Welcome to the Studio SLEW Summer Invitational!

This is a global, 18+ years old, open call for traditional painters to showcase their craft, compete for professional art grants, and support the mission of our 501(c)(3) nonprofit. 100% of the proceeds from this event will fund our nonprofit mission to provide affordable fine art education, resources, and opportunities to artists in New York City and beyond.

1. The Grants (Prize Pool: $7,500)

• 1st Place: $2,750 Art Grant 

• 2nd Place: $1,750 Art Grant 

• 3rd Place: $1,250 Art Grant 

• People’s Choice: $1,000 Art Grant

• Honorable Mentions (3x): $250 Art Grant 

2. The Prompt: "The Mundane Ritual"

Capture a single human figure engaged in an everyday, or habit-based activity. We are looking for you to find the monumental in the ordinary.

Focus: A sole primary figure engaged in an everyday “mundane” task. For artists to interpret. (multiple background figures are permitted to establish the environment but the focal point should be on one select figure).

• Examples: Lacing up shoes, preparing a meal, commuting to work, or the stillness of a morning coffee ritual.

3. Medium Policy: Traditional Painting Only

Zero-Tolerance Anti-AI Policy: We do not accept AI-generated artwork or the use of AI tools for reference material.

• Accepted Media: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, Tempera, Casein, and Spray Paint.

• Note: Digital paintings and charcoal/graphite/ink drawings are not eligible for this competition. This is a dedicated painting invitational.

• Minimum size Requirement: 11×14 inches (28cm x 35cm) - No Maximum size requirement.

4. How to Submit

Step 1: Secure Your Entry

Purchase your $35 Submission Fee

Step 2: The Verification Gate

Upon checkout, you will receive an Order Confirmation Email. You must save your unique Order Number. You will need it for the official submission form.

Step 3: Prepare Your Evidence (Proof of Work)

To protect the integrity of the community from AI and fake submissions, we require four (4) specific images for a valid entry:

1. Final Painting: A high-resolution, well-lit photo of the finished work.

2. Reference Material: The original photo or life-study used for the piece.

3. Process Shot A: An early-stage photo of the painting.

4. Process Shot B: A mid-stage photo of the painting.

Step 4: Submit via the Official Form

Click the link inside your confirmation email to fill out the Official Submission Form.

The form will also include questions pertaining to your submitted artwork, including the dimensions, title, and medium used, as well as standard checkbox agreements.

5. Choosing the Winners

Our panel of five artists will take a week to review all of the submissions to get down to our top 20 "finalists." These finalists will be published here on the Studio SLEW website and posted on Instagram 72 hours before the livestream. We will have a "People’s Choice" category where everyone will be able to vote for one of the 20 finalists for a chance to win the $1,000 "People’s Choice" art grant. The finalists will be featured during our livestream on August 23rd, where the panelists will talk about all 20 paintings and share the winners.

The Scoring Rubric (40-Point System)

Our five-person jury will score the Top 20 finalists using the following criteria, and an average of those five scores will solidify the winners. This will all be on display during the livestream.

• Technical Execution (15 Pts): Mastery of fundamentals (drawing, values, color, and paint application).

• Visual Architecture (15 Pts): Visual mechanics; how shapes and imagery work together as a cohesive unit.

• Narrative & Ambition (5 Pts): Originality of the interpretation and the ambitious labor behind the work.

• Overall Impact (5 Pts): The "stop-and-stare" quality and visceral emotional response.

6. Important Dates

• Submissions Close: August 12, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)

• Top 20 Finalists Published: August 20, 2026

• Grand Finale Livestream: August 23, 2026 (1:00 PM EST)

7. The Fine Print (Legal & Tax)

• Eligibility: Artists must be 18 years or older. Open to anyone worldwide.

• Tax Responsibility: Grant recipients are solely responsible for any and all applicable local, state, and federal taxes in the US and abroad.

• Required Documentation: Per IRS regulations, winners of grants exceeding $600 must provide a completed W-9 (US Residents) or W-8BEN (International Residents) before funds can be disbursed.

• Non-Refundable: Submission fees are treated as donations to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and are non-refundable.

• Verification: Studio SLEW reserves the right to use forensic AI-detection tools. Any suspicion of digital manipulation or AI involvement will result in immediate disqualification without a refund.

• Usage Rights: The artist retains 100% ownership of the work. By submitting, you grant Studio SLEW a non-exclusive license to use the imagery for promotional purposes related to the Nonprofit mission.