Welcome to Oil Painters of America’s Sixth Annual Student Art Competition

An online fine art exhibition for students

Show Your Talent. Be Recognized. Shine!

Oil Painters of America (OPA), one of North America’s leading professional art organizations with 3,500+ members, invites high school & college students to submit their oil paintings. Explore the beauty of representational art and take your skills to the next level!

Submit your work, gain recognition, and be part of an amazing art community. Let your art shine for the world to see!

Who can enter

Students ages 14–23
Submit up to 3 oil paintings
Teacher/faculty guidance is encouraged but optional

What to Submit

Oil paintings in representational style in accordance with OPA’s Submission Rules.
Plein air or studio work accepted
Family-friendly subject matter only
Online display includes: artist name, painting title & size, school, and age.

Where Winners Exhibit

The top 3 winners in each division are invited to OPA’s 35th National Exhibition of Traditional Oils.
Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
May 29 – August 29, 2026
Requirements: framed, wired, remain on display; winners handle shipping

Awards by Division

First Place: $500 cash + $500 Blick Gift Certificate
Second Place: $250 cash + $250 Blick Gift Certificate
Third Place: $100 cash + $100 Blick Gift Certificate
3 Honorable Mention: $50 Blick Gift Certificate

Important Dates

Submission Period: Dec 1, 2025 – Apr 1, 2026
Winner Notification: Apr 15, 2026

Submission Fee

$10 per entry (max three entries)

How to Enter

Free OPA Student Membership required (ages 14–23)
New Members: Complete the online membership application to enter
2025 Student Members: Renew before submitting
Optional: Student Associate Membership ($40/year) all the benefits of Associate membership

Exhibition Policy

If a Student Associate is both an award recipient in the Student Competition and accepted into the National Exhibition, only one painting may be displayed at the Steamboat Art Museum. The Student Associate shall designate which work will be exhibited, either in the Student Competition section or within the National Exhibition.

.

Welcome to Oil Painters of America’s Fifth Annual Student Art Competition

An online fine art exhibition for students

With over 3,500 artists, Oil Painters of America is one of today’s leading professional art organizations in North America. OPA is pleased to announce its Fifth Annual Student Art Competition, which is open to all high school and collegiate-level students living in North America. OPA aims to raise awareness of representational art and allow students to learn more about this beautiful art form.

Who:

Students between 14 and 23 are invited to submit up to three oil paintings for award consideration.  Students are encouraged to work under the direction of a teacher or faculty member, although it is not required.

What:

Paintings must be created in oils in the representational style. This includes a broad spectrum of styles ranging from realistic to impressionist – or your style, as long as it is representational. Both plein air and/or studio work are acceptable. All submissions will be displayed online with the artist’s name, painting title & size, school name, and age on OPA’s website. All entries must depict family-friendly subject matter (any portrayals of graphic nudity, violence, or other non-family-friendly subject matter will not be accepted).

When:

Student submissions will be accepted online through OPA’s website from January 1, 2025, through April 4, 2025. The competition results will be notified to winners directly on April 11, 2025.

Where:

The top three award winners in each division will be invited to exhibit their work in conjunction with OPA’s National Exhibition of Traditional Oils at Herrig Center for the Arts in Bradenton, FL, from May 30 – June 28, 2025. Note: winners who elect to exhibit their artwork will be responsible for shipping to and from the exhibition. All paintings must be framed and wired for hanging.

Submission Fee:

$10 per entry. Maximum three entries.

How:  OPA Membership is free to all students ages 14 – 23. New student members must complete the online student membership application to enter the student competition. 2024 Student Members must renew their membership by logging into their account before entering the Student Competition.

AWARDS
High School Division – ages 14 to 18 years
First Place: $500 cash/$500 Blick Gift Certificate
Second Place: $250/$250 Blick Gift Certificate
Third Place: $100/$100 Blick Gift Certificate

AWARDS
College Division – ages 19 to 23 years
First Place: $500 cash/$500 Blick Gift Certificate
Second Place: $250/$250 Blick Gift Certificate
Third Place: $100/$100 Blick Gift Certificate

Both divisions will receive 3 Award of Excellences which will receive a $50 Blick Gift Certificate each.

Welcome to Oil Painters of America’s Fourth Annual Student Art Competition

An online fine art exhibition for students

Who:

Students between the ages of 14 and 23 are invited to submit up to three oil paintings for award consideration. Students are encouraged to work under the direction of a teacher or faculty member although it is not required. It is free to enter.

What:

Paintings must be created in oils in the representational style. This includes a broad spectrum of styles ranging from realistic to impressionist – or your own style, as long as it is representational. Both plein air and/or studio work is acceptable. All submissions will be displayed online with the artist’s name, painting title & size, school name and age on OPA’s website.

When:

Student submissions will be accepted online through OPA’s website from November 1 through February 2, 2024. Winners will be notified of the competition results directly mid-February.

Where:

The top three award winners will be invited to exhibit their work in conjunction with OPA’s National Exhibition of Traditional Oils to be held at Mark Arts in Witchita, Kansas, April 5 – May 31, 2024. Note, winners who elect to exhibit their artwork will be responsible for shipping to and from the exhibition. All paintings must be framed and wired for hanging.

Submission Fee:

There are no submission fees. It is free to enter.

New student members must fill out the online student membership application in order to enter the Student Competition.  Membership is free to all students ages 14 – 23.

To view the flyer and view the detailed Criteria and Rules and Regulations, Click Here.