By Fiona Slusarev
Wellington 12-year-old Alani DiAntonio is a quarterfinalist in the Bob Ross America’s Most Artistic Kid competition. This contest gives children across the United States a chance to showcase their art on the national level and win either the People’s Choice or the Artists Pick awards.
The competition, in partnership with Colossal, a professional fundraising organization, is set to benefit Blood Cancer United. The public votes for their favorite young artist with one free vote each day, or additional votes can be cast with a commensurate donation to support Blood Cancer United’s mission to support and cure individuals with blood cancer.
Alani, a visual arts major at the Bak Middle School of the Arts, has been creating since the moment she could hold a pencil. She paints, draws and has even started sculpting. However, her favorite medium remains paint. She prefers to work in realism with bold colors to express her emotions.
“I enjoy creating art because it allows me to share my feelings. Whenever I feel stressed or nervous, making art helps me release those emotions,” Alani said.
Alani’s work shows the beauty in everyday moments that she highlights with vivid colors and textures. Her pieces range from still lifes and cartoons to landscapes and animal portraits.
Carmen DiAntonio, Alani’s mother and a teacher at Panther Run Elementary School, is extremely proud of how Alani’s work has grown over the years. Carmen credits Alani’s elementary school art teacher, Krisy Davis, for being instrumental in Alani’s progress.
“Krisy Davis has been her greatest inspiration, guiding and encouraging her along the way,” she said.
Alani already has several local art contest wins under her belt. Her artwork was featured in a student-teacher art exhibit at the Box Gallery in West Palm Beach when she was in second grade, and it was recognized at the ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival and at the South Florida Fair.
Alani is excited to represent the greater Wellington community in this national competition with a chance to win $20,000, appear on an episode of The Joy of Painting with Nicholas Hankins, and display her art in the Bob Ross Experience at the Minnetrista Museum in Muncie, Indiana.
She also has another reason for participating, close to the DiAntonio family’s heart. An aunt passed away from a blood cancer, and they want to take the opportunity to support others with this disease.
“Our family understands the challenges this disease brings, and we hope that the funds raised will help advance important research and, one day, lead to a cure,” Carmen said.
When Alani grows up, she hopes to earn a scholarship in art and attend a university, with the eventual dream of starting her own graphic design company or becoming a movie animator.
Quarterfinal voting runs through April 9, with the top competitors advancing to the semifinal voting round, April 10 through 16. The final voting round runs April 17 through April 23. The Grand People’s Choice will be announced on or before May 8.
To learn more about Alani’s artwork, or to cast a vote, visit www.artistickid.org/2026/alani-4fca.
