Rodeo Art

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Art Competition is a Houston tradition. I myself participated in it from Kindergarten through my senior year in high school, and my artwork was selected for auction by my senior year. It sold for $17,500. This contest is close to my heart, so it has been a privilege to guide students who are interested in entering the contest each year.

Typically, winning rodeo art pieces are done photo-realistically, meaning the student comes very near to perfect realism with their drawing. My student examples below were all done by 6-8th grade students using prisma pencils. To achieve realism, they learn a gridding process which helps them to get correct proportions through drawing. They also burnish the prismas so that the waxy binding creates a sheen almost akin to a painting. All artwork must be western themed, with elements such as livestock, western attire, and landscapes.

Click on the images below to cycle through examples: