Cowgirl Gathering: Artist Shootout

Overview

The Cowgirl Gathering Artist Shootout is a winner-take-all online competition for artists working in painting and drawing media. Works should represent western genres including landscapes, wildlife, horses, cattle, and ranch scenes.

Key dates

• Call Open: May 1 - July 31, 2026 (closes July 31 at 11:59 PM Central)
• Gallery of top 15 artists opens: September 1, 2026
• Top 5 works announced: November 12, 2026
• Grand Champion announced: November 16, 2026

Eligibility

International artists ages 18+ working in painting and drawing media. Original work only; works referencing another artist's photographs allowed with express written permission. No AI-generated work in any form.

Media & size

• Accepted media: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, Graphite, Colored Pencil, Oil Pastel, Soft Pastel, and other 2-D painting and drawing media
• No size restrictions

Submission requirements

• Up to 3 works per artist
• One tightly-cropped image of each work (full image, no frame, glass, or background)
• Clear, sharp, well-lit images
• JPG files, 10 MB or less
• Original work only; works created from referenced photographs allowed with photographer's permission
• No AI-generated work in any form

Fees

• $25 for each entry, up to 3 entries
• CGA Members get discount code from Member Space

Awards

This is a winner-take-all competition. The Grand Champion receives: full-page advertisement in Chrome magazine (valued at $1,000), featured social spotlight across The Cowgirl Gathering and Cowgirl Artists of America, feature story on APHA.com and Cowgirl Artists of America platforms, press release on The Cowgirl Gathering website, custom leather portfolio with The Cowgirl Gathering logo (valued at $250), leather tote (valued at $350), and Grand Champion buckle (valued at $250). The top 15 finalists will have opportunities for live painting demonstrations in Fort Worth.

How to enter

Submit up to 3 original works created in accepted 2-D painting and drawing media. The top 15 scoring artists will be selected through jury process, with each artist's highest-scoring piece advancing to the official Shootout Competition. Jury consists of a selection artist, art industry leaders, and guest juror Dr. Emily Burns, Director of the Charles M. Russell Center for the Study of Art of the American West.