Mark Making: Dots, Lines, Textures

Description

THE Gallery | Belvedere Tiburon Library
1501 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920

CALL FOR ENTRIES
July 1 to August 1

MARK MAKING: DOTS, LINES, TEXTURES
Exhibition Dates: September 17 to November 11, 2026

This Call seeks artists who especially lean into the language of mark making—with the surface of their works revealing the artist’s hand. Mark Making: Dots, Lines, Textures will consider textural surface exploration showing evidence of the creative process. Viewers who linger over a work will get a sense of the artist's hand moving . . . picturing them holding the brush, graphite, or palette knife.
For artists who paint, prominent brushstrokes encourage controlled or spontaneous marks: gestural, expressive brushwork as well as repetitive, rhythmic, and deliberate strokes. Impasto serves as a relief map on the surface—scratch marks as signifiers pentimenti as traces. Viewers will perceive the touch and pressure embedded in the stroke and be better able to appreciate the physicality of paint and the record of the artist's hand at work. For watercolorists specifically, transparency and glazing also apply.
Drawing technique—marks dictated by tools and the hand—likewise speaks to this exhibition's theme. Drawn lines that vary in pressure can be both descriptive and gestural. Accepted works might include graphite drags and charcoal smudges, cross-hatching, stippling, calligraphy, and ink bleeds.
Painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor) and drawing (charcoal, ink, pastel, graphite) submissions will be evaluated on engagement with the theme, technique, overall mastery, creativity, and originality.
THE Gallery I Belvedere Tiburon Library, showcases outstanding emerging and established artists from around the Bay Area. Chosen artists will be viewed by several thousand visitors attending Gallery and/or library events or just strolling through the library. We hope that Mark Making, an exhibition theme that doubles down on the artistic process, will help make art more accessible and bring artists and their artwork into conversation. We are deeply grateful to our growing community of artists—for not only sharing their artwork with us but for sharing themselves. Thank you for your support.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 

OPEN TO BAY AREA ARTISTS 18 YEARS AND ABOVE

SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED: Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 12:01am.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE: Saturday, August 1, 2026, 11:59pm

JURYING:Submissions are first anonymously juried by a panel. (If your signature is on the front of your artwork, please cover it when you submit the images of your pieces.) Exhibition Co-Chairs then curate to create a cohesive show

ARTIST NOTIFICATION: Saturday, August 15, 2026
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 6pm to 8pm

ARTWORK DROP OFF DATES: Friday, September 11, 2026, from 11:00am to 1:00pm (preferred) or Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9:00am to 10:30am (earlier is preferred) 

ARTWORK PICK UP DATES: Friday, November 13, 2026, 9am to 10:30am (preferred) or Saturday, November 14, 2026, 9am to 10:30am

COMMISSIONS: 70% to the Artist, 30% to THE Gallery

 FEE: $35 for up to 3 submissions (each individual submission may include 2 additional images of detail). 

ALL WORK SUBMITTED MUST BE FOR SALE – no exceptions.

WHAT TYPE OF WORK IS ACCEPTED

Two-dimensional original artworks only, such as framed or stretched canvas and framed works on paper (drawings, watercolors, pastels, fine art prints and mixed media). Textiles or photography are not accepted for this exhibition.
Reproductions of your art in another medium (e.g. an offset lithograph of your painting or a giclée print of your watercolor) will not be considered. Art created using artificial intelligence will not be considered.
Two-dimensional includes low-relief works (5 inches deep or less measured from the wall as hung).
We cannot accommodate works that are suspended from the ceiling or free-standing three-dimensional pieces (sculpture).
The library is a family destination and subject matter must be acceptable.
The images submitted must be the creation of and owned solely by the artist submitting. No copyright infringement of any artist, living or deceased, is permitted.

SIZE / WEIGHT / FRAMING AND FINISHING

Maximum dimensions of ready-to-hang pieces (including frame, if framed) are 72” high x 60” wide. Minimum dimensions allowed are 8” high x 10” wide or 10" high x 8" wide. Please don’t submit if your work falls outside these parameters. To avoid tipping from our walls, D-rings must be higher up on the back of the frame but low enough that neither they nor the wire show above top of frame.
In some cases, two D-rings towards the top of your frame without a wire across the back work best. Please select the option that you believe is most effective for hanging your piece flat against the wall.
For D-rings with wire, a braided stainless-steel wire or multi-filament is preferred. No sawtooth hangers are permitted.
Work cannot exceed 50 pounds.

INPUT GUIDELINES
Please follow the guidelines below when entering your information. Accuracy upfront saves everyone time later.

Capitalize the first letter of your first and last name, your street address, your city, and use CA for the state.
Input your phone as xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Input both your unframed and framed dimension as h" x w".
As part of your submission, complete a short bio and a short artist statement (each 475 characters or less--roughly 70 words). If the software won't allow you to finish a sentence, you have exceeded the allowable space. Please go back and reduce copy.
The artist statement will also be included in the jurying process so please omit your name.
Each submission MUST be entered separately. Review the third bullet of REGISTER ONLINE AT ARTCALL for directions.
IMPORTANT: Update your ArtCall photo before the end of the submission period as we cannot change it after the Call closes. If accepted, your photograph will be featured in THE Gallery's "Meet the Participating Artists" web page and in the show’s exhibition album.
Make certain your website and/or Instagram addresses are current for inclusion in our materials.
And finally, please review all your information again (title, price, dimensions, bio, artist statement, artist photo, etc) before the Call closes. Help us avoid having to make changes and fix typos late in the process. Assisting us by inputting carefully at the front end enables us to finalize the administrative component of the exhibition quickly and begin early marketing. Your understanding and cooperation are most appreciateARTCALL & SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES

ARTCALL REGISTRATION

All entries are to be submitted digitally via ArtCall. If you do not have an account at ArtCall.org, you will need to create a profile by registering online. This takes just a few minutes, and enables you to upload your images.
If you already have an account, sign on with your username and password.
You may submit up to three works of art for consideration. Each submission will need to be entered into ArtCall as a separate entry (click on “Add new Submission” for each entry) but all covered by one fee. For each submission, in addition to the primary image, you may attach two additional images showing details of your art work at no additional charge.
If your submission is framed, please submit the unframed size of each piece as well as the framed size.
Please submit images for each entry in JPG/Jpeg format showing the full piece. Images must be in 72 ppi resolution and between 1920 px (minimum) and 4600 px (maximum) for the longest side. Photo files must not exceed 10MB. Reminder, if your signature is on the front of your artwork, please cover it for your submittal.

DELIVERY AND DISPLAY

For selected artwork, place label—with title, your name, email & phone—on back at lower-right corner for Intake.
Wrapping materials must be removed and taken with you upon Intake completion.
Accepted work will be hung in either the principal gallery or the long gallery at our complete discretion based on cohesive groupings and an overall visual rhythm re placement.
Artwork must remain on view for the duration of the exhibition.
Images are displayed in a Web Gallery and in an exhibition album along with artist’s statement, bio and ArtCall profile picture.
Accepted artists agree the artwork, in whole or in part, may be used by the Library for publicity in various forms including print, online and social media.
Transactions of sales and sales tax are processed through the Belvedere Tiburon Library Foundation. The Library retains 30% commission to support programming, book purchases and materials. We cannot guarantee sale of any artwork.
Volunteers will handle your work with utmost care. The library has insurance coverage but strongly recommends that in addition, exhibiting artists carry their own insurance.

Please contact Diane Green at art@beltiblibrary.org if you have further questions.
Mark Making: Dots, Lines, Textures Exhibition Co-Chairs: Diane Green and Rekha Dutt

THE Gallery volunteers are deeply grateful to our participating artists.
Your support makes all this happen—a place where art and community meet.