The Fish Art Contest 2025 – USA and INTERNATIONAL FREE ART CONTEST – PAINTING CONTEST
Artwork must be the contestant’s original hand-drawn creation – digital mediums or AI generated artwork is not qualified. Participants are allowed to use photos, videos, and artwork, including those of past Fish Art participants as inspiration only when creating your artwork. Any artwork that is an exact replica of a photo or other work will be disqualified.
Artwork must not be larger than 11″x17″ and 2″ thick.
Art must be free of any signatures or initials on the front of the art, signatures are allowed on the back of the artwork.
Art must be free of any writing unless it relates to the artwork (i.e. the name of a boat).
Art should feature any fish species of choice (with exceptions, see below). Some species are eligible for specialty awards.
Goldfish, guppies, bettas, and koi are NOT eligible. Artwork must feature wild fish in natural habitats.
Make sure to submit your artwork by February 28th, 2025.
Eligibility:
-Only one entry is allowed per person each year, previous entries are not eligible.
-Art must feature any fish species of choice from the list above in their natural habitats.
-Artwork must be in hand-done 2D mediums (paint, colored pencil, crayon, marker, collage, etc).
-Art must be free of writing including signatures or initials.
-Artwork and writing must be the contestant’s unique, original hand-done creation, you may not reproduce any other artists work and present it as your own in any medium or use any digital mediums, computers, or AI generation.
-Participants are allowed to use photos, videos, and artwork, including those of past Fish Art participants as inspiration only when creating your artwork. If you have questions about what constitutes inspiration, we encourage you to speak with an art teacher, adult in your life, or some other person who can help get you the information you need, as we cannot provide legal guidance to you. Inspirational references used must be cited on the participants entry form with the source and original author of the work named. Any artwork or writing considered to potentially infringe on another’s intellectual property will be disqualified from the contest. Any artwork or writing that appears to be an exact replica, in whole or substantial part, of another’s work will be disqualified.
Creative Writing
Creative writing should show the contestants knowledge, connection to and/or understanding of their chosen fish.
Creative writing submissions may be decorated, have illustrations, or be creative in appearance but the words should be the main focus of the piece.
Creative writing is not required for contestants in grades K-3 and international participants.
Entry Forms
Participants should be sure to select the entry form that applies to them. Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, and Vermont have state specific forms. All other US and international participants should use the general entry form. Please see each states page for state specific rules.
Submitting – Option 1 : Complete the online entry form. Select “I am mailing my artwork and essay”. Postmark your work with your name clearly printed on the back by Feb 28th, 2024.
Submitting – Option 2: Complete online entry form. Select “I am uploading my artwork and essay.” Attach your scanned work to the form and click submit. **All international students should be submitting their artwork digitally**
Mailing Artwork
Please limit the amount of packaging when mailing your artwork. It is recommended to use a flat cardboard box or a thick, cardboard envelope – your artwork will be safe and mailing will be cheaper. We encourage you to avoid using boxes and plastic fillers.
Do not ship artwork in a frame or matt – especially glass. It breaks.
International Participants
Creative Writing is not required for any international participant.
If you choose to send your entry by mail, please know that we will not be able to return it.
Judging
For each state and country, winners will be selected in four age categories: Kindergarten to 3rd grade (ages 5-8), 4th to 6th grade (ages 9-11), 7th to 9th grade (ages 12-14), and 10th to 12th grade (ages 15-18). In each category, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be chosen.
All 1st place winners from each state’s age category will advance to compete in the United States National Judging.
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST AND FOR DETAILS, GO TO THE WEB PAGE – PLEASE CLICK –