Frequently Asked Questions

DO I HAVE TO BE IN A VISUAL ARTS CLASS TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY?

No, any On Campus or Distance Education student enrolled at a CEM school can enter

DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE THIS ARTWORK AT SCHOOL?

No, students are encouraged to create their artwork at home.

WHEN CAN I START WORKING ON MY ARTWORK?

Now, you can start as soon as possible.

CAN I ENTER A SELF-PORTRAIT?

Yes.

DO I HAVE TO KNOW THE PERSON PERSONALLY, AND DO THEY HAVE TO KNOW ME?

Yes. We specify that the portrait must be of a person who is special to you – someone who is known to you and who knows you and plays a significant role in your life. So if you paint your best friend as if they were a superhero, that would be eligible, but a portrait of a superhero would not. A portrait of someone you knew who has since died is eligible too.

DOES MY PORTRAIT NEED TO BE REALISTIC OR LOOK LIKE A PHOTOGRAPH?

No. Students are encouraged to explore a range of different art-making techniques, movements, compositions and mark-making that is suited to them as an artist. Students are encouraged to be expressive and to create a work that displays their creativity as an artist.

WHAT DOES ‘PAINTED FROM LIFE’ MEAN?

It means that you have one or more ‘live sittings’ with your subject (where you and your subject are together and you are working on their portrait). You do not have to finish the portrait at the live sittings. You can take photographs and do sketches as references to help you to complete the portrait. This is how artists work for the Archibald Prize and we encourage entrants to do the same. However, you may also create your portrait from memory or take a photograph to use as a reference.

CAN I USE A PHOTOGRAPH TO HELP CREATE THE PORTRAIT?

Yes, but it should be a photograph that you have taken yourself.

CAN I COPY?

The judges are looking for originality and only original work is eligible for the competition. You must not copy an artwork or photograph created by another person or an image from another source such as the internet or a print publication.

DO I HAVE TO DO A PAINTING?

No. You can use any physical materials you like, including paint, pencil, oil pastel, crayon and collage is two dimensional and doesn’t sit higher than 5mm above the surface of the paper. Print-outs of digitally created drawings (eg those drawn with a stylus on a tablet) are eligible for entry.

CAN I USE A CANVAS BOARD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL, RATHER THAN PAPER?

No. If you are going to paint using oils or acrylic paint, please use Canvas Paper. If you are using watercolour, gouache or inks please use watercolour paper.

WILL EVERY ARTWORK BE DISPLAYED IN THE EXHIBITION?

No, not every artwork will be displayed in the exhibition. A panel of judges will select the finalists based on how well the artwork conveys a sense of the person and its relatability to the audience. We encourage all students to participate and showcase their creativity, as every entry is a valuable contribution to the competition.

CAN I ENTER MORE THAN ONCE?

No. You can only submit one artwork.

INSPIRATION

Students are encouraged to look at the Archibald Prize and the Young Archie for inspiration with discretion. We would advise primary school-aged students to access sites under the supervision of parents/guardians.