Have you recently finished a piece of colored pencil artwork that you’re really pleased with? Now is your opportunity to share that work with the world in the CP Magic! Reader Gallery.
CP Magic! features a gallery of reader and subscriber art every month except for special issues.
Submissions are always open.
The CP Magic! Reader Gallery Rules
Artwork guidelines:
- Mostly colored pencil work. You may use other mediums along with your colored pencils. Watercolors, watercolor pencils, inks and markers, and pastels, etc. But make sure you submit artwork created mostly in colored pencil.
- Proof of Right to Use Reference Photograph. Your submission must be accompanied by the written permission of any photographer who is not also a family member. This includes both amateur and professional photographers. If you use images from royalty free websites or reference photo groups, you must include a screen shot showing the name of the website you chose, the photographer’s username, and the reference photo. (All of this information is usually available on the download page. Take a screen shot of the download page and include it with your submission). NO EXCEPTIONS. Artwork created from your own reference photos is still your best option.
- If your artwork is a portrait, please make sure you have the permission of the person in the portrait to have their likeness reproduced in a magazine format. This also includes portraits of pets and other subjects. Please get the permission of the pet owner to share your artwork before you submit it.
- NO CELEBRITY ART. Actor, musician, athlete, if the person is a recognizable, public person, chose another piece of artwork for the Reader Gallery.
- ONE entry per artist.
- Do not submit artwork that has been previously published in CP Magic! in any form (other than as a featured artist).
- Do not submit artwork based on tutorials, art challenges or other similar sources.
- No artwork based on AI-generated reference photos will be accepted. If you used AI to improve your reference photo prior to drawing, that is acceptable with limitations.
Artwork that does not meet these qualifications will not be considered.
Image Requirements
The most important thing to remember is that the digital image you submit will be the only image I see. So make sure your artwork is well-lighted, with no shadows or glares in the image when you photograph it.
Also make sure the colors are as close to your original artwork as possible.
Artwork must fill the Digital Image.
Images should also must not contain frames, mattes, or glass. Also avoid submitting images that show a background of any type.
The artwork should be “squared up”.
For the best results, make sure the artwork fills the digital image, like the painting on the right in the illustration below.
At least 200 dpi resolution.
Because CP Magic! magazine is also offered in print format, it is important that your image be saved at a minimum of 200 dpi before you send it. 300 dpi is ideal. Anything less than that will not print, so the artwork will not be considered for the Reader Gallery.
At least 2000 pixels on the longest side.
It’s always better to send a larger image. Images that are too small become blurry when enlarged.
Vertical images should be at least 2000 pixels in height.
Horizontal images should be at least 2,000 pixels in width.
| Need help resizing your images? Image2Go.com makes it easy. Just upload your image, follow the steps, and download your resized image. All for free! Click here to get started. |
REMEMBER: I cannot see your original artwork. The digital image that you provide is the only image I can see, so make sure it’s the absolute closest match to your original artwork that you can make it.
How to Enter
Prepare your image, then attach it to an email to readergallery@carrie-lewis.com
Include:
- The title of the work
- Your name as you want it to appear
- The size of the original artwork
- The source of your reference photo
- Paper or other support you used
- Pencils or other media
- A brief paragraph about why you chose the subject or how you drew it. Personal thoughts on the artwork you submit are also welcome. 100 words or less!
Additional CP Magic! Reader Gallery Information
Two to four submissions will be selected for publication in CP Magic!. The number of selections is based on the number of entries, the eligibility of the entries, and the number of pages available in each issue.
The entry deadline is 11:59 pm Central Time US on the 15th of this month. Don’t miss it. Send your entries today!
Join the CP Magic! News & Special Offers Group for all the latest news on new issues, new tutorials, calls to artists, and special offers from Carrie.
Do you have a question about submitting artwork? Ask me before submitting your work.
