Entries poured in as GulfWeekly launched an art contest last month.
We invited Bahrain-based talents under 18 years to send us their artworks, with the goal to showcase unique perspectives and encourage creative thinking and expression. 
Young artists reached out to us with their original paintings and sketches, which they created during the summer holidays – a respite from ubiquitous AI-generated content. 
These are a selection of the artworks that we received... 
Nine-year-old Syeda Zoya Ali, who attends American School of Bahrain, has been surrounded by art forever. Coming from a family of creatives, she has always loved painting.
“Over time, she developed a keen interest in observational drawings and is especially good at drawing people,” Zoya’s mother Zainab Javid revealed, adding that they have always encouraged her to pursue her interests without pressuring her. 
The Pakistani national from Riffa believes that as parents, it is important to recognise children’s talent and nurture it.

Saar resident Vrinda Chaudhary fell in love with art six years ago, exploring different styles and experimenting with different mediums. Over time, practising became less about trying to create something ‘perfect’ and more about discovering styles that inspired her.
“Hobbies are most meaningful when they are pursued out of genuine interest rather than the expectation of being good at them or turning them into something profitable. When art starts feeling like a task, I lose some of the freedom and expression that made me enjoy it in the first place,” noted the 16-year-old Indian expatriate, who attends St Christopher’s School.

Kenyan national and Capital School Bahrain student Zainab Quadir is a fan of birds and aliens. The nine-year-old recently started watching online tutorials and experimenting with different techniques, which has helped her hone her skills.
“We encourage Zainab’s interests by providing her with all the supplies she needs and consistently appreciate her work, offering feedback and encouragement,” older sister Fatima Quadir, who is currently pursuing Biosciences at Bahrain University said. 
“I feel like hobbies are losing their diversity in that most pastimes now revolve around a screen and a comfortable place to sit,” highlighted the Janabiya resident, who is passionate about the written word. 

Six-year-old British-Russian expatriate Mila Giddings has created a vibrant piece entitled ‘The future is only one step away…’ – a slogan that the St Christopher’s School student came up with. 
“She designed the top layer to represent a rainbow, transitioning down to a warm sunset, and finishing at the bottom with dawn and a crescent moon,” mum Tatiana Giddings from Al Jasra explained, noting that her daughter was ‘thrilled’ when they told her about the GulfWeekly contest.
“Mila has loved drawing and painting ever since she could hold a brush. Thank you so much for running such a lovely initiative for the young artists in Bahrain,” she added. 

Kiruthik Aadarsh’s journey drawing his favourite movie characters. The eight-year-old Asian School Bahrain student loves creating and building things using his imagination. 
“He especially naturally prefers hands-on, creative activities where he can make something of his own rather than simply playing with ready-made toys,” mother Sowndarya Arivudainambi from Gudaibiya noted.
“As an artist myself, I understand how important it is to give a child the freedom to explore their creativity with minimal interference, both adult intervention and digital influence. 
“As parents, our role is not to judge or direct their work, but to give them the support, freedom, and right environment to explore, learn, and grow,” she added.