Round for Round Art Battle

CALLING ALL BATTLERS! SUBMIT NOW! BATTLE LATER!

20 minutes. One canvas. Your chance to win.

CALL FOR ART

CAN YOU CREATE UNDER PRESSURE?

Round for Round Art Battle is a live speed-painting competition where artists compete to create original artwork under a strict time limit.

We're looking for up to 20 artists to compete in the inaugural Round for Round Art Battle.

The competition consists of two rounds:

Round 1 — Qualifying Round
Round 2 — Final Round

Artists have the opportunity to win cash, keep the artwork they create, and compete for the title of Round for Round Art Battle Champion.

HOW TO ENTER

Submission is FREE.

Artists may submit up to five (5) works for consideration.

SUBMISSION MUST INCLUDE:

Up to 5 examples of your artwork
Links to your artwork and/or portfolio
Links to videos or social media showing you painting live, if available

Artists will be selected based on their submitted work and ability to participate in a live speed-painting competition.

submit now

SUBMISSION TIMELINE

Early Access — September 18th
Artists who attended the September 5th Art Show receive early access to submit.

Public Submissions Open — September 21st
Submissions open to the general public.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE — OCTOBER 5TH OR EARLIER

Submissions will remain open until October 5th at 11:59 PM, or until 20 qualified artists have been selected.

Once we have received enough qualified submissions to fill all 20 spots, submissions may close early.

We encourage artists to submit early. Do not wait until the deadline to apply.

Artist Selection & Group Assignment
Once submissions close, selected artists will be notified and randomly assigned to Group 1 or Group 2.

ROUND 1 — QUALIFYING ROUND/BATTLE DATE

Saturday, October 24th

Group 1: 7:00–8:00 PM
Group 2: 8:30–9:30 PM

Artists will be randomly assigned to Group 1 or Group 2 after submissions close. Artists must be available for the full 7:00–9:30 PM competition window and may not request a specific group. The number of artists in each group will depend on the total number of artists selected. If fewer artists are selected, the event may be held as one qualifying group.

THE BATTLE

5 MINUTES — PREPARE

Artists will have five minutes to prepare their workspace and materials.

During this time, artists may:

Set up their paints and supplies
Arrange brushes and tools
Prepare their palette
Prepare reference materials
Plan their composition
Make other preparations needed before painting begins

No painting or pre-drawing on the canvas is permitted during the preparation period.

The canvas will be provided by the event and must remain blank until the painting clock starts.

20 MINUTES — PAINT

Artists will have exactly 20 minutes to create an original artwork.

Artists may use references and are free to choose their subject.

When time expires, artists must immediately stop working.

Continuing to work after the official time limit will result in automatic disqualification.

WHAT CAN I CREATE WITH?

Artists are not limited to traditional paint.

Permitted materials may include:

Acrylic paint
Oil paint
Watercolor
Gouache
Colored pencils
Markers
Charcoal
Pencil/graphite
Ink
Other approved traditional art materials

Artists are encouraged to use fast-drying materials, especially for wet mediums.

DRYING REQUIREMENT

Artwork should be reasonably dry by the end of the 20-minute painting period.

Artwork that is excessively wet, runny, or easily smears when handled may receive a judging penalty.

Fast-drying materials such as acrylic paint, fast-drying markers, and fast-drying ink are recommended.

Low-odor or odorless materials are strongly recommended.

REFERENCES & PREPARATION

Artists may use reference images during the competition. References may be brought by the artist.

However:

Artists may not pre-draw the canvas.
Artists may not begin painting before the official start.
Artists may prepare ideas and references before the battle.
Taping or masking the canvas may begin only after the painting clock starts.

The provided canvas is intended to ensure that every artist begins with a blank surface.

JUDGING

The Judge will evaluate each completed artwork based on factors including:

Creativity
Originality
Composition
Technical execution
Use of materials
Overall visual impact
Ability to create under pressure and within the time limit

The artwork will be judged as it exists when time expires. An unfinished artwork can still be judged and can still win.

TIEBREAKERS

If a tie occurs in any judging decision, the Judge and Editors will vote to determine the winner.

HOW TO ADVANCE

Each qualifying group will send three artists to the Final Round.

There are three ways to advance:

1. JUDGE'S PICK

One artist from each qualifying group will be selected by the Judge immediately following the battle.

The Judge's Pick will:

Advance directly to the Final Round
Receive $50 cash

2. EDITOR'S PICK

One artist from each qualifying group will be selected by the Editors.

Editors' Picks will be announced on:

Monday, October 26th

3. AUDIENCE VOTE

One artist from each qualifying group will advance through public voting.

Voting: October 26th–30th

Voting will take place directly on the Round for Round Art Battle website.

One vote per person.

Duplicate, fraudulent, or suspicious votes may be removed at the discretion of the event organizers.

The artist receiving the highest number of valid votes in each group will advance to the Final Round.

IF THERE IS ONLY ONE QUALIFYING GROUP

If only one qualifying group is held, six artists will advance to the Final Round:

1 Judge's Pick
2 Editors' Picks
3 Audience Vote winners

The Judge's Pick will receive $50 cash.

ROUND 2 — THE FINAL DECEMBER 12

The Final Round will take place during:

THE FUNK BEFORE CHRISTMAS ART SHOW

Finalists will compete live for the title of:

ROUND FOR ROUND ART BATTLE CHAMPION

5 MINUTES — PREPARE

Finalists will have five minutes to prepare their workspace and materials.

15 MINUTES — PAINT

Finalists will have exactly 15 minutes to create their final artwork.

When time expires, artists must immediately stop working.

Continuing to work after the official time limit will result in automatic disqualification.

CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE

FINAL WINNER — $150 CASH

The winner of the Final Round will receive $150 cash.

A qualifying-round Judge's Pick who also wins the Final can earn:

UP TO $200 CASH

Artists keep the artwork they create.

CANVAS & EASEL

To keep the competition fair, Round for Round Art Battle provides the canvas and easel for every artist.

Each artist will receive a:

16 × 20-INCH CANVAS

Artists may use either:

Portrait — 16 × 20 inches
Landscape — 20 × 16 inches

Artists may not bring their own canvas or easel.

WHAT ARTISTS MUST BRING

Artists are responsible for bringing their own approved materials and supplies.

This may include:

Paint
Brushes
Palette
Colored pencils
Markers
Charcoal
Pencil/graphite
Watercolor
Ink
Other permitted art materials

Artists should arrive fully prepared with everything they need to compete within the time limit.

PROHIBITED MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT

For safety, fairness, and the integrity of the competition, the following are not permitted:

Spray paint
Airbrushes
Electric painting equipment
Power tools
Fume-producing products
Unsafe materials or equipment

All materials and equipment are subject to approval by event organizers.

ARTWORK OWNERSHIP

Artists keep the artwork they create.

Artists may take their artwork home after the competition.

First name

Last name

Stage Name

Email (Provide accurate information; we will contact you with important event information.)

Phone (Provide accurate information; we will contact you with important event information.)

Social Media Handle (If you want to be promoted submit)

website/portfolio

Links to you painting live

Are you 18 years or older?

Yes

Do you agree to be photographed and/or recorded on video during the event? Photos and videos may be used for voting and promotional purposes related to the Round for Round Art Battle.

Yes

Have you read and reviewed the rules and judging criteria for the Round for Round Art Battle? Please read them carefully before submitting. Failure to follow the rules may result in penalties or disqualification.

Yes

Upload 5 images or less

SUBMIT NOW

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is there a theme?

No. Artists are free to choose what they want to create.

Can I use a reference image?

Yes. Artists may use reference images during the competition. References may be brought by the artist.

Can I prepare my idea before the competition?

Yes. Artists may plan their composition and prepare reference materials beforehand.

However, the canvas must remain blank until the official painting time begins.

Can I sketch on my canvas during the 5-minute preparation period?

No. No pre-drawing or painting is permitted on the canvas before the painting clock starts.

Can I use something besides paint?

Yes. Watercolor, colored pencils, markers, charcoal, pencil/graphite, ink, and other approved traditional art materials are permitted.

Can I tape or mask my canvas?

Yes, but only after the 20-minute painting clock begins.

What type of paint should I use?

Artists may use different types of paint, but fast-drying materials are recommended. Acrylic is especially recommended because it dries quickly.

What happens if my painting is still wet when time expires?

Your artwork can still be judged. However, artwork that is excessively wet, runny, or easily smears when handled may receive a judging penalty.

What happens if I don't finish my painting?

Your artwork will still be judged. An unfinished painting can still win.

Can I bring my own canvas or easel?

No. The event provides a 16 × 20-inch canvas and easel for every artist.

Can I choose which qualifying group I compete in?

No. Artists will be randomly assigned to a group after submissions close.

Do I have to be available for both groups?

Yes. Artists must be available from 7:00–9:30 PM on October 24th. You cannot request a specific group.

What happens if I can't attend?

If you cannot attend your assigned qualifying battle, you will not be able to compete.

How does the audience voting work?

Voting will take place on the Round for Round Art Battle website from October 26th through October 30th.

One vote is allowed per person.

Duplicate, fraudulent, or suspicious votes may be removed at the discretion of the event organizers.

Do I need to create an account to vote?

No. Voters will not be required to become members of the website to vote.

What happens if there is a tie?

The Judge and Editors will vote to break the tie.

When will the Editors' Picks be announced?

Editors' Picks will be announced on Monday, October 26th.

When will the Audience Vote winners be announced?

Voting closes October 30th. The winners will be announced after the votes have been reviewed and verified.

What happens to my artwork after the competition?

You keep it. Artists retain ownership of the artwork they create and may take it home after the competition.

Will the event photograph or record me?

Yes. By participating, artists agree to be photographed and/or video recorded during the event. Photos and video may be used for event promotion, documentation, and future Round for Round Art Battle marketing.

What happens if something goes wrong during the battle?

If an unexpected event, equipment failure, or safety issue occurs, event organizers may pause, restart, or modify the battle as necessary. The organizers' decision will be final.

If an artist's artwork or workspace is accidentally damaged by another participant or an event-related issue, organizers will determine the appropriate resolution.