Art Competition Tips for Students

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-23

On 2026-10-23

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

School, district and national contests are a great way to grow as an artist. Good art competition tips are not about secret tricks. They are about understanding the theme, planning your idea and finishing neatly. This Haanz Art Guide walks students through each stage, from reading the rules to handing in a clean, well-presented artwork.

Start with the rules and the theme

Every competition is different, so read the entry details carefully before you draw a single line. Look for:

The theme. Write it at the top of your sketchbook page and keep coming back to it.
Paper size and medium. Some contests ask for a set size or allow only certain media. If the rules are unclear, ask the organiser or your art teacher.
Age group. Make sure you enter the right category.
Deadline and labelling. Note how to write your name, school and age, and where to put it. Usually this goes on the back.

For contests run during an exam period, or linked to national programmes, check the latest instructions from your school or the Department of Examinations as well.

Plan an idea that stands out

Brainstorm ten ideas. The first idea is often the same one many other students will have. Keep going until you find something more personal.
Add a Sri Lankan touch. A theme like “My Environment” could show a paddy field after the monsoon, a busy bus stand or your grandmother’s garden. Real places you know feel honest and fresh.
Make small thumbnails. Draw three or four tiny sketches to test different layouts. Choose the one with the clearest main subject.
Pick a colour plan. Decide early whether the mood is warm and happy, cool and calm, or bold and dramatic.

Choose materials you know well

Use the medium you have practised most. Judges notice confident work more than expensive materials. Here are items students often choose:

Paper: Fabriano Accademia Paper A3 240gsm is a good heavy sheet for pencil, charcoal and pastel work.
Oil pastels: Pentel Arts Oil pastel -50 give a wide range of bright colours that blend smoothly.
Colour pencils: the Camel Colour Pencil set -24 is easy to carry and layer.
Poster colour: Pentel Poster Colours 12x30ml are opaque with a smooth matt finish, popular for school competitions.
Brushes: the Bomeijia Brush Set 12Pcs gives you round, flat and other shapes in one set.
Setup: tape your paper to a Drawing Board – A3 with Nyoni Artist Masking Tape. The low-tack tape holds the sheet flat and leaves a clean border when you peel it off.

Browse more in Drawing Pads & Drawing Papers and Pastels. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.

Art competition tips for the drawing day

Sketch lightly first. Place the big shapes before adding detail.
Fill the page. Large, confident shapes look stronger than a small drawing in the middle of empty paper.
Create a focal point. Use the strongest contrast or brightest colour where you want the judge to look first.
Keep it clean. Rest your hand on scrap paper, and wipe brushes between colours.
Watch the clock. In timed on-the-spot contests, aim to have the whole picture blocked in by halfway, then refine.
Finish the edges and background. Unfinished corners make a picture look rushed.

Presenting and protecting your entry

Once your artwork is done, protect it. Pencil, charcoal and pastel can smudge on the way to the venue. A light spray of Kuelox Fixative 180ml, done outdoors or in a well-ventilated room, helps reduce smudging. Carry the work flat between two clean sheets of card, and keep it dry. In our humid weather, do not leave paper in a hot vehicle or a damp room.

Learn more in How to Stop Smudging Drawings and Poster Design for School Competitions. Our School Art Supply List is useful when you build your kit.

Common mistakes students make

Ignoring the theme or only linking to it weakly.
Copying a picture from the internet. Judges often recognise it, and many contests do not allow it.
Too many small details and no clear main subject.
Leaving the name label off, or putting it on the front.
Trying a new medium for the first time on the competition day.

Frequently asked questions

What do judges look for in a student art competition?

Most judges look at how well you show the theme, how original the idea is, the composition, your skill with the medium and how neatly the work is finished. Rules differ, so read the judging notes if they are given.

Can I use mixed media in an art competition?

Only if the rules allow it. If they say “any medium”, you can mix, for example, colour pencil over poster colour. If a medium is named, use only that one.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? Call / WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose materials for your next art competition.

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