Reading Challenges for Youth and Adults

Our Winter Reading Challenge means cozying up with a good book and tapping into your inner artist! Create a tiny art piece to be displayed on our library website! On January 14, school-age children, teens and adults can pick up a Tiny Canvases painting kit* at

• Burke Centre Library, 703-249-1520 | TTY: 711
• Centreville Regional
• City of Fairfax Regional, 703-293-6227 | TTY: 711
• Great Falls Library, 703-757-8560 | TTY: 711
• Herndon-Fortnightly Library, 703-437-8855 | TTY: 711
• John Marshall Library
• Kingstowne Library, 703-339-4610 | TTY: 711
• Lorton Library, 703-339-7385| TTY: 711
• Pohick Regional, 703-644-7333 | TTY: 711
• Richard Byrd Library, 703-451-8055 | TTY: 711
• Sherwood Regional, 703-765-3645 | TTY: 711
• Thomas Jefferson Library, 703-573-1060 | TTY: 711
• Tysons-Pimmit Regional, 703-790-8088 | TTY: 711

*Painting kit will include a 4x4 easel, paints and brushes. Each branch has a limited supply of kits. Call to make sure they still have kits. 

Paint at These In-Person Events!

Intergenerational Tiny Canvases
Get ready to create your very own tiny art piece! Instead of taking a kit home, you'll have access to all of our supplies here in the library while interacting with family and friends from the community. If you'd like, we'll be ready to take photos of each masterpiece so that they can be displayed on our library website with other submissions. City of Fairfax Regional. In-person event for ages 8 and up. Saturday, Feb. 11 at 10:30. Register.

Tiny Canvases Painting Party
Create a tiny art piece to be displayed on our library website! Tiny canvases, tiny easels, paints, brushes and palettes will be provided.  We will have still life vignettes set up, or you can bring your own picture or object to paint. In-person event for ages 6 and up at Herndon-Fortnightly Library. Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. Register.

Take a picture of your tiny canvas masterpiece and upload by February 28, 2023. (Uploading form will be available on January 14.)

Artwork will be displayed online by March 13. All artists will be notified.

Tips for picture taking:

1. Place your tiny canvas on a flat surface using a neutral background.
2. Make sure you have adequate lighting.
3. Look at your artwork directly and take a picture. (Don’t take photo at an angle.)
4. Take several pictures and select the best one.
5. Upload your artwork.

The focus is the artwork. Do not send a picture of you holding your painting. These types of pictures will not be added to our online art gallery. 

Once you submit your tiny canvas, you will be entered into our raffle for a sketchbook and colored pencil set.

On March 6, 2023, we will hold our raffle and select one winner from each age group: school-age, teens and adults (18+). Winners will be notified by email on March 8.