As fair season approaches, showcasing your artwork at a local 4-H fair or show is an excellent opportunity to share your creativity and passion with your community. In this blog, we will explore essential tips and tricks to help you present your art like a pro. From selecting the perfect pieces to mastering the art of display, these tips will help ensure your work shines.
Finish strong: Make sure your artwork is complete, free of wet paint, missing pieces, or unfinished areas. Take a final look and ask, “Is this my best work?”
Clean up: Check your work for any smudges, extra glue, or dust on surfaces. Carefully clean your piece so it looks polished.
Mount or frame it neatly: Use sturdy paper or mat board behind flat artwork, like drawings or photos. This helps your work stand out and stay safe during display. Make sure it’s straight and secure.
Think of an artist statement: An artist statement is a short paragraph about your artwork. While not necessarily required, this can help you prep for your judging process by thinking of what inspired your work, what materials you used, and what you learned while making the piece.
Practice talking about your art: You will be experiencing a conference judging experience which will require you to talk about your art and the processes you used to create the piece you are showing. Being ready to explain what you made, the techniques you used, and the design decisions you made will help ease your nerves on the day of judging. Remember to be yourself!
Check the rules: The guidelines for each Visual Arts category are unique and specific. Make sure you are aware of these guidelines, which include maximum sizes, which can be found in your local 4-H fair book.
Take a photo of your artwork: Snap a picture before taking it to your show, just in case it gets misplaced or damaged. While you don’t plan for an unexpected event such as this, accidents do sometimes happen. It’s also fun to look back at what you’ve made and see the progress you've made in your artistic journey.
Be proud of yourself: Entering any project into the 4-H fair is a big accomplishment! No matter what ribbon you receive, you created something unique and shared it with others, and that is something to be proud of!
As you prepare to showcase your art, remember that every piece you create reflects your unique perspective and talent. This is a chance to grow as an artist, share your creativity, and celebrate your hard work. The 4-H fair is your moment to shine!
About the author: Danielle Gapinski is a 4-H Youth Development Specialist in Creative and Cultural Arts. She provides leadership to the 4-H youth development program focusing on 4-H clubs, 4-H groups, and youth education initiatives. Danielle provides researched based educational programs geared towards art creation and performance, art careers, intersections of art and culture, art as a tool for wellness, advocacy, and education, and more.