Preparing for Young Archie: What Every Budding Portrait Artist Should Know
A Gentle Guide for Parents and Young Artists Curious About Portrait Competitions
Every year, the Young Archie competition, run by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, inspires thousands of young artists across Australia to pick up their pencils, paints, and pastels. Inspired by the iconic Archibald Prize, this youth-focused competition invites children aged 5–18 to submit a portrait of someone who is special to them.
At A Little Bite Studio, we believe competitions like Young Archie are a beautiful way to stretch creativity, grow confidence, and celebrate the power of portraiture. While we don’t teach “to the prize,” we do love guiding young artists to build the foundational skills and expressive tools that make portrait work meaningful — and fun.
🖼️ What Is the Young Archie Competition?
Young Archie is one of the most popular art competitions for kids in Australia. It encourages children to create a portrait of someone important to them — a family member, friend, teacher, or community figure.
Each entry must be:
A portrait of a real person known to the artist
Created entirely by the child
Submitted with a short written statement about why the person is important
There are four age categories:
5–8 years
9–12 years
13–15 years
16–18 years
Finalists are exhibited alongside the official Archibald, and winners often gain special recognition and media coverage.
🎯 Why Enter Young Archie?
Even if your child isn’t trying to “win,” preparing for a competition like this offers valuable lessons in:
Observation and likeness
Emotional storytelling
Artistic patience and refinement
Personal voice in visual art
It also helps kids practice setting goals, meeting deadlines, and sharing their work publicly — all in a supportive, creative context.
✏️ How to Help Your Child Prepare
Here’s how we encourage our young artists to prepare — gently and with purpose:
1. Choose the Right Subject
The best portraits come from real connection. Have your child pick someone they care about — not just someone with “an interesting face.” Their statement should reflect that connection.
2. Practice Observation Drawing
Encourage sketching from life or photographs — focusing on shape, proportion, expression, and detail. In our studio, we help children break portraits down into approachable steps.
3. Explore Mediums
While many kids default to pencil or markers, Young Archie entries can shine in pastel, watercolour, or mixed media. Our art classes for children explore these in a structured, supportive way.
4. Tell a Story
Remind your child that the portrait is only part of it — the written statement is just as important. We often help students reflect through sketchbook prompts:
“What makes this person special?”
“What story does your artwork tell?”
“What did you learn while drawing them?”
5. Take the Pressure Off
Our studio approach is always about growth over outcome. Even if your child doesn't enter or get selected, preparing for Young Archie can still be a meaningful, confidence-building process.
💬 Studio Support for Budding Portrait Artists
At A Little Bite Studio, we offer:
Term programs (like Super Creatives) that build realistic drawing and expressive skills
Holiday portrait workshops that help young artists explore tone, form, and likeness
Mentorship and reflection support for students considering art competitions
A space where children feel safe to take creative risks — without pressure
We’re not about pushing for awards — we’re about nurturing young artists who are connected to their ideas, confident in their skills, and proud of their voice.
📅 Ready to Explore Portrait Art?
Whether your child is curious about Young Archie or simply wants to grow their skills in portraiture and storytelling, we’re here to support them with open hearts and expert hands.
📍 A Little Bite Studio is based in Wentworth Point and supports gifted young artists across Ryde, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, and Inner West Sydney.