WHAT TO BRING
Drawing board or small easel. Tables and chairs will be provided by the hotel. But if you are more comfortable working on an upright surface, you will need to bring your own support. A rigid drawing board is good because you can move around the ballroom more easily to draw others as well as use during the live event style, speed and likeness competitions, which will be done in a separate room.
Art supplies. Bring a variety of supplies to draw, paint and sculpt with. You should bring some materials you are already comfortable with. But you could also use the con as an opportunity to explore new media. There is also a JoAnn Craft & Fabric store located 1.3 miles from the hotel. Popular materials that people work with are markers, pastels, colored pencils, acrylic paints, digital paint, watercolors, cut paper and sculpting clays that air-harden.
Wall size: 20” wide on the walls
3D artwork: There will be a designated display table for standalone 3-D artwork (artwork that is 3-dimensional may also be displayed on wall space if it can be hung using ONLY blue painters tape but must fit within the designated competition space). Submissions must be able to fit on a 12”L x 18”W table space and no more than 30” Height (30.48cm L x 45.72cm W and no more than 76.2cm Height)
Paper Size for Live Event & Speed Competition: Paper must be no wider than 20”
Paper Size for Likeness Competition: Paper size should be no larger than 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) by 16 inches (40.6 centimeters)
Studio Piece Competition: If you plan to compete in this category, prepare your work ahead of time and bring it to drop off at Sunday's registration. Participants may submit their single best studio piece that was made in the past year. Submissions must be no larger than 12”L x 18”W table space and no more than 30” Height (30.48cm L x 45.72cm W and no more than 76.2cm Height if 3D). The subject of the studio piece does NOT need to be an ISCA member.
New Rules for ISCAcon33! Live/Retail Portfolio Competition: If you plan to compete in this category, prepare your work ahead of time and bring it to drop off at Sunday's registration. Live/Retail Portfolio submissions must be a single sided/single printed sheet of paper that displays selected artworks/subjects. Paper size should be no larger than 12” x 18” (40 x 55 cm). Artists can select as many works that best represent the artists’ live drawings from 2024 and fit on a single piece of paper (live work is defined as any caricature created in a retail or gig setting). Reference images of the subjects MUST be included.
Additional materials. Here are a few extra items you may not have thought to bring but may be helpful: Extension cord and power strip since there are never enough outlets for our devices. Small clip light to illuminate your workspace or models. Camera or tablet/laptop computers in case you want to do digital artwork or take photographic reference of your models. Headphones if you want to listen to podcasts or music while you work. Your own printer, ink and paper for printing digital work. Otherwise, there is a UPS Store 3.4 miles from the hotel where you can have digital work printed, but you must plan accordingly to have all work up on the walls by 3pm on Thursday the 14th.
What to wear. Most of the week is casual. Bring plenty of layers, because temperatures in the ballroom can vary from warm to cold throughout the day. The hotel has a pool and hot tub, so don't forget your swimsuit! There is also a workout room, so pack your gym clothes if you want to get in some exercise throughout the week. On Friday night is our Awards Banquet. For this event, members will dress formally, so pack your banquet best, but please do wear whatever is comfortable for you!
WHAT TO EXPECT
The con starts at 5pm on Sunday Nov. 10 with registration, where you pick up your badges and Pro Members get their shirts, compendium and goodie bags. The icebreaker reception starts at 6pm. There will be a cash bar and free boxed lunches. This is the time to socialize and meet your fellow artists. Feel free to bring a sketchbook, as people usually end up drawing each other during the opening-night reception. But do not bring easels to the reception. You may not set up your equipment until the next day.
On Monday, Nov. 11, if this is your first ISCAcon, we will be having a First Time Con Orientation from 8:30-9:30am where you'll have a chance to meet and connect with fellow board member and other first time con attendees. The ballroom will open for everyone at 9:30am. Artists are not allowed in the ballroom before that time, so there is usually a rush to find a spot to set up the moment the doors open. But you shouldn’t worry. Every spot is good, and there will be enough tables and chairs for everyone who wants them.
At 10am, once everyone is settled, we will be hosting our opening ceremonies and orientation, accompanied by some light breakfast snacks. After this, the general competition has begun and you are free to begin drawing your colleagues. Please note - subjects of your competition artwork can only be of fellow con attendees. The ballroom will be open and available 24 hours a day for the rest of the week, but there will be a few different organized and timed competitions, like the Live Event Style, Speed and Likeness competitions.
Various seminars will be offered each day by fellow ISCA members and notable artists. The general competition ends at 3pm on Thursday afternoon, at which point, no new works may placed on your wall gallery space. Cleanup of the ballroom will take place from 3-4pm and the ballroom will close at 4pm for artwork review by the Board. The ballroom will reopen from 6:30-11pm for voting along with the Caricature Showcase open to members of the public. Pro Members will be given a ballot for voting in multiple categories.
Friday evening will be the banquet, auction and awards ceremony. Members are encouraged to dress formally or semi-formally, but anything goes. After eating, the various awards are given. The final top awards are the Bronze, Silver and Golden Nosey. Prepare your speeches ahead of time!
If you are coming from overseas and flying in the U.S., remember that there are many restrictions as to what you may bring on an airplane, both as a carry-on and in your checked luggage. You are never allowed to bring any volatile chemicals or solvents in ANY piece of luggage you bring on a plane. But if you want to bring art supplies like tubes of paint or sharp knives or tools like screwdrivers, be sure to pack them into your checked luggage. You will not be allowed to bring those items in your carry-on luggage. If you are in doubt about what you can bring, be sure to read the guidelines on your airline’s website. Remember that you will be able to buy just about any kind of art supply from the art store set up in the ballroom. If it is a special item, you may be able to contact them before the convention and make a special request. The annual ISCAcons are always a worthwhile experience. You will meet people that will end up being your friends for years to come. You will gain valuable networking resources and artistic insights. You may be coming to just draw and have a relaxing time, to meet some of your favorite artists in person, or you may be coming with the intent to seriously compete. You will get out of it whatever you put in. Don’t stress out too much about it, though. Make a supply checklist for yourself and don’t wait to pack until the night before your flight and you will be alright.
