Flowers

2nd Edition of the Glaze Painting Competition

International Digital Painting Competition inspired by Dutch traditions of flower still life.

Starts April 1st 2026

Theme: Flowers, Caterpillars & Butterflies

The theme of the competition draws inspiration from nature and the tradition of Dutch flower still life painting. Flowers become the starting point, which is observed, studied and reinterpreted through the artist’s own sensitivity and imagination.

Participants are invited to explore not only the beauty of blossoms, but also the subtle presence of micro-life, insects like caterpillars and butterflies or chosen objects - symbols of life, transformation and the passage of time. These elements may appear realistically, symbolically, or purely as a compositional or emotional accent.

While historical flower paintings and observations from nature provide a reference and inspiration, the interpretation of the theme and technique remains fully open. Artists are free to choose their own visual language, level of realism and narrative approach.

The theme encourages experimentation, personal storytelling and a dialogue between classical painting heritage and contemporary artistic expression.

How?
To take part in the competition, participants must use the free Glaze application, which includes a dedicated Glaze Competition section. The app allows them to paint their competition artwork, explore inspirations from museum collections, and submit their work directly within the app.

Where?
Participants are free to create their artworks at home, at school, in a museum or in any learning environment, using the free Glaze application.

The competition is supported by a network of museums, which host on-site painting workshops inspired by floral still lifes from their own collections. These physical workshops offer participants direct contact with original artworks and museum educators, providing historical context and a deeper understanding of classical painting.

Awards
Winners will be selected in four age categories, with outstanding works recognized for their artistic quality and originality. Among all shortlisted artworks, one Grand Prix winner will be awarded the main prize of 10,000 Euro, honoring the most exceptional and inspiring submission of the competition.

Flower Still Life, 1614 – Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder. Collection: J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Public Domain (CC0).