2025 Pastel Competition

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UART 2025 Online Pastel Competition

Welcome to the UART 2025 Online Pastel Competition

Our annual 2025 Online Pastel Competition is now officially open. With over $6,000 in cash and prizes, UART’s Pastel Competition is one of the biggest pastel competitions in the country.

 

This year’s competition will be juried by Alain Picard.

 

The competition will close on October 13th, 2025 and winners will be announced on October 21st, 2025.

 

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ THE RULES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE BEFORE SUBMITTING!

 

The competition is open to all pastel artists in the world. Very important: paintings have to be done on UART paper. Paintings not done on UART paper will be removed and we will NOT ISSUE REFUNDS for those.

 

Entry fees:
– $25 for first submission
– $10 for each additional submission
– No limits on submissions

 

Thank you!
View the winners

Prizes

1st Place

  • $1,500 cash
  • $100 Gift Certificate to Blick
  • 1 Year Free Subscription to Pastel Journal
  • 10 UART 12×18 Sheets
  • 10 UART 9×12 Peel’N’Stick sheets
  • 1 UART 12×16 Mounted Board
  • UART Apron & UART t-shirt

Winning painting will be displayed on UART website’s homepage and on our social media platforms

2nd Place

  • $750 cash
  • $75 Gift Certificate to Blick
  • 1 Year Free Subscription to Pastel Journal
  • 10 UART 12×18 Sheets
  • 10 UART 9×12 Peel’N’Stick sheets
  • UART Apron & UART t-shirt

Painting will be displayed on UART website’s homepage and on our social media platforms

3rd Place

  • $500 Cash
  • $50 Gift Certificate to Blick
  • 1 Year Free Subscription to Pastel Journal
  • 10 UART 12×18 Sheets
  • 10 UART 9×12 Peel’N’Stick sheets
  • UART Apron & UART t-shirt

Painting will be displayed on UART website’s homepage and on our social media platforms

UART Award

  • $300 cash
  • 10 UART 12×18 Sheets
  • 10 UART Dark 9×12 Sheets
  • 10 UART 9×12 Peel’N’Stick sheets
  • 1 12”x16” Mounted Board
  • UART Apron, UART t-shirt & UART Ceramic Coffee Mug
  • Special Facebook and Instagram mention

Terry Ludwig Award

  • $250 Terry Ludwig Gift Certificate
  • $100 cash
  • 10 UART 12×18 Sheets
  • 10 UART 9×12 Peel’N’Stick sheets
  • UART Apron & UART t-shirt
  • Special Facebook and Instagram mention

Honorable Mentions (5)

  • 1 pack of 10 UART 12”x18” sheets
  • 1 12×12 Mounted Board
  • 10 UART 9×12 Peel’N’Stick sheets
  • 1 UART Apron & UART t-shirt
View the winners

Juror

Juror

Alain Picard

Alain J. Picard is an award-winning artist, instructor, author and speaker. His acclaimed pastel and oil paintings have been exhibited throughout the US, Europe, China and the UK. Alain travels internationally as an art instructor, demonstrator, speaker and artistic advocate for the vulnerable.

Alain’s work and writing have been featured on numerous occasions in such publications as The Artist's Magazine, The Pastel Journal, and Practique des Arts. In an effort to share his passion for art, Alain has written three instructional books, including “Mastering Pastel” and “Beginning Drawing,” and stars in a growing collection of instructional art videos.

Alain has lectured and demonstrated for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Arts Club in New York City, Vose Galleries in Boston, MA, the IAPS Convention in Albuquerque, NM, and the Biennial International Pastel Art Exhibition at Ming Gallery in Suzhou, China.

Alain has garnered top awards in esteemed exhibitions, including the Pastel Society of America, The American Artists Professional League, Hudson Valley Art Association, the Portrait Society of America, and the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS). He is a judge and juror of international exhibitions, and a sought-after portrait artist and landscape painter. He makes his home in Connecticut with his wife and two sons.

COMPETITION'S RULES

The contest is open to pastel artists over the age of 16 all over the world. Please read carefully to make sure your work meets the following entry requirements. Failure to follow the rules will eliminate your entries from the competition. All submissions have to be done on UART paper.

  1. Works must be done on UART paper ONLY. Works not done on UART paper will be removed from the competition and NO REFUND WILL BE MADE. Works must be done in dry or oil pastel. Works including mixed media have to be 80% dry or oil pastels.
  2. Fees are as follow: - $25 for first submission - $10 for each additional submission - No limits on submissions - Fees are non-refundable. Please make sure to double check art before uploading. - Please upload all your pictures at once to take advantage of the $10 additional price.
  3. Please pay close attention when you upload your paintings. Please make sure they have the correct titles. When uploading several pictures at once, please make sure to add the right title to the right painting and add the surface used, for example: UART 400.
View the winners

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