Signature Review is scheduled at least two times annually. Each applicant for Signature Membership Review must submit five (5) recently completed works, three (3) of which have never been submitted for Review. Well-established criteria for Signature status guides the decision-making process of the Signature Review Committee. The Committee remains anonymous to insure objectivity and fairness of the process.

• Review dates are held the Saturday prior to Board meetings (usually in October and April) dates may vary. Check the Club Calendar.
• Applications for Signature Review must be received at least one week prior to the date of the Review.
• Artwork must be dropped off during the prior Thursday evening’s Sketch Group (7:00 – 9:00 PM) and left in the Cincinnati Art Club Library/Lounge. All work must be clearly labeled for “Signature Review”.
• Each piece of art must have a label on the back or bottom with the artist’s full name, address, phone number and email address clearly printed. Any artwork without the artist’s full name, address, phone number and email address on the back or bottom will not be reviewed.
• Each piece must be professionally presented, as would be done for exhibition in a gallery. Please have all artwork ready to be viewed (unpacked/unwrapped) and take all packing materials with you.
• Applicants outside of a 150-mile radius, please contact the Committee Chair at signaturereview@cincinnatiartclub.com prior to the Review date for special instructions.
• Pick up all submitted work during Sketch Group, the following Monday, 1 – 4:30 PM, or Thursday, 7:00 – 9:00 PM.

Click the button below to submit your Application for the upcoming Signature Review!

Results will be mailed to applicants after recommendation by the Signature Review Committee to and acceptance by the Board of Trustees.

• The Membership Chair will send Members who are approved for Signature status a notice of their achievement and upgraded status. You will be invoiced at the Signature level Dues on your next Membership Renewal.
• Those not achieving Signature status are encouraged to attend our Critiques for further feedback on their artwork. They are welcome to resubmit up to three of their five pieces to the Signature Review at the next available date.

Determining what makes art exceptional involves numerous factors. While assessing an artist’s work has some subjectivity, peer committees use measurable criteria to evaluate quality. To help our artists understand the judging process, the Cincinnati Art Club has defined the following judging criteria to be used by the Signature Review Committee. They are to assess the artist’s use of composition, value, line, color, texture, shape, form, direction, space and perspective within their work.

Color and/or Value
Is there a prioritization, variety, repetition, unity, balance, contrast of these elements in the artist’s design/composition?

Creativity and Originality
Does the work have a unique voice or interpretation? Even if about a common subject, does it evoke an emotion or reaction?

Skill and Control of Medium
Has the artist exhibited an accomplished knowledge of the media?

Consistency and a Recognizable Style
Are the artist’s skills, as previously described, consistently evident in all submitted works? Does the work demonstrate a distinct and recognizable style, or is it excessively derivative? The committee prioritizes the overall quality of the submissions. While subject matter variety is acceptable, the artist must maintain a high standard of technical skill and execution throughout.

A critical aspect of the Review is the artist’s ability to recognize and exclude works that do not align with their overall quality standard. The committee often finds that one or two weaker pieces can diminish the impact of the entire submission. Artists are encouraged to critically assess their work and select pieces that represent their strongest abilities.

For a PDF version of CAC Evaluation Criteria click HERE–