Have wildflowers ever inspired the inner artist in you? If you're a Virginia student, here's an opportunity to show your creativity through the Youth Wildflower Art Contest at Shenandoah National Park.

The contest is open to all K-12 students in Virginia. The first 250 applications will be accepted.

For the subjects of their work, artists must use wildflowers that are native to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Shenandoah National Park. The following checklist contains the eligible flower species, as well as photos of some species for reference on the website. 

Judging Criteria and Process:
Art entries must be a creative rendering of a native spring wildflower or wildflowers and must be a species from the attached checklist. Submissions must be on flat media, and may include acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, pencil, fabric, etc. Artwork should not be matted, mounted, or framed. Photographs, computer-generated, or computer-enhanced artwork will not be accepted. Works will be judged on the basis of original design and artistic composition. Judges will select the top entries from each grade level. Application will close after 250 entries. One of the top entries will be selected as the “Best in Show.” Art selected for the top entries will be asked to submit a high resolution image of the artwork for an award video. 
 

Application Requirements

Subject Matter:
All entries must be inspired by native spring wildflowers found in Shenandoah National Park, and must be species included on the attached checklist - Native Wildflower Checklist for Youth Art Contest (nps.gov). Some plant photo references are available on the park website, www.nps. gov/shen , but these images must not be traced or copied. Pictures of these species from other sources may be used for reference. 

Artwork:
Entries must be flat media such as acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, fabric, etc. may be used. Artwork should not be mounted, matted, or framed. Photographs and computer-enhanced or computer-generated artwork will not be accepted. 

Number of Entries:
Each artist may only enter one piece. Applications will close after 250 entries. 

Eligibility Criteria

Who May Enter:
All students in grades K through 12 living in Virginia. Public, private, city, and home-schooled students in these counties may participate.