Narrative Art Award

Given annually to an illustrator who can tell a visual story, through sequential images, with great clarity and nuance.

Award info

Each year, a rotating panel of judges will provide an assignment and will judge the submissions. The theme and specific assignment will change year to year, but the general goal will be to show sequence and narrative. The prize is an all-expense-paid trip to the SCBWI New York Winter Conference. The winning illustrations will be displayed during the New York Portfolio Showcase (in conjunction with the conference). 

Submissions closed.



2024 Narrative Art Award Prompt:

Create a story about taking the creative, emotional or mental leaps involved in FINDING COMMON GROUND.


Congratulations to our 2023 winner, Jerry Bennett! Learn more about Jerry's work at https://www.instagram.com/artistjerrybennett/


Submissions can be found on the MY AWARDS tab in your Member Home. Members must be logged in to scbwi.org to access their Member Home.

Submission Guidelines

The submission will consist of a sequence of either three or four images, without text.

Your art style and visual story must be appropriate for one of these two specific audiences/book genres (Choose one):

Full color, intended for a picture book for 4 to 7-year-olds

Black and white, intended for a middle grade book for 8 to 11-year-olds

Submit individual PNG or JPEG files to the submission portal.


Access the Narrative Art Award Submission form through the AWARDS tab on your MEMBER HOME.

Failure to follow these guidelines will result in exclusion from the online gallery.

For questions, email sarahdiamond@scbwi.org.


Criteria

The judges will look for images that reflect a range and progression of mood and emotion, and that tell your story with clarity and nuance. The narrative qualities of the submission will be considered, as will the effectiveness of the design and composition of the images. Whether you choose to submit three images or four images will not factor into the judging.


Prize

The prize is an all-expense-paid trip to the SCBWI New York Winter Conference. The winning illustrations will be displayed during the New York Portfolio Showcase (in conjunction with the conference).




1587 Jennifer M Potter scenes-koiPong-lr.jpg

Awards & Grants for Illustrators

An annual award given to the manuscript of a Most Promising Picture Book manuscript.