Texas Fish Art Contest 2025 Opens for Entries – Get Involved Now

As an artist and fisherman who has fished the seas of Texas for more than seven years and made art inspired by fish, I’m excited to say that the 2025 Texas Fish Art Contest is now accepting entries. This event is held every year to show off the variety and beauty of fish species that live in the Lone Star State through art. Personally, as someone who has entered the event several times and even won awards, I strongly urge artists of all levels to take part. Read below about “Texas Fish Art Contest 2025 Opens for Entries – Get Involved Now”.

A Look at the Texas Fish Art Contest

For those who don’t know, the Texas Fish Art Contest began in 1974 as a way to use art to support fishing and animals in the wild. Anyone who is an artist, from young kids to seasoned pros, can join. There are many types of items in the categories, such as paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and more. This lets people be creative and imaginative with the tools they use.

There are four groups: Artists (16 years and up), Youth Artists (13 to 16 years old), Junior Artists (5 to 12 years old), and Preschool Artists (4 years and up). Over the years, I’ve sent work in both the Artist and Youth Artist categories. Prizes are given to the best entries in each group.

In Texas, you can catch these fish, which is the best thing about the art. As a Texan who has fished and painted all their lives, this theme means a lot to me. The event is a great way for me to combine two of my favorite things: making art and fishing in our great state’s waterways. Many of the qualified species, like Largemouth Bass, Redfish, and Channel Catfish, have been caught and studied by me over the years. This has influenced my art.

Tips for Creating a Successful Entry

When I work with young artists who want to enter the event, I tell them these things to keep in mind:

• Learn about your fish first. Find out about its main physical traits, where it lives, how it acts, and so on. Knowing what makes each fish different will help your art feel more real. I love going out and finding a species that I want to draw so I can look at it closely and take clear pictures of it.
• Composition is important. People are more interested in dynamic poses and unique points of view than in a simple side profile. Try out different backgrounds and foregrounds that show where the fish is. I like drawing actions like spawning or breaching.
• Be careful to be right. The judges will look for proper fins, body shape, scale details, and proportions. If you over-draw traits, the piece will not seem real. Let the fish’s beauty shine through.
• Think about water materials. Acrylic, watercolor, and oil paints are all great for painting scenes with water. Acrylics are my favorite because they dry quickly and let you mix colors and change their shades. Find the size that you like best.
• Learn how to properly handle fish. Learn how to safely unhook fish, hold their bodies properly, and let go of them quickly. We should all do our part to protect these amazing animals for future generations. Before I include my niece in my entry this year, I’m showing her the right way to catch and release fish.

Highlighting My Past Entries

I remember my first entry in the Texas Fish Art Contest very well. I was sixteen years old. I got up early to catch a beautiful 10-pound Largemouth Bass on a topwater frog lure in the lake where my family lives. I looked at and took pictures of the fish, and then I painted a copy of it in oil paints, giving it a dramatic pose and an artistic background of water. I was chosen as a division winner, which made me feel so good about myself.

In a more recent entry, I talked about a Redfish I saw while fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre. For thirty minutes, I lay flat in my kayak while I waited for it to come out of the seagrass. When it did, the copper tones blew my mind. With metallic acrylics, I tried to catch that shimmering shine. Even though it didn’t win, the experience changed me and still influences my work.

I think all artists should show their work to the world, even if they don’t win a prize. In the past few years, I’ve sold a few pieces that didn’t win at local art shows and shops.

Get Inspired and Get Involved!

I hope that reading about my experiences has made you want to enter the Texas Fish Art Contest in 2025. The event is important to me because I’m a well-known artist in this field. It helps promote fishing and conservation efforts. It has been a big part of my artistic journey for sure. Every year, I learn a lot from how other artists approach my favorite Texas plants and animals in their own unique ways.

The contest in 2025 will also be a big anniversary: it will be the 50th year of the contest. I think there will be some special parties at the awards show. When could be a better time to get involved?

Conclusion

The website for the contest has all the rules, division instructions, and information on how to submit. The last day to enter is March 31, 2025, so start making plans now! I’m always happy to help new artists, so feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. I hope to see your work in the winners’ gallery in 2025!