best of america 2023
about the event
Celebrating its 33rd “Best of America” International Juried Exhibition, the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS) invites oil and acrylic painters from all across North America and International Artists to apply to our exhibit honoring the Best in oil and acrylic painting. NOAPS has been showcasing the talents of oil and acrylic painters since 1991.
Opening & Awards Reception, August 11th, 2023 at the Principle Gallery
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AWARDS: Best of show $5,000, $35,000 cash and sponsor awards
Exhibition dates: August 11th - September 10th, 2023
Application Dates: March 6th - May 30th 2023
Notification Date: June 30th, 2023
artist eligibility
All NOAPS members: 18 years of age or older residing in the United States, Canada and
Mexico. Other International artists may apply but please take into consideration shipping and custom fees since this is a gallery show.
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The “Best of America” is a juried competition open only to members of NOAPS.
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The 2023 annual membership is $52 and can be paid when entering this exhibit or through the Membership Link at www.NOAPS.org.
entry process
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All entries will be submitted via Juried Art Services (JAS) www.juriedartservices.com. JAS provides a comprehensive ‘Help’ menu. NOAPS is also available to help with procedural problems. Email: Contact@NOAPS.org for assistance.
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Digital files should be saved in universal .jpeg format for JAS entry and should be between 1400 pixels and 4000 pixels on the longest dimension at 300PPI (pixels per inch).
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Art work must be original two dimensional with mediums limited to oil and acrylic paints
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Completed in the last three (3) years (2020 and newer)
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Not previously accepted in any other NOAPS Exhibit (including the Best of America Small Works Exhibition, the Best of America National Exhibition, both Fall and Spring International Online and the Associate Online Exhibition).
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Maximum size of the art excluding frame shall not exceed 1200 square inches (Example: 30 x 40 in= 1200 square inches). No Exceptions.
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NOAPS is dedicated to exhibiting excellent works of fine art which promote the artist’s artistic ability, vision and creativity within the traditional art forms of oil and acrylic painting. In this respect: All artwork should be original and created from conception to completion by the artist’s own hand in Oil and/or Acrylic only. Artists are permitted to use their own photos as reference materials in the creation of their artwork. No mixed media, painted giclee prints, or any other type of digital or photographic reproductions in conjunction with the Oil & Acrylic qualify. No artwork copied from other artists work or published photos, or created in an instructional setting are eligible.
membership
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The
annual 2023 NOAPS membership of $52 is required. If you are not currently a member, pay the membership fee through the membership link at www.noaps.org/members or when entering this exhibit.
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The annual membership is valid from January 1st to December 31st of each year.
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To verify if you are a current 2023 NOAPS Member, please check our Members Directory Page. www.noaps.org/membership-directory#!directory/ord=lnm
fees
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The fee to enter is $35 for the first image and $10 for each additional image UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 5 IMAGES.
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Example: maximum of five (5) entries= $75 plus current 2023 NOAPS membership if not already paid. Payment may be made by Pay Pal or Credit Card.
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Entry fees are not refundable.
awards judge panel
Tony D'Amico
Beginning employment as a commercial artist and illustrator, Tony later founded his own promotional marketing agency, Creative Alliance based in Southport CT. The client roster included, PepsiCo, AT&T, Tiffany & Company, ebay and the Guinness Importing Company. Evolving into one of the top promotion and event marketing agencies in the US, he then sold the company to the Publicis Group, an international advertising and media services conglomerate.
Channeling his creativity into a full time career as a fine artist, Tony has studied with a number of renowned artists such as Don Demers, Matt Smith, and Phil Starke. His artwork has been recognized over the years with many national awards. Tony is a signature member of both the National Oil Painters & Acrylics Society and the American Impressionist Society, an artist member of the Salmagundi Club NYC and the Oil Painters of America. He is represented by The Illume Gallery West in Philipsburg, MT, Folly Cove Gallery of Fine Art in Rockport, MA, Hughes Gallery in Placida, FL and Ceres Gallery in Portsmouth, NH.
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Robin Williamson
Robin Williamson is an award-winning artist living and working in Texas. She is best known for her refined, delicate, and realistic style of painting in oils. Robin’s art journey started a little differently than most. After obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, and a successful career in Information Technology, Robin "retired" to raise her three children. While doing so, she re-ignited a life-long love affair with art and took her first formal oil-painting class. She was smitten! She left the technical world behind
and has never looked back. After only four years of painting, she won her first national level award. Robin has gone on to win numerous national and international awards and has been featured in International Artist, Southwest Art, and American Art Collector Magazines.
Painting people is Robin’s first love. She has spent countless hours studying anatomy and drawing in order to further advance her figurative and portrait painting skills. She studied ballet as a young woman and now skillfully combines her love of dance and art by painting ballet dancers. Robin is passionate about sharing her craft and has recently opened her own school, The DaVinci Studios in Houston, TX. She is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America, American Women Artists, and the National Oil and Acrylic Painter's Society, where she serves as a board member. She also serves as a State Ambassador of the Portrait Society of America, and is a member of the Cecilia Beaux Forum and the Art League of Fort Bend, and is a Boldbrush sponsored artist.
Robin has exhibited both nationally and internationally and has won numerous awards, including being juried into the prestigious Art Renewal Center International Salon four times. She has won top international awards the Portrait Society of America, the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, and Oil Painters of America, including a Figurative Award of Excellence for her painting, “Holding On To A Dream”. Robin’s work is held in many public and private collections and can be seen at www.robinwilliamsonfineart.com and Lost Creek Gallery in Calvert, TX.
Barbara Nuss
By painting landscapes directly from nature and still lifes from studio arrangements, I learned the nuances of light and color on every imaginable subject. The importance of painting from life can not be stressed enough, as photographs are inaccurate both in value and color. From 1983 to 1996 I taught still life and landscape painting in my atelier and from 1998 through the present day I share my painting skills through area plein air workshops and atelier teaching. I am a member Oil Painters of America (signature member), National Oil & Acrylic Painter's Society (signature member), International Guild of Realism (signature member), American Women Artists (signature member), Women Artists of the West (signature member), the Baltimore Watercolor Society (signature member) and am past president of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters.
selection process
Each entry is reviewed and scored by an independent jury panel. The Jurying panel will consist of a minimum of 5 NOAPS Master Artists or Signature Members. The panel selects paintings for the exhibit based on the quality and individual mastery of the medium. IMPORTANT: Jurors in the panel make selections based on the image entered (make sure the image depicts a true representation of the painting). Jurors score the image only and do not see any information about the artist.
noaps “BEST OF AMERICA” awards
Awards include: Best of show $5000, $35,000 cash and sponsor awards
Signature and Master Artist Guild Qualifying Update
both Best of America National shows count for Signature Status​
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6 points total over 5 years are needed to qualify for Signature Status
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Acceptance into the "Best of America National Juried Exhibition" will count for 1 point per year
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Acceptance into the "Best of America Small Works National Juried Exhibition" will count for 1 point
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First, Second and Third Place awards in the Associate Member Online Exhibition will count for 1 point.
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A maximum of 3 points attainable per year
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Once Signature Status is achieved, the awarded artist may use the initials NOAPS on original works of art and in their correspondence. This honor is awarded for life, unless forfeited by nonpayment of annual dues or resignation.
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Master Artist Membership: Master Qualification begins AFTER the exhibit in which Signature status is attained. Master Artist Membership is awarded to active members, whose dues are current.
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Both “Best of America National Juried Exhibitions” starting in 2020 count for Master Status
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Once a Signature Artist receives three (3) TOP Master Qualifier Awards within a five (5) year period in the “Best of America National Juried Exhibition” or the “Best of America Small Works National Juried Exhibition, they are qualified to make a submission to the Masters Jury Committee headed up by NOAPS Master Artist, Cheng Lian
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Email chenglian@gmail.com – title the email “Masters Submission”
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Please submit: 10 original artwork images, biography and any published articles or related achievements
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The TOP Qualifier Awards include Best of show, 1st, 2nd, and all “Best of” category awards.
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With 2 Gallery Exhibitions per year, there will be 10 opportunities in a 5 year period to qualify for Master. Please note that the Online International Awards and the Associate Online Awards do not count toward Master Status.
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Upon approval of the Masters Jury Submission Committee and Masters designation is granted, the awarded artist may use the initials NOAPSM on original works of art and in their correspondence. This honor is awarded for life, unless forfeited by nonpayment of annual dues or resignation.
selection notification
Artists selected for the Exhibition will be notified by email from Juried Art Services by June 30, 2023. An up to date email address in your Juried Art Services account is essential for notification.
art accepted for the exhibit
Upon receipt of the accepted paintings at the exhibit location, NOAPS and the Gallery retain the right to refuse to display and/or allow award judging due to: technical inaccuracy, misrepresentation, inadequate framing, or damage from improper packaging.
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FRAMING: Gallery quality wood frames only
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NOAPS strongly recommends Strong Boxes from Airfloat Systems, Uline or Masterpak. (Airfloat is a NOAPS Sponsor and they provide a 20% discount to NOAPS members, use code ‘NOAPS’). All art received and displayed will not be returned until after the exhibit has closed. The gallery has 30 days after the close of the show to return unsold artwork.
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IMPORTANT: Once accepted, failure to send the accepted artwork to the exhibit will result on a two (2) year disqualification period for the artist.
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Once accepted into the exhibition, the artwork is consigned to the gallery. If the artwork is sold after acceptance but before shipping it to the exhibit, commission should be paid to the art gallery. Please email contact@noaps.org if you pre-sell your painting.
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Selected paintings will be showcased on www.NOAPS.org, in the NOAPS Blog, and in NOAPS Social Media.
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By entering, entrants are consenting to having a reproduction of their work used for promotion of the NOAPS Exhibits. You are confirming the work entered is your own and copyrighted images incorporated in your work have not been used.
sales
All entries must be for sale. Paintings of all price ranges are accepted. Entrants price their work and should closely represent the established market value of the artist’s work. The price entered on the Juried Artist Services application form will be the price for the duration of the exhibit.
liability
Every reasonable care will be exercised with all artwork. NOAPS, The Gallery, and any other organization or individual connected with the exhibition will not be responsible for loss or damage of artwork while in transit. By entering this exhibit, the applicant agrees to the terms and conditions of the prospectus.
commission
The artist will receive 55% of the selling price, with the remainder split at 45% to the hosting gallery.
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shipping
Once your art is accepted into the Exhibition, please follow the shipping instructions carefully. Full shipping instructions will be provided with acceptance letters. All shipping charges to and from the Gallery are the responsibility of the artist. We recommend insuring your work before shipping.
Include in the shipping container:
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Return shipping label - choose Fedex or UPS
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HOW TO Create a return shipping label - example - If using UPS - Must open an account with them, then use their online program to "Create a return" - Enter all the information and print the label but do not schedule a pickup. Enclose return label in envelope for the gallery. There are no charges until the shipping company driver picks up the parcel and scans the shipping label. If your shipper will not provide a return shipping label, you should create a return shipping label online and email it to the gallery. Please email the gallery if you will be emailing the return shipping label. ***Artwork will not be displayed if Return Label is not provided.
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$25 check made payable to the Principle Gallery for unpacking/repacking fees.
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No fee for Hand Delivered Artwork. Please advise gallery if hand-delivering.
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NOAPS Artwork label attached to back of painting (included in the acceptance letter from Juried Art Services).
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IMPORTANT: Shipping from OUTSIDE the USA must be shipped FREE DOMICILE or they will not be accepted. International artists please check all shipping restrictions and custom regulations before entering this exhibit. All Duties and Taxes must be paid by the artist
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Ship to address:
The Principle Gallery, 208 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
calendar
Applications Dates: March 6-May 30, 2023
Notification Date: June 30, 2023
Exhibit Grand Opening & Award Reception: August 11, 2023
Exhibit Closing: September 10, 2023
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Your participation and support of the NATIONAL OIL & ACRYLIC PAINTERS’ SOCIETY is greatly appreciated. GOOD LUCK!!
questions
Please email to contact@NOAPS.org
The National Oil & Acrylic Painter’s Society
SEE OUR PREVIOUS “BEST OF AMERICA” EXHIBITS
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