#DRAWTHEWORD Art Challenge Dares You to Get Creative

Image courtesy of the Writers’ Trust of Canada

Image courtesy of the Writers’ Trust of Canada

 

Get in touch with your inner artist and celebrate Canadian books that came out this spring by creating an inspired illustration or art piece. The #DrawtheWord contest by the Writers’ Trust of Canada is offering a stack of books as a prize to four winning artists, and the authors whose books inspired the four winning drawings will receive $500 each.

It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece by any means (see Margaret Atwood’s drawing for Gil Adamson’s Ridgerunner) nor does it even have to necessarily be pen on paper (see Jenny Heijun Wills’ fabulous book looks).

“Your drawing can be digital artwork, sketched on paper, a creative make-up look, an artsy photo, or any other visual art piece,” says the Writers’ Trust website.

This is your chance to think outside the box and celebrate books that didn’t quite get their spotlight due to COVID-19. A complete list of books that were published this spring are broken up into genre here on the Writers’ Trust site.

Challengers Margaret Atwood, Johnnie Christmas, and Jenny Heijun Wills will then “select their favourites drawings” after the June 30 deadline. Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are all fair game. Official challenge rules are below.

Here are a few examples of some awesome contributions to get inspired.

Another in my series of "Isolated But Not Alone". Inspired by two artists, Adam Young and Brent Vandenbroek, as well as Adam's book, The Little Red Shed. #drawtheword @young_studios @vandenbroekart

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HOW TO ENTER

  1. Buy and read a new Canadian book published in spring 2020 (March–June).

  2. Draw something inspired by the book on a page, on a screen, on your face, with a camera, or any other visual medium.

  3. Post your work of book art on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using #DrawtheWord, tag @writerstrust, and nominate two more readers to take part by tagging their handles.

  4. Win books! Win money! Atwood, Christmas, and Wills will select four winners after the June 30 deadline. The winning artists will each receive a package of Canadian books. The authors of the books featured in the drawings will each receive $500 to help them write another.

Happy drawing!

 
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Jo Ramsay

is a Canadian editor and writer. She’s worked in publishing for four years and continues to pursue opportunities in Canada and abroad. She’s worked at two publishing houses (Arsenal Pulp Press and Greystone Books) and was the blog and opinions editor at The Ubyssey newspaper. She’s lived in Canada, the UK, and Japan.

Jo Ramsay