Pastels are an ideal medium for painting portraits, whether it’s people or animals in a realistic or expressive style. Jackson’s Pastel Portrait Competition is now open for entries!
In this month’s competition, we are looking for portraits of people and animals in any genre of painting. Works must be completed in majority pastels of any kind, including soft pastels, hard pastels, panpastels and pastel pencils. Artwork must feature a portrait. This competition takes place entirely online, is free of charge and open to international artists. View our Terms and Conditions.
Competition Dates:
- Entries accepted: 2rd – 15th November 2017
- Shortlist announced: 17th November 2017
- Public voting: 17th – 23rd November 2017
- Winners announced: 24th November 2017
View all the current entries here!

Overall Winner (nominated by Jackson’s Judging Panel):

3 People’s Choice Awards (chosen by the most popular public vote):
13 Comments
do coloured pencils count?
I’m afraid they don’t unless their pastel pencils, sorry!
Just wondering if we get to see the artworks as they are
entered like before. Thanks!
Hello! Yes you can – I’ve added a link to this post. Thank you, I hope you enjoy looking through them all! 🙂
Hello – do compressed charcoals count
as acceptable media? Thank you.
Hello, I’m sorry but no, they don’t. It’s only pastel, I’m afraid!
Your portal keeps turning my picture landscape! I can’t get it to upload the correct way up.
Help please. Also the help email keeps coming back as undeliverable/no such address??!
Hello!
I’ve responded to the email you sent me about your submission problems – please may you tell me which email you were trying to contact me on that didn’t work?
Hello I am trying to enter the pastel portrait competition but
the awardsplatform.com is not responding however many
times I try. It is not able to recover web page
Hello Sarah, I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with our competition. Try the link below – it may be your internet connection, or we’ve had a couple of people having issues opening it in Microsoft Edge. Try opening it in Google Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer. If that doesn’t work drop me an email debbie@jacksonsart.co.uk
https://jacksonsart.awardsplatform.com
Hi Debbie
I’ve submitted my work now how do I make sure it can
be seen in the ‘people’s chice’ Section please
Many thanks
Michele
Hello Michele, to have you work seen in the People’s Choice you need to be put through to the shortlist by the Jackson’s Judging Panel. There will be a blog post today announcing which artists have made the shortlist.
Hi Debbie
Thank you for this – everything crossed then!!
Many thanks
Michele