William Ubben, a 10-year-old fourth grader from Boyce, has earned national recognition after placing fifth overall in the inaugural America’s Most Artistic Kid competition. Inspired by the artistic legacy of Bob Ross — the beloved host of PBS’s The Joy of Painting — the competition celebrates creativity while raising awareness for Blood Cancer United.
The contest attracted more than 75,000 participants ages 6 to 17 from across the U.S. When he learned the results, Ubben says he was surprised. “My mind was blown and also I was confused,” he says. “I didn’t really believe that.”
Participants advanced through multiple rounds of voting to eight finalists.
The family lives in Middletown, and Ubben attends Powhatan School in nearby Boyce. “Our entire school community has eagerly cheered William on through the contest,” says Powhatan art teacher Kelly Schiavone. “William is such a kind, talented young artist, and we are so proud of the way he used his passion to help others.”
Art and Philanthropy
For Ubben and his family, the competition was about more than recognition. Through fundraising connected to the contest, he helped raise more than $26,000 for Blood Cancer United.
“William started this because he wanted to do something with his art to help people,” says his mother, Candace Clinedinst. “He’s had a heart for using his art for philanthropy for a long time. At the end of the day, that’s what was most important to us.”
The competition included instructional sessions led by professional artists, allowing participants to build their portfolios throughout the contest. While Ubben enjoys painting, his favorite piece from the experience was an eagle drawing. His true passion, his parents say, is sketching and architectural design.
“Maybe architecture,” says Ubben when asked what he hopes to do in the future. “But I’m not fully sure yet.”
The young artist’s high placement earned praise from his school and local community. The accomplishment is even more impressive considering he was competing against artists as old as 17.
“It was intimidating at times because some of the contestants were much older and had more years to develop their skills,” Clinedinst says. “But he stayed focused on doing his best and helping Blood Cancer United. We could not be more proud of his effort and of who he is as a person.”
This summer, Ubben plans to take art classes in Arlington and continue illustrating a book he is writing about a fisherman and his adventures, combining his love of storytelling and art — not bad for a fourth grader on summer break.
Feature image courtesy Candace Clinedinst
