🚀 Quick Start Guide
New to YASS? You're in the right place! Follow these 5 simple steps and you'll be ready to submit in no time.
💡
Pro Tip: Use the checklist below to celebrate your progress as you go! Every step saves automatically—no account needed, just pure creative flow.
Press ? for keyboard shortcuts.
🎯 My Art Journey
Complete each step. Your progress saves automatically on this device—no account needed!
Progress
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0 of 5 steps
💭 Reflection
Share what you discovered while creating your art. What surprised you? What made you smile? What did you learn about yourself as an artist?
💡 Looking for inspiration? Check out these example reflections from other young artists
"I learned that mixing colors takes patience—you can't rush it. When I mixed too fast, I got muddy brown instead of the purple I wanted."
"I discovered that drawing from real life is harder than drawing from my imagination, but it makes my art look more real and interesting."
"I learned that mistakes can become the best part of my artwork. When I spilled paint, I turned it into clouds!"
"I found out that using different brush sizes creates different textures. Small brushes make fine details, big brushes make bold strokes."
Remember: Your voice is unique! These examples are here to spark your creativity—write from your heart and share your own artistic journey.
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📸 Photo Tips
How to take a great photo of your artwork for submission
☀️ Lighting
- Use natural daylight: Place your artwork near a large window (not in direct sunlight)
- Avoid shadows: Make sure your shadow doesn't fall on the artwork
- Even lighting: The whole artwork should be evenly lit—no dark corners
- No flash: Turn off your camera flash—it creates glare and uneven lighting
📐 Camera Position
- Shoot straight-on: Position your camera directly in front of the artwork, not at an angle
- Fill the frame: Get close enough so your artwork fills most of the photo
- Keep it level: Make sure the artwork edges are parallel to the photo edges
- Use a tripod or steady surface: Avoid blurry photos—rest your phone/camera on something stable
✂️ Background & Cropping
- Simple background: Use a plain wall or white/neutral background
- Crop edges square: Make sure all four edges of your artwork are visible and straight
- Remove distractions: Crop out anything that's not part of your artwork
- Check quality: Make sure the photo is clear and in focus—zoom in to check details
✅ Quick Photo Checklist
Parent Helper Mode
Toggle to show tips for parents and guardians
Size Guide 📏
Check if your artwork meets YASS size requirements
📐 Detailed Dimensions Breakdown
Maximum Width
95 cm
37.4 inches
About: Slightly wider than a standard door frame (80 cm)
Maximum Height
300 cm
118.1 inches
About: Nearly 10 feet tall—taller than most ceilings!
Maximum Area
28,500 cm²
4,417 in²
About: Roughly 30 square meters or 307 square feet
Aspect Ratio
1:3.16
Very tall & narrow
Note: Your artwork can be any size smaller than this maximum
Size Comparison Examples
Standard Door
80 cm × 200 cm
✓ Fits within limits
A1 Paper
59.4 cm × 84.1 cm
✓ Fits within limits
Large Canvas
70 cm × 90 cm
✓ Fits within limits
Maximum Size
95 cm × 300 cm
⚠ Maximum limit
Visual Size Guide
👨 Grandfather
~175 cm tall
(5'9")
📐 Artwork Size
Your artwork can be
up to this size
up to this size
👦 Grandson
~140 cm tall
(4'7")
📏
Understanding the Maximum Size
The artwork can be 95 cm wide (about 3 feet) and 300 cm tall (about 10 feet).
That's taller than most doorways and more than twice the height of a 10-year-old! Your artwork can be any size
smaller than this, but not larger.
95 cm
Max Width
300 cm
Max Height
2.1×
Taller than child
Maximum Size Limits
Width (W)
95 cm
(37.4 inches)
Height (H)
300 cm
(118.1 inches)
Check Your Artwork Size
×
Unit Converter
⇄
Common Artwork Sizes
📐 Measuring Tips
- Measure the outermost edges of your artwork, including the frame if framed.
- Use a tape measure or ruler for accurate measurements.
- Measure in centimeters first (YASS uses metric), then convert to inches if needed.
- For 3D artwork, measure the largest dimension in each direction.
- Round measurements to the nearest 0.1 cm or nearest 0.1 inch.
Your Submission Folder
Create a folder for your submission files. Use this naming pattern:
Folder name: yass_submission_2025
Include these files:
Y25_G1_Title.jpg— photo of the artworkY25_G1_statement.txt— 1–2 sentences about your artworkY25_G1_metadata.txt— title, medium, size (cm & inches), year
💡 Tip: Replace "G1" with your group code (G1, G2, G3, etc.) and "Title" with your artwork's actual title.
📋 Submission Rules & Requirements
Important information you need to know before submitting
✅ Eligibility Requirements
- Age: Must be between 5–19 years old at the time of submission
- Original Work: Artwork must be your own original creation
- No Plagiarism: All submissions must be original—no copying or tracing
- One Entry Per Category: Typically one artwork per age group category (check official website for current rules)
📏 Size Requirements
- Maximum Dimensions: 95 cm (width) × 300 cm (height)
- Minimum Size: No minimum size requirement—smaller artworks are welcome!
- Measurement: Measure outermost edges, including frame if framed
- 3D Artwork: Measure largest dimension in each direction (width, height, depth)
- Units: YASS uses metric (cm), but inches are accepted—use the converter above
📁 File Requirements
- Photo Format: JPG or JPEG format (check official website for current requirements)
- Photo Quality: High resolution, clear and in focus
- File Naming: Follow the pattern:
Y25_G1_Title.jpg(replace G1 with your group code) - Statement File: Text file (.txt) with 1–2 sentences about your artwork
- Metadata File: Text file (.txt) with title, medium, size (cm & inches), year
- File Size: Check official website for maximum file size limits
⚠️ Important Notes
- Check Official Website: Always verify current requirements on youngartists.royalacademy.org.uk
- Deadlines: Submission deadlines vary each year—check the official website
- Parent/Guardian: If under 18, a parent or guardian may need to submit on your behalf
- No Fees: YASS is typically free to enter (verify on official website)
- Selection Process: Not all submissions are selected—this is normal and part of the process
- Questions: Contact the Royal Academy directly for official answers to specific questions (see Contact Information below)
✓ Pre-Submission Checklist
Resources & Help 📚
Everything you need to know about applying to YASS
🔗 Official Links
- YASS Official Website — Submit your artwork here
- Royal Academy of Arts — Learn more about the RA
-
Submission Portal:
youngartists.royalacademy.org.uk
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to YASS?
YASS is open to young artists aged 5–19 years old. Check the official website for current age group categories (G1, G2, G3, etc.).
What are the size requirements?
Maximum size is 95 cm × 300 cm (37.4 inches × 118.1 inches). Your artwork can be smaller, but not larger. Use the Size Guide above to check your artwork's dimensions.
What should I write in my statement?
Keep it short—1–2 sentences about what inspired you, what you're trying to show, or why you made this artwork. Write from your heart! Use the Reflection section above to draft your statement.
Can I submit multiple artworks?
Check the official YASS website for current submission limits. Typically, you can submit one artwork per category. This tool helps you prepare one artwork at a time—you can use it multiple times!
When is the deadline?
Deadlines vary each year. Check the official YASS website for the current submission deadline. Start early to avoid last-minute stress!
Is this tool free to use?
Yes! This is a free, open tool to help young artists prepare for YASS. No account needed—your progress saves on your device. Share it with friends who are also applying!
What file formats are accepted?
Typically JPG/JPEG for photos and TXT for text files. Always check the official YASS website for current file format requirements, as they may change.
Do I need to frame my artwork?
Framing is not required, but if your artwork is framed, make sure to measure including the frame. Check the official website for any specific framing requirements.
What happens after I submit?
The Royal Academy will review all submissions. Selected artworks will be displayed in the Young Artists' Summer Show. Not all submissions are selected—this is normal! The important thing is that you created something amazing.
📧 Contact Information
For official YASS questions and support:
- Website: youngartists.royalacademy.org.uk
- Royal Academy Main: royalacademy.org.uk
- General Inquiries: Check the official YASS website for contact forms or email addresses
- Note: This tool is unofficial. For official answers, always contact the Royal Academy directly.
💡 Tips for Success
- Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to create, reflect, and prepare.
- Take good photos: Use natural light and make sure your artwork is in focus.
- Be authentic: Submit artwork that represents you and your unique voice.
- Check everything twice: Review your files, measurements, and statement before submitting.
- Have fun! Creating art should be enjoyable—let your creativity shine.
🔗 Share This Tool
Know someone else applying to YASS? Share this free tool with them! They can use it on their own device—no account needed.
🛠️ Related Art Tools
Use these specialized tools to help with different parts of your YASS submission:
Completion
🎉 You did it! One artwork ready for submission. Time to celebrate.