Castillo Drink and Draw
Saturday June 1 @7pm – Bill’s Burgers inside the Westin Pittsburgh
Register at the event
I have single-handedly saved the world! Twice! Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but when you Drink and Draw anything is possible! Anyway, hello my friend and please allow me to introduce myself.
I’m Sammy P. Castillo and I am judge and jury, not to mention the Host of The Infamous Castillo Drink and Draw! (Que Thunderous applause here.) I have this long bio that is meant to make me sound cool and famous, but the short of it is this: I have been published for Twenty- Two years in a ton of stuff from comics to movies to tabletop games and RPGs and even video games if you know where to look.
But, I digress. What we are here to talk about is the awesome and amazing Castillo Drink and Draw. For the most part, these have gone on at every con since time en memorium. Yes, in the days of wizards and dragons drink and draws prevailed. Then Tommy and I came along and with fire and brimstone, we forged a new and fierce Drink and Draws to rival all Drink and Draws that came before! The one Drink and Draw to rule them all! First established in the ye olden days of the early 2010s, The Castillo Drink and Draw was part class, part hang out, part competition, and part fun all wrapped up in free drinks. And I graciously allowed 3 Rivers Comicon to be host to this infamous event.
Well ok, I got power-hungry and arrogant and asked the show to let me host my Drink and Draw event this year instead of an old regular boring one.
Here’s the kick, if you compete in the pro category, you can win a FREE table in Artist Alley at the next show! How friggin’ cool is that? If you compete in the amateur category, you can win bragging rights over all your friends as well as cool prizes!
The Castillo Drink and Draw is a juried event. This means, in short, that you have to be approved to compete in the pro category (and don’t worry it’s not that hard to get in) And yes, I do all the judging. Heh heh heh… and My new husband, Benn is accepting bribes… LOL. Just kidding, well maybe. You can find the requirements below for entering the Pro category. You don’t need approval to compete in the amateur category. Any one and everyone is welcome to compete.
As for what happens at The Castillo Drink and Draw, well you have to see for yourself. But a quick rundown is like this… Fade in on a room filled with drunken artists all waiting to take the other down for a free table… Pencils sharpened to a razor-sharp point; Feral artists foam at the mouth sizing up the competition surrounding them… let the battle commence….
Having done so much freelance work it would spin your head, I have devised a way to give you the artist, pro and amateur alike, a chance to see what it’s like to get that freelance gig. As an Artist, you never know what is going to come your way. One day you are drawing a dwarf fighting a dragon, the next is an epic Batman on a gargoyle and the following is a rotting banana monster… Yes, those are all gigs I’ve drawn. In the Castillo Drink and Draw you get to experience the ups, the downs, and the weirds.
For example, you could end up having to draw a Predator and the Abominable snowman fighting on a Roller coaster that is on fire. As the two fight the coaster is plummeting down the tracks, and it all takes place in a snow storm. Ya know, fun stuff like that!
Now, there are a few rules for My Little Drink and Draw BUT the Most important is you have to draw traditionally! No Computers! No Slates, iPads, Tablets, touch screen phones with fancy schmancy digital pens, no inkmaster 4000k. If it isn’t a pencil, pen, chalk, or even a crayon you can’t use it! And if you try to, Benn will have you eaten by Zombie clowns with really bad breath. I’ve seen him do it, he’s from Australia… and it isn’t pretty. Don’t worry though. If you come without a means to traditionally draw- I got you covered. (Please see below for the rest of the rules.)
There will also be a few of my industry colleagues coming to guest judge with me. I will be pulling, kicking, and screaming some of the biggest names in the business to come and guest judge with me! Seasoned comic artists will do anything for free drinks. LOL!
The best thing about all this is that we have a great time. I have had rooms with over a hundred people drawing like mad and drinking like fools. It brings a warm feeling to my heart. Awww… We also have many people that just come to watch as well. In all, it’s a great time with drinking and drawing, and sometimes bad decisions are made.
So come on down, and have a drink, pick up a pencil, and join us for a great time!
Your host with the most!
Sammy Castillo
@TScastillostudios
Drink and draw
F.A.Q
- What is Drink and Draw?
For years, Drink and Draw has been a simple excuse to hang out with artists and drink. This is a great idea and should be encouraged, as much as humanly possible. But we have taken this further! Drink and Draw is now a great time to drink and get to know the artists up close and personal, but it is also a chance for the Artists to compete under the eye of a Twenty-two-year veteran of the field not to mention the industry-working guest judges.
- Who is Sammy Castillo? (Will send a Bio in a bit)
- How old do I need to be to participate?
The age limit to drink is 21, with id, no exceptions. To come to the event we are open to all ages but this is an event geared toward adults. There will be harsh language. Well hell, if you are planning on bringing your kid to a drink and draw then you can just guess what that will be like. LOL! And if you know Sammy you can just guess what the night will be like…
- Can I bring my kid?
Again… The age limit to drink is 21, with id, no exceptions. To come to the event we are open to all ages but this is an event geared toward adults. There will be harsh language. Well hell, if you are planning on bringing your kid to a drink and draw then you can just guess what that will be like. LOL! And if you know Sammy you can just guess what the night will be like…
- Can anyone come to the Drink and Draw?
The Drink and Draw is open to everyone!
- Do I need to be an artist?
Nope! All you need is to be a fan of art and/or drinking.
- Can we just watch?
Yes, we love voyeurs!
- Do we need to bring stuff to draw on or are supplies provided?
No, you don’t have to. We’ll provide you with paper and pencil if you need it. I would not bring a computer unless it works with beer spilled on it. We are a traditional Drink and Draw! So paper-only kids!! And just to be clear you cannot compete on a computer. No digital submissions will be accepted. It all has to be done on paper and pencil or pen or Paper and smeared anything- like cigarette ash and chicken grease with the tears of broken dreams.
- How does the competition work?
Anyone competing is given an assignment to draw much like a job you would get in the field or maybe one that’s a bit more fun and outlandish. You are given a certain amount of time to finish your work as you drink, laugh, and do other such mischief. At the end, all artwork is collected and judged by Sammy and a guest Judge or two. Winners will be selected by a majority vote of the judges.
There is only one winner for the Pro category, because after all only one person can get the job.
There are 3 place winners for the amateur category.
The cool part is the Prizes! If you are in the pro category you can win a free table at the next 3 Rivers show in Artist Alley!
If you compete in the amateur class, you will win some very cool physical prizes! I have no idea what they are yet but I’ll make sure they are cool. Like a Funko Pop or t-shirt from that one vendor in the corner- you know the one. Yeah, that guy. His shirts are nice… Regardless The prizes will be awesome!
- What do I need to do to compete as a pro?
To compete as a pro, you need to have been published in some form.
You will be judged by Sammy for acceptance into the Pro category. And yes, self- publication does make you a pro. Also if you have purchased a table at the con and are currently in Artist Alley you may compete as a professional.
- Can I bribe Sammy?
You can try. Coffee is the best way to go. Large hot Mochas- specifically…
- Do we keep our artwork?
Typically all of the artwork from 3 Rivers’ previous Drink and Draws were donated to the charity auction. Which I would love to do again this year. Because who wants to bid on another Batman when you can bid on Darth Vader and a Xenomorph eating ice cream on a rollercoaster and the Xenomorph has a brain freeze?
- Are the Drinks Discounted for us?
AHHHHHHHH… Maybe?
- Is there any Food at this thing?
Yes, but you gotta buy it. I’m not paying for it. I may be famous(ish) but I’m not made of money.
- Is it true Sammy sold her soul for talent?
Who have you been talking to? ( ͡❛ - ͡❛)
What Can I win?
The pro winner (yes- singular. There can be only one.) gets a table in artist alley at next year’s show!
Amateurs can win one of three prizes.
First Place is bragging rights the ability to turn your nose up at everyone that didn’t win and a cool thing.
Second place is bragging rights and the ability to turn your nose up at everyone that didn’t win except the person that won first place and slightly less cool thingy.
Third place is bragging rights and the ability to turn your nose up at everyone that didn’t win except the two people that beat you and an almost but not quite as cool thingy.