Explore This!

The Colored Pencil Society of America’s 23rd annual online juried exhibition runs February 1–April 1, 2027. Submitted artwork must be predominantly colored pencil while incorporating another medium, technique, surface, or element. Awards include a $2,000 Best of Show and EXPY award, plus approximately $8,000 in cash and product awards for other winners; these are conditional prizes rather than guaranteed participant compensation.

Open to living artists age 18 or older worldwide, including CPSA members and non-members. Artists may submit up to two unique works created on or after January 1, 2024 that have not previously appeared in a CPSA exhibition; the juror may select no more than one entry per artist. Submit one JPG image for a two-dimensional work or two images for a three-dimensional work. Artwork must be predominantly colored pencil and must incorporate another medium, technique, surface, or element. It must be the submitting artist’s original concept and design. Prohibited work includes copied copyrighted or published material; a primary subject copied from another person’s photograph; AI-generated compositions or reference images; reproductions such as prints or giclées; printed or digitally produced imagery incorporated into the artwork; post-submission alterations; and collaborations executed by multiple artists. Pastiche is permitted only when sufficiently altered to make the parody obvious and the parodied work is not copyrighted. Images must be original high-quality JPEG/JPG files, preferably sRGB, cropped to show only the artwork, correctly oriented, high resolution, at least 1920 pixels on the longest edge, and no larger than 30 MB. Entry fees are tiered: $30 for CPSA members or $35 for non-members, each covering up to two works; fees are nonrefundable. By entering, the artist grants CPSA permission to use an accepted image in its magazine, website, brochures, promotional materials, and publicity. The artist retains copyright and certifies originality, non-infringement, and possession of a model release when a recognizable person is depicted. Incomplete entries are disqualified, and entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline.