Deadline nears for SOBA 27th Annual Judged Show

Submission deadline: Friday, June 25, 2021, 11 a.m. ET


Lowcountry artists are invited to submit their works of art for The Society of Bluffton Artists’ (SOBA) 27th Annual Judged Show.

(Ed. note: This is an updated version of this previous post. New deadline; same call.)

Winners will be awarded first, second and third place cash awards in the following categories:

  • acrylic,
  • mixed media,
  • oil,
  • pastel,
  • photography,
  • watercolor,
  • or 3D.

Registration is required by completing a registration form available at the gallery, located at 6 Church St. in Old Town Bluffton, or by registering online at http://bit.ly/27thjudgedshow.

The cost to register is $25 for SOBA members and $45 for non SOBA members. The deadline for dropping off your art is from 9-11 a.m. June 25 at the Center for Creative Arts, located next door to the SOBA gallery at 8 Church Street. No entries will be accepted after 11 a.m.

Click here to read the registration and a full list of rules.

The Judged Show exhibit will be on display from July 5 to Aug. 1 at the SOBA gallery. An awards ceremony will take place from 5-7 p.m. July 7. These events are free to attend and open to the public.

The judge for the show is David Rankin. Rankin’s award-winning watercolors are in public and private art collections in the U.S., India, and China, have been featured in more than 150 museum exhibitions, and are included in the North Light’s series, Splash: The Best of Watercolor, and Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing, and in numerous art magazines.

Rankin is offering a “Watercolor Dazzle” demonstration at 2 p.m. July 3 at the Center for Creative Arts. The demo is free for SOBA members and $10 for non-members. Immediate and advanced painters also might like to take advantage of Rankin’s transparent watercolor workshop called “Painting Lowcountry” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 6-8 at the Center for Creative Arts. To register for the class, go to sobagallery.com.


About the Judge

David Rankin promotes conservation and appreciation of the natural world through his paintings and has worked with organizations such as the International Crane Foundation, the Wild Bird Society of Japan, the Corporate Conservation Council-Japan and the Smithsonian Institution. He is a Signature Member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, Artists for Conservation, and the Society of Animal Artists where he has served on the board since 1990. David is one of the true modern-day masters of transparent watercolors, exuding a dynamic passion for the medium in his lectures, demonstrations, and workshop instruction. His art reflects his profound passion for both watercolor and nature. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art and lives in Cleveland with his wife, Deanna.


About The Society of Bluffton Artists

SoBA is the heart of the flourishing art hub in Old Town Bluffton’s historic district at the corner of Church and Calhoun streets. As a non-profit art organization, SoBA offers regular art classes, featured artist shows, exhibitions, scholarships, outreach programs and more. Please visit www.sobagallery.com for a complete calendar of events and other information or call 843.757.3776.