How It Works: I’ll complete 10 paintings in 2025 based on ten of your winning photo entries.
How to enter:
Honestly, it’s pretty simple: send me photos of places that matter to you, that you’d like to see me paint. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page, or email your selection to alliharveyart at gmail dot com with the subject line “Photo Contest Entry” by January 31, 2025. Two photos entries per person; five per organization/company. For each photo, include:
- Your Name/Name of Person Entering
- General location of the photo reference
- (optional) 1-2 lines about what you love about this place, and
- (optional) 1-2 lines describing a specific memory you have from there.
By sending me your selection(s) you are giving me permission to share the reference photo as well as the information you’ve shared with me. Please tell me if there is anything you do NOT want me to share. (Calendar fans: YES this means that if your pic is selected, the painting version will almost certainly end up in the 2026 calendar!)
This painting I’m working on could be based on your photo reference. I can’t wait to see what you send me!
Want more info? Read on!
Why am I doing this?:
I am a full time artist living in my Airstream-trailer-turned-mobile-studio, often unhitched in the places I most love to spend time and paint outside. I create vivid landscape art as a way to deepen my own sense of awe and share that with you. But going into 2025, I feel an urgent need to create more purpose and meaning when it comes to my art and what it does in the world. My goal is to create paintings that reflect your deep sense of connection to place, and share that to help (literally) ground myself and you in something beautiful, meaningful, and solid that can sustain us through difficult times. It is also my hope that my art is used to advocate for protection of places that we are likely to see threatened by the consumptive and extractive focus of the Trump administration and industry. I am looking to partner with organizations and mission-aligned businesses working for human rights and conservation. More about my values here.
Why participate?:
- For individual entries: our entry helps connect you, me, and others with a sense of awe and grounding during a time I believe it’s particularly needed. 10% of all proceeds generated from this contest overall will be donated to organizations aligned with Alli Harvey Art values (ie, organizations working for human rights and conservation). If your entry is selected, you have the right of first refusal to purchase the original piece at a discounted rate.
- For nonprofit organizations/companies: if your entry (or more than one) is selected, you get free and unlimited licensing of the image of the completed artwork based on the image(s). You also have the right of first refusal to purchase the original piece(s). Alli Harvey Art will advertise participating companies/nonprofits in promotion through email (with an average 70% open rate) and social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky. 10% of all proceeds will be donated to nonprofit organizations aligning with Alli Harvey Art values, including and especially any nonprofits participating (regardless of whether your entry is selected).
How will Alli Harvey Art determine winners?:
Alli Harvey Art is…well, it’s me! Alli Harvey. So there’s no secret cabal of people around a table scrutinizing your entries. But I am a firm believer in process and transparency, especially since you’ll be putting yourself out there! It’s an art of choosing photo references, not a science, but below are some of the criteria that I’ll use while determining selections:
- Inspires awe
- Nature-focused
- Special to someone(s)
- Compelling lighting, color, and/or texture
- Not heavily/visibly edited
- A painting would do the image greater justice than the snapshot
- Overall: the selection of twelve represent different places and compliment each other, both substantively (ie, what they represent/why they are awe inspiring/important) and visually
- Bonus: a small manmade feature or silhouette for a tie between humans and place as well as a sense of scale
A participating partner might use their own decision criteria and pass on the qualifying photograph(s) to Alli Harvey Art. For instance, an organization working to promote/protect certain landscapes might limit entries to select photo references.
Thank you, as always, for being on this – as they say – journey with me. I am excited about taking on this project, particularly with the help and input of many. It all goes back to finding more ways to be connected to each other and the world we live in, and I am appreciative that together we make that possible. To creating meaning, purpose, and art in the new year!
Get started by emailing me with your two photo references at alliharveyart at gmail dot com, or by filling out the form below. If you fill out the form, I’ll get an automated email from you indicating that you’re interested in participating. Then I’ll follow up.
PS – If, looking through your photos, you decide you for-sure want me to paint something for you, I’m open for commissions this year. It’s easier than you might think – and fun! Learn more and get started here.