Visual Arts

Modified on: Wed, 3 Sep, 2025 at 12:48 PM

The Visual Arts competition provides students with the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and creative abilities. Each club may enter one entry in each category. For senior, a club may enter a student in both Division I and Division II.

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.

A completed Visual Arts Tag must be attached to each project.

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

Ribbons will not be placed on winning entries.

Categories

Black & White Photography

Must be original work of student during the current convention year.
No AI created entries.
The photograph submitted must be no larger than 8”x10”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 11" x 14". This means if you choose to frame and mat the piece, the exterior dimensions of the framed and matted piece cannot exceed 11" x 14".
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

Color Photography

Must be original work of the student during the current convention year.
No AI created entries.
The photograph submitted must be no larger than 8”x10”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 11" x 14". This means if you choose to frame and mat the piece, the exterior dimensions of the framed and matted piece cannot exceed 11" x 14".
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

Digital Art

Must be original work of the student during the current convention year.
No AI created entries.
The entry submitted must be no larger than 8”x10”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 11" x 14". This means if you choose to frame and mat the piece, the exterior dimensions of the framed and matted piece cannot exceed 11" x 14".
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

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.
- Adjust brightness, contrast, or colors
- Remove or blur things you don’t want in the picture
- Add filters or effects
- Combine parts of different images together
No AI created entries.
The photograph that is being enhanced must have been taken by the 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 digitally enhanced photograph submitted must be no larger than 8”x10”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 11" x 14". This means if you choose to frame and mat the piece, the exterior dimensions of the framed and matted piece cannot exceed 11" x 14".
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

Drawing

Must be original work of the student during the current convention year.
The entry submitted must be no larger than 16”x20”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 18" x 24". This means if you choose to frame and mat the piece, the exterior dimensions of the framed and matted piece cannot exceed 18" x 24".
Any medium may be used in the drawing. No paint pens are allowed.
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

Fiber Arts

Fiber Arts is fine art whose material consists of natural or synthetic fiber and other components such as fabric or yarn.
No kits allowed.
Must be original work of the student during the current convention year.
Quilts, blankets, and throws must be folded to fit the dimensions of 36”x36”. The judges will unfold and view for judging.
Other entries must be no larger than 36”x36”x36” including flowers, stuffed animals, dioramas, etc.
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.
Quilt racks, quilt stands or mannequins for display purposes are prohibited.

Hand-drawn Anime

Must be original work of the student during the current convention year.
No AI created entries.
The subject matter CAN be based on an actual anime character(s) or be an original character design.
The entry submitted must be no larger than 16”x20”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 18" x 24". This means if you choose to frame and mat the piece, the exterior dimensions of the framed and matted piece cannot exceed 18" x 24".
Any medium may be used in the drawing.
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

Jewelry

Must be original work of the 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, or neck displays ONLY. Half or full body mannequins are prohibited. However, displays are not required and are not judged.
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

Mixed Media

Mixed Media uses more than one medium. This can be any items of the student’s choosing.
Must be original work of the student during the current convention year.
Entry must be no larger than 24”x24”x24”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 24" x 24".
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels/mannequins are prohibited.

Painting

Must be original work of the student during the current convention year.
The entry submitted must be no larger than 16”x20”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 18" x 24". This means if you choose to frame and mat the piece, the exterior dimensions of the framed and matted piece cannot exceed 18" x 24".
Any painting medium (watercolor, tempera, oil, acrylic, etc.) may be used.
No kits, such as Paint by Number, may be used.
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

Pottery

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

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 the student during the current convention year.
No kits allowed.
Entry must be no larger than 24”x24”x24”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 24" x 24".
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels are prohibited.

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 the student during the current convention year.
Entry must be no larger than 36”x36”x36”.
The exterior dimensions of the piece cannot exceed 36" x 36".
Photo books, posters, albums, displays, etc. detailing the creation of the entry are prohibited.
Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
Easels used for display purposes must be able to sit on a table safely and securely. Floor easels/mannequins are prohibited.

Sculpture

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

Woodworking

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

Competition Guidelines

Students must be registered for the convention in order to enter artwork.
The Visual Art Identification Tag is included in the handbook. Print, complete in full, and attach to each Visual Art entry. Signatures are required.
An individual may enter only one category. Clubs are limited to one entry per category.
Entries may not be inappropriate or explicit in nature.
Easels will not be provided.
All artwork must be submitted and remain on display at the designated time listed in the schedule.
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 competition(s) to collect entered items at the designated times listed on the schedule.

Educational Connections

Design Elements
Visual Arts Standards
Creativity and Innovation

How to Enter

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

Visual Arts Tag

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

View all competition forms and download here.

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 in overall design and appearance