Where Young
Artists Compete,
Create & Celebrate.
Live judged by gallery owners and art teachers. Watercolor, charcoal, mixed media — fat brushes, oil pastels, and a countdown clock that makes every stroke count.
Upcoming
League Dates
Each session runs 90 minutes. Supplies included. Judges score live on creativity, technique, storytelling, and color use.
Spring Bloom Watercolor
Ages 4–6
Portrait Masters
Ages 10–14
Wild Things Mixed Media
Ages 7–9
Color Stories Oil Pastel
Ages 4–9
Abstract Expressions
Ages 10–14
Little Landscapes
Ages 4–6Booking for a co-op or after-school program?
Register a team of 5+ kids and save 15%. Perfect for homeschool groups and Saturday programs.
Past Winners
Tap any card to flip it and read the artist statement — in their own words.
Marisol Reyes, age 9
Watercolor"I painted the ocean because my grandma lives near the beach and I miss her. I used all the blues I could find."
Judge's note: "Exceptional emotional depth for her age. The color transitions show real instinct."
Elijah Thompson, age 12
Charcoal"I drew my grandpa. He always says his eyes have seen everything. I tried to draw what he's seen."
Judge's note: "The hatching technique here rivals work I see in adult portrait classes. Remarkable."
Priya Nair, age 7
Oil Pastel"My jungle has every color because animals deserve to live in colorful places. I gave the tiger rainbow stripes."
Judge's note: "Fearless use of complementary colors. This child has an innate sense of visual rhythm."
Aiden Park, age 11
Mixed Media"I built a robot out of old newspaper and feelings. The newspaper is stuff adults worry about. The robot is happy."
Judge's note: "The conceptual framework here is startlingly mature. He understands metaphor through material."
Sofia Brennan, age 5
Watercolor"That is my family. I made us all the same size because I am important too."
Judge's note: "The composition choice is deliberate and profound. Every element placed with purpose."
Real Rigor,
Real Fun
Every artwork is scored on four dimensions by two independent judges — a gallery owner and a credentialed art teacher. Here's exactly what they're looking for.
Creativity
30/30Originality of concept, unexpected choices, personal vision that goes beyond the obvious.
Technique
25/30Control of the medium, brush handling, blending, composition balance, age-appropriate mastery.
Storytelling
25/25Does the artwork communicate something? Can a viewer feel what the child wanted to express?
Use of Color
15/15Intentional color choices, harmony or contrast, emotional resonance through palette.
Who Are the Judges?
Every Easel event is judged by two independent experts: a working gallery owner or curator from the local arts community, and a credentialed art teacher with classroom experience. Judges are rotated every session to ensure fresh perspectives.
From the Families
Who Were There
Parent voices on the left. Kid voices on the right. Both are telling the same story.
"I brought 12 kids from our co-op and every single one left holding something they were proud of. The judges gave real feedback — not just "great job." My daughter read her scorecard three times on the way home."
"We fill our Saturday calendar with Easel events now. It's the only structured art competition I've found that scales from a 4-year-old to a 14-year-old without losing either one. The age brackets are thoughtfully designed."
"My son cried the first time he didn't win first place. Then he read what the judge wrote about his color choices and he came back the next month with a completely different strategy. That's what competition is supposed to do."
"I got second place and the judge said my clouds looked like real clouds. I am going to practice clouds every day now."
"The gallery owner said my charcoal drawing had "compositional maturity." I had to look that up but I think it means I'm good."
"I used purple for the sky because the sky can be purple if you want it to be. The judge agreed."
"I've been to four competitions now. I have three ribbons and one trophy. I'm coming back until I have five trophies."