Key dates:
Entry period:
1 March to midnight Sunday 14 June 2026
People’s Choice online voting period
(one vote per person):
Via PSA website, 7.00 am Saturday 20 June to 7.00 pm Thursday 9 July
Online awards announced:
Via Zoom meeting 10.00 am Saturday 11 July
Note: All times and dates are Queensland time (Australian Eastern Standard Time – AEST). Queensland does not observe daylight saving time.
Entry Categories
Categories:
People: Portrait or Figures
Animals: Domestic animals or Wildlife
Scapes: Landscape, Waterscape, or Cityscape
Still Life: Arrangement of inanimate objects, floral/foliage, or interiors
Abstract: Non-representational art utilising shapes, colours and forms
Limit of two (2) paintings in each category.
Conditions for Entry
Membership Requirement:
PSA members only.
Medium:
Works must be at least 75% soft pastel on the surface.
Originality:
All pieces must be original, created since 1 March 2024, and comply with the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth)
Fees & Submissions
Earlybird Pricing:
$20 per painting until midnight Thursday 14 May
Standard Pricing:
$25 per painting from 15 May 2026 to midnight Sunday 14 June
Entry limits:
Limit of two paintings per category – maximum of 10.
Prizes & Judging
Judging is based on uploaded images. Judges’ decisions are final.
All entries are judged anonymously and signatures on artwork are masked electronically.
A ZOOM meeting to announce the Online prize winners will be scheduled for 11 July at 10.00am AEST.
Prize money and sale payments will be made by direct deposit (or credit card/PayPal A/c for international artists) within one month of exhibition closure. PSA is not registered for GST.
Softpastels.com.au Best in Show Award
$1,000 in art product (Awarded before Category judging. The winning entry is excluded from Category Awards.)
Category Awards:
People:
1st prize: $500
2nd prize: $300
3rd prize: $100
Animals:
1st prize: $500
2nd prize: $300
3rd prize: $100
Scapes:
1st prize: $500
2nd prize: $300
3rd prize: $100
Still Life:
1st Prize: $500
2nd prize: $300
3rd prize: $100
Abstract:
1st Prize: $500
2nd prize: $300
3rd prize: $100
Encouragement Award:
You are eligible for the $100 Encouragement Award if you have never won a first prize for a pastel artwork in any art competition, including the PSA biannual Members’ Zoom Set Subject competitions, and you opt to be considered for this award on the entry form. You are required to nominate one of your Category entries to be in the running for this award in addition to it being in the Category judging.
Sales & Commission
Online entries are expected to be offered for sale; however, works marked Not for Sale (NFS) will be accepted.
The PSA will retain a 20% commission on any Online sales.