2024 Novel Expressions Art Contest

Take part in our fourth annual art contest!

From Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, enter an original work of art inspired by a piece of literature. This contest is open to teens and adults in Loudoun County and the districts listed below.

An event to recognize and honor all entries will be held Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Franklin Park Arts Center.

This contest is presented by Loudoun County Public Library, Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) and the Loudoun Youth Advisory Council.

Submission Requirements

• Artists may submit one piece of original, unpublished artwork.
• All artistic mediums are accepted.
• Work must be entirely original and previously unpublished (including on the Internet).
• Unpublished work that has won a monetary award in any other contest is ineligible.
• The use of any artificial intelligence (AI) tools, software or applications to create, enhance or modify submissions is strictly prohibited. Submissions found to have utilized AI will be disqualified.
• Artists must live in Loudoun County or any of the following districts:
  • Cities of Falls Church, Alexandria, Winchester or the District of Columbia
  • Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Prince William, Clarke or Frederick counties in Virginia
  • Montgomery, Washington, Prince George's, Frederick or Charles counties in Maryland 
  • Jefferson County in West Virginia

Questions

Email artcontest@library.loudoun.gov with any questions about the contest.  

Submissions

Click here to submit your entry.

Submissions are accepted Sunday, Sept. 15 through Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Judging

Entries are separated into three categories and judged by members of the Loudoun Youth Advisory Council, PRCS staff, teen librarians and local professional artists:

• Middle School (Grades 6-8)
• High School (Grades 9-12)
• Adults (Ages 18+)

Judging will take into account the following:

• Connection to literature: How strongly the artwork ties into the literature it is inspired by 
• Artistic technique: Skill, quality and attention to detail
• Originality and creativity: How the artwork uniquely expresses the artist's intent
• Overall impression: The level to which the artwork can be appreciated and understood without having read the literature

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in each category:

• First place: $200 gift card
• Second place: $100 gift card 
• Third place: $50 gift card

Middle School

First place: Cassie Copland 
Outside the Silo
Based on the book Wool by Hugh Howey

Second place: Viraj Nimkar 
A Pocket Full of Murder
Based on the book A Pocket Full of Murder by R. J. Anderson

Third place: Jayden Jung
Colton Walking Towards Heaven
Based on the book Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo

High School

First place: Yazheny Jothiramalinga
Melodies of Resilience: The Ballad of a Dreamer
Based on the book Guitar Boy by M. J. Auch

Second place: Eva Kay McKinley
An Old Fashioned Girl
Based on the book An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott

Third place: Kayla Fajans
Looking Back
Based on the book East by Edith Pattou

Adult

First place: Pepper Casanar
The Forest
Based on the story Hansel and Gretel

Second place: Mira Thaloor
Nature's Kindred Spirit
Based on the story Anne of Green Gables

Third place: Val Muller
Wendy
Based on the story Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

View all artwork

• Finalists
• All entries