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4-H Spring Art Contest 2026
More info coming soon for 2026…
Past Art Contests
2025 Mixed Media – Animals
The annual Spring Art Contest is a fun chance for 4-H Youth to test their art skills and practice an art medium they may have never tried. The 4-H Spring Art contest starts March 20 and ends April 28 so there is plenty of time to work on unique and imaginative canvases! See the information below for more details or contact the Extension 4-H Office at 715-682-7017!
PDF of the 2025 Art Contest Entry Form
The Spring Art Contest Theme is…. Animals using Mixed Media Art!
Mix 3 or more of your favorite mediums on canvas, please feature at least one animal in your piece:
- colored pencils
- crayons
- fabric
- glitter
- markers
- oil pastels
- paint
- paper
- photographs
- pens
- stencils
- stamps
- watercolor
- use your imagination!
Inspiration & Resources to Help You Get Started!
Contest Process & Guidelines
The Spring Art Contest officially opens on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
- Canvases and art supplies can be picked up at the Ash-Co 4-H office 8am-4pm.
- Artists are welcome to use their own materials or ask the office for more materials.
- Extended office hours will be kept on Mondays until 6:30pm for art pick-up.
The Contest closes on Monday, April 28 so local artists can review all the entries.
- Artwork entries are due by 6:30pm to the Ash-Co 4-H office on the closing date.
- Remember to give your artwork a title on the back of the canvas (see info below)!
- Artwork is reviewed based Creativity, Craftsmanship, & Comprehension.
Entries are displayed and awards announced at the Spring Gala – Sunday, May 4, 2025!
- Detailed invites will be online and mailed to 4-H Online registered families.
- Optional activities are offered before and after awards are announced.
- All artwork entries are displayed, and participants receive certificates and/or prizes.
Please keep in mind that each artwork…
- Needs to be an original work made by the youth participant
- Can be displayed on the 1st Floor of the Ash-Co Courthouse after the Spring Gala
- Can later be submitted to the Ashland County Junior Fair Exhibit in August
Age Categories
ages 5-6
ages 7-8
ages 9-10
ages 11-12
ages 13-14
ages 15-16
ages 17-19
2024 Found Object Art
Winter is shifting into Spring which means it’s time for our 4-Hers to get extra expressive!
The Annual 4-H Spring Art contest starts Friday, March 15 and ends Monday, April 29 so there is plenty of time to work on unique and imaginative canvases! See the information below for more details or contact the Extension 4-H Office at 715-682-7017!
This Spring’s Art Contest Theme is… Found Art!
Definition: Objects that are not originally designed for artistic purposes but can be used in artistic ways.
Click here for ideas and links with art examples to help get you started!
- Paint with home-made stamps from sponges, old cups, old cookie-cutters, paper towel rolls, potatoes, rags, etc.
- Mix materials to make different parts of your picture, like using an old hair comb to paint grass to create a landscape.
- Search “Found Art” online to learn more from videos like this: https://youtu.be/hhz1Vqx2UxA?si=t12XINcMhJJbEniL&t=3
Contest Process & Guidelines:
| The Spring Art Contest officially opens on Friday, March 15th, 2024. Canvases are ready to be picked up at the Ashland County Extension 4-H office. Some paint is available from the office for artist use, but supplies are limited. Artists are welcome to use their own materials or ask the office for assistance. The Contest closes on Monday, April 29th for local panel of judges to review entries. Artwork entries are due by 4:00 pm to the Extension Office on the closing date. Remember to attach your entry form to the artwork (available at the office)! Artwork is reviewed based on 3 things: Creativity, Craftsmanship, & Comprehension. After review, awards are announced at the 4-H Spring Art Celebration in early May! The event is held during the first weekend of May – event updates shared in April. Optional art activities are offered before awards are announced. All artwork entries are presented, and all participants receive a certificate. All winners in each age group receive monetary awards. Important Notes to Keep in Mind! – Only one entry per artist is accepted and each artwork must be the individual artist’s original creation. – After awards, artwork entries are publicly displayed on the First Floor of the Ashland County Courthouse. – Artists may collect their artwork and submit it to the Ashland County Junior Fair Exhibit held in August. |
Age Groups
- 5-6 years old
- 7-8 years old
- 9-10 years old
- 11-12 years old
- 13-14 years old
- 15-16 years old
- 17-19 years old
Art Entry forms and canvases are both available at the office now!
2023 Decoupage
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here! The 4-H Ashland County Spring Arts Contest is officially open starting today through Tuesday, May 30! The theme this year is decoupage, and you can pick up canvases, mod podge, and paper materials starting Saturday May 6 from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the Ashland County Courthouse. Materials will also be available from 8:00-4:00 the following week! Contact the office if you need a different time to pick up materials. Please see important information below:
Age Groups
5-6 years old
7-8 years old
9–10 years old
11–12 years old
13–14 years old
15–16 years old
17-19 years old
Contest Rules & Reminders
- Exhibits are judged on 3 categories: Originality (design), Quality (composition), & Aesthetics (color/tones)
- Only one entry per person will be accepted.
- All artworks must be the individual entrant’s original creation.
- Participants should write their first and last name on the back of the work.
- Use the Extension Office materials (ready Saturday, May 6, 10AM-1PM), and/or your own items.
- Artwork entries are due by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
- Hand-in artwork at the Ashland County Extension Office.
- Remember to bring artwork with a finished 2023 Spring Art Contest Entry Form
- All artworks will be displayed in a public venue!
- After artwork is returned, consider keeping yours for the County Fair!
Awards
Monetary awards are given to each age group winner. Judging will be before the awards ceremony on June 1.
Some Ideas, Videos, and Inspiration to Get You Started!
- Tear or cut images from magazines, newspapers, etc., or create your own pictures.
- Gently paste your selected pictures on the object so they stick well.
- Decoupage for Beginners Video
- Step-by-Step Decoupage Video
- Decoupage on Canvas Video(turn closed captioning on to see instructions)
2022 String Art
The time has come for the 2022 4-H Spring Art Contest! This year, the theme is String Art! With help from an adult, work to create a masterpiece by winding string around nails on a square wood block. The possibilities are endless… from a green 4-H Clover to abstract sunset scene! Monetary prizes will be given to the top art pieces from each age category. Please call 715-682-7017 with any questions or email blake.frost@wisc.edu. The Extension Office is located at 201 West Main Street room 107, Ashland WI, 54806.
Age Categories:
- 5-6 years
- 7-8 years
- 9-10 years
- 11-12 years
- 13-14 years
- 15-16 years
- 17-19 years
Rules:
- Only one entry per person will be accepted.
- All artwork must be the individual entrant’s original creation.
- Art work must be done using wood and nails: provided at the Extension Office starting April 18th or use your own
- Wood can be left plain, stained, painted, or covered with fabric.
- All string types and colors are allowed (embroidery floss, crocheting thread, yarn, etc.).
- Participants should write their first and last name on the backside of the wood at the top.
- Entries must be dropped off with an entry form at the Extension Office by 4:00 pm on May 2nd, 2022
- Exhibits will be judged on: Originality, Quality, and Aesthetic Quality (design, composition, color/tones).
- All exhibits will be displayed at the Vaughn Library starting Mid May!
- All exhibitors are strongly encouraged to enter their exhibits in the Ashland County Fair.
Examples Below!
2021 Tape Art
The Ashland County 4-H Leaders Association is proud to sponsor a tape art painting project and contest for all Ashland County 4-H Youth (and friends) and you are invited to tap into your inner artist and submit an entry, you could even win a cash prize! Canvases and tape are being provided by the Leaders Association.
You can view and download the official rules and the contest entry form here.
Entries will be photographed and displayed on our website, and all entries will be part of an exhibit at the Chequamegon Food Co-op in June!
- Canvases and tape will be available for pickup from the Ashland County Extension office beginning April 28th.
- Completed tape art paintings are due back into our office for judging by May 10th (end of day).
- Judges will be finished judging by May 19th and awards will be announced later that week. Judging will occur in our office, and awards will be mailed on a later date.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please call the Ashland County Extension office, 715-682-7017.
Looking for inspiration and tips for your painting?