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Nature Inspires Art Contest

Florida’s nature-inspired art contest themed "Finding Strength in Nature."

A Portuguese man o' war in sargassum sea weed.
Portuguese Man of War A portuguese man of war in sargassum sea weed. © Kate Tillery/TNC
Event Overview

Thank you for your interest in TNC Florida’s Center for Conservation Initiatives Art Contest, Nature Inspires! We appreciate your deep connection to Florida Nature and the inspiration it provides.

The submission period for this year's competition, themed "Finding Strength in Nature," has ended. We want to thank all participants who submitted their remarkable Florida nature-inspired artworks, showcasing the fortitude and beauty of our state's natural wonders.

We received an array of visual art submissions, including impressive digital art, paintings, and sculptures, each reflecting the diverse and captivating elements of Florida's wildlife and wild places.

A special panel of judges is currently reviewing all the submissions, and we anticipate announcing the winners in September.

Stay connected with us to discover the winning artworks and join us for the gallery display at the Lighthouse ArtCenter on February 8-10, 2024.

Once again, thank you for being a part of Nature Inspires and for sharing your creative energy with us.

 

How to Enter

1. Review the Official Contest Rules.

2. Create your art!

3. Submit a photo of your artwork and other required information to the Nature Inspires Google Art Contest Form.

Judging Criteria

Artwork will be judged on expression of the theme Finding Strength in Nature, originality, and the degree to which it is Florida nature inspired.

Prizes

Three winners will be selected and invited along with four guests of their choosing to a fun day at Blowing Rocks Preserve.

Questions? Email NatureInspires@tnc.org

View the 2022 Winners

See the First, Second, Third Place and some of the Honorable Mention winners.

Mother and kitten Florida panther walk through pines.
Watercolor painting of orange and brown creek bed winding through a palm forest.
Panoramic at waterline of Gulf of Mexico showing above and below the water line; pelicans diving, sponges and the sea floor teeming with life.
Sea turtle cruises through the gulf stream.
Cormoratns sun themselves on a log.
An orchid stands tall in a seeming fire.
An egret and a butterfly near the shoreline of a tannin rich waterway lined by palms.
A woman sits at her Florida home looking out toward the coast.
Two sandhill cranes walk along.
A green anole lizard rests on a pink and white calladium.
Mother and kitten Florida panther walk through pines.

Seeking a Pathway to Survival: First Place: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: fabric, batting and thread. © Kristen Loffler

Watercolor painting of orange and brown creek bed winding through a palm forest.

Tiger Creek in January: Second Place: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Nathan Leemis

Panoramic at waterline of Gulf of Mexico showing above and below the water line; pelicans diving, sponges and the sea floor teeming with life.

Pelican Diving: Gulf of Mexico: Third Place: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Barbara Harmon

Sea turtle cruises through the gulf stream.

Coming in from the Stream: Honorable Mention: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Gloria J. Peters

Cormoratns sun themselves on a log.

The Council: Honorable Mention: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Barbara F. Johnson

An orchid stands tall in a seeming fire.

Fire Orchid: Honorable Mention: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Ian Biazzo

An egret and a butterfly near the shoreline of a tannin rich waterway lined by palms.

Flight at Tiger Creek: Honorable Mention: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Jacque Palomäki

A woman sits at her Florida home looking out toward the coast.

Old Florida: Honorable Mention: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Christopher Vitale

Two sandhill cranes walk along.

Lefty and Poncho: Honorable Mention: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Marilyn Wescott

A green anole lizard rests on a pink and white calladium.

Green Anole in the Caladiums: Honorable Mention: TNC Florida Nature Inspires Art Contest. Medium: paint. © Diana Ferrer

View the 2021 Winners

See the First, Second, Third Place and Honorable Mention winners.

'Florida Trinity' by Blair Updike: triptych painting portraying native Florida wildlife (from left) American alligator, wild turkey and Florida panther.
'What the Waterlilies Sing' by Bobbi Baugh: surface design on fabric constructed by collage and stitch.
'On the Boardwalk' by Kate Less-Madsen: oil on canvas.
'Chair of Vibrance' by Vitaliya Repina: this repurposed chair is a symbol of the connection we have with the universe and nature.
'Echoes' by Molly Franken: watercolor, an abstract but definitive portrait of Florida's underwater ecosystem.
'A Light in the Dark' by Penny Edwards: oil on canvas depicts a great blue heron at night.
'Bald Cypress' by Janet Molchan: sculpture reminding people of the beauty of wild Florida.
'Cherries for Breakfast' by Teresa Chin: watercolor depicting a male pileated woodpecker.
'Wading Great Egret' by Bonnie Masdeu: oil on canvas.
Visit our art gallery at Disney Wilderness Preserve to see the winning entries and honorable mentions. Masks will be required, and gathering restrictions will apply.
'Florida Trinity' by Blair Updike: triptych painting portraying native Florida wildlife (from left) American alligator, wild turkey and Florida panther.

First Place: "Florida Trinity" by Blair Updike: triptych painting portraying native Florida wildlife (from left) American alligator, wild turkey and Florida Panther. © Hannah O'Malley

'What the Waterlilies Sing' by Bobbi Baugh: surface design on fabric constructed by collage and stitch.

Second Place: "What the Waterlilies Sing" by Bobbi Baugh: surface design on fabric constructed by collage and stitch. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

'On the Boardwalk' by Kate Less-Madsen: oil on canvas.

Third Place: "On the Boardwalk" by Kate Less-Madsen: oil on canvas. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

'Chair of Vibrance' by Vitaliya Repina: this repurposed chair is a symbol of the connection we have with the universe and nature.

Honorable Mention: "Chair of Vibrance" by Vitaliya Repina: this repurposed chair is a symbol of the connection we have with the universe and nature. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

'Echoes' by Molly Franken: watercolor, an abstract but definitive portrait of Florida's underwater ecosystem.

Honorable Mention: "Echoes" by Molly Franken: watercolor, an abstract but definitive portrait of Florida's underwater ecosystem. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

'A Light in the Dark' by Penny Edwards: oil on canvas depicts a great blue heron at night.

Honorable Mention: "A Light in the Dark" by Penny Edwards: oil on canvas depicts a great blue heron at night. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

'Bald Cypress' by Janet Molchan: sculpture reminding people of the beauty of wild Florida.

Honorable Mention: "Bald Cypress" by Janet Molchan: sculpture reminding people of the beauty of wild Florida. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

'Cherries for Breakfast' by Teresa Chin: watercolor depicting a male pileated woodpecker.

Honorable Mention: "Cherries for Breakfast" by Teresa Chin: watercolor depicting a male pileated woodpecker. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

'Wading Great Egret' by Bonnie Masdeu: oil on canvas.

Honorable Mention: "Wading Great Egret" by Bonnie Masdeu: oil on canvas. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

Visit our art gallery at Disney Wilderness Preserve to see the winning entries and honorable mentions. Masks will be required, and gathering restrictions will apply.

Art Gallery: Visit our art gallery at Disney Wilderness Preserve to see the winning entries and honorable mentions. Masks will be required and gathering restrictions will apply. © Hannah O'Malley/TNC

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