Submit Your Work
Rules for the Year of the Horse Zodiac Painting Competition
- A. Theme: Create a work based on the theme of the "Horse"; art materials are unrestricted.
- B. Participants: Children and adults who are passionate about art.
- C. Work Requirements: Must be original. Suggested size should not exceed 20*30 Inches.
- D. Registration Method: Register and pay through the school, or online registration ($20).
- E. Submission of Work: Schools will uniformly collect and submit, or submit to the designated location. (When submitting the work, use painter's tape to attach an information label on the back. The label must include the Painting Title, Student Name, Institution Name, and Registration Group.)
- F. Judging: Preliminary Selection + Final Expert Selection. Awards include First, Second, and Third Prizes, Excellence Award, and Rising Star Award. The winning rate is 50%; all participants receive a gift.
- G. Award Ceremony: A unified award ceremony will be held on January 31st, and outstanding works will be exhibited.
Number of Winners per Group
| Group | Age | First Prize | Second Prize | Third Prize | Excellence Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Group | 4-7 years old | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 |
| 8-12 years old | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 | |
| 13-15 years old | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 | |
| 16-18 years old | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 | |
| Amateur Group | 4-12 years old | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 |
| 13-18 years old | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 | |
| AI Group | 18 years old and under | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Prize Settings
| Prize Name | Content |
|---|---|
| First Prize | Trophy + $100 |
| Second Prize | Medal |
| Third Prize | Medal |
| Excellence Award | Commemorative Gift |
E-transfer / Online Payment
E-transfer
Please transfer the $20 CAD registration fee to the account below. Please indicate your Name and Email in the notes. Payment is required for eligibility.
E-transfer
office@ocls-ottawa.ca
Online Payment
Invitation Letter
Dear Principals and Teachers:
The 3rd Zodiac Painting Competition (Year of the Horse) is about to begin. Building on the foundation of the previous two editions, this year sees improvements and enhancements across all aspects. The Organizing Committee hopes to elevate this competition as a traditional project for promoting Chinese culture and art. The Zodiac Painting Competition conveys not only art appreciation but also the profound meaning and connotation of traditional Chinese culture. At the same time, we hope to provide a platform for various art schools (and classes) to showcase their achievements. Thank you for your support and participation!
To make this year's competition more organized and effective, the Organizing Committee has decided to invite Chinese schools and art schools (classes) to join as Partner Organizations to jointly promote this event.
The 3rd Zodiac Painting Competition (Year of the Horse) is about to begin. Building on the foundation of the previous two editions, this year sees improvements and enhancements across all aspects. The Organizing Committee hopes to elevate this competition as a traditional project for promoting Chinese culture and art. The Zodiac Painting Competition conveys not only art appreciation but also the profound meaning and connotation of traditional Chinese culture. At the same time, we hope to provide a platform for various art schools (and classes) to showcase their achievements. Thank you for your support and participation!
To make this year's competition more organized and effective, the Organizing Committee has decided to invite Chinese schools and art schools (classes) to join as Partner Organizations to jointly promote this event.
Partnership Content
1. Promotion & Organization: Partner schools/institutions will assist in promotion using posters and social media posts, and organize students to actively register and submit works.
2. Collection of Works: Partner schools/institutions will be responsible for collecting and registering works (using a unified form) and collecting registration fees.
3. Submission of Works: After collection and registration are complete, verify student ID numbers (provided by the Committee) and ensure personal information is correct. Submit to the Committee at the unified time. Additionally, all works must be photographed by the artist and uploaded to the Committee's website.
4. Selection Process: Divided into Preliminary and Final rounds.
Preliminary: Step 1: Online preliminary selection to screen top 50% of works based on scores. Step 2: Preliminary judges (drawn from 5 professional teachers from partner units) will select top 10% from the remaining works. 60% of works passing the preliminary round go to Final Review Judges (three renowned local artists) to select 1st, 2nd, 3rd Prizes, Excellence Awards, and Rising Star Awards (50% winning rate). All participants will receive a certificate.
5. Awards Ceremony: Schools are requested to organize students to attend the awards ceremony and view the on-site exhibition. The ceremony also serves as a platform for teachers and students from Ottawa's art community to network, exchange ideas, and learn.
6. Partnership Benefits: Partner units will be promoted in social media posts, on the website (where all past entries and partners are listed), in video promotions, and during the awards ceremony.
2. Collection of Works: Partner schools/institutions will be responsible for collecting and registering works (using a unified form) and collecting registration fees.
3. Submission of Works: After collection and registration are complete, verify student ID numbers (provided by the Committee) and ensure personal information is correct. Submit to the Committee at the unified time. Additionally, all works must be photographed by the artist and uploaded to the Committee's website.
4. Selection Process: Divided into Preliminary and Final rounds.
Preliminary: Step 1: Online preliminary selection to screen top 50% of works based on scores. Step 2: Preliminary judges (drawn from 5 professional teachers from partner units) will select top 10% from the remaining works. 60% of works passing the preliminary round go to Final Review Judges (three renowned local artists) to select 1st, 2nd, 3rd Prizes, Excellence Awards, and Rising Star Awards (50% winning rate). All participants will receive a certificate.
5. Awards Ceremony: Schools are requested to organize students to attend the awards ceremony and view the on-site exhibition. The ceremony also serves as a platform for teachers and students from Ottawa's art community to network, exchange ideas, and learn.
6. Partnership Benefits: Partner units will be promoted in social media posts, on the website (where all past entries and partners are listed), in video promotions, and during the awards ceremony.
Why Participate in the Ottawa Youth Zodiac Painting Competition?
1. Express Yourself: "Art is the washing of the dust of daily life off our souls." — Picasso
Picasso once said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." This Zodiac Painting Competition is an opportunity to rediscover your original intention, showcase innocence, and express yourself. Let the vividness in your heart bloom on paper and treat the creative process as a cleansing of the soul.
2. Unleash Imagination, Resonate with Van Gogh
Van Gogh said, "I dream my painting and I paint my dream." This is a journey of boundless imagination—with an open theme and unrestrained creativity, you can depict the Year of the Snake (or Horse) in your heart on canvas. Let your painting be as brilliant and unique as Van Gogh's starry night, like a dream, turning the whimsy in your mind into reality.
3. Showcase Talent: "Life is the source of art." — Da Vinci
Da Vinci taught us: "We can observe all things in nature and draw inspiration from them." In this zodiac year symbolizing wisdom and agility, use your observation of life and your brush to interpret the New Year in your eyes. Condense your blessings and vision into a work of art, allowing your talent to shine brightly on this stage.
4. Hone Skills, Share & Interact with Art Lovers
Cézanne said, "Great art is always shared with others." Participating in the competition is not just a process of self-expression, but also an opportunity to communicate and progress with teachers and friends. Share creativity and exchange techniques with many students who love art, gain a sense of accomplishment, and spend an artistic New Year together!
5. Let Works Carry Blessings: A Tribute to Yeats
As the sentiment goes, "Do not just plant beautiful seeds in your heart, let them bloom." Let your painting become a warm blessing, conveying your wishes through colorful works. Regardless of size, your work can become a shared beauty for the New Year. Let your art, like a blessing, carry warmth to all directions.
Previous Winners (2025 2nd Edition - Year of the Snake)
Good & Evil · Karma
Title: Good & Evil · Karma
Artist: Xinyue Zhang
Group D First Prize
Group D: Grade 10—12
Talent Color Art School
Artist: Xinyue Zhang
Group D First Prize
Group D: Grade 10—12
Talent Color Art School
Critique
A snake slowly approaches the girl before the Buddha, as if the Buddha is protecting her. The concept is unique, and the image holds a mysterious atmosphere reminiscent of Miyazaki's animations, making the viewer curious about the story that follows.
2025 Pillar of Strength, Serpent of Light
Title: 2025 Pillar of Strength, Serpent of Light
Artist: Lisa Fan
Group C First Prize
Group C: Grade 7—9
Talent Color Art School
Artist: Lisa Fan
Group C First Prize
Group C: Grade 7—9
Talent Color Art School
Critique
The picture has the time-travel feel of a Jin Yong martial arts drama. The visual impact is very strong, seeming to radiate divine light. The concept and perspective are unique, and the technique is excellent.
Golden Snake Bearing Auspiciousness
Title: Golden Snake Bearing Auspiciousness
Artist: Avery Kwan
Group B First Prize
Group B: Grade 4—6
Lufeng Art Studio
Artist: Avery Kwan
Group B First Prize
Group B: Grade 4—6
Lufeng Art Studio
Critique
Colorful fireworks are blooming in the sky, and a beautiful golden snake sits coiled beneath them, presenting auspiciousness. The golden snake has beautiful gold and red scales. Beside it is a market full of happy people and delicious food: juicy kumquats, sweet candied haws, and soft glutinous rice balls, surrounded by flowers, ingots, lanterns, and red envelopes. Friends and family are wearing beautiful traditional clothes, talking and laughing on the street—a scene of prosperity and happiness.
Snake Shines in the Starry Sky
Title: Snake Shines in the Starry Sky
Artist: Mia Li
Group A First Prize
Group A: JK--Grade 3
Tian Tian Art Class
Artist: Mia Li
Group A First Prize
Group A: JK--Grade 3
Tian Tian Art Class
Critique
This realistic style has strong visual impact. The use of color is excellent, with sharp contrast between warm and cool tones. The composition is nearly perfect. The young artist possesses technical ability beyond their years, though the picture lacks some of the innocent imagination typical of children. We look forward to the child expressing themselves from the heart in the future.
2025 2nd Ottawa Youth Chinese Zodiac Painting Competition - What the Judges Say