The St. Louis Artists' Guild is proud to participate and bring The Big Draw Festival to St. Louis! The Big Draw is the world’s largest celebration of drawing, bringing people together through the power of creativity. Join us for a two-day family-friendly event filled with fun, inspiring drawing activities!

Thank you to our Sponsors

Participation Raffle “Big Draw Bingo” Activities

Be Aware! Some Activities Only Take Place At Specific Times!

All Activities are Free and Open to the Public!

Face to Face - Sunday, 10AM-12PM - Draw the posed model’s portrait in the gallery.

Push my Buttons- Design your own illustration and use the machine to turn it into a button you can pin on your shirt.

Drawn Outdoors (at the Hanley House) - Sunday, 1-3PM - Get some fresh air and sketch at the Hanley House Park with Mel Tychonievich. Hanley Park is just two blocks north west of the Guild at 7600 Westmoreland Ave.

Composition Corner - Find an interesting angle and work from the still life setup.

Posed at the Big Draw - Saturday, 12-4PM - Sketch the costumed model in the gallery.

The Rub Hub - Create a texture rubbing using a variety of materials and surfaces.

Rattle & Sketch - Draw the skeleton on display in the gallery, from observation.

Doodle Roulette - Spin the roulette wheel generate a creative drawing prompt.

Vroom N Zoom Art - Take materials for a drive and use toy cars to add to a collaborative masterpiece.

Schedule For The Weekend

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Sidewalk Chalk Competition: 9AM - 2:30PM

Artists will compete to create the best sidewalk chalk art on Jackson Ave. outside of the St. Louis Artists’ Guild. Take a peek at their creations as they work!

Presentation: Steenz, 10 - 11AM

Steenz, local illustrator and artist, will talk about their work, how they approach drawing cartoons, and their career!

Sketch the Look: 12 - 4PM

Sketch the costumed model in scene in the gallery!

Presentation: Craig Thomas, 1 - 2PM

Craig Thomas, a southeast Missouri based artist, will talk about his career along with exciting world of street art!

Drawn Together Social Hour: 3 - 5PM

Join us for a fun social hour celebrating The Big Draw Festival, meet local creatives, admire art on display and enjoy some refreshments!

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Demonstration: B.J. Parker, 10 - 11AM

B.J. Parker, a St. Louis based artist, will demonstrate his approach to drawing the figure utilizing the Michelangelo approach!

Face to Face: 10AM - 12PM

Brush up on your portraiture skills by drawing the posed models portrait in the gallery!

Demonstration: Mel Tychonievich, 1 - 2PM

Artist and Educator Mel Tychonievich will demonstrate plein air drawing at the Hanley House! This demonstration will lead into the “Drawn Outdoors” activity.

Drawn Outdoors (Hanley House), 1 - 3PM

Draw en plein air at the Hanley House with Mel Tychonievich. Hanley Park is just two blocks north west of the Guild at 7600 Westmoreland Ave.

The Big Draw Sidewalk Chalk Competition

October 4, 2025 | 9AM - 2:30PM

The Big Draw Sidewalk Chalk Competition is an event where artists gather to draw with chalk medium on the sidewalk. Each artist will be assigned a 4’ x 4’ square and draw within a family friendly appropriate theme.

Prizes:

1st Place Award: $300

2nd Place Award: $200 3rd Place Award: $100

Honorable Mention: Gift Certificate Honorable Mention: Gift Certificate

The juror, Craig Thomas, is a master artist specializing in fine art, murals, and street painting. Craig has earned national and international recognition and praise for his versatile skills and unique artistic vision. He has traveled extensively, sharing his creativity with diverse audiences worldwide. Mr. Thomas will give a talk about his work and career on Saturday, October 4th, at 1 pm.

Competition Guidelines and Rules

Chalk

• ONE box of Pastel Chalk will be provided for registered artists.

• If you need additional colors, you may share or exchange chalk with other artists.

• You may also purchase or use your own chalk but it MUST be water washable.

• All unused chalk is yours to keep or please return to the Artist Check-in area.

Artist

• Only registered artists may participate. Payment must accompany registration.

• All artists must read, agree to an Artists Disclaimer & Waiver when you checkout to participate.

• Art square spaces will be assigned at registration by the STLAG Chalk Art Staff upon checkin.

• Artists can begin as early as 9am and should be finished by 2:30pm on Saturday for Judging.

• Artists must be 16 years or older.

ART & ARTIST RULES

• The event will go on rain or shine. The artists are responsible for protecting their chalk art.  Plastic drapes, tape, tents, or canopies can be used as needed.

• Chalk art is only to be produced in designated and assigned areas. Size of concrete area will be 4’ x 4’

• The art created must be suitable for public and family viewing (no nude or lewd work).

• No words, symbols, or caricatures intended as political statements may appear within the art.

• Art created must be culturally sensitive and appropriate, respecting the diversity promoted in our community program.

• Chalk art depicting or intended as an advertisement for a business, product, or service is not allowed.

• No banners, products, samples, or promotional brochures are allowed. Artists MAY hand out business cards.

•  STLAG CHALK ART STAFF reserves the right to refuse, stop or eliminate objectionable art or art not consistent with rules.

• Please try to keep your supplies to a minimum and well contained in your space.

• No boom boxes are allowed. You may wear portable headsets.

• No pets, please!

• Your chalk art must only include chalk. Any non chalk props or items used in the artwork will exclude art from judging. No business advertisements in the form of brochures or signage will be allowed in the main categories.

• The Big Draw Festival is a TOBACCO FREE Event. Artists using tobacco will be excluded from judging.

• Use of fixatives is prohibited. 

• Chalks purchased outside of the festival must be WATER washable. No oil pastels or other mediums allowed.

• Unless a second chalk space has been purchased all art must stay contained in your own section, no exceptions. 

• If reproducing an image originally created by another artist (living or deceased), it is important to credit the original artist and the title at the base of your painting.
• Cancellation prior to 72 hours before will not get a refund.

IN CASE OF RAIN

Event will go on Rain or Shine! It will be the responsibility of the artists to cover their own drawings with the tarps or large sheets of plastic and weigh it down. Only in case of severe weather, the event may be canceled.