Frequently Asked Questions

International Artist’s Art Competitions are open to artists around the world working in painting and drawing media. Each competition focuses on a different subject, giving artists opportunities throughout the year to submit their work and have it considered for publication.

The most important prize is editorial exposure. The Grand Prize Winner receives a four-page editorial feature in American Art Collector, putting the artist and their work directly in front of serious art collectors and galleries in the United States. The winner also receives a two-page editorial in International Artist. Second Prize receives a two-page editorial feature in American Art Collector and a one-page editorial in International Artist. Third Prize receives a one-page editorial in each magazine, and finalists are also featured in International Artist.

Grand Prize winners additionally receive $100 from RAYMAR Fine Art Panels, $100 from BLICK Art Supplies and a signed, framable award certificate. With more than 175,000 submissions over the history of the competitions, International Artist has created an ongoing platform for discovering and showcasing artists from around the world.

The demonstrations are the heart of International Artist. They are designed to be practical and educational, with accomplished artists teaching other artists by showing exactly how they work, step by step. Artists discuss their materials, palette, composition, preparation, techniques and working methods, then take readers through the creation of an artwork from beginning to end.

Absolutely. Featured artists work in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, drawing and other media, with approaches ranging from highly realistic and traditional to impressionistic and contemporary. The goal isn’t to teach artists to copy someone else’s style. It is to expose them to different techniques, materials and ways of thinking that can help them develop their own artistic voice.

Our Special Sections provide readers with practical tools for their art practice, directly from the pages of the magazine. Each issue features a different guide: Artist Groups & Societies, Art Shows & Fairs, Art Schools & Workshops, Art Materials & Supplies, Art Books and the Holiday Gift Guide. These sections provide information readers can use to enroll in workshops, show their work at art fairs, discover art supplies and more.

Learning from other artists is not about copying them. It is about understanding how they solve problems. One artist may teach you something about atmosphere and perspective. Another may change the way you think about color. Another may demonstrate a composition technique or brushstroke that opens an entirely new direction in your own work. International Artist exposes readers to artists from around the world so they can study many different approaches and develop techniques that become uniquely their own.

Artists are constantly experimenting with paints, brushes, surfaces, mediums, supports and other studio materials. Seeing what successful artists actually use—and how they use it—can help readers make better decisions about their own materials. The demonstrations in International Artist frequently identify the materials and palettes used by featured artists and explain how those choices affect the finished work.

Artistic ideas do not stop at borders. An artist working in Australia, Europe, Asia, Canada or the United States may approach the same subject in completely different ways. International Artist introduces readers to artists, techniques and perspectives from around the world, allowing artists to learn from an international community without leaving their studios.

Seeing the finished artwork tells only part of the story. Understanding how an artist got there can be far more educational. A demonstration can reveal how an artist establishes a composition, chooses a palette, corrects a problem, builds layers, controls edges or decides when a work is finished. Sometimes one small insight can change the way another artist approaches an entire painting.

Artists never really stop learning. Even highly accomplished professional artists continue experimenting, studying other artists and refining their techniques. Through artist demonstrations, Special Sections, competitions, workshops and educational features, each issue provides new opportunities to learn whether you are an emerging artist, an experienced painter or a professional artist with decades in the studio.

Think of International Artist as an ongoing studio resource created by artists for artists. For 35 years, International Artist has helped artists learn from other artists, bringing readers inside the studios and creative processes of accomplished artists from around the world. Demonstrations show how accomplished artists work; Special Sections provide ways to enhance your practice; competitions provide opportunities for editorial recognition and exposure; and workshops and educational features connect readers with additional ways to develop their skills.

At International Artist, we are continuously looking for professional artists across a range of styles, mediums, subjects and cultural and educational backgrounds. If you are a professional artist and/or art educator who is comfortable documenting your process in detail, including high-resolution imagery, the best way to get your work in the magazine is to email editor Alyssa Tidwell. Include relevant links such as your website and social media so your work can be reviewed right away.

Yes. In addition to the printed magazine, International Artist offers a digital issue for on-the-go reading, the full magazine and past articles on its website, social media content on Facebook and Instagram, and the American Art Collective podcast, which releases new episodes every other week.