Since 2007, a group of art lovers in Southern California has been conducting an annual children’s art competition and exhibition - Ravi Varma Memorial Art Competition (RVMAC) to commemorate the great artist, Raja Ravi Varma from the Indian subcontinent. The event is in its 16th year now, and attracts paintings from all parts of the United States.

The artwork has to be original, and the contest is offered to children and youth aged 4-18y in four age categories. Contestants are given a theme each year, and asked to submit their artwork in person or by mail. Three impartial judges (accomplished artists invited by a committee of 15 members) review the artwork, and moderate the contest. Scores of prizes have been distributed to upcoming young artists, and hitherto unknown talent has been discovered from diverse communities in southern California and elsewhere.

The RVMAC exhibition is usually held in the months of April or May in Los Angeles, every year, and displays creative artwork from both youngsters and adult artists. The event is supported by art lovers in the community, well wishers, and OHM, a SoCal cultural organization.

RVMAC Judging Criteria

5 = Outstanding, 4 = Very Good, 3 = Good, 2 = Ordinary, 1 = Poor

  1. Originality of Idea - Does the artwork show original thinking? Have you seen something very similar? Does the artwork tell a story?
  2. Creative Use of Color – Does the artwork make good use of color or gray scale? Do the colors clash? If they do, do you think it is intentional?
  3. Design and Composition – Does the artwork show a good sense of design and balance? Does the composition contribute to the overall strength of this artwork? Does it capture and hold your attention?
  4. Artistic Technique – Does the artwork show a good knowledge of the artistic tools used? Are the artistic tools used to their best advantage?
  5. Final Presentation – Is the overall presentation of the artwork appealing, neat and pleasing to the eye?

Eligibility

Age Groups(Prizes awarded separately within the group)

4-7 (Sub-Junior),8-11 (Junior), 12-14 (Intermediate), 15-18 (Senior)

RVMAC Artwork Submission Guidelines & Notes

  1. Only one entry per person
  2. All submissions should have a registration number
  3. Entry fee 10/-. Pay by VENMO or PayPal (Credit card payment available)
  4. Media Allowed: Pencil, Crayon, Water Color, Acrylic , Oil
  5. Final Size (Max) 16 X 20 inches
  6. Artwork must be on canvas or paper
  7. Mounting is preferred (to limit distortion and folding of artwork)
  8. Frame / glass not allowed
  9. Certification required that the artwork is original
  10. Artist’s Statement about artwork is recommended
  11. Pick-up is entrant’s responsibility; may request mailing at entrant’s expense
  12. Competitors will have to bear the cost of paper/canvas, other art supplies, mailing, or travel.
  13. The organizers will not be responsible for any damages in transit.
  14. Competitors should submit original work, and not break any copyright laws. RVMAC / OHM will not be responsible for such acts. Submitted work will be considered the property of the organizers*
  15. Decisions of judges & organizers will be final.

Mailing address for submisssion

All entries should be carefully packaged, adequately stamped, and mailed to:
Prasad & Maria
340 Cherry Tree Ln
Newport Beach, CA 92660
P: (949) 548 1815

Drop off Submission & Information

Dr Ravi Raghavan sharody@gmail.com Inland Empire (909) 904 5385
Renu Sujeeth renusujeeth@yahoo.com Corona (714) 878 7116
Sunalini Hegde sunalinih@yahoo.com Irvine (949) 351 2785
Ravi Vellatheri ravivellatheri@gmail.com Irvine (949) 419 7115
Vinodh Bahuleyan vinodh@ca.rr.com Los Angeles (818) 399 0638
Prasad P prasad90503@gmail.com Cypress (310) 897 9182
Suresh Enchoor senchoor@gmail.com Artesia (310) 526 1325