Elementary Visual Arts

The Visual Arts competition provides students the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and creative abilities. Each club may enter one entry in each category. This competition is designed to encourage creativity, innovation, reward outstanding craftsmanship, and reinforce the importance of fine arts.

An individual student may enter only ONE Visual Arts Category.

Beginning this convention year, ribbons will no longer be placed on winning entries.

A completed Visual Arts Tag must be attached to each project. (No interviews)

All entries should be measured to ensure they fit the dimensions listed for each category prior to submission.

Categories

Black & White Photography

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
The photograph submitted must be no larger than 8”x10”. If you choose to frame and mat, then the finished entry submitted can be no larger than 11”x14”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Color Photography

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
The photograph submitted must be no larger than 8”x10”. If you choose to frame and mat, then the finished entry submitted can be no larger than 11”x14”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Digital Art

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
No AI created entries.
The entry submitted must be no larger than 8”x10”. If you choose to frame and mat, then the finished entry submitted can be no larger than 11”x14”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Digitally Enhanced Photography

Digitally Enhanced Photography is a photograph, no collages, that is enhanced or altered from the original photograph. Changing from color to black and white and vice versa is not considered “digitally enhancing” a photograph.
Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
The original photograph and the digitally enhanced photograph must be submitted for judging.
The original photograph must be 5”x7”.
The photograph submitted must be no larger than 8”x10”. If you choose to frame and mat, then the finished entry submitted can be no larger than 11”x14”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Drawing

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
The entry submitted must be no larger than 16”x20”. If you choose to frame and mat, then the finished entry submitted can be no larger than 18”x24”.
Any medium may be used in the drawing. No paint pins allowed.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Fiber Arts

Fiber Arts is fine art whose material consist of natural or synthetic fiber and other components such as fabric or yarn.
No kits allowed.
Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
Dimensions must not exceed 36”x36”.
Quilts, blankets, and throws must be folded to fit the dimensions of 36”x36”. The judges will unfold and view for judging. No stands for display purposes will be allowed.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.
No display stands, quilt racks, quilt stands or mannequins.

Hand-drawn Anime

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
The entry submitted must be no larger than 16”x20”. If you choose to frame and mat, then the finished entry submitted can be no larger than 18”x24”.
Any medium may be used in the drawing.
The subject matter cannot be based on an actual anime character(s). It must be an original character design.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Jewelry

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
Only one entry can be submitted to be judged (i.e. pair of earrings, a bracelet, a necklace, etc.)
Sets are not permitted. Students will be asked to remove additional pieces that are not being judged.
No kits allowed.
Entries may be displayed using jewelry displays, hand displays, etc. However, displays are not required and are not judged.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Mixed Media

Mixed Media uses more than one medium. This can be any items of the student’s choosing.
Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
Entry must be no larger than 24”x24”x24”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry. -Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Painting

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
The entry submitted must be no larger than 16”x20”. If you choose to frame and mat, then the finished entry submitted can be no larger than 18”x24”.
Any painting medium (watercolor, tempera, oil, acrylic, etc.) may be used.
No kits, such as Paint by Number, may be used.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Pottery

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
Entry must be no larger than 24”x24”x24”
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Quilling

Quilling is strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued to create a design that can be abstract.
Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
No kits allowed.
Entry must be no larger than 24”x24”x24”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Recyclable Art

Recyclable Art is the recycling of any materials (discarded or otherwise) to create a new work of art.
Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
Entry must be no larger than 36”x36”x36”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Sculpture

Sculpture is the art of making three dimensional forms using stone, wood, metal, plaster, etc.
Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
Any materials can be used to create the entry.
Entry must be no larger than 48”x48”x48”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Woodworking

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
No kits allowed.
Entry must be no larger than 60”x60”x60”.
Please do not include any photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry.
Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. No floor easels will be allowed.

Competition Guidelines

The Visual Art Identification Tag is included in the handbook. Print, complete in full, and attach to each Visual Art entry.
An individual may enter only one category. Clubs are limited to one entry per category.
Easels will not be provided.
All artwork must be submitted and displayed at the designated time.
Students must be registered for the convention in order to enter artwork.
Entries must remain on display until the designated time of pickup.
Although reasonable precautions to protect entries will be taken, National Beta will not be responsible for loss or damage. It is the responsibility of clubs entering the contest to collect entered items at the designated times.
Entries may not be inappropriate or explicit in nature.
Educational Connections
Visual Arts Standards
Creativity and Innovation
Communication and Collaboration
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

How to Enter

Visit [https://www.betaclub.org/events/conventions] and follow directions.
Register students and then select competitions to enter.

National Eligibility

All Plaques Awarded at State Convention

Judging Criteria

Holistic style judging will be used to determine the award winners in the arts competition. Judges will use the following to determine the winners:

Creativity – originality, innovation

Composition – lines, simplicity, balance, color contrast, details

Focus – degree of sharpness or softness, depth of field

Lighting – exposure, direction quality, use of shadows, shading

Technique – camera angle, paint strokes, application and experimentation of medium, texture

Primary visual impact – subject matter

Presentation – appearance, overall artistic appeal

Complexity - degree of difficulty

Visual Arts Tag

Must be printed, filled out, and submitted with entry.

View all competition forms and download here.