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!








This painting is inspired by SZA’s SOS album cover, where she’s sitting alone at the edge of a diving board surrounded by the ocean. That image was based on a famous photo of Princess Diana sitting the same way on a yacht in 1997. I wanted to capture a similar feeling of isolation and not belonging, even as the world watches. The blue tones represent calm on the outside but sadness underneath.


I made this art piece for a homework assignment. It is inspired by the painting "Surprised!" by Rousseau. I love dragons, and so I remade my own version to include them. This art piece, "The Roar of Thunder" changes the focus from the main ground to the background, revealing two dragons. It shows that there is more than one way to make beautiful art.

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.



Hi!My name is Alice and I am 6 years old. One day I laid down in the grass and looked up — the flower was SO BIG, bigger than my whole head! I thought: this is what it feels like to be a tiny bug. So magical! I painted the big flower, a bee (bees are flowers' best friends), hearts because nature fills my heart, and a mushroom (little bug houses). LOTS of colours because nature has lots! The world is SO BIG and SO BEAUTIFUL and I'm just a tiny little girl in it. Everyone should look up sometimes.

My name is Agastya. I love painting, especially scenes from nature and the universe. Painting gives me peace and happiness. When I see the beauty of the world, it inspires me to explore more and imagine what lies beyond our boundaries. It also reminds me how important it is to take care of our Mother Earth and keep it beautiful by cleaning and recycling. Since life exists only on this planet, we all have a responsibility to protect it.

I like drawing and using lots of colors. I made this picture by imagining I am standing in the middle of a city and looking up at tall buildings all around me. The buildings are all different and colorful. I was inspired by New York City and how big everything looks when you look up. I wanted my city to look fun and bright, so I used many colors and shapes. This picture makes me feel happy and excited like I am in a big city.

After a fire ripped through my community and burned my home, I discovered Mary Cassatt. Mary was not only an inspiring woman, she was also a woman who allowed people to have "modern wings." She inspired others to soar above expectations and young girls to take hold of their futures. In her murals, Mary depicted women defying boundaries set for them and this brought me a sense of belonging. In a world of hurt and hatred, community can be defined by women, for women, and with women at the center.

Each bubble shows a different part of who I am. The flute shows my focused, connected side - the part of me that loves being in harmony with others. The drums show my wild, energetic side - the part of me that loves the thrill of a big performance. And the guitar shows my private, peaceful side - the part of me that just enjoys being in my own world.

Hi! I'm Eleanor. This piece of art was inspired by my little sisters because they like to be adventurous and I feel like one can be the sunshine and one can be the water in the ocean. It makes me feel happy because I feel like the sun represents hope and love, and the water symbolizes freedom and movement like my little sisters. I hope it makes other people feel happy too because I feel like the art stands for friendship because there's two people hanging out together, and anything is possible.

My name is Malcolm. I want to be an animator and am inspired by cartoons. I love early 2000's cartoons. I like 2D animation better and love drawing them. I am creating my own animation studio and tv show and this video shows some of my characters beginning to be created and be shown on TV. It is "to be continued" because it is just the beginning, with more to come. I am happy and proud of it because I worked on it for hours. Thanks.

Im Lacey, military child following her dad. Just pulled from the sunshine of Florida to the winter of the Midwest. My piece is inspired by the warm sun that my skin misses so deeply. It makes me feel that Gods masterpiece is worth sharing. We are created to create.


Hello, my name is Sophie, and this is my art piece for the Outschool art contest! Something that inspires me, is other artists, like my Mom, artist that have entered into the contest (all of the art on here is AMAZING) and just artists everywhere! I think it’s really cool to see how people draw and how their art style is different then others.

My name is Zachary and I like reading, sketching, and playing tabletop role playing games. For this piece, I wondered what it would be like to be at the bottom of a puddle looking up through it as if it was a window to see who was looking down. I'm proud of it, and it makes me feel happy and relaxed.

I drew this artwork as a reminder of both downtown Charleston, SC & downtown Augusta, GA. Downtown Charleston has the cobblestone streets and a candy store by the market I would go to buy candy from with my family. The dress I drew in the window reminds me of an alteration shop in downtown Augusta I once visited and saw a beautiful dress in the window of the store. Both places make me feel nice and sweet because I've had great experiences at those places and loved putting them into my artwork.

From a young age, I've been inspired by space through drawing and building with LEGOs. It sparked my curiosity and imagination about what exists beyond our world. Space makes me feel excited and full of wonder, pushing me to dream big. I hope to become a mechanical engineer and work with NASA one day. This piece reflects my passion, creativity, and belief that I can turn my dreams into reality.

My name is Mariko, and I love to draw, both physical and digital. I also love music, and I was inspired by this Kpop idol, Wonyoung. She's part of the group, IVE, and seeing her unbelievable talent of singing and dancing makes me feel happy. I just wanted to share my love for music and drawing through this piece.

Hello, I’m Ella and this piece was inspired by my family’s trip to The San Diego Museum of Art at Balboa Park in San Diego, California. I found myself drawn to the old still life paintings. Oil painting takes so much time, days to even weeks between layers, and something about going through all the effort to preserve this little moment really drew me in. While I’ve taken a few art classes in more modern styles and mediums, after this trip I picked up oil painting completely self taught.

My piece describes the changes in my life. The time on the clock, 8:20 is around the time that I was born, an important key detail in my life. Some other changes in my life were moving houses, changing schools, and learning to love swim. The wide variety of colors I used in my artwork, they are all different, even in the slightest bit. This represents how everyone is different, and you can be your own self. No one don't need to feel ashamed, because everyone is unique in their own way.


This drawing was inspired by people who kept going even when it was hard

I am six years old and I love to create through drawing, painting and model making. I was inspired by Jim Dine to create this painting for my mother using mixed media like tissue paper, crayon and paints. The painting makes me feel happy as it uses the colors I love and the heart is full of love.

I am the one, the only; ARAN!!! (Ahem, sorry) As seasons have passed, I've become more entranced every year by the beauty of fall all around the world. I found that trees in their autumnal state are so naturally well captured in art, so that is what I did. To be specific, this is a portrayal of a path through the Green Mountains National Park. I've destroyed 3 brushes, missed some homework, and have a sore back, so as long as your life may go on happily ever after, I say this: VOTE FOR ME!!!!!!!
Me and my Mom are traveling around the world for a year and I love to sing. We got to see a lot of cool things and I thought it was amazing to see all the different animals. I took a busking class and learned how to write my own song about what it’s like to go on adventures. I drew the art and wrote the music too!

My drawing is titled “Time.” It shows a watch my father received from his father and later gave to me. The watch is special because it has been passed down through my family. It reminds me of the strong connection between my grandfather, my dad, and me. When I see it, I think about the special moments we have shared. The watch makes me feel proud and more mature, and it represents our family tradition and the memories we will carry for generations.

I love painting, especially with watercolor. My family went on a trip to Japan, and I got to see the beautiful buildings and landscape of the place which inspired me, and I really liked Mount Fuji and the pagodas, both of which I decided to add to my picture. It feels peaceful to look at, since you feel like you are there with the lady in the pink flower kimono, watching her make ripples in the water.

Nature has always inspired and delighted me. I believe there is a story hidden in everything, and my ambition is to capture that in my art. This sketch expresses my feeling as I grow roots in a new community. "If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere." - Vincent van Gogh

In my drawing there is a young girl finding her peace through meditation, by sitting in a serene environment surrounded by nature. This inspires me because whenever I meditate, I feel eternal peace washing over me, and I feel like I can forgive any unkind action that anyone has ever done to me. I think the art of meditation is a beautiful thing that inspires me deeply. The first time I meditated I felt changed completely, and for the better. This drawing resembles how I feel when meditating.

I love digital art and I love the Warrior Cats books, so I drew a Clan walking to the Gathering on the island. A Gathering is where all five Clans meet on the island in peace to report their news and let their warriors socialize. This inspires me because I like seeing the world from a different point of view. Also, seeing different clans come together in peace gives me hope that humans can do the same.

As a 15-year-old homeschooler drawn to watercolor, I enjoy transforming ordinary subjects into expressive works of art. This mixed-media rendition of an old streetlight reflects my fascination with light, mood, and the quiet beauty found in everyday scenes.

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.

I was inspired by survival in the wild. In my painting, a girl and her cat are camping in the wilderness. There are many different trees and plants around them, and many shades of green that make the forest look full of life. In the middle of the picture, there is a warm campfire lighting up the girl. She is fishing by the river with her cat beside her. You can see their reflections in the water. Far away in the wilderness, there is a rainbow that you can faintly see in the sky.

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!

Hello! I am Arianna and I love art, video games, cartoons, and books. Pokémon was a big inspiration for my art style because my friends almost always ask me to draw their favorite little critters from the franchise for their birthdays. One day I randomly had the idea to turn my cat into a Pokémon. Thus, Mossious the grass and rock type was born.

Hi! I like drawing and painting, especially blending lots of colors and experimenting with paint. I was inspired to make this piece by using my imagination to think about a landscape I'd like to explore. I wanted to create something that felt interesting and a little bit magical. Making the circles makes me feel calm, and I like how the colors and shapes came together.

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 have always loved outer space, but for longest time I did not like dinosaurs. Two things changed my mind about dinosaurs this last year. 1 - I began playing a video game that taught me all about dinosaurs. 2 - My mom made up bedtime stories for my brothers and I featuring the characters in my drawing. When I look at this picture I feel like I have connected three things that are very special to me, my family, astronomy and my new appreciation for dinosaurs all in one piece of art.

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.

This is a drawing of a dragon made of shimmering crystal mosaic pieces, the background is filled with crystal roses and raindrops. Rainbows often symbolize hope and new beginnings, while roses are used to symbolize love, all of which are things that inspire me. This piece took 5 hours and 57 minutes, and was created in Procreate.

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!


I drew an astronaut because astronauts really inspire me. They get to go to space and see things that most people will never get to see, like planets, stars, and the Earth from really far away. I think that is amazing. It must take a lot of bravery and hard work to become an astronaut, and that makes me admire them even more. Sometimes I imagine what it would be like to be an astronaut in the future. It would be really cool to float in zero gravity and travel on a spaceship.

As a person who's always adored cats, the Bengal tiger is a feline I have always admired for it's majestic behavior and resplendent striped coat. My love for animals has awakened a passion inside that has driven me to create realistic animal portraits such as these. I hope this simple drawing can emphasize the beauty of the Bengal tiger.
Hi, My name is Francene and I’m an eleven year old girl. I love to animate and draw. I do both physical and digital art but I decided to make a digital animation. This piece was inspired by a book series called Warriors. I am proud bringing the book series to life.


I was inspired to draw this colorful abstract cat because I am obsessed with cats. the colors in the back are like me because i am hyper and colorful. I am not here to win just to show my art and If I do that would be nice so I can buy some books and do more clubs. I hope you enjoy looking at my art.

I have always been inspired by nature and the seasons changing. Fall is my favorite season, and that's what inspired this drawing. I tilted this piece "Reflections," because I believe it is important to look in the mirror and see the beauty that is you. The reflection of the trees in the water shows how pretty they are all over again, and I think we should do that too.

My name is Emilio and I love drawing because you can tell a story in your own way. I learned about the meteor shower which killed dinosaurs and that inspired me to draw Robo Dino. In this story the meteor shower causes fire and Robo Dino was the only dinosaur to survive. He lost parts of his body but found a robot body that he used to save himself. Now he is happy to start a new life in the city. This drawing makes me feel happy that the dinosaur survived and escaped the fire.

I am a passionate young artist who loves animation and traditional art. My piece was inspired by my daily life. At the center are my adorable pugs, Mochi and Morita, my biggest inspiration. The floating icons represent my artistic world—making videos, drawing, and animating. Looking at this drawing makes me feel proud and peaceful. It reminds me that art is my safe space. Creating this makes me feel incredibly free and joyful because it shows the world exactly who I am inside.

These Outschool art teachers are experts in their fields and champions of creativity.




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.