Outside the lines
Bring a fresh perspective to the everyday. Use composition, color, and visual storytelling to make us look again.
$5 proposed entry · 500 entry cap · dates to be announcedHUMAN-CREATED WORK · MONTHLY LEAGUES PLANNED
Illustration Competitions.
An unexpected character, a daring palette, a familiar scene seen differently. The planned illustration leagues invite artists to respond to creative briefs with original visual storytelling.
Coming soon. These are proposed creative briefs, not open competitions. No submissions, entry fees, or payments are being accepted.
Give your idea a clear point of view.
Start with what you want the viewer to notice and feel. Build a clear focal point through shape, contrast, color, or gesture. Technique should serve the story; adding detail everywhere can make the central idea harder to see.
FIVE FIRST-SEASON CONCEPTS
Find a reason to begin.
Each title is a starting point for exploration. League-specific instructions and opening dates will be published before entries can open.
Everyday magic
Bring a fresh perspective to the everyday. Use composition, color, and visual storytelling to make us look again.
$5 proposed entry · 500 entry cap · dates to be announcedWild color
Bring a fresh perspective to the everyday. Use composition, color, and visual storytelling to make us look again.
$10 proposed entry · 500 entry cap · dates to be announcedNew mythology
Bring a fresh perspective to the everyday. Use composition, color, and visual storytelling to make us look again.
$10 proposed entry · 500 entry cap · dates to be announcedUnseen cities
Bring a fresh perspective to the everyday. Use composition, color, and visual storytelling to make us look again.
$20 proposed entry · 500 entry cap · dates to be announcedPrepare your original work.
- Save thumbnails, roughs, and intermediate stages instead of only the final export.
- Review your composition at full size and as a small image to check visual hierarchy.
- Export a clean presentation and check that the colors and edges display as intended.
JPG, PNG, WebP, and PDF are proposed presentation formats. Human-created digital and traditionally made artwork can be considered under the final discipline rules; generated artwork is not eligible.
What would judges look for?
Our proposed common rubric is originality (35%), craft (30%), interpretation of the brief (20%), and impact (15%). Final discipline-specific criteria and tie procedures must be published before entry opens. Staff and judges cannot enter a contest they administer.
Cash awards would be chosen through judging. Community recognition is separate. Artists would retain copyright, with defined permission needed to display awarded or shared work.