Pocono and the Three Bears Illustrator Challenge
What is it?
This is a FREE opportunity to showcase your visual problem-solving skills. Throughout the weekend, faculty will peruse the pieces displayed in the Retreat Showcase area. Plus, participating illustrators may choose to have their piece included in the Saturday night Illustrator Challenge slideshow presentation. Note that while there will not be any critique feedback given on these illustrations (unless you opt to take your piece with to your paid portfolio critique), faculty will be voting on their favorites. At the end of the weekend, we will announce the new JUST-RIGHT AWARD for the best solution to the Illustrator Challenge prompt as selected by faculty.
How do I participate?
Step 1. Create an illustration for the following prompt . . .
Based on our Retreat’s 2026 Theme, “In Search of Just Right,” the illustration should be your interpretation of turning the Goldilocks story “on its head,” in which one or all three of the Bears from the story (the mama, papa, and/or baby bear) enters Goldilocks’s house and discovers in the house their own “just-right fit." The illustration should reveal one scene only, which is the bears’ or a bear’s “just-right moment or fit” in Goldilocks’s house.
Formatting Specifications
Illustrators who choose to participate will submit one illustration on one page in any medium, with no text or title. If in an analog medium, submit an evenly well-lit scan. You may include your name on the illustration, and you must include your name on the submission file. The illustration should tell the entire story, with no text or title.
Step 2. Display your final Illustrator Challenge piece at the retreat in two ways
1. Display your work live in the Retreat Showcase area
Bring your completed Illustrator Challenge piece with you to the retreat along with an easel to display your piece in the Portfolio and Silent Pitch Showcase area. Setup will occur at the time of registration.
2. Email a copy for inclusion in the Illustrator Challenge Slideshow Presentation
If you would also like to be included in the Saturday evening Illustrator Challenge slideshow presentation, please email a copy of your completed piece to Robyn Stone, Illustrator Coordinator, at [email protected] with the subject line of "Pocono Illustrator Challenge Submission." Date for submission is Friday, 4/10/26. This digital submission should be in the form of a pdf or jpeg file, no larger than 3 MB, at a resolution of 150 DPI with the title as follows: Pocono Illustrator Challenge_(Artist’s Last Name)_ (Artist’s First Name). For example, the title might look like this: Pocono Illustrator Challenge_Stone_Robyn