Submission Expectations

• One submission per person for each theme (see disclaimer)

  • A private submission MUST be sent to the following email address bellasara.database.info@gmail.com to check if the artwork is within parameters of the theme 

  • There will be a confirmation that your submission was received which will include your 1 participation point

  • After each submission, an admin will respond with how many points each participant has

    • These will be updated after each submission, whether its the addition of a participation point or the usage of entry points for the PROMO THEMES

• Artwork must be submitted by the deadline

  • Late submissions are disqualified, no exceptions

• Please keep all artwork PG as none of the themes calls for graphic content

  • Emailing the Art Contest Admins any questions about themes is fine until the deadline for entries

• All submissions must fit within the parameters given by the theme

  • This includes all prompt "musts" for when they are given

  • Any that are found to not fit the theme during the private submission will be given the opportunity to make any alterations

• • By submitting your artwork, you agree to sharing limited printed copies of your work with hosts*

    • PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ GUIDELINES AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE

• When adding your name to the submission information, please provide a name that you are okay with having displayed publicly online

  • This is due to public artwork credit for the 3 finalists, including the theme winner

Point System

• Points are gathered and then used up for entry to the Promo Themes. These are gonna be harder themes with the prize being a rare promo card or other rare items. 

• There are 3 types of themes: 

  • Common Themes: Anybody can send in a submission. All participants gets 1 point, winner gets 2 additional points

  • Promo Base Theme: There will be 3 themes under this condition that will have a prize of a high value item or card! These contests cost 3 points to enter and will use up the points upon submission. All participants get 1 point upon entering and winner gets 3 additional points

  • Promo Finals: There will be ONLY 2 themes under this condition that will have a prize of a super rare promo! These contests cost 5 points to enter and will use up the points upon submission. All participants gets 1 point, winner gets NO ADDITIONAL POINTS

• Promo themes do not return. Non-promo themes have the possibility of returning in the future!

• Those who don't have enough points for a promo theme can still participate for fun.

  • If you don't have enough points to enter a promo theme, you can still participate for a point and for the fun of it! The only caveat is that you won't be eligible to win the theme prize. 

Public Voting Expectation

• 1 vote per person for every contest theme

  • There will be a link to a survey for Public Voting that will be made available once the submission deadline hits

  • There will be no names associated with the submissions as these are gonna be voted based on the artwork itself

    • Included information will be the name of the horse chosen / name of the piece, medium used, and any other information provided by the participant

    • In other words, please refrain from revealing which entry is yours on social media until public voting is concluded. It is expected that each artist is anonymous to their entry until public voting phase is over

  • Once public voting ends, the entry with the most votes will get an extra point as a reward

    • Previously, the top 3 entries with the most votes moved on to judge panel voting. Since we decided that this approach simulates an elimination style of voting, we found this to be unfair since individual artistic background and skill level seemed to be overlooked.

• Voting for oneself is an immediate disqualification

  • No exceptions. This is not meant to be a negative rule; we just want to encourage participants to be supportive of each other

• Please be fair and kind to each other while participating in the event

  • Any unkind or malicious behavior is a disqualifiable offense for any current or future contests

Judge Panel Voting

• There are a total of 4 categories which each of the judges will give the submissions independently of other judges and submissions

  • Each judge will look at all submissions one at a time

  • Each submission is judged based on 4 main categories (this includes the art piece & the additional information submitted with it)

    • Originality / Creativity

    • Complexity

    • Presentation / Visual Cohesiveness

    • Emotion

  • If necessary, each submission might also be judged based on 5 additional categories (this includes the art piece and the additional information submitted with it)

    • Artist's Comment

    • Balance

    • Craftsmanship

    • Interpretation

    • Overall Impression

  • Each category gets a 1-5 score and leaves the submission with a total score per judge

  • Once all participant entries receive a score per judge then all scores per submission from each judge are combined to create a grand total per entry

  • The entry with the highest score is the winner; although, 2nd and 3rd place will still be publicly highlighted as well

• Judges do not vote together; however, observations are discussed before results are finalized

  • This is to keep everything fair and unbiased alongside having 2 judges who are outside of the Bella Sara community and hobby

Winner Expectations

• Prize goes to 1st Place winner per theme

• Winner must be share their mailing name and address 

  • This will be in an email to the database admins for their physical prize

  • We are the ones mailing out the prizes, no name and address = no prize

• Winner will be responsible for shipping cost, which will include tracking

  • Each admin (Kayla and Nicole) has prizes that they will send out, so shipping will come from either of us

• Winner has 1 week to claim their prize 

  • Unless upcoming absence is communicated beforehand

  • If no communication, the next runner up will be contacted for the prize