Carving.........Painting
& Photography
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The Maine Coast Carving and Art Competition is sponsored by the Penobscot Bay Carvers and Artist’s Association. An annual event, this year’s competition, as last, will be held at The Boathouse on the waterfront in Belfast, Maine. There will be signs to guide you to the site from U.S. Route 1, and there is plenty of parking available. At the traffic light in the center of town, turn downhill toward the harbor. At the foot of the hill turn right on Front Street, and follow it to the end. There will be a large banner and a sign at the building. It isn't easy to miss.Friday, July 11th Sign in and registration of entries between 12 noon and 6:30pm. Not open to the general public.
Saturday, July 12th Entries will be accepted from 7-9:00am. Show open to the general public from 9am to 5pm Judging will begin inside at 10am with the floating decoys judged outside when the tide is best. All are welcome to view the judging.
Sunday, July 13th Show open to the general public from 9am to 4pm. Competition pieces must be picked up after the show closes between the hours of 4 and 5pm.Entry Fee $7.00/piece Master's Class $12.00/piece
We use what we call "absolute judging." Under this system, every piece will be judged on its individual merits according to the judging form. Often in the old system, when the judges considered two pieces deserving of a blue ribbon in a given category, one had to settle for second. No more–at least not in our competition. The judging forms are unique to our competition too, and entrants are welcome to them after the ribbons have been awarded. This system greatly simplifies judging and is inherently more fair. And the carvers seem to particularly like reading the judges' comments.
CONTEST RULES: CARVING COMPETITION
This competition is open to all wildlife carvers and artists. The PBCAA reserves the right to refuse any entry deemed unsuitable or not in good taste. The carvings are to be of wood, except as noted under “decoys”. The competition is not open to pottery or ceramics, furniture (including lamps) or castings of any kind.
Pieces entered in other competitions are allowed but entries that have won a “Best of Show” elsewhere may be entered only in the Master Class. Entries must have been completed since last year's show. Carvers may only enter pieces in one level, except those entering the Master Class may still enter other pieces in Open.
COMPETITION LEVELS (for both Carving and Art/Photography)
YOUTH The level for all entries produced by carvers 16 years of age or younger.
NOVICE The entry level for beginning carvers. These are carvers who have never competed or do not sell their work. If you have become a consistent blue ribbon winner at this level, it is recommended that you advance to Intermediate.
INTERMEDIATE Intended for those carvers and artists who have progressed beyond the beginning stages of their art. If you have become a consistent blue ribbon winner at this level, it is recommended that you advance to Open.
OPEN This level is intended for carvers with the greatest proficiency and experience.
MASTER CLASS This is a special level for those wishing to enter pieces that have been awarded “Best of Show” in other competitions and anyone else wishing to compete at this level. Entering a piece in this level does not preclude entering others in Open.Please note: The competition level may be specified by the artist when entering, but if delivered by someone else, the level will be determined by those club members receiving the pieces.
CATEGORIES AND RULES BY CATEGORY
DECOYS, floating or otherwise, are to be fashioned of wood, cork, or canvas, and made so that they could conceivably be used for hunting. Synthetic tail feathers may be used. This includes ducks as well as geese and confidence birds.They are subdivided into four categories:
FLOATING REALISTICS are unlimited in presentation, the sole stipulation being that they ride well on the water.
FANCY DECOYS are primarily decorative: bodies may be contoured and mandibles fully detailed, feather groups may be raised, but there should be only minimal undercutting of feathers, and no fragile tails, burned in or stoned details. Unlimited painting of feather details is allowed and encouraged. Decoys must float and ride correctly, and but do not have to be self-righting. We feel it is more important that they ride like ducks on the water. They will be floated in the harbor and tethered as in actual hunting rigs, but will be judged up close.
WORKING DECOYS are those best suited to actual hunting, in which simplicity of design and painting reflects their intended use. Decoys must float and ride correctly, and but do not have to be self-righting. We feel it is more important that they ride like ducks on the water, as they would be expected to during actual hunting conditions. They will be floated in the harbor and tethered as in actual hunting rigs, and will be judged from at least 30' away. Floating antique reproductions can be entered in this category at the carver’s request. The Bob Nelson Hunter's Choice award will be selected from this group of decoys.
STICK BIRDS–though used in the past for hunting–will not be floated, of course, but will be governed by the same rules as Fancy Decoys.REALISTIC BIRDS Full sized wildfowl of any type. They will be grouped for viewing purposed, but judged separately as previously explanind. All are to be made of wood and glass eyes are permitted. Cast feet may be used in Novice and Intermediate, but in other carving levels must be made by the artist–so too must be the habitat (if any) excepting natural driftwood. Other materials may be used for habitat and making feet. Details may be burned in, stoned, or carved.
MINIATURES Same specifications as for full sized realistics.
MAMMALS, MARINE MAMMALS, AND FISH Same specifications as for full sized realistics.
NATURALS and TEXTURED NATURALS The pieces must be carved and finished in such a way that the grain of the wood remains visible. Glass eyes may be used.
MARINE CARVING All carving must be of wood and may be of multiple pieces, finished bright, with paint, gold leaf, or any combination of these finishes.
REPRODUCTION ANTIQUE DECOYS Wildfowl of any type.
ADDITIONAL CARVING ARTS This category includes reliefs, caricatures, santas, whittling, etc.Awards will be a blue ribbon for first, a red ribbon for second, a yellow ribbon for third, and a white ribbon for honorable mention.
ADDITIONAL CARVING AWARDS
BEST OF SHOW, MASTER Selected by judges.
BEST OF SHOW, OPEN one for wildlife carving. Selected by judges.
BEST OF SHOW, INTERMEDIATE one for wildlife carving. Selected by judges.
EGIL SORENSEN AWARD (Best of Show, Novice) one for wildlife carving
BOB NELSON HUNTER'S CHOICE AWARD selected from working decoys by the judges.
VIEWER'S CHOICE AWARD selected by ballot by the public.
DUTCH REISINGER AWARD awarded to the best non-wildlife carving.
CONTEST RULES:
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
This competition is open to all wildlife artists, and the focus of the competition is wildlife or nature in general. Not strictly limited to wildlife any longer, the photography and other art entries now include Maine coastal themes as well. All entries are limited to a maximum of 6 square feet, and all entries must be ready to hang–no exceptions.
The PBCAA reserves the right to refuse any entry deemed unsuitable and not in good taste. Entries must have been completed since last year's show. Artists may only enter pieces in one level. Pieces entered in other competitions are allowed, but those that have won Best of Show elsewhere may only be entered in the Master's Class. Absolute Judging will apply–see note on page 1.
GENERAL RULES
Subjects may be depicted with oils, acrylics, water colors, pen and ink, pencil, gouache, casein, charcoal, or pastel and should portray wildlife or other nature-related subjects (including Maine Coast themes). We are interested in realistic pieces, accurately represented. Photographic guidelines are the same as for other art entries, and must also be ready to hang.
CATEGORIES This portion of the competition will be subdivided by medium (watercolors, acrtylics, pyrography, etc.) and by level.
Awards will be a blue ribbon for first, a red ribbon for second, a yellow ribbon for third, and a white ribbon for honorable mention.
OTHER AWARDS
BEST OF SHOW Selected from all the Blue Ribbon winners by the judges.
VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARDS Selected by public ballot: one each for Art and Photography.
PHOTOGRAPHY Best of Show.
Here's a look at one of our judging forms...
Do you have other questions about our competition or about joining our club?
If so, contact:
Ellen Flewelling, Show Coordinator,
at either 207-338-5309 or by email
or Karen Simmons, PBCAA Treasurer
at 207-789-5363 or by email.
This web page is sponsored by:
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