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!








My name is Maeva, I've been drawing realistic and cartoon since I was very young. My personal favorite style of drawing is anime; it's opened up such a massive world for me and lets me be inspired everyday by the wonders found in the small details. I decided to draw this picture with one of my favorite shows in mind, I hope to make my own series and one day be able to include this scene I have created, I hope this brings you as much joy as it brought me, to make and present to you.


I live in the Portugal and we see many bunnies gathering to watch the sun set.

Lenny is a bright and creative 13-year-old with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a condition that affects his social interactions and emotional regulation. Despite these challenges, Lenny has discovered a special way to express himself through art. This particular piece is of his beloved dog, his close companion and friend. Through this artwork, Lenny not only shares the joy and comfort his little dog brings him but also communicates a part of himself that words cannot fully express.

I just moved to a new house and there is a horse across the street that has become my new best friend. He comes to the fence to greet me and I love to feed him carrots and he loves to see me everyday. He loves when I pet him and cuddle his nose and I actually love it too just as much as he does.


I love Wings of Fire and wanted to create an original character based on the books to use in my own story. Magnolia is a dragon who got her leg cut off in the war and has to juggle both school and running her kingdom. She also has a pet lemur, named Sage, and sisters she has to care for since her parents died. Magnolia is strong and fierce and perseveres through hard challenges and also asks for help when she needs it and I want to be like her (minus the losing limbs and parents bit :) ).

Drawing is my greatest passion, and my dream is to one day connect this creative drive to my future career. This piece is about finding peace in overwhelming situations. The deep blue water represents heavy or isolating surroundings, while the bright, golden light radiating from the figure's chest symbolizes untouchable inner joy and resilience. It captures the exact moment of a weightless, happy buoyancy. Looking at this artwork makes me feel calm and relaxed.

My name is Leni Gless. I am 11 years and am a 6th grader in Chapel Hill, NC. I love to write stories and draw scenes from my stories to make it come to life. The stories I am currently writing, “Knights of the Impossible”, inspired this drawing. It shows the two main characters from my book, Ariana and her dragon Juco, in their kingdom. The cherry trees around the castle are what make the kingdom special. It makes me feel excited to continue writing my story and draw more scenes.

This piece symbolises the coming of spring as the snow melts, the sun comes out, and the flowers bloom. The feeling of the fresh cool breeze, and the sun on your face. It depicts a self-portrait holding my favorite flower. Even when the dark seems to last forever, the sun will come.

This piece makes me feel happy and proud of myself. I have been working on improving my art, and this piece shows the hard work I have put into art. I was inspired to make this piece, because I love wildlife and wanted an animal that would show my hard work and perseverance to improve my art.
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I love drawing, especially animals because I'm also an animal lover. Our main thing was a snail in art class, and I made him a suit. My favorite animal is a fox so I drew one. I made the fox's cheeks and the fox and snail were looking at each other and so I made a heart to show they were in love. This picture makes me feel happy, proud, and love.

I’m Harper. I love to read and art. My favorite colors are pink, green, and yellow. I love butterflies and they have never been in the sea before and I wanted to let her explore a new world. The sea creatures welcome her and are kind to her. It makes me feel happy and proud that she is brave enough to explore somewhere new.

I have a favorite tree in my grandma’s yard that feels a little magical. It is kind of hidden and I enjoy climbing up and sitting in it. My dog Skibby will often follow me. I also love the Fall and all fairytales so I added in things like the pumpkins and the little gnome. I also love fashion, so I designed a dress I would love to wear with little white butterflies on it. I enjoy drawing, painting and working with clay, so this art piece combines all of these things together.


My painting is inspired by nature and it's wild, powerful landscapes. This I have made from pure memory of what I know the African savanna looks like. This makes me feel happy, but also remembers me that this stunning wildlife will one day leave us if we don't stop hurting them, they'll go extinct! Showing the awes of nature and protecting it is my goal in life.

I'm a 12 year old who loves to draw. I'm inspired by the things I like or find interesting. Lately, I draw a lot of pieces from the ocean such as octopus, jelly fish, and other sea life. I enjoy all kinds of art and I love to practice drawing every day. I hope to learn more. I named this piece "The Underneath" based on where we find octopus. They live deep in the ocean. They are fascinating creatures!

Hi my name is Everley and this is my self portrait. I painted it because I wanted to create something that inspires other people. Self portraits are special pieces to create and I want people to know how beautiful they are, even if they’re in a place they normally aren’t. My portrait takes place in the mountains, which is one of my favorite places to visit.

I made this piece because I feel it represents the balance between humanity and nature. My inspiration was a photo of a girl and a heron posed like this, though I decided to further detail it and add my own flair and deeper meaning. This drawing makes me feel very happy and at peace.

My dog inspired me to make this drawing. She is very cute and fuzzy but I love her personality best. She is very energetic and sweet. I also love watching her sleep. I made the art piece using pencils. The pencils I used were 2B, 4B and 6B. This was the first time I’ve used different pencil grades. Some of the trials I’ve had with this drawing were getting the shapes right and getting the lines straight. But the biggest struggle I had was getting the lines light enough.

I'm Helen Horne. I drew this because she is one of my favorite characters in a game called Cookie Run Kingdom. She was once a virtue called Sugar of Happiness but she turned evil along with her other beast friends and refuses to let anyone leave her Heart of Paradise. Drawing this made me feel artistic!

My name is Connor. I really like the night sky, because it's really pretty and there's a lot of possibility. I chose to paint this, because it makes me think of the night sky, even when I'm not outside. It makes me feel happy, but sometimes when I look at it I feel like I'm not very good at painting. Even though I sometimes feel like it's not good enough, I'm still glad I painted it.

Hello! I am Laelah I'm 11 years old, and a young artist. What inspired me to make this art piece? Well for one I am a Swiftie and I love making art, I thought it would be fun to draw The Life of a Showgirl album and plus Taylor Swift is a good person to look up to. Anyways Laelah out! Thanks for reading ^^

I chose to depict a woman, a man, and a white buffalo in the Great Plains of North America as something that inspires me because, for Native Americans, buffalos are a creature of extreme significance to them. Especially in the Lakota tribe, white buffalos are regarded and revered as a symbol of hope, renewal, and prosperous futures. They serve as reminders to the respect and balance needed between humans and nature - at the white buffalo's side, the two humans stand in harmony with nature.

~ Sun and Moon, sisters in soul, pass each other in a fleeting moment of wonder; dancing in starlight. ~ Hello, thank you for reading this and viewing my art! My name is Madeline and I've always loved making art, but I didn't start digital art until 2020 during the pandemic. Since then I have enjoyed following my art journey wherever it has led me. The inspiration for this piece came from eclipses as the concept has always fascinated me, and I recently viewed one from my backyard.

I’m Addy! I do traditional and digital art, and I have been drawing since I was 10. With this piece I wanted to show warmth and color and evoke a feeling of hope. I also tried to challenge myself by coloring using a wide range of hues and shades as well as using semitones and hatching, some techniques which I don’t normally do. This piece makes me feel optimistic, and I proud of how it turned out!

I love to make different art work. I have dyslexia, and art helps me express myself or my thoughts with no words. I painted this because teachers forget that even though I struggle with my writing, I do know how to express myself. People who are different feel lost in the shadows. My artwork makes me feel happy because I know that in the end I am bright. That is why I draw my star, and my face.

My name is Luca, and I love Poppy Playtime. Some people think it’s scary, but I think it’s exciting and full of mystery. I like figuring out what will happen next and imagining how I would escape. It feels like an adventure in my brain. It makes me feel curious, brave, and proud when I solve things, even if they’re a little scary.

I love bright colors and cool textures. I am always looking for fun ways to make my art pop! I was inspired by Pop Art and how one thing can look so different in a bunch of colors. I used bubble wrap as a stamp for the background. It looks like giant sprinkles. It was so satisfying to dip the bubbles in paint and press them down! This art work makes me feel happy and energized. All the neon colors remind me of a sunny summer day when I’m about to eat my favorite ice cream!


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 think the biggest challenge I faced was that it was my first art class ever, and we had to squeeze a bunch of lessons in a couple weeks. The butterfly I drew inspired me because it makes you think about the beauty of nature and all the things that God created. They remind us to care for the little things, and be content with what you have. The butterfly is also pretty to look at. :D you wouldn’t mind voting, would you now >:)

My name is Lauren and I had a really fun time creating this illustration. I was inspired by one of my favorite artists: Zhang.bread_art and how they draw really detailed landscapes and traditional Chinese buildings. For this drawing I decided to draw a dragon from the traditional Chinese dragon dances flying above a city in China (no particular city). In addition, I purposely used bright colors to make the piece give off an energetic vibe as if the dragon had actually come to life.

My name is Paul. I drew this for my teacher because we both love cats. Cats inspire me with their unique mix of strength and calm. They are agile, balanced, and aware, yet also know how to rest. Their senses are very sharp, allowing them to notice things that people might miss. At the same time, cats are excellent at staying calm under pressure. Their independence and confidence remind me to trust myself. This drawing makes me feel strong and encourages me to pursue my goals with focus.

I am a student who enjoys drawing and expressing my feelings through art. This artwork shows a child holding the Earth, which represents my hope for world peace. I was inspired by the idea that even small hands can protect our planet. Creating this piece makes me feel calm and hopeful, and it reminds me to care for others and the world we share.

I’m obsessed with nature. Our family spends half the year doing van life around the country. Mostly visiting beautiful mountains and oceans. This special painting which is 6’ tall was inspired by my hikes through the forests of California. I did a whole series of paintings called “Nature”. The green and blue represent the sky and the orange is for the sunlight. I take art classes 2x week from Ms Jennifer on Outschool and I’m super inspired by the abstract artists I’m learning about in her class

I’ve always loved art as long as I can remember, but the aspect I love most about it is how a person can imagine what it is. I hope that is what this piece represents to you. This was also a way for me to express different art styles that I admire. My portfolio is primarily all gaming related, and this is my first attempt at drawing...well...myself. I hope you enjoy it!

I am Olivia and I can finally draw a human body with porportions. My teacher has been so inspiring and has made me so confident in my art. This piece makes me feel like I am at a Paris fashion show in the front row. It makes me feel so happy, all the way to my soul that I created that. Thank you for this class!

I am in high school and have been learning about lots of amazing artists and painting with Ms. Jenn Augustin for about three years. I am influenced by so many artists and really like to express myself in my art. This is called "Sunset" and I tried to emulate the bold, bright colors I sometimes see, and taking it further. I like making brush strokes that have movement and flex, and I like to blend colors to create something more.

The piece is a character sheet of my OC (original character) Taylor, i'm very proud of my art work, and very happy with how far i've come. i've always dreamed of being an artist and making my own anime. but i was never skilled enough. but now I see my dreams coming true every day. i truly hope I win

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.

I made this piece in my art class when we were learning about glitch art, taught by Mrs. B. It inspires me because glitch art isn't supposed to look perfect; its messy, creative, it can be whatever you want it to be. Also, Stitch is wild and free, he's expressing himself. And isn't that what art's all about? I made this using markers, white acrylic paint, and a plain graphite pencil.

This piece is a reflection of how life can seem so good and easy and put together but from the inside it’s hard and complicated. I feel like the soy sauce is like sudden tears in a way. Like how maybe it’s unexpected but happens anyway when you are overflowing with emotions. This piece was a painting my class did and I was really proud of it!

hi! My name is Payton S. I am 10 years old, i live in a growing town in Indiana! i love theater, singing, and esspecially art!!! i also love my dog, georgia! she is the best dog ever. so thats what i encorperated in my piece. i think i would be amazing to win the money, but even more amazing to have my piece showcased in times square in New York!!!!!!!🫶🏻

Hi, I'm Lianna and I like to dance, play with my friends, go to the beach and I love to draw. My drawing is called "A beautiful world starts with you" because each person has the power and responsibility to make the world a better place. The big green tree symbolizes growth, strength, and a healthy environment. The sun, birds, butterflies, heart, and flowers all represent life, love, peace, and harmony in nature. The heart especially shows that we should care for the Earth with love.

My name is Misha I am from Tampa Florida. I was inspired by my cat, Hunter, and my dad who is a musician. I am also a musician who is learning to play the piano and the guitar. The reason I picked a cat is because I love cats so much, and I picked a piano because I am learning the piano. I made a digital art using Procreate which I have learned thanks to Outschool and Ms. Uli. I used different gradients and some special brushes to create a lovable character Rock Star Kitty.

My name is River. For most of my life, the ocean, the city, art and games have inspired me. I grew up by the ocean,the salty sea makes me happy. I've always loved the tech lights and tall buildings in cities like New York and Tokyo. I love video games, particularly retro-games. As you can see, I also love art, especially drawing, building and acting. And of course I love cats!

Hello! I’m Eva, and I’ve created a drawing inspired by Ejae. The doodles in the center represent lyrics from her songs. She began singing Kpop songs at 3, but was rejected as a Kpop trainee at 23 after 10+ years of very hard work. The stripes represent her hardship. Yet Ejae didn’t give up, and is now a singer/songwriter, and the singing voice of Rumi from “Kpop Demon Hunters”. She can relate to the character a lot, herself. The color splotches represent emotion. I love drawing and music, too.

While working on painting an ocean wave, I was inspired by the curl at the tip of the wave. It reminded me of a dragons snout, so I continued painting it until my wave became a complete dragon. Looking at this dragon makes me happy because of how much I love reading about dragons and fantasy.

Doctor Doom is occasionally a villain, but usually just a nice leader trying to do what's right for his people, and he protects his country from sickness. Iron Man is a billionaire named Tony Stark who was not the best or nicest guy, but turned himself around and became the super hero Iron Man. That is a quick overview of the characters. They inspire me to work hard and be a good person too.

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.