Your Sketch Could Take You to Puerto Rico
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Enter The Wild Canvas Sketch Challenge for a chance to learn form award-winning artist, Craig Richards, paint breathtaking Caribbean landscapes, and become part of a creative community where artists feel at home.
Official Contest Rules
Contest Period
The Wild Canvas Sketch Challenge opens July 15, 2026, and all entries must be submitted by 11:50PM Eastern Time on August 26, 2026.
The August 26 deadline allows our judge, award-winning artist Craig Richards, adequate time to thoughtfully review every submission before selecting the Grand Prize winner.
Entries received after August 26, 2026 will not be eligible for this year's challenge.
Scholarship Announcement Schedule
Announcement of winners and schedule of drawing will be on August 31, 2026 via Facebook Live.
Who May Enter
The contest is open to artist who can at least execute basic oil painting techniques without introductory instruction.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Theme
Theme: Island Time
This year’s theme is Island Time - an invitation to slow down, look closely, and capture the spirit of the Caribbean through your own artistic lens.
Draw anything that evokes the pace, texture, and feeling of island life: sun-worn cobblestone streets, bougainvillea climbing stone walls, tropical foliage, ocean horizons, weathered doorways, palm fronds catching the light, or any scene that speaks to you of stillness and warmth.
You do not need to have visited Puerto Rico or the Caribbean to participate. Interpret the theme through your imagination, your environment, or your memories - what matters is the feeling your drawing carries. My example on the left…
DRAWING REQUIREMENTS
Example sketch (charcoal on paper)
Example sketch (charcoal on paper)
Eligible entries must:
• Be entirely original artwork created by the participant
• Be created using one or more of the following traditional
drawing media:
◦ Graphite pencil
◦ Charcoal
◦ Ink pen
• Be created on paper or other traditional drawing surface
🚫 NOT ELIGIBLE
🚫 NOT ELIGIBLE
The following are NOT permitted:
• Digital artwork
• AI-generated artwork
• Paintings
• Colored pencil
• Watercolor
• Oil
• Acrylic
• Pastel
• Mixed media incorporating paint
Only black-and-white traditional drawings will be accepted.
Official Rules
One entry per participant.
Entries must be submitted through the Official Entry Form by August 26, 2026.
Artwork must be original and created solely by the entrant.
AI-generated or AI-assisted artwork is not permitted.
Like and follow our Social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.
Artwork must also be posted publicly on Facebook or Instagram and tag The Wild Canvas Retreat.
Winners agree to allow The Wild Canvas Retreat to share their submitted artwork for promotional purposes with proper credit.
When your drawing is complete, upload and submit your official contest entry inside the Entry Form.
Scholarships 🎓
GRAND PRIZE 🏆🥇
The Wild Canvas Merit Scholarship
The Merit Scholarship recipient will be selected by an internationally recognized artist, Craig Richards.
Craig will judge all qualifying entries. Artwork will be presented without artist names to ensure every submission is judged solely on artistic merit.
The Wild Canvas Merit Scholarship includes:
• One single-occupancy reservation for The Wild Canvas Retreat.
• Full cost of the retreat reservation, including your private casita, accommodation, meals, instruction, and all retreat activities
The scholarship recipient is responsible only for their flight to and from Puerto Rico, and any personal expenses not included in the retreat.
The scholarship is non-transferable and may only be used for the retreat specified by The Wild Canvas Retreat.
The Wild Canvas Merit Scholarship is awarded to one individual and covers one participant’s retreat reservation only.
If the scholarship recipient chooses to share a couple’s casita with a spouse or guest, the additional occupant is welcome to attend but must register separately and pay the applicable shared-occupancy rate. For a couple’s casita, the shared-occupancy rate is $3,000.
The sooner you enter, the sooner you'll know if you're heading to Puerto Rico! Even if you're not selected for the Grand Prize, you'll automatically remain eligible for the $500 and $250 scholarship drawings, provided you haven't already won a prize.
SECOND PRIZE 🥈
One (1) $500 Wild Canvas Scholarship
Awarded by random drawing from all eligible entries. Drawing is done live on Facebook on August 31, 2026.
The scholarship provides $500 toward one Wild Canvas Retreat reservation. It may be applied toward either:
• One single-occupancy casita reservation, or
• One shared couple casita reservation (winner pays the remaining balance)
THIRD PRIZE 🥉
One (1) $250 Wild Canvas Scholarship
Awarded by random drawing from all eligible entries. Drawing is done live on Facebook on August 31, 2026.
The scholarship provides $250 toward one Wild Canvas Retreat reservation. It may be applied toward either:
• One single-occupancy casita reservation, or
• One shared couple casita reservation (winner pays the remaining balance)
Scholarship Conditions 🎓
Scholarships:
• May be used one time only
• Have no cash value
• Are non-transferable
• Cannot be exchanged for cash
• Cannot be combined with other discounts, scholarships, or promotional offers
The Wild Canvas Retreat reserves the right to verify eligibility before awarding scholarships.
Artwork Rights 🎨
Artists retain full copyright to their artwork.
By entering, participants grant The Wild Canvas Retreat permission to display submitted artwork on its website, social media platforms, newsletters, and promotional materials for purposes related to the contest and future retreat promotion.
Artist credit will always be given whenever reasonably possible.
Disqualification 🚫
Examples of unacceptable artwork on the left
Entries may be removed if they Submit artwork that is not original artwork.
Include digital artwork or AI-generated images.
Fail to meet the drawing requirements.
Contain offensive or inappropriate content.
Violate these official rules.
Winner Notification 🏅
Scholarship recipients will be contacted using the information provided on their entry form.
If a winner cannot be reached or declines the scholarship within the specified timeframe, an alternate winner may be selected.
Questions? ❓
For contest updates, scholarship winner announcements, and retreat information, follow The Wild Canvas Retreat on Facebook.
Good luck, and we can’t wait to see your artwork!
Want to Experience the Real Thing?
If creating art inspires you, imagine spending seven unforgettable days painting the breathtaking landscapes of Puerto Rico while enjoying seven days immersed in a creative retreat experience.
Whether you win the scholarship or not, we'd love to welcome you to The Wild Canvas Retreat.
To help us get to know you better, please complete the participant questionnaire below.
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