What is the ISCA convention?

ISCA hosts an annual convention every year for all members and their guests. The convention is one of the high points of membership in ISCA, and is an event not to be missed! The convention is hosted in a different city each year (overwhelmingly requested by members to be a warm climate location), and features many wonderful activities, speakers, presenters, competitions and of course... artwork!

The convention draws hundreds of artists from around the world. Members get a chance to meet and interact over four days of fun, learning, competitions and just plain drawing! Members who attend are dazzled by the limitless techniques, styles and raw creativity that pervades the atmosphere of the event. Most members leave the convention talking about the inspiration, friendships and knowledge they gleaned from being a part of this unique yearly get together.

What happens at an ISCA convention?

GUEST SPEAKERS:

The annual convention is host to several major activities, seminars and events. One of the main attractions is the special guest speaker. The speakers deliver a keynote address, and often do demonstrations of their techniques and skills. Many of our past guests have gotten very involved in the event, actually drawing members and participating in our scheduled activities. Past guest speakers have included Bruce Blitz, Jack Davis, Mort Drucker, Sergio Aragones, Sebastian Krüger, John Kascht, C.F. Payne, Roberto Parada, Jan Op De Beeck, David Cowles, Bill Plympton and Drew Friedman!

SEMINARS:

The convention also features seminars by members and guests. These seminars cover subjects like basic caricature techniques for students and members, advanced caricature, demos of mediums and techniques such as digital media, Prismacolor sticks, airbrush and more, marketing and self promotion, gag bodies, legal and financial direction and much more. Seminars are included in the cost of convention admission. Many convention attendees consider the seminars to be invaluable learning tools.

ARTWORK:

The high point of the convention has got to be the fabulous artwork that is created right before your eyes. A large banquet hall is transformed into the most unique and largest live caricature gallery in the world in just a few days! Imagine nearly one hundred caricaturists set up over every square inch of the hall, drawing each other for four days! Each artist has their own wall space to hang the best of their pieces... literally thousands of outstanding caricatures are created and hung up in every imaginable style and technique. It is truly inspirational.

COMPETITION:

Artists at the convention have a chance to display their skills as they compete for the Caricaturist of the Year award (a gold statuette known as the Golden Nosey), as well as competing in a variety of specialized categories such as best likeness, best portfolio, best color technique, and Caricature of the Year.The Golden Nosey! The Caricaturist of the Year award is based on points scored in three main categories: Best Likeness, Artist Choice and Caricature of the Year, and all competitions are judged not by a panel, but by the vote of attending members. The top ten artists are honored, with the top three receiving the Bronze, Silver and Golden Nosey statuettes. Of course, with all the great artwork being produced throughout the week hanging up for all to see, everybody comes out a winner! Not to be missed is the frantic pace of the Fastest Caricaturist in the World competition, where the fastest draws in the world duke it out for the top honors! All the awards are presented at our annual Awards Banquet. Check out last year's full competition winner's list HERE, and be sure to visit our Nosey Hall of Fame, listing the winners of the Caricaturist of the Year honors from each ISCA convention!