The competition has been recognizing student creativity since 1923. Judges look at three important qualities when reviewing artwork.
Originality
Technical Skill &
Personal Voice
Over many years of teaching and training young artists, these three ideas often appear connected. They rarely exist separately.
Most strong work grows from personal voice first, which then leads to originality. Technical skill helps support the idea and communicate it clearly.
A Quick Look at Artists Who Started Here
Many well known artists first received recognition through the Scholastic Awards when they were students.
Artists and creators connected to the program include people such as Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, Truman Capote, and Stephen King.
These artists did not win simply because they had perfect technique.
Their work showed distinct ideas and strong personal perspectives even when they were young.
That is often what jurors remember.
1. Personal Voice Often Comes First
From years in the classroom, one pattern appears again and again.
When students try to chase originality directly, the work often feels forced. When students begin with something personal, originality tends to appear naturally.
Personal voice comes from authentic experiences. It comes from noticing things others overlook. Sometimes it comes from small moments in daily life.
A Florida artist once shared a simple example that stayed with many students.
Christopher Still once mentioned that even something ordinary like the chaos of dishes in the sink can become an idea for artwork.
The subject itself is simple. What matters is how the artist sees it.
To many people it is just a pile of dishes.
To an artist it might represent family life, routine, frustration, or the quiet moments of home.
That is where personal voice begins.
Questions to Help Discover Personal Voice
Students can start by asking simple questions.
What everyday moments in life feel meaningful or interesting
What memories or experiences shape the way you see the world
What subjects keep appearing in your sketches
What emotions or ideas feel important to explore
What objects or symbols represent your life or environment
When students answer questions like these honestly, their artwork begins to feel more personal.
And often more original.
2. Originality Grows from Authentic Thinking
Originality is often misunderstood.
It does not always mean inventing something that has never existed before. It often means presenting an idea through your own perspective.
Two students could draw the same subject. Their results may feel completely different depending on their experiences, choices, and intentions.
Originality appears when artists
observe carefully
combine ideas in unexpected ways
experiment with materials
approach familiar subjects from new viewpoints
In many cases originality grows directly from personal voice.
Questions That Help Develop Original Ideas
How could an ordinary object be shown in an unexpected way
What two unrelated ideas could be combined together
What symbols could represent a personal story
What viewpoint or composition would surprise the viewer
What visual metaphor might express the idea more clearly
These kinds of questions often lead to stronger creative decisions.
3. Technical Skill Supports the Idea
Strong technique still matters.
However technique works best when it supports the concept rather than replacing it.
In competitions like Scholastic, jurors often notice how well the artist uses materials and processes to strengthen the message of the work.
This might involve
thoughtful composition
strong drawing foundations
intentional color relationships
controlled lighting or contrast
careful craftsmanship
Advanced techniques should help the viewer understand the idea more clearly.
Questions That Help Strengthen Technique
Which materials best express the mood of the idea
How could lighting guide the viewer’s eye
What color choices support the emotion of the piece
What drawing skills need additional practice
How can craftsmanship improve the overall presentation
Technical growth becomes much more meaningful when it serves a purpose.
When All Three Work Together
The strongest Scholastic submissions often show a balance.
Personal voice gives the work meaning.
Originality gives the work uniqueness.
Technical skill gives the work clarity and strength.
From years of teaching, many memorable student artworks did not begin with a perfect plan.
They began with a small observation.
A personal experience.
Or a simple question about the world.
Those small ideas often grow into the most powerful artwork.