Call Description

Rockwall Art League (RAL) is pleased to announce our 25th Annual Juried Fine Art Show and Sale. This North Texas event welcomes artists from a tri-state region and is open to residents of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana 18 years or older. RAL endeavors to provide a platform for both the experienced and emerging artist. This show provides artists the opportunity to be seen by art lovers, collectors, and business representatives from across the DFW metroplex. 

2025 Show Calendar of Events

September 9,  Tuesday Art Arrival Deadline for Shipping

September 11, Thursday, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, take in for entries at Cavender Nissan.

September 12 – 14 Show Exhibit on Display.

Judging takes place the morning of September 12 before the show opens.

Show Times:          Friday, September 12                   2:00 PM – 8:00 PM

                                  *Artists Reception                     6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

                               Saturday, September 13              10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

                                  *Coffee Bar                               3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

                               Sunday, September 14                12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

                                  *Pick up artwork                        4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Awards: Up to $5000 in Prize Monies

Best in Show $1000

1st  Place in each category $300

2nd Place in each category $150

Cavender Host Award $150

Mayor’s Award $150

People’s Choice $100 Gift Certificate

Honorable Mention – Ribbon

Categories:

Oil

Watercolor

Acrylic

Mixed Media

Mosaic

Drawing / Digital Art

Photography

Sculpture

*There must be 6 participating artists for a category to make.

Category Notes:

No jewelry for security reasons.

No installation art.

No Video or audio enhancements.

Artworks must be entirely the work of the entrant, executed without the supervision of an instructor.

There must be a minimum of 6 artists entered in a category for the category to be represented in the show.

Drawing represents works created using chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencils, wax crayon or other forms of dry media and from fluid mediums limited to inks and washes applied by pen or brush.

Digital Art includes any original work where the original image was executed by the artist using a computer. Digital art or digital collage must be generated without the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Photography includes original photography and enhanced photographs. Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image must have been processed by that artist or per that artist’s direct supervision. 

2025 Key Dates

August 4 - Call for Artist closes 11:59 PM Mountain Time. No late entries will be accepted.

August 15 - Acceptance and Rejection Notifications will be emailed.

September 9, Tuesday, Art Arrival Deadline for shipping.

September 11, Thursday, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, take in for entries at Cavender Nissan, 1700 I-30, Rockwall, TX 75087.

September 12 – 14 Show Exhibit on Display. Judging takes place the morning of September 12th before the show opens.

September 12, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Artist Reception and Awards Ceremony

September 14 - Sunday 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Pick up artwork and art sales.

October 1 - Checks Issued for sold Art Works.

Jury and Judge

This is a juried entry event. Our 3-person jury panel is comprised of artists, art reviewers or other art professionals. We use a two-step process. The first step is blind and based on a simple yes/no method. Step two is curated using several factors including but not limited to size of artwork, category strength, number of accepted entries. The number of works in each category is not predetermined. All panel decisions are final.

Meet the Judge:

Kay Byfield is an accomplished watercolor painter. She earned her MFA at Vermont College of Norwich University and was a college professor for 10 years. She taught classes in oil painting, darkroom photography, drawing, design, watercolor, art history and art appreciation. She has been exhibiting her work for 30 years, is a signature member of the Southwestern watercolor Society, and currently serves as an instructor at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas.

The exhibit will be judged the morning of September 12th prior to show opening. The award selections are based on mastery of design, technique, conceptual quality and creativity. Best in Show and all Category selections will be determined by the judge. The judge’s decisions are final. Artists may not qualify for more than one award per category but may win awards in multiple categories.

Application Requirements

Eligibility, Requirements, and Restrictions

Submitted works must be original and created after January 1, 2023.  “Original” means that if a painting is based on photos, the photos were taken by the artist, or the artist has written permission from the photographer to use the photos. Compositions based on published material or other artists’ work are NOT considered original and are not eligible. Work completed in a workshop or class is not eligible.

All entries must be family friendly. Artwork which includes nudes, conspicuously religious, drug references or blatant political statements will not be accepted into this show. 

Works must not have been displayed at previous Annual Rockwall Art League Fine Art Shows. Works shown at other RAL exhibitions are eligible.

Artwork must be labeled on the back with name, title, size and medium prior to dropping off or shipping artwork. Items not for sale must be marked NFS. Artwork must remain on exhibit for the entire show. By entering this show, the artist gives RAL permission to display images for publicity or promotion. 

Two-dimensional works must be suitably prepared for hanging and no larger than 48” in width and 48” in height, including frame, and must weigh 50 lbs. or less. Artwork not in compliance with size/weight restrictions will not be accepted. All entries must be dry, framed, or gallery wrapped, ready to hang and properly wired with wire taut at the upper fourth of the frame. No visible wire and no saw tooth hangers accepted for hanging. Photography printed on metal is frame optional but must comply with hanging standards. Gallery wrapped or cradled artwork with finished edges must be a minimum of 1” deep.  Less than 1” deep must be framed.  Two-dimensional works should not exceed 3" in depth.

Three-dimensional works must not exceed 40” in width or depth, nor 36" in height plus pedestal. Free standing works that do not require a pedestal must conform to a 40" width and depth and a maximum height of 72" (6 feet). Standard pedestal size of 12.5” x 12.5” may be provided.   Artists should provide their own pedestal if sculpture requires something larger, will not comply with the height limit on the pedestal provided, or will not rest safely on the pedestal provided.  This is an indoor show and no sculpture requiring special apparatus to move will be accepted. Wheeled dollies or carts are acceptable, but sculpture weight should not be more than 100 pounds. Three-dimensional works intended to hang must have D-Rings attached and are limited to 50 lbs. Sculpture must be original, created by the artist of original design or cast from molds created by the artist.  No third party created ceramic green ware, plates; other objects painted or decorated by the artist are considered original sculptures.  Hand thrown pottery or ceramics by the artist are acceptable.  Some items may fit into other categories depending on medium used.

All sales and sales tax will be handled by RAL.  A 20% commission to RAL will be deducted from all sales.  Checks to artists for sold artwork will be sent out no later than October 1, 2025. (There were $8400+ in sales made last year)

Liability- Artists should carry their own insurance. Reasonable care will be taken with all artwork. Rockwall Art League, its officers or volunteers and/or other sponsoring agencies will not be responsible for the loss, theft, breakage or damage of any artwork submitted.

Hand Delivery and Pickup/Return - Artist will be responsible for art delivery and pickup at the times and dates specified on the schedule.  Late deliveries cannot be accepted. We do not have storage facilities and art must be picked up as scheduled. If you are personally unable to pick up in the time allotted but will send a proxy RAL will need specific written communication regarding to whom the artwork may be released. RAL is not responsible for any piece picked up by a proxy.  Art unclaimed at pick up will become property of RAL and be donated to a local organization for charitable purpose.

Shipping for this event. - Detailed shipping instructions will be sent with Notification of Acceptance in an email message. Artists are responsible for all shipping/delivery costs (and insurance) both to and from the event. *Important: Artists who ship their work must provide a prepaid return UPS or FedEx shipping label enclosed in the box. We will not accept credit cards or checks for return shipping. Please do not submit an Airbill form – or any other shipping form – with a credit card number. Send a UPS, FEDEX, or USPS return prepaid shipping label that includes all appropriate informational BAR CODES. Do not provide a link. Artwork without an enclosed prepaid return shipping label will be considered abandoned and will NOT be returned. (It will be donated to a local organization for charitable purposes.) Artwork must be shipped in a sturdy reusable carton.

Insurance - Artists are responsible to independently insure their own work.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all artists residing in Texas and Oklahoma and Louisiana, age 18 and older.     

Submitted works must be original and created after January 1, 2023.  “Original” means that if a painting is based on photos, the photos were taken by the artist, or the artist has written permission from the photographer to use the photos. Compositions based on published material or other artists’ work are NOT considered original and are not eligible. Work completed in a workshop or class is not eligible.