When your kid makes a piece of art, they’re also building confidence, processing feelings, and creating connections. That’s what we’re celebrating with the Outschool Visual Arts Showcase—and your kid could win up to $1,000 USD* in prize value, a one-year Outschool Membership and a billboard in Times Square!




*or the equivalent amount in local currency depending on jurisdiction of residence
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These Outschool art teachers are experts in their fields and champions of creativity.







I have a pet named Mr. Sweetie. I was inspired to make this artwork because I want to be an artist when I grow up. I took a class on Outschool called “How to Paint a Rainbow Dream Cat.” I was painting a lot of rainbow dream cats, and I eventually decided I wanted to draw a lot of animals and I chose a bunny for this project. This drawing makes me feel good.

Hello! My name is Ellie. I am so grateful to be in this competition. I love art, especially drawing anime and chibi. I'm less focused on winning and more on showing everyone what I can create!:)(although winning would be great;)) I've been drawing for about a year.

My name is Leah and I am a 17 year old artist. One of my biggest inspirations has always been my mom, she inspired me to draw and to start working as a graphic designer. Since my mom is an artist, I loved drawing from a young age, and I’m grateful to her for encouraging and helping me improve. My most treasured memories is when my mom read me Russian fairy-tales before bed, so I wanted to capture that moment in my drawing.

Watercolor is my favorite kind of art. I made this painting because I love my hometown, New York City. New York can feel loud and exciting, but it is also colorful and full of life. I wanted to paint a small scene that reminds me of that feeling. In the middle of my painting there is a lucky cat holding up both paws. Lucky cats are supposed to bring good luck. In my picture, the cat is wishing good luck to the city and the people who live here. I hope people who see my painting feel happy.

This is a fiber arts piece I made using fabric I inherited from my Great Grandmother after she passed away. I am inspired by my Great Grandmother's legacy as an artist to create works, try new things, and make mistakes. I chose to make a sunrise since it symbolizes new beginnings and the ability to try again. The sunrise reminds me that even if I mess up, there will be another day, another chance to improve, practice, and make something beautiful!

Hi! My name is Pip and I absolutely love drawing! It is my favorite hobby to do in my spare time. This is my piece “Two Birds are Better Than One.” This is one of my favorite pieces because it highlights the teamwork between two birds building a cozy nest together, it also shows that teamwork goes a long way. It makes the title come to life, showing that two birds really are better than just one bird.

Hi I'm Mariah! Ever since I was little I've always enjoyed arts and crafts. I grew to love drawing when I realized how pretty art can be. Black beauty is what inspired this drawing. My parents always affirm me and teach me to embrace my natural beauty. I hope others look at this drawing and find confidence and self worth in the skin they are in because Black Is Beautiful and all are too!



Hello! I was inspired by my drawings to love my life everyday. I say that because of the way the drawings make me feel! This took me 2-3 days. I would like to be an artist one day. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Ezra. I drew this because my teacher (go check her out on Outschool- her name is Mary Eckes) prompted me of the upcoming 4th of July which is the 250th birthday of the US. I thought I would do something new so we brainstormed a plan. think you should vote?

Hi, my name is Jemma and I have been passionate art since a very young age. I feel specifically drawn to realism because it helps me express the exact emotions of a moment when I draw. I feel inspired by seeing famous places and imagining how much my art might grow, and how one day people might recognize my art and it could become great. Seeing places like NYC makes me think about how many other unknown artists out there dreaming of becoming known for their art.

Dedicated to the conservation heroes who inspire children like myself to care, research, restore, and educate. My childhood mission to bring awareness to climate change, illegal wildlife trade, endangered species, deforestation, and pollution is driven by influential conservationists, environmentalists, and activists such as Steve Irwin, Jane Goodall & David Attenborough. “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved.” -Dr. J. Goodall

Hi. My name is Alexis and I love riding horses. I've been taking lessons since I was 9 years old and I ride all year round. I participate in horse shows and competitions. Horses are so majestic and beautiful. I feel free when I am riding them. I also love brushing them. I especially love all of their unique personalities. This is a picture of one of the horses I enjoy riding and his name is River.

This is the original version of Godzilla. During his first appearance in 1954 he was black and white, so I decided that using his original colors would keep a faithful design to his debut appearance, and would also feel original for today's standards. Without his first appearance and that original idea of him the franchise of Godzilla would have never started in the first place, so choosing this design is meant to give respect to the first model that ever came out.

The fish were a great joy for the piece and the curves of water I thought added a great look. I did the background in acrylic paint and the fish in Sharpie, some I DID NOT SHARPIE. I like any type of art as long I'm DOING ART and HAVING FUN! Because ART IS NOT ART IF YOU ARE NOT HAVING FUN.

This piece was a project that I was assigned to, however this inspired me because of my fascination with thee universe. Creating this Milky Way makes me feel amazed with myself and full of wonder. I was really happy with the colors, textures, and light, this created a senses of depth and mystery.

Hi! I am Rafael and my piece is a mix of all things I love. It's a fantasy world called Owlia, the creature with the big nose is a dragon I created called Pigspikoop, I drew myself on top of a hill with my dog Yogi, an owl (my favorite animal) perched on my shoulder and a creature called Flybei. I'm from Colombia and the bird I drew at the right bottom corner is a type of bird there. I love history and aviation so I drew a castle and planes flying in the background, one on a runway platform.



The picture is called Spring. It makes me feel calm and happy. I like how the sky looks soft and colorful at the end of the day. I am a child. I love drawing, especially with paints. I like playing with my cat and my friends.

I made this picture because I love drawing happy places with bright colors. My family calls me their rainbow sunshine baby, and I like making cheerful worlds with my imagination. I drew stars, houses, trees, and a snowman to show that winter can be warm and joyful. Art makes me feel free. I like being creative, and this picture makes me feel peaceful and happy inside.

The inspiration for my piece was Poppy Playtime Chapter 5, a video game that I love. I feel really proud of my work because I worked really hard on it. My favorite part of this piece is the way that I mixed markers and colored pencils together. I hope you like it too!

Hi!! I'm Sheherazade ;D I'm 12 yrs old I absolutely LOVE astronomy and outer space!!!! That's how I got inspired to make this piece. It makes me feel relaxed, at peace, and amazed because how how beautiful it truly is. I know it definitely looks nothing like real space butI hope ya still like it!!

My name is Emmi and I’m a self taught artist who likes drawing graphite portraits. As you can see, the girl in this portrait is lonely and surrounded by darkness and shadows. But what inspired me about this and because I made this is that she looks brave and her eyes are twinkling, symbolizing how she likes the darkness. As an introvert, sometimes I can feel this way. But it’s not a bad thing. This portrait, when I look at it, looks like how I am sometimes; the loneliness can make me be brave.

I'm Dan from Massachusetts and I made this piece to show what my environment for creativity looks like. I sit at my desk and look outside from my window and think of things to make(painting, drawing, or digital artwork like this). I thought this would be the perfect way to show what creativity can look like.

This artwork shows how freedom in America has grown and changed over time. The Statue of Liberty stands in the center as a symbol of hope, while the colorful, graffiti-style background represents the energy and creativity of the people. This piece inspires me because it reminds me that even as things change, the idea of being free continues to bring people together and move forward.




I came up with this piece on my own. I saw him in my head and I knew how I wanted Kai to look. I created him for an online role playing class. I drew him with one of his antlers broken because when I first introduced Kai he had run into a wall out of confusion. I call this piece “Liquid Prayers” because words cannot always relay how you feel, and sometimes you just got to let the tears fall and let people see that you feel. When I look at kai in this piece I feel like giving him a big hug.

Anime has really inspired me, and it always makes me happy seeing other people art and styles. I go on Pinterest to see people's wonderful art or read manga to get inspired but something has really been bugging me this past week. I've been feeling kind of bored with my art, so I started a new anime, Jojo's bizarre adventure to be exact! I really feel in love with the art style, so I decided to draw my favorite character. This piece took around 20 hours over the span of a week.



I take a lot of insporation from the things I watch and write. This drawing is of one of my characters from a writing group I'm in. The character is a chaotic menace, who is bored all the time.

When thought about things that inspire me, one thing stood out- memories! I have many inspiring memories, but the most vivid and meaningful are of small moments. This piece is based on one such memory: of holding my dad’s index finger when my hands were too tiny to hold his hand properly. It makes me feel nostalgic, inspired, and maybe a little wistful. It reminds me to appreciate small things while they’re here, and to cherish the love that made me who I am now, even as memories fade with time

Hello! My name is Jayson and I’m fascinated my tragedy and comedy masks and jesters (both of which were my inspiration). A jester, something thought of to be joyful, using a mask used to display a set emotion on a stage with no crowd. The mask being used to hide something that the circus does not want the audience to know. Being controlled by string, unable to do anything with his own will using the mask to hide it all. Sometimes our life’s are like that, we try to hide how we really feel.

Hi! I’m Arianna and I chose this piece because it’s inspired by my favorite book series; Wings of Fire. Misty is my OC which stands for original character. I drew her standing on a cliff, surrounded by a lake. In the background there’s a foggy forest, that represents her home. The process of making this sketch was very challenging but the result feels extremely rewarding. I hope you like it!


This painting represents the love I have for animals. And yes, I’m the kind of kid who watches a bird feeder for hours. When I spot a small sparrow, I don’t view him as an annoyance; I see him as a creature who has friends, a life, and a personality. This mountain lion’s gaze shows the trauma he’s experienced, the loss he has endured, and life he has known. It inspires me to know that even when life is tough, there is always a way out.


Hello, my name is Heidi. I made this piece because nature inspires me–it’s one of my biggest inspirations! The girl in the dress is me, being inspired by the beautiful world around us! By my house, poppies bloom on the hills around this time, and it’s beautiful. You can see mountains in the distance that are just a perfect backdrop, especially when there are clouds. I think nothing is more inspiring than nature, and that's why I made this piece showcasing that.

Hi, I’m Ella, and I drew this chameleon because I love unique animals, especially ones that can change and adapt. I left it without color so we can imagine together what colors it might be changing into. To me, it represents people who have hidden talents. Sometimes you don’t see what someone can do until they choose to share it, especially through art. This reminds me that everyone has something special inside, and when we express it, our true colors shine.

I am Lydia and this is my 5th year of doing art. I was inspired to create this piece by my pet cats who I love very much. The only trouble was that I also love dragons! The end result was a dritten. This little guy stares at the ocean ready to fly fearless as the lightning crashes and the waves roll over the rock he is standing on. I really enjoyed creating this piece, and I hope you enjoy seeing it.

My name is Alia and I wanted to share this pice of artwork because I feel so proud I was able to make it. I am honestly not that focused on wining, but more on showing people what I am most talented at, but I DEFINITELY don’t mind winning! By the way, a Deadly Nater is a dragon that can shoot spikes from its tail and can produce a fire blast from its throat to attack if needed.

I really enjoy every aspect of Japanese art and design, from anime to games. It is a dream of mine to become a professional trading card artist when I grow up. This piece reflects that. It is an illustration of one of my original characters, Noodle Dragon, above miso lake, where I imagine he would live.

My name is Michele and I have always loved Tim Burton films, including the one and only "Alice in Wonderland" remake. My inspiration was the world of Tim Burton. I have always been a fan starting with The Nightmare Before Christmas when I was little. I wanted to bring a favorite character of mine to life. This artwork makes me feel proud and happy because I put my best effort into it. The Mad Hatter is my favorite character because he is funny and I love his colorful design.

this art work makes me feel sad for the bird🐦⬛ on the left, let me explain. the bird on the left is using a jet pack, not its wings it is sad because now it has no perpous for its wings. while the bird on the right is using its wings soring freely and not a jet pack. the bird on left is using a jet pack because engineers went to far and now it can't fly without a jet pack the end.

I grew up in a city and I loved the wonder of these sky-reaching monuments with many people all doing their own thing. I also liked seeing how ecosystems function like jungles and oceans. So I based this piece off of the idea of conserving and having industrialization and cities being in harmony and intertwined with the natural world. It makes me feel hopeful for what humanity can do if we'd allow ourselves to function with nature and actually make an effort to conserve the beauty of ecosystems.

This piece is Called saving the Sun. It’s about those People or moments that Make you feel like golden sunshine is pouring onto your skin, These moments Are things I cling too, especially when I’m Having hard times. This piece Inspires me to find something that makes me feel that, Something that makes it feel bright and sunny even when it’s not.☀️


Art is a very calming thing for me. Whenever I am feeling stressed or anxious, I sit down and do some sketching. Recently, whenever I'm sitting on my own, I start thinking about the lighting in the room and how the light from the window reaches everything and makes all of it feel so beautiful. I find myself really wanting to make a painting of it.

I'm Anya, and I create art on Procreate and traditional. One of the main items in my life that inspires me and my creative work is nature. Even outside in my neighborhood, I can find inspiration for my art. Something about the fresh air helps me clear my head when I am anxious or too excited that I can’t focus and do my work. The small page curl in the corner and the quotes in the cloud & mountain represents my love of reading. The way that the words dance on the page just fills me with wonder.



What inspired me to make this piece is symbolism. Symbolism has always been a big and inspirational part of my life. It has encouraged me to view the world and scenarios in many different ways, and has even encouraged me to start writing a book which will have a lot of symbolism. I loved making this piece and i hope you feel the same amount of joy as i did making it.

I am homeschooler who loves art and dogs. I started drawing with how to draw books, then added some Outschool art classes to refine my skills. I love drawing pictures of animals but my current focus is dogs. My favorite parts to focus on are the eyes and the snouts. If I can get the eyes right, it gives the portrait the complete personality and really brings life to the dogs on paper.

My artwork is called “Out in the Danger.” It shows a girl and her dragon standing in front of a volcano that is erupting. They are best friends and they are being brave together even though it’s scary. I love drawing chibi girls and dragons because dragons are my favorite. I think dragons are strong and magical, and I like imagining them as loyal friends. This drawing makes me feel strong and brave. It reminds me that I can face my fears every day and not feel alone.


Roblox is my favourite game, it makes me happy and I wanted to draw a character that makes me happy

This piece is inspired by authenticity and friendship. During the time I made this piece, I met some really amazing and accepting people who I felt happy and safe around. They gave me the courage to be myself, which is something I really needed at the time. The characters featured in this piece are of my own design. They represent the kinship I found with my new friends, and the individuality that I learned to express for myself!

I love finding the small details in people that set them apart from others. I especially love how people use their uniqueness and feelings to make a difference in the world. To make life and joy. I felt that "Eyes of the World" by the Grateful Dead portrayed that same spirit and that is what inspired my drawing.
Whether your kid is just starting their creative journey or has a project ready to go, you’ll find classes that meet them where they are and bring out their best.
Learners ages 6 to 18 in the United States, United Kingdom, (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland only), Australia and Canada (excluding Quebec) (see showcase rules for regional participation limits and award eligibility details) can enter if their family has an active Outschool Membership or enrollment. New to Outschool? Become a member today!
Not at all! The Visual Arts Showcase is open to every eligible learner, whether they’re new to creating art or already taking classes. They don’t need to be enrolled in an Outschool art class to participate. What matters most is their creativity, effort, and artistic voice.
Log in to your Outschool account and fill out the form above. Upload a high-resolution image or a 1-minute video of your learner’s artwork (vertical 9x16 preferred; max 150MB) and add the artwork’s title plus a note about why your learner chose it. If you have trouble uploading, check our troubleshooting tips or contact Outschool Support for help.
Make sure to enter using the parent email linked to your Outschool account. If a teacher invited you to the Showcase, add their profile link so we can thank them. Submitting for more than one learner? Fill out a new form for each.
Artwork should connect to the theme, ‘Something That Inspires Me,’ and must be original and created by the learner. If your learner uses any material they did not create themselves, it must be clearly changed into something new and original, not just copied or lightly edited. AI tools may not be used to create any part of the artwork. Learn more about our submission guidelines here.
Our team reviews your learner’s artwork to make sure it meets the showcase rules and submission guidelines. This could take up to a week. You’ll get an email once it’s in the Showcase. Keep an eye on this page for updates. Entries will appear here when ‘Showcase Favorite’ voting begins on or around March 13.
Submissions can’t be edited once they’ve been sent, so be sure to review your upload and entry form carefully before submitting. Each learner can have only one entry in the Showcase, and judges will review only one submission per participant.
Outschool’s teacher judges review entries for creativity and originality. Learners submit their work in one of two categories: Physical Art (e.g., drawing or painting) or Digital Art (e.g., animation or digital illustration). One finalist is chosen in each age group for each category. Showcase Favorite voting happens on the Showcase page and is open to those aged 18 or older. Public voting for Showcase Favorite is open only to individuals who are legal residents of jurisdictions where participation is lawful. Notwithstanding the foregoing, residents of Canada are not eligible to participate in the public voting portion of the Contest.
Finalists are featured in the live virtual event, and the Showcase Favorite winner is decided by public vote. Entries from Canada are eligible for judging and award selection in all categories except for public voting for the Showcase Favorite award.
The live virtual Showcase will be hosted by Outschool on April 25. It’s a free celebration of the finalists and their artwork, featuring judges and moments highlighting each artist’s creative process and inspiration. Families can join to view the artwork, hear directly from the artists, and celebrate their creativity together.
Two Grand Prize winners, one in each category, each receive a $500 USD Outschool Gift Card, a $500 USD Amazon Gift Card, a featured placement on a Times Square digital billboard, and a one-year Outschool Membership at the $70 USD monthly tier. Finalists receive a $250 USD Outschool Gift Card, and the Showcase Favorite winner receives a $250 USD Outschool Gift Card and a $250 USD Amazon Gift Card. Finalists are announced on April 20, and Grand Prize winners will be announced live at the Showcase event on April 25. Prizes are sent by email after the contest concludes. All prizes are stated in US dollars (USD) or the equivalent amount in local currency, depending on the jurisdiction of residence.