The stage was set for an epic night in Cleveland’s artistic arena as the Brownhoist Building welcomed an eager crowd of artists, well-wishers, models, and judges. Cleveland’s premiere drawing competition, Drawn & Quartered, founded by Deb Steytler and Juan Quirarte 13 years ago, returned with a full roster of challengers ready to battle it out. The stakes were high, and the competition fierce, as four teams squared off in a showdown of creative prowess.

Representing the city’s finest, the four teams entered the competition with pride and determination. From University Circle, the CIA Operatives carried the banner for The Cleveland Institute of Art. Not far behind, Little Italy’s Murray Hill Drawing Group took to the canvas, bringing a more classical approach. Meanwhile, the boisterous Dr. Sketchy crew made their comeback, their energy palpable. Finally, the Walton Avenue Atelier rounded out the lineup, each team eager to capture the night’s title. Three models from Burning River Dance, along with Kacie Marie, anxiously awaited their turn to be immortalized in the heat of the action.

The competition venue was divided into two arenas: one room set the stage for the intense long-pose challenge, while the other–the short-pose “Thunderdome”–promised rapid-fire, high-pressure rounds. In the long-pose room, artists geared up for three hours of intense work, capturing Kacie Marie’s likeness with meticulous detail, using a range of materials from markers to acrylics. The air was thick with focus as the artists pushed their talents to the limit in silence, knowing the slightest error could cost them.

But the Thunderdome was where the real fireworks were happening. Teams entered the fray, bracing themselves for a series of demanding challenges that tested both speed and creativity. At 8:00 PM sharp, the first round began with a 10-minute blind contour drawing, where artists couldn’t even look at their paper. It was a grueling start, but the teams quickly adapted, each squad selecting their best work to present to the judges. Every drawing was scrutinized, scored from 1 to 3 by a panel of expert judges, and the race was on.

The evening pressed on with relentless action:

5-minute Blind Contour
5-minute Gesture
5-minute Wrong-handed
10-minute Best Likeness (Guest models)
10-minute Movement with 3 random stops
After a brief intermission, the competition roared back to life with even more grueling rounds:

10-minute Interlocking/Intertwined
10-minute Caricature (Guest or Audience Member)
10-minute Tandem Drawing (5 minutes per partner)
10-minute Extreme (Odd) Angle
Tension built as the teams fought to impress the judges with bold, fast strokes and inventive compositions. Each challenge pushed the artists’ skills and mental agility, leaving little room for error. The clock was the ever-present enemy, ticking down mercilessly as artists rushed to create something worthy of praise.

As the night wore on, it all came down to the final scores. The short-pose scores were tallied, with the long-pose results factored in for an average, contributing to 40% of the final team score. The atmosphere was electric as the final judgment approached. Teams stood on edge, holding their breath, pencils nervously in hand as the scorekeepers completed their count.

With great anticipation, the results were delivered. In second place, Murray Hill Drawing Group had put up a valiant fight, their classical techniques earning them strong marks. But the night belonged to Dr. Sketchy. After a long hiatus, they made their triumphant return, taking home the trophy in a thrilling victory. Their daring approach and high energy throughout the night had earned them the top spot, reclaiming their dominance in the Cleveland art scene.

In the end, it was a night of artistic highs and lows, a rollercoaster of emotions and creativity. The artists left their mark not just on the canvas, but on the memories of everyone in attendance. Drawn & Quartered delivered yet again, proving that art, like any great competition, is as much about the struggle as it is the victory.