Too many artworks stay in the studio. Too many voices go unheard. That is exactly what we set out to change with the Aquarylic Art Challenge — and in 2026, the community answered impressively.
The motto was “Rebel with Color.” — in German: „Rebellisch. Aber mit Farbe.“ (rebellious, but with color). The results show a range that surprised even us: from quiet color gradients to uncompromising palette-knife textures, from hobby painters to professional artists.
how the 2026 challenge went
April 2 – June 14Submission phase: more than 1,000 works, up to three per person — each posted publicly on Instagram or Facebook with #AquarylicArt and @aquarylic.
by July 8Jury selection: The four-member jury assessed all eligible works on interpretation of the motto, artistic quality, use of Aquarylic products and originality — and selected the top 50.
July 15 – 24Community voting: three favorites could be chosen every day — more than 10,000 votes were cast.
July 25Winners: Announcement of the top 3 based on the jury score and the community votes.
DecemberMagazine: The full-page portrait feature on the first-place winner appears in “Mein Kreativ-Atelier”.
what you could win
The winning motif appears on the packaging sleeve of the Aquarylic 9-color set — available in art supply stores across Europe. Plus a full-page feature with a portrait in “Mein Kreativ-Atelier” (print run of 55,000 copies) and 1× Aquarylic 9-color set.
Each receives 1× complete Aquarylic set worth €350.
And: all 50 finalists will be showcased on aquarylic.com and on Aquarylic’s social media channels.
what “rebel with color.” means
Those who rebel break rules. Those who rebel with color create something.
The motto was not a task to be solved but an attitude to be shown — in the choice of colors, in the technique, in the energy the painting gives off. There was no right or wrong interpretation. Only works that dare something, and those that don’t.
“Rebellious. But with color.”
four voices. four perspectives.
The jury did not judge predefined styles but artistic attitude, quality and the visible use of Aquarylic products. The community voting was factored into the final score as an additional weighting.
all about taking part
Who could take part?
Minimum age 18, or with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. No particular level of experience was required — from hobby painters to professional artists. Participation was free of charge.
Which materials were allowed?
Aquarylic products had to be the recognizable main component of the work. Supplementary materials from other brands were allowed. Purely digital art and AI-generated works were excluded.
How did the submission work?
Step 1: Post the finished work as an image or reel on Instagram or Facebook — with the title of the work and a short description in the caption, the hashtag #AquarylicArt and a tag of @aquarylic. The profile had to be public.
Step 2: Register via the form on the Art Challenge page with a high-resolution image and details on title, format, technique and the Aquarylic products used. Up to three works per person were possible.
How were the works judged?
In three stages. First, the Aquarylic team checked all submissions for compliance with the terms of participation. Then the four-member jury assessed all eligible works on interpretation of the motto, artistic quality, use of Aquarylic products and originality, and selected the top 50. Finally, the community voted on the 50 finalists — these votes were factored into the final score as an additional weighting.
What happens to the submitted works?
The copyright remains with the artists. Aquarylic receives the right to use the works as part of the challenge and for promotional purposes — always with credit to the artist. For the first-place work, the publisher of “Mein Kreativ-Atelier” additionally receives the right to publish the work as part of the feature.
Will there be another Art Challenge in 2027?
The Aquarylic Art Challenge takes place every year. If you don’t want to miss anything, follow us on Instagram at @aquarylic or subscribe to our newsletter.
austrian artist paints of the finest quality
Aquarylic is an Austrian family business based in Bludenz, Vorarlberg. We develop and produce water-based artist paints of the finest quality — vegan, highly pigmented, made in Austria. The range includes Aquarylic Colors, Acrylic Paints and Chalk Paints as well as gels and mediums.
With the Aquarylic Art Challenge, we create a public stage every year for artists who want to show their work to a wide audience.