Art Contest

Benefitting HSLDA Compassion

Making homeschooling possible for families in hard times

Submission Dates: October 1–December 1

Entries must be submitted no later than December 1. Additionally, entry fees are now accepted online through the HSLDA Store. (Please see: "Entry Fees" for more info).

Contest open to all privately homeschooled* students ages 7-19.

*Students enrolled in public school at home or virtual public charter schools are not eligible.

 

Category 1 (Ages 7–10*):

Starry Night Over the Rhone, Van Gogh

Implement at least one of these qualities from this masterpiece into your entry: nighttime scene, impasto quality, primarily navy and yellow palette.

Category 2 (Ages 11–14*):  

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, Friedrich

Implement at least one of these qualities from this masterpiece into your entry: deep aerial perspective, use of a single human figure, highly contrasted color palette. 

Category 3 (Ages 15–19*):

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Seurat

Implement at least one of these qualities from this masterpiece into your entry: pointillism technique, social scene as subject, gentle pastel palette. 

• Art submissions must fit the themes outlined above.
• Each student (ages 7-19) may enter up to 2 pieces of art.
• Completely original hand-done artwork.  No tracing, photography, or computer-generated artwork.
• Both wet and dry mediums are welcome.
• You may look at photographs or other art for ideas, but do not copy them.  We want to see your creativity at work! 
• Flat, two-dimensional artwork less than ¼” thick (not including mat or frame).  This means no sculpture or other 3D aspects more than ¼” thick.
• Maximum size for the piece by itself is 36” x 36”. You do not need to factor in the framing or matting, and there is no minimum size.
• All submissions must be suitable for all audiences. HSLDA reserves the right to reject entries that are gratuitously violent, sexually suggestive, vulgar, or otherwise explicitly offensive.

Preparing Your Entry

Once your artwork is completed, you will submit an electronic version of it by attaching a photo or scan of it to your entry form.

If you plan to photograph your artwork (versus scan it), here is a short article to learn more about how to do so in a way that presents it well.

We understand that technololgy can experience problems at inconvenient times. If you have any issues creating or attaching an electronic copy of your artwork, please email our Contest Coordinator, who will be happy to work with you to ensure we can receive your entry.

 

Entry Fees

• Fee is $10 per entry with membership, $15 per regular entry.
  Each student may submit 2 pieces of art.
• Each art entry requires its own Entry Fee and online Entry Form submission. 
• The entry fee may be paid via the HSLDA Store. See "How to Enter" for instructions. 
  
  Contact (540-338-8670) if you have any questions regarding payment.

Where the Contest Profits Go

All contest profits support our charitable program HSLDA Compassion, through which we provide low-income homeschooling families with grants, scholarships, and other educational and legal resources to help them continue homeschooling in hard times.

To learn more about HSLDA Compassion or read stories of some of the families served, visit hslda.org/compassion.

Winning Artwork

If your artwork is selected as a winner or honorable mention, you will be asked to mail us the framed original, which will be on display at the HSLDA headquarters in Purcellville, Virginia, for one year following the contest.

• Winners should be framed with a simple and lightweight matte and/or frame. We recommend families consider the cost of shipping when selecting a frame.
• If glass is desired in the framing, use plexiglass instead of breakable glass. We have received damaged artwork from glass shattering in the mail. HSLDA cannot be held responsible for artwork damaged during shipment.
• These frames will be mounted to the wall with Command Strips of varying weight capacities, so hardware is not necessary.

Age Category	1	2	3
1st Place	$150	$250	$500
2nd Place	$100	$150	$250
3rd Place	$75	$100	$150
Honorable Mention (4)	$50	$75	$100

 

1. Login to hslda.org.
2. Once logged in, visit the HSLDA Store Contest Entry page to pay for your contest submission(s) and receive your order number. You will need this order number to submit your entry. 
3. Come back to this page to fill out the Entry Form on the next page and upload your artwork to the form. 

Due to COVID-19, many of our staff are working remotely, so artwork needs to be uploaded rather than mailed.

If submitting multiple entries:

• Purchase an entry fee for each artwork. For example, if you have 3 children each submitting one artwork, purchase 3 entry fees.
• Fill out an Entry Form for each artwork.

About the judging:

• Pieces will be judged on originality, artistry, and adherence to the theme.
• A panel of judges selected by HSLDA will judge both the preliminary and final rounds.
• The judging panel is comprised of local professional and amateur artists with concentrations in watercolors, portraits, landscapes, pastels, sketches, graphic art, and other related fields.
• The decision of the judges is final.

Other information:

• All winning original pieces will be on loan to HSLDA for one year and will be displayed at the HSLDA headquarters in Purcellville, Virginia. After a year, the artwork will be returned to the artist, much to the sadness of HSLDA employees and visitors.
• HSLDA has the right to reproduce images of entered artwork at its discretion. Full credit will be given to the artist.
• All judgments are final and interpretations of the guidelines are at HSLDA’s sole discretion.