[Competition Coverage] Guidelines for Preparing Entries for the Paris Exhibition: Media, Theme, Photography

Sending a child's artwork to Paris for exhibition sounds like a distant dream, but the actual process is clearer than most parents imagine. What truly deters parents is often not the creation itself, but rather "not knowing what to prepare"—how big should the painting be? What paints should be used? What should be considered when taking photos? This article organizes the process in practical order, so you know where the destination lies before you even begin.

First, choose your category: painting, calligraphy, or photography.

The 2027 GASCA Paris International Art Competition has three categories. First, choose according to the child's habits and strengths, and then discuss the concept.

• painting group—No restrictions on tools or colors; wood tones, crayons, pastels, watercolors, poster paints, and acrylic paints are all acceptable. Suitable for children who already have regular art classes or enjoy telling stories with colors.
• calligraphy groupBoth Chinese and English calligraphy are welcome, with a focus on nature poems and environmental quotes. Suitable for children who already have a foundation in calligraphy practice or are currently learning pen/brush calligraphy.
• photography team—No restrictions on creative form. Suitable for older children who are interested in observation and composition, but may not have a long-term commitment to drawing.

A practical way to judge this is to have your child spend an hour doing a short exercise in each of the three formats, and see which one they are willing to do a second time. Only the one they are willing to repeat can sustain them through a preparation period of several months.

II. The 2027 Theme "Environmental Protection": Four Steps from Concept to Design

Setting the topic too broadly can easily overwhelm children and make them unsure where to begin. It's recommended to narrow down the topic in the following order:

1. Choose a direction.The four officially recommended directions are: marine conservation, wildlife conservation, green cities, and protecting our planet. Let the child choose one that resonates with them first.
2. Find a specific target.Instead of drawing "ocean pollution," draw "a sea turtle entangled in a plastic bag"; instead of writing "protect the earth," write an environmental statement that he himself believes in. Abstract concepts must be grounded in a visible subject.
3. It determines the mood of the image.Is it a warning (dark, high-contrast) or a hope (bright, saturated colors)? First, determine the mood, and then the use of color and composition will have a basis.
4. Draw three thumbnails before you begin.Quickly sketch three different compositions on an A5 sheet of paper, compare them, and then draw the final version. This step will save the most time compared to redrawing.

III. List of specifications that must be confirmed before submission

Technical specifications such as artwork size, acceptable media details, file format, and submission method will be announced by category and year and may be subject to change.Please refer to the official website for the most accurate information.Do not rely on past experience to draw conclusions. Before you begin, go to... paris.gasca.org Please confirm the following items one by one:

• Size range and orientation (vertical/horizontal) restrictions of the artwork
• Requirements for framing and mounting methods
• Is the submitted work a physical piece or a digital file? If it's a file, what are the format and resolution requirements?
• Information that needs to be labeled on the back of the artwork or in the file (name, group, artwork title, etc.).
• Deadlines and mailing arrangements for each category

It's recommended to write down the confirmed information on a piece of paper and stick it on the edge of the table where the child is creating. This way, the child won't need to refer back to it when they're halfway through drawing.

IV. Shooting Works: Three Most Common Mistakes

Whether for submission or simply to document a child's life, the quality of the photographs often determines the first impression. The following three points are most prone to errors:

1. The lighting is uneven.Do not use flash, and do not shoot in direct midday sunlight. The best approach is to place the image near a window, but out of direct sunlight, and shoot in diffused light on a cloudy day or in the morning; this will result in the most even contrast in the image.
2. The angle is tilted.The camera should be parallel to the artwork, with the lens pointed directly at the center. Shooting from above with a mobile phone tends to produce trapezoidal images, which can lead to distorted edges when cropped later. Alternatively, place the artwork flat on the ground and stand upright to shoot from directly above.
3. Color deviation.After taking the photo, compare it side-by-side with the original, paying particular attention to the differences between blue and purple, and between dark green and black. If necessary, turn off your phone's automatic beautification or "vivid" mode and retake the photo.

In addition, when taking photos, remember to include the entire work in the frame, leaving a little space on all four sides, and do not crop it to the edge.

V. Registration Schedule: Four rounds of registration, registration will close once all slots are filled.

Each round has a separate quota, and registration will close once the quota is filled. The earlier you register, the more discounted the price.

Round	Date	Remark
First Round - Early Bird Discount	2026年8月11日–8月31日	Best price (registration is now open)
Second round - Early registration	2026年9月1日–10月31日	Discounts still available
Third Round - Standard Registration	2026年11月1日–12月31日	Standard Price
Fourth Round - Final Call	2027年1月1日–3月10日	Final deadline: March 10, 2027

After registering, there is still ample time to create the artwork. Many families choose to register first to secure a spot and discount, and then use weekends during the school term to slowly complete their artwork.

Common Mistakes and Tips

• Mistake 1: Waiting until the artwork is finished before registering.The number of places is allocated in rounds, and it will be closed once the places are full. It is safer to register first and then create your work.
• Error 2: Parents modify the artwork on behalf of the student.The judges are looking at the observations and expressions that a child of this age should have; excessive embellishment will only result in a loss of points.
• Mistake 3: Labeling topics instead of telling stories.Simply writing "Protect the Earth" in the corner of an image doesn't equate to a theme. What's truly powerful is letting the image speak for itself.
• Tips:Take a progress photo every week during the creative process, and finally compile them into a growth record, which is very helpful for children's sense of accomplishment.
• Tips:Teachers and music schools/art studios can bring students to participate in groups, which makes the arrangements more concentrated and facilitates a unified explanation of the theme.

Summary

Preparing a piece for an international exhibition is not about how high your skills are, but about how clear your process is: first, choose a category, narrow down your theme, confirm the specifications, and then take careful photos. By arranging these four steps, children can focus all their energy on the creative process itself.