Each year, Wildlife Forever / The Art of Conservation hosts the State Fish Art Contest, inviting students from kindergarten through 12th grade across the United States, and globally in a separate category to create original illustrations of fish. This contest aims to raise awareness of marine conservation efforts through art. Students are judged in four grade divisions:

• K–3rd
• 4th–6th
• 7th–9th
• 10th–12th

There were over 6,000 entries in this year’s contest. Art World School is proud to support and encourage our students to do their best in this exciting and competitive event. Now, we’re happy to share the winners from the 2025 State Fish Art Contest. Their hard work in our After School Programs, Saturday Camps, and 90-Minute Group Classes has paid off.

3rd Place Winners

These students worked hard, created amazing art, and earned third place. Their drawings show great effort and passion for sea life:

• Saoirse Walkowicz(K–3rd Grade): Saoirse earned 3rd place with a watercolor and watercolor pencil piece of a salmon swimming along a rocky riverbed. She carefully developed her composition through our Afterschool and Saturday programs, capturing lighting and detail with beautiful technique.

• Nishika Nutakki(7th–9th Grade): Nishika won 3rd place with a colored pencil drawing of a Blue Runner fish, accompanied by a stingray in the background. Her attention to ocean lighting and intricate textures were developed over months in our 90-Minute Group Classes.

These students put in a lot of effort and did a fantastic job with their artwork. We’re incredibly proud of their hard work and achievements in the contest!

2nd Place Winners

These students dedicated a lot of time and effort to create stunning pieces that earned them second place. Their artwork reflects both their passion for marine life and their commitment to mastering their craft:

• Eva Lockyer (K–3rd Grade): Eva captured 2nd place with her vivid watercolor painting of a catfish preparing to strike its prey. Developed in our After School program, Eva’s work displays a deep understanding of her subject, earned through careful research and focused execution.

• Rajanya Paul (4th–6th Grade): Rajanya’s 2nd place piece, a watercolor pencil artwork of an Atlantic Salmon, shows a brilliant use of color and background detail. She dedicated countless hours in our 90-Minute Group Classes to achieve her composition’s vibrant lighting and depth.

Their hard work and creativity have earned them well-deserved recognition. We’re excited to see how they continue to grow as artists!

1st Place Winners

Here are the talented winners who took first place, with their incredible art showcasing both creativity and a deep understanding of marine life.

• Archer Li (K–3rd Grade): Archer took 1st place for his impressive colored pencil drawing of a sailfish. With months of work in our Fine Art Classes, he combined reference images and developed technical skill to create an accurate and expressive piece that stood out.

• Eric Chen (4th–6th Grade): Eric earned his second 1st place award in the contest with a colored pencil piece featuring a hammerhead shark. His dedication to research and attention to detail helped him portray not only the shark but its surrounding ecosystem. The result was a compelling composition crafted through months of steady effort.

With their outstanding work, these students have proven their artistic talent. We’re so proud of their accomplishments and can’t wait to see what they do next!

A Final Congratulations

We are very proud of all our students who placed in the 2025 State Fish Art Contest. Each of them worked hard, spent time learning about fish and their habitats, and used their art skills to create amazing pieces. It’s exciting to see their effort and creativity pay off.

As we celebrate these talented young artists, we also recognize the importance of contests like this help students learn more about nature while doing something they enjoy. Congratulations to Saoirse, Nishika, Eva, Rajanya, Archer, and Eric! We’re so happy for you and can’t wait to see what you create next.