Alaska Fall Conference Juried Art Show & Portfolio Showcase

The Juried Art Show is open to anyone in the state of Alaska, not just attendees of the conference, and it is HUGE opportunity for Alaskan illustrators to get their work in front of editors, agents, and authors looking for an illustrator. 

Laurent Linn, Art Director at Simon & Schuster will be judging Best in Show. The Best in Show winner and the People’s Choice Award winner (where all conference attendees get a chance to vote as well) receive recognition at the conference and a Visa gift card to buy art supplies wherever you would like ($50 for Best in Show; $25 for People’s Choice)!

Additionally, there will be about 140 people at the conference, some who will be self-publishing and need illustrators. We often get questions from authors on how to find illustrators. THIS IS A PLACE THEY CAN FIND YOU! Previous entrants have been commissioned to illustrate a picture book.

You must register to enter and there is a $15 fee to do so. If you are outside the Anchorage-MatSu-Valley-Girdwood area, and are a SCBWI member, you can even send us your physical portfolio or contest entry and we will enter it for you (see details below). If you are not a SCBWI member, you can still enter, but you must drop it off yourself (details below).

We would appreciate it if you would let us know by September 15th so we know how many tables we will need. We really hope you are going to show your work. We'd hate for you to miss out.

Prompt: “Well, maybe it started that way. As a dream, but doesn’t everything?”

Here’s what you need to do: Create 1 piece inspired by the prompt. Submit only your BEST work and stay true to yourself!

CRITERIA: The name of the game is CHILDREN’S BOOKS. This is not a fine art show. Our select judges will be looking for dynamic pieces that also fit into the realm of books for young readers. Consider:

   CRAFT- be the master of your medium

   IMPACT- give us the "Wow!" factor

   CONCEPT- fresh, unique takes on universal themes

   MARKETABILITY- suitable for the marketplace

   NARRATION- visual storytelling

   EMOTION- evoking reader response

Who can enter? Anyone! Members or non-members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, as long as you can drop off your artwork (only SCBWI members can mail their artwork in).

What can you enter? ONLY 1 piece inspired by this year’s prompt. Art must be 11” x 17” horizontal or vertical format, mounted on black foamcore with a 2-inch border (so artwork should really be 15” x 21”). No mats, no frames, and NO originals. Please include command strips to hang on a wall. Label the back of your foamcore with your name and contact cell number. Label the front with a 3” x 1” sticker with your first and last name (for voting purposes) and the title of your piece (if you have one).

PROMO CARDS: If you would like to include some promo or business cards for professionals to take away with them, please include a small baggie with no more than 100 promotional cards. Leave the bag for us to reuse for your card storage at the end of the day. Cards must be no larger than 5” x 7” (horizontal or vertical).

PORTFOLIO: IF you are registered for the conference, you may also submit ONE portfolio for display for free (NO original art!). There is no contest for Portfolios but it is another great opportunity to get your work in front of an Art Director and others.. Details on what to submit will be on the website. You will still need to register for this as well.

When and where do you drop it off? 

Please drop off your artwork and portfolio at the Professional Studies Building near the Wendy Williamson Theater (at UAA), Anchorage, on Friday, October 4th, 2024, as pre-arranged with Jena Lasley. Please email Jena Lasley to arrange drop off and for phone number to text.

Upon arrival, please text Jena to let her know you’re in the foyer and she will come get it from you (as she will be running around helping with the conference).

If you are mailing your artwork in, email Jena Lasley at alaska-ic@scbwi.org foran address. You will need to provide a self-addressed and stamped envelope (SASE) or box for the return postage as well. (ONLY SCBWI members can mail their work in and it must be postmarked by September 15th at the latest.)

PICK UP: Artwork will be available for pick up between 4:00pm and 4:30pm on Saturday. (Or it will be mailed back to you if you mailed it in and sent in a SASE.)

Artwork will be displayed all day Saturday at the conference. We do not accept responsibility for artwork, lost or damaged, during the weekend.

WINNERS: Two categories: Best in Show and People’s Choice. (Best in Show wins a $50 visa gift card; and People’s Choice wins a $25 visa gift card.)

QUESTIONS: Contact Jena Lasley: alaska-ic@scbwi.org