Chestertown’s Arts & Entertainment District is jumping into the grown-up coloring craze this spring by asking area artists to create intricate drawings for a Chestertown-themed coloring book.
As a project to raise funds for signage and marketing for the Arts and Entertainment District — and spread awareness of Kent County’s growing community of artists — District manager Kay MacIntosh invites artists to contribute a page or two (or more) for the Chestertown Coloring Book, which will be sold locally and also be the basis of a series of fundraising parties throughout the community.
The adult coloring trend, which took off in 2013 after Scottish artist Johanna Basford published Secret Garden, a volume of highly detailed pen-and-ink illustrations perfect for coloring in with art pencils, is fueled by nostalgia for a favorite childhood pastime and by the relaxing, therapeutic value of the activity.
Artists interested in contributing should choose a Chestertown scene or theme— a streetscape, popular landmark or shop, river or park scene, one of the Town’s fabulous festivals, whatever sparks inspiration—as their subjects. Drawings can be as literal and photo-realistic or as fanciful and creative as the artist chooses. A panel of A&E District Advisory Board members will review the works and decide which work best for the published book. Those not chosen will still be showcased at A&E fundraising coloring parties. Contributing artists will be recognized on each coloring sheet and in an index with mini bios in the back of the coloring book.
Drawings should be black and white and must scale to 8 ½ by 11 inches or 17 by 11 inches. Deadline for illustrations is April 29. Art can be delivered or mailed to:
Chestertown A&E District
Town Hall, 118 N. Cross Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
MacIntosh will host two informational sessions about the project, with samples on hand. They will be Tuesday, March 29, at noon, and Thursday, March 31 at 5 p.m. in the second floor meeting room at Town Hall, 118 N. Cross Street.
Those not able to come to one of the meetings can call 410-778-2991 or email [email protected] for information.
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