Each year the Society of Illustrators hosts a student scholarship competition and it is always enjoyable to see the results. Visit the SoI website for a sneak peak at the artists today who might very well be movers and shakers tomorrow.
[Art above: “The Haunted Hallway” by Samantha Schechter, a student at The University of the Arts. Instructor: Tim O’Brien.]
I got into that show in 06. So did a few other kids from my class. I remember one girl got a this terrible painting of a pin up girl in there. My teacher was critiquing her painting and pointing out areas with a pen. The pen exploded and dripped ink splatters all over it. She entered it in anyway, and it got in. It was one of the most ridiculous things i'd ever seen. From that point on I realize that you just have to enter every piece you own if you plan on getting work into competitions. it doesn't matter how crappy you think it is, because some idiot judge out there may just love it.
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The judges at the Society are anything, but idiots. Sometimes a sub-par piece will sneak in simply because it's a breath of fresh air. A jury of 25 judges looks at over 8000 images for that show. After looking at the zillionth “angst-ridden self portrait of the artist screaming”, it's nice to see something, anything, that's different.
I suspect the piece wasn't as terrible as you may remember. But even if it was, 'naive' looking art seems to be a trend in editorial illustration lately. It's likely that the piece just struck a cord, whether it was through luck or skill doesn't matter.
Dan, some of us may just be idiots.
The above image suggests that the student needs to study anatomy and life-drawing a little more.