2008 Guidelines

Winners Named!

What

Students must submit a piece of artwork with one of the following quotes from American authors as their theme:

Category 1: “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.“ —Helen Keller
Category 2: “Humility, like darkness, reveals the heavenly lights.” —Henry David Thoreau
Category 3: “A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” —Oliver Wendell Holmes

We try to choose themes that will leave a lot of room for students’ imagination and interpretation. We want students to come up with their own ideas of what best illustrates the given quote, without us dictating the response.

Students do not have to actually include the quote in their artwork (although that is allowed). The quote is meant to be the inspiration and theme behind whatever image students decide to portray.

What does it mean to love something so it becomes a part of you? What would humility look like personified? What kinds of insights are worth a life’s experience? But don’t stop there. Ask your own questions about the quotes and let your imagination run with it! Our judges love it when a student comes up with something they had not thought of before.

Basically, what does the theme make you think of? Then take it from there and be creative. We hope that students will come up with many imaginative ideas to fit the theme.

Of course, your entry must be original and appropriate for public display to our homeschooling audience (which is not meant to limit your creativity or choice of subject; for example, you are free to choose a serious or deep subject, such as suffering). We look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Who

Contest prizes and themes are determined based on the student’s age. If a student falls into Category 1 in age, then he or she must do the Category 1 theme and will be awarded Category 1 prizes. The same applies for categories 2 and 3.

Category 1: Homeschoolers ages 7 to 11 as of January 1, 2008.
Category 2: Homeschoolers ages 12 to 15 as of January 1, 2008.
Category 3: Homeschoolers ages 16 to 19 as of January 1, 2008.

For the purposes of this contest, an eligible student must have been home educated in the past year and received a majority of his or her education in the past year through home education.

Media/Format

1. Flat, two-dimensional, artwork less than one-quarter-inch thick, not including mat or frame (drawing, painting, mixed media, etc.)
2. Completely original hand-done artwork (no tracing, photography, or computer-generated artwork).

For those pieces that make it to the final round:

3. All work must be matted and/or framed with a simple and lightweight matte or frame and have wire or other hanging hardware attached ready for hanging.
4. Maximum size including matting and framing is 48 by 48 inches. There is no minimum size.
5. It is highly recommended that you use plexi-glass rather than glass in the framing. We have received damaged artwork before from glass shattering in the mail. HSLDA cannot be held responsible for artwork damaged in the mail.

Fee

1. $10.00—HSLDA Member Discounted Entry Fee
2. $15.00—Regular Entry Fee

Entry

1. One entry per person
2. Entries must include a completed and signed entry form (attached).
3. Entries must include an entry fee (only check or money order).
4. Preliminary entries must include an 8-by-10-inch color photograph, 8½-by-11-inch color copy, or 8½-by-11-inch color digital print of the artwork. Preliminary entries will not be returned. Do not send the original artwork—only submissions in one of the above media will be accepted.
5. Finalists will be contacted by the contest coordinator and must send in the actual artwork that was presented in the preliminary entry. Finalists will be instructed on how to submit their artwork for the final round.

Mailing

Artwork should be mailed to:

HSLDA
Attn: Art Contest
One Patrick Henry Circle
Purcellville, VA 20132-3197

Timeline

1. Preliminary entries must be received between January 1 and February 1, 2008.
2. Preliminary judging will take place in mid February.
3. Ten finalists in each category will be selected and notified by letter and/or email on or before March 3, 2008.
4. Final entries from finalists must be received by March 15, 2008.
5. Final judging will take place in late March or early April.
6. Winners will be notified by letter, and/or email or phone and announced on HSLDA’s contest website and e-lert service by late April, 2008.
7. Final entries will be on loan to HSLDA and may be displayed at HSLDA for one year. After one year, entrants may request the return of the artwork at the entrant’s expense. Artwork without proper return mailing requirements will not be returned. If your entry is one of the finalists, please provide the contest coordinator throughout the displayed year with current contact information so that your art can be returned.

Judging

1. A panel of judges selected by HSLDA will judge both the preliminary and final rounds.
2. Pieces will be judged on originality, creativity, and adherence with the theme.
3. The decision of the judges is final.

Prizes for Each Category

Other Information

1. Proceeds from the contest will go to the Home School Foundation’s Special Needs Children Fund.
2. HSLDA has the right to use reproduction of entered artwork at its discretion.
3. All judgments are final and interpretations of the guidelines are at HSLDA’s sole discretion.

Please contact Contest Coordinator Cherise Ryan at contests@hslda.org with any questions.