Artwork of Rocklin girl, 11, wins spot in Spider Magazine

For 11-year-old Rocklin resident Sierra Tran, a simple love of drawing has turned into an exciting opportunity to share her artwork with the world. Tran's artwork had been selected for publication by Spider Magazine for its September/October 2026 edition. Her drawing was selected as part of the magazine's celebration of young artists and their unique creativity. "When I think of funny, I think of hot dogs because hot dogs are kinda funny to me," Tran said in an interview with Gold Mountain Media. "I used pencils, colored pencils and Sharpie markers to create my artwork. It took me a whole three days to complete it." Spider is a magazine for kids ages six to nine years old and features articles on science, technology, history, culture, short stories, poems and activities by children's authors, artists, and photographers around the world. In each issue, readers are invited to submit their original artwork or writing on a specific theme to Spider's Corner. The editors select their favorite pieces to be published in the magazine. In May and June, Spider Magazine readers were asked to submit original art for the "Animals Doing Something Funny' category. Tran's artwork titled 'Hot Dogs' was chosen as the Fall 2026 winner. "Entries are selected for publication based upon several criteria; Sierra's artwork included a humorous play on the theme by showing detailed drawings," said Julia Peterson, a spokesperson for Spider's Corner Magazine. "Sierra received an illustrated award notice that is suitable for printing, framing, or saving in a scrapbook." For Tran, drawing has become a way to bring her imagination to life. Her artwork combines creativity, humor and her love for animals. These qualities made her submission stand out amongst the others, said Peterson. "My mom had told me I got an email from them [Spider Magazine] telling me I won and at first I was just kinda surprised; I was just kinda happy to find out that I got art in a magazine," Tran said. "I first started drawing when I was little. I like to draw clothes on people. I can't draw faces very well but I do like to draw clothes." Being recognized by a national children's magazine is an accomplishment that Tran and her family are proud of. The recognition gives her an opportunity to see her creativity reach an audience far beyond her local community, celebrated in print, and made into a memorable milestone for a budding artist who is just beginning to discover her talent. "What I love the most about being creative is how you can design it -- it doesn't have to be like a direct thing, it could be something creative like that and you can just have inspiration," Tran said. "I want people to be inspired when they see my drawings. When I grow up I want to be an artist or a sculptor or something to do with art." Tran's nomination demonstrates how a child's everyday hobby can open doors to new opportunities. What may begin as an idea, crayons and a piece of paper can become something worth sharing with readers nationwide. When asked what she's most proud of regarding this artistic accomplishment Tran said, "I think just drawing and getting my drawing into the magazine, it's a big accomplishment for me because that's never happened to me before and I really like coloring." "We are always impressed with the joy and spontaneity conveyed in the entries we receive," Peterson shared. Tran's recognition is also an encouragement to continue developing her artistic skills. "She's growing into her passion for art, so she's very humble, but she works extremely hard on being creative and growing her artistic abilities," said Tran's mother, Adrienne. For those interested in Spider Magazine visit store.cricketmedia.com for more information and subscription services.