 22, 8 to 10 am.
Artists must attend Friday morning, 8:00 am to 10:00 am, to designate which paintings will be hung and judged. Each artist will be given 3 stickers to mark paintings to be hung for judging.
Artists may submit up to 5 main event replacement paintings, which will not be judged but will be hung to replace sold paintings. Of these, up to 3 replacement paintings may be submitted with paintings to be judged. Up to 2 additional replacement paintings may be submitted Saturday by noon.
To facilitate entering paintings into inventory, Steeple Square will be open Wednesday, 4:00-5:00 pm, prior to Nocturne stamping, and Thursday, 8:00-10:00 am during Nocturne processing, for early check-in of main event paintings. Please bring in paintings that you will be submitting either for judging or replacement.
Of the 3 paintings submitted for judging, 1 may be from an interior location (bar, shop, library, anywhere you can get permission).
Main event replacement paintings may be from interior or exterior locations.
On Saturday morning, 7:00 to 12:00, you are encouraged to paint at the Dubuque Farmer's Market (near Steeple Square) or in any Downtown area, and bring paintings to Steeple Square when finished. These paintings will be considered as part of your 5 replacement paintings. This is a great way to advertise!
During the Friday evening and Saturday sales, as paintings are sold, you may replace sold paintings with inventoried replacement paintings; this will be your responsibility and must be limited to your allotted space unless approved by a Bluff Strokes Committee member. Only work on stamped canvasses may be hung in the Main Event area. Only prior work may be hung in the prior work areas
Quick Paint
Date to be announced
Stamping for the Quick Paint will be from 8:20 to 8:30 am at Steeple Square.
Submit stamped and framed artwork at Steeple Square by 11:00 am to be considered for awards.
Quick paint paintings may not be interiors.
Nocturne
Nocturne protocols to be announced.
Commissions
Bluff Strokes will retain a 25% commission on all painting sales.
Artist payments will be mailed to the address provided with your registration.
Off-Easel Sales – please respect the efforts of this all-volunteer event by writing a check for 25% for any off-easel purchases by Sunday, October 6.
Awards
We will award approximately $15,000 in prizes. Top award will be a purchase plus a $2000 award. The purchase amount will be the marked price of the painting less 25% commission, up to a maximum of $1500. I.e.; marked price = $1200, purchase amount will be $900, total paid will be $900 + $2000 = $2900.
We have a variety of themed awards to encourage artists to explore the many types of painting opportunities in our community.
Unsold Painting Retrieval
Unsold paintings may be picked up on Saturday, Oct 5, 4 to 5 pm, and Sunday, Oct 6, 8:30 to 10 am. Paintings left behind will become the property of Bluff Strokes and may be donated to the Dubuque Museum of Art to be auctioned off at their annual benefit.
Artist Liability and Certifications (Sign with Registration Form)
I agree to bear all risk and expense for loss, theft, or damage to my paintings or other personal property, and for injury to my person, regardless of cause.
I indemnify and hold harmless Bluff Strokes, Dubuque County Fine Arts Society, and Steeple Square from and against any claim, suit, action, liability, or expense arising out of any matter which would result from using images of myself or my paintings for publicity for Bluff Strokes.
If winner of the Best of Show Purchase Prize, I agree to give Bluff Strokes full license to make prints of winning painting, in any form, for the purpose of promoting Bluff Strokes.
For registration or Convent Suites housing questions, contact Morgan at (314) 680-3328.
For all other questions, email info@bluffstrokes.org or call Wes at 563-845-1801, Jillayne at (563) 587-9120 or Deb at (563) 564-1600.