NASA Space Place Art Challenge!

An illustration of a paintbrush painting a galaxy.


Do you love making art and using your imagination? So do we! Every NASA mission starts with a creative idea about how to explore something in a new way.


The art challenge:

In this new activity, we'd like to challenge young explorers to think about and draw a space-related situation each month. And after the month is over, we'll select a few imaginative drawings to be featured on the NASA Space Place website!

So, get ready to exercise that creative brain of yours! Here's what you'll need:

  • Paper
  • Art supplies (pencils, markers, crayons, paints – whatever you like to use)
  • A grownup helper with a camera or scanner and access to email

Space Place art challenge prompt:

The seasons are about to change on Earth. This often means a change in the weather, too. In 2023, the official first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere is Monday, March 20. It will gradually get warmer and plants will start to bloom! But what is the weather like on other planets?

A stylized postcard illustration of Saturn.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Draw what a day outdoors on another planet might look like! Is it windy? Is it really, really cold? Perhaps you want to draw Venus – on Venus, it’s really, really hot!

Need some more inspiration? No problem. Check out our “What is the Weather Like on Other Planets?” page for more information.

Submit your drawings between 3/3/23 and 3/31/23. Selected art submissions will appear on the website in early April!


How to submit your art:

Once you've gotten your ideas on the page, have a grownup take a photo or scan of the drawing and email the following to NASAKidsArt@jpl.nasa.gov:


That's it! Have fun creating and we can't wait to see your drawings!


This Month's Art Challenge Selections

Design a Valentine card for your favorite planet, moon, or star!

This art features Earth and Moon. Against a dark purple background, colored in using markers, Earth and Moon appear in the top third of the image. Earth and Moon are happy, smiling with their eyes closed. There are four yellow stars around the Moon. In the bottom two-thirds of the image, dark blue lettering spells, Friend Forever. Earth is colored a light blue with light green spots representing the continents against the ocean. The Moon is colored white and has three dark gray spots. Lastly, a small American flag is anchored on the Moon's surface.

Alix, 8

This art features Earth in a heart shape. The artist used colored pencils to color this image. The top third of the drawing is light purple and says, There is no one in the…. The middle portion of this art piece has a bright yellow background. A heart-shaped Earth is in the center of this section. The Earth's oceans are a turquoise blue and the continents are a light green. The bottom third of this artwork is light pink, and says, ...Like you. Combined, this valentine's text says, There is no one in the [world] like you.

Alondra, 8

This valentine is in the shape of a heart. It shows a beach landscape during a sunset. Using watercolor paints, the artist recreated the colors of a sunset. Starting from the top of the valentine, the sunset sky colors include violet, blue, yellow, orange, and red. A yellow Sun with orange spiky rays sets behind a wavy light blue ocean. In the foreground, a brown pier extends from the edge of the valentine cutout to the ocean. A person is seen standing at the end of the pier, just before it ends. A sandy beach, complete with a purple towel, yellow umbrella, green palm tree with three coconuts, and some shells sits under the pier. On the left side of the ocean, a small brown bird sits atop a gray rock. Lastly, the valentine's text says, The sun with you are the most beautiful moments.

Anita, 9

This valentine says, I love you to the Moon and back… and back again. This art shows a girl in a bright pink dress and long brown hair flying to the Moon. The girl is drifting above green rolling hills, using a bunch of bright pink balloons, some of which are heart-shaped. The sky is dark and sprinkled with yellow and white dots, representing distant stars. In the top left corner of the picture is a white and gray Moon. The Moon holds a pink heart-shaped balloon.

Araely, 12

This valentine says, Saturn, should I use this as your ring tone? You're my best friend. In the middle of this picture is a drawing of Saturn. The planet is colored using rainbow stripes. A yellow band surrounds the planet. Saturn has a unique smile. The background of the picture is black, with yellow four-point stars scattered across the black background.

Aurora, 8

This valentine is an abstract drawing of our solar system. The Sun, Moon, Earth, and other planets are decorated using different textures and designs. The Sun, for example, is decorated using wavy stripes of red, orange, and yellow. The Moon is heart-shaped and smiling. The background of the art is colored dark blue. The valentine says, I love you to the Moon and back.

Ella, 8

This valentine says, Best friends forever in red text. In this image, Earth and a red planet are holding hands. The Earth's oceans are blue, while the continents are green. The red planet is mostly light red with some red spots scattered across its surface. Both planets are smiling. The Earth was colored using markers while the red planet was colored using colored pencils.

Emilia, 8

This valentine shows two astronauts holding hands while floating through space. Above these astronauts is a yellow Moon. A flag with a red heart is anchored on the Moon's surface. A rocketship is seen in the top right corner of this image. The background of the valentine is black.

Helena

This valentine says, You make my world light up! Be my Valentines. In the center of the image is a bright yellow sun. Bright orange, spiky rays surround the circular yellow sun. The rest of the artwork is black, speckled with yellow paint splatters.

Jonathan, 10

This valentine says, Buddies FAR-ever! Happy Valentine's Day! The valentine shows the Sun, Earth, and Moon. The Sun appears the biggest of the three. It is red with orange rays. The Sun is smirking and wearing thick black sunglasses. The blue and green Earth is smaller and is also wearing sunglasses while smirking. The Moon is the smallest of the three. It is wearing black sunglasses and smirking, too. A small red heart appears underneath the Sun.

Li, 10

This valentine was created using a digital art style. It says, So happy to be your friend! This valentine features a big, smiling Sun. The Sun is yellow with orange rays. The text appears below the Sun. The background of the image is dark blue with speckles of white, representing distant stars.

Lucy, 11

This valentine says, I love you. In this artwork, the Earth smiles while holding a small red heart. A speech bubble appears on the Earth's right side, suggesting the Earth is saying, I love you. To the left of the Earth is a rocketship. To the right of the Earth is a drawing of a small unidentified flying object with a little green alien smiling and waving from inside. Below this drawing are two small smiling circles holding hands on top of a light blue planet. The background of the drawing is black.

Maria Paula, 9

This valentine says, My heartful Earth in pink lettering. This valentine shows a blue and green Earth in the center, surrounded by red hearts. The background of this image is colored pink.

Nandika, 10

This valentine is a drawing of a smiling Sun wearing black sunglasses. The Sun is bright yellow with spiky yellow rays. Below the Sun is the text, Dear Sun, you brighten my day!. Surrounding the Sum are three five-point stars.

Nash, 8

This valentine says, We won't forget about you this year, Pluto!! Will you be my Valentine?! in black lettering. On the left side of the valentine is a drawing of Pluto, colored different shades of brown. A pink heart is drawn on the bottom of the planet.

Tatum, 13

This valentine says, Oh Jupiter! Oh Jupiter! Your spot is red. Some part of space is blue. I kinda like you! Happy Valentine's Day! The bottom half of the valentine shows half of Jupiter, colored using a gradient of red, orange, and yellow. The rest of the picture is black with white speckles.

Zoe, 12



* AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE FOR PHOTOS, AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO RECORDINGS OF, AND/OR ARTWORK FROM A MINOR CHILD

I hereby grant to the California Institute of Technology (Institute) and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) the right to make, use, create derivative works and/or display:

  1. photos, video and/or audio tape recordings of, my Child and/or
  2. artwork (in any media, including drawings, photos, music and video creations) created by my Child and submitted to JPL and/or

in any manner or form, and for any lawful purpose at any time. I also grant the Institute to use my Child's name associated with such photos, recordings of my Child or with his/her artwork. I understand that my Child may be photographed and/or video or audio taped verbatim and that the Institute may allow persons external to the Institute to view the pictures or recordings in part or in their entirety. I also understand that any artwork submitted by my Child to the Institute for the Project may be edited, reproduced or displayed publicly at the Institute's discretion. I am fully aware and agree that such use of my Child's image or artwork and name may include posting on publicly available internet sites, including JPL sites and other publicly viewable social media sites. I waive any right that I may have to review or approve of any finished products, or the uses to which such products may be applied. I release and discharge the Institute, its employees, sponsors, and subcontractors from any liability to me by virtue of any representation that may occur in the creation, editing or use of said photos and/or video or audio tape recordings or the editing or use of my Child's artwork.
article last updated March 3, 2023
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