Art contests for kids

At Storygalorey class yesterday, one bright young artist told me she was working on her new artwork for an art sale she was going to hold in the future. She had sold some of her art last summer and made some money to help buy something for her pet. Fueled by that success, she was ready to create more artwork to have another sale next summer. Sometimes we all need a little encouragement to keep on creating. Sometimes “writer’s block” happens to all creators. Maybe your kids don't want to sell their art, but wouldn’t it be fun to encourage them to enter a drawing or painting contest? 

So why in the world should you take the time and trouble to encourage your kids to create art for a contest? 

First of all, entering an art contest can build confidence.

Whether your children win or not, to have bravely created, entered, and possibly viewed their art on display, is a huge confidence building block. It gives them courage to try something else next time, and to know they did their best regardless of the outcome. When our daughter was growing up, she entered her art into our state’s calendar contest, where she won honorable mention. Talk about a confidence boost! Each step led to others…to high school statewide Scholastic Art contests, with scholarship money attached, eventually to college and job interviews with portfolios to share with judges. I’ve known several Storygalorey artists who have won blue ribbons and champion prizes at the annual 4-H fair, which is another great opportunity to share their art and gain confidence. It is such an important step in maturity to learn about putting yourself out there and sharing your gifts with the world. Teaching kids to share their gifts helps train them that they have a gift worth giving, and that is a reward in itself. Entering contests is not about boosting their (or our) egos, but about growing. Win or lose, they’ve overcome a little bit of fear by entering a contest.

Secondly, entering an art contest can release creativity when kids are stumped.

Knowing that there is a reason to create helps get us going sometimes. Not that we want to put undue pressure on ourselves or our kids, but sometimes we need a goal to shoot for in life. If there is that 4-H fair or deadline to submit a piece of art for a calendar contest, we have a subject to draw, a reason to create, and a time that it needs to be done. That can be motivation to get creative. They might find, once they have a reason to get started, that they create more than one picture to choose from. Usually creativity, like anything else, takes work, and flows better once you just take a step or two in the right direction.

Finally, entering a contest can enhance whatever your child is already learning.

When one of my daughters was in elementary school, we were learning about the famous ride of Paul Revere. She memorized part of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem, then drew a stirring picture of Paul Revere on his horse, galloping wildly across the grass to warn his countrymen that the British were coming. She entered that picture in a Youth Art exhibit in our city, and we proudly celebrated her display at the opening reception. She went on to major in music; but doing art along the way helped prepare her to do her best work, to learn and remember other subjects, and to be proud to share her gifts with others in the community. Whatever your child’s current interest is, connect the subject matter to art! 

So how do you find contests? I just googled “art contests for kids.”  Here are a few contests I found, including the art calendar contest I mentioned. Enrolling your child in 4-H in your county can give you all the information about displaying and winning ribbons at your county fair. Also, if you have one, check with your local art museum-they may have a youth art exhibition.

1. Indiana Art Calendar Contest
2.  NASA Student Art Contest
3. Wildlife Forever Art Contest 
4. Celebrating Art contest
5. 4-H
6. US Kids magazine art contest
7. Doodle for Google
8. Science without Borders Challenge
9. Save the Frogs Art Contest
10. International Kids’ Owl Art Contest

I’m sure you can find more. So what is your child interested in? Why not give entering a contest a try this year and see if it sparks more creativity in your kids? Grabbing the free Storygalorey Family Art calendar will get you started. When your kids participate in drawing, painting, making something out of textiles or clay, when they experience the joy of creating and then develop the courage to share their creations publicly, no matter if it is a contest or not, they are winners.

Here’s to more confidence, creativity, and connection-to-learning in your children! 

Interested in drawing classes for your kids? Check out Drawing for Kids online classes here!