EoFF's Top Artist

[Mum]

It's a good thing I don't sleep much...

Well, you do have a lot of time for this, so I would just say to slow it down and try and do it gradually. I hope I gave enough time o_o

Keeping in mind though that its still one per week and over Christmas...


I've done one and started 3.
Hope NE & VW are doing well.

[Rocket Edge]

Best of luck to the finalists..

[tan]

It's a good thing I don't sleep much...

Well, you do have a lot of time for this, so I would just say to slow it down and try and do it gradually. I hope I gave enough time o_o

Keeping in mind though that its still one per week and over Christmas...


I've done one and started 3.
Hope NE & VW are doing well.

Well, yeah. I was originally going to end it around Christmas, but I decided against it, because it wouldn't be enough time, so I decided to end it a bit after Christmas, just in case drawing gets in the way of the festivities for you guys =P

[ValkyrieWing]

My theme's going to be the elements. Fire, ari, ect.

I have 2 done so far.

Good luck everyone!

[tan]

I will be checking up on all of you December 16, which is the approximate half-way point. I know most of you are only done with about two or so, which is fine, just as long as I get a general idea of what you're trying to create. I'll be looking at the pieces you've created and giving my opinion, but whether you actually follow them or not is up to you.

Anyway, for those who wish to compete in the next round of this competition, I will be starting it just before the beginning of summer, so mostly everyone will be free to draw. This time I will only be taking 8 contestants, so there will be less challenges, meaning less people dropping out (I hope). I learned that just asking anyone who wants to compete usually ends up with them dropping out, so this time I will only be extending invitations to compete, and only those who have invitations to compete will be able to. I will be extending invitations to 16 of you, which then will be narrowed down to 8 with the semi-final challenge. And what must one do to get an invitation? I will looking at the art forums often, and anyone who I am impressed with will get an invitation. You may also post in the thread some art work that you want to show me, which may or may not get you one.

Oh, and, anyone who has any ideas for challenges can come contact me, and I'll let you be the guest judge for that challenge since you thought it up :)

I know there have been complaints about this competition on how the deadlines were too short, there was too much drama, etc., but I've learned a lot about what I should do next time (such as not butcher a judge's review, which is what happened in the beginning and I lost all 3 of them after that point o_o). I know some have complained about the format, but if I was to make a thread that gives challenges and just asks people to submit, it wouldn't be a competition. I like this format because I think it is competitive, and that's the whole point of it, which is to find the best artist that can be flexible and creative in their art.

Oh, and, just a word to the finalists, you three will not be able to compete in next round, whether you win or not. I'd like to give a chance for anyone to compete, and since you have already made it this far, letting you compete again would be unfair for those who do want. All 3 of you will always be welcome to be judges/guest judges, however :)

Yes, I know I'm getting ahead of myself with all this talk about next round, but I need something to ramble on about, you know =P

And to the three finalists: good luck with drawing your entries, and if you have any concerns, I'm always here to help.

[Mum]

Hi guys!

I have completed 7 out of the 13 I have drawn out and started, then I will choose the best 8 to submit. (I'll use all of them for an upcoming exhibition, so thanks for the idea.) I think I have picked my song for the music too.

My theme is TIME.

Tan, are you judging this final round? If not, should/could I submit them to you on trial for you to help choose which you think would be best for this challenge? Or is that inappropriate, guys?
Opinions please.
If you are judging, Tan, then I think it would be fairer for me to choose.

I see from your previous entry that you are available to critique before official submission. Should I email them to you?

VW: great theme! I can just imagine your fire one...!
What are you doing your series on NE?

[Nominus Experse]

I plan to have my series be loosely held together by the theme of struggle in its many forms. Thus, this encompasses everything from love to sexual frustration.

And, naturally, it's done in my style, whatever murky... thing... that is.

[Mum]

...and, naturally, it's done in my style, whatever murky... thing... that is.

*chuckles*

[tan]

Hello everyone!

It's the half-way point, which means I'll be seeing the contestants' finished art thus far and giving them my opinions. Mum e-mailed me hers two days ago because she wouldn't have e-mail access today, I believe, so that just leaves ValkyrieWing and Nominus Experse. I have my expectations very high, and I'll do my best to guide them and give them advice.

EDIT: Oh, uh, I forgot to talk about something in the rules, I think. In your video, as well in your posting of the entries, the last picture shown will be your featured picture, the one you consider the best. This does not mean that you need to draw 9 pictures; simply pick one out that you find the best. Or, as in ValkyrieWing's collection, you could just take all of your collection and put the characters all into one picture, but this is just an example. Sorry I forgot to tell you, but this won't change much besides you telling which one you thought was best by featuring it at the end.

EDIT (again): I've been slacking off and have yet to find the panel of seven judges, but since I promised 41-inches-wide a spot, and I myself will be a judge, that leaves 5. I'm also hoping to ask a friend from school who's experienced with art to join in, though I don't know how outspoken he'll be in his reviews, but we'll see. If you'd like to be a judge for this challenge please PM me. Only requirements are that you can get into #eoff and that you have little to no association with the contestants. This means that one of my recent judges (can't remember her name, sorry xD) who was friends with ValkyrieWing won't be able to guest judge, so, uh, yeah. I'll be sending PMs to various people who I want to guest judge and I'll set up a time for us to meet, whether it be #eoff, Y!M, AIM, or MSN Messenger. But, of course, this will be after the final collections are revealed, but I'm just planning ahead =P

[Nominus Experse]

I want to have the judges give at least two paragraphs per piece of artwork. If they cannot do this, than they are not competent as judges. There are artistic princepals that every artist knows, and every judge ought to know these as well. There are more than enough aspects of each piece of artwork to make two complete, coherant paragraphs.

No artist wants to see "oh, this is nice. 6/10". I want to see why the smurf it's nice, or why it's not. If I see any of this loose-ended , I am going to be pissed.

And there haven't been enough technical critigues that have cited what is wrong with the picture. There is always at least one thing found to be wrong, but everyone knows that there are usually more than simply one thing wrong with each picture. When I say wrong, I mean not perfect.

DP tried this, but ultimately failed. I want to see a judge actually be brutal, but also make sense with what they write. The public is brutal, the real world is brutal. Artists are not supposed to have friends in the artistic world. It would shame me to have the review of a favoured judge.


So all you who seek to be judges, do not dissappoint, please. You owe us this right.

This competition is supposed to be fun, but the end product is always serious. The judging shouldn't be any less so.

[Mum]

I agree with NE that the judging will be much more valid and interesting if it is detailed. VW, NE and I are putting a lot of effort into our creations, and deserve effort put into examining and reviewing them. A couple of paragraphs minimum should uncover the judges thoughts well.

Judges, you can criticise NE all he likes - as he obviously wants it and can take it. (I think he's an exceptional artist, personally, who uses great detail.)
But I am one of those artists who is a sensitive, emotional kind, and as I feel there is enough brutality in the world (like NE says), you can be just as kind with me as you like! Score accordingly of course, but critique in a gentle and instructive kind of way for me please. Theres no need to be brutal. The message will still be fully taken on board, believe me, and I will try to learn from all suggestions. I excel more from enthusiastic helpfulness than being crushed under scornful criticism - just the way I'm made!

Keep in mind each artist's techniques and material - one who uses a computer has different parameters than one who uses raw materials. The paintings will not be able to turn out the same qualities, and each medium has its own limitations in its management and execution.

I'm really looking forward to seeing all the wonderful paintings VW & NE have done. Have a wonderful Christmas break everyone!

Tan, for the next competition, as us 3 finalists are not eligible, I would be delighted to judge if you like.

[Nominus Experse]

tan, we want your confirmation in this matter. Or, at the very least, your thoughts.

[tan]

Sorry I haven't replied to any of this (or your artwork, Nominus), but I've been extremely busy lately, so I've had to stay away from here.

Anyway, I do want the judges to be brutal, because, honestly, whether you're emotional or not, covering up the fact that one of your pieces doesn't look very good by wording it gently isn't going to do anything for anyone. Marick was somewhat rude in his reviews, yes, but I want the judges to give critiques like him, because, honestly, this is the final challenge, and if a piece isn't good, the judges should just say it outright, not in a sentence like "Oh, it isn't the best, but you can do better!" As I've said before, sugarcoating something doesn't help anyone.

The reviews will be brutal, whether you like it or not. A brutal review does not mean that you are worthless as an artist but, rather, that you need to improve on some of your techniques. I'll be sure to tell the judges to give positives and negatives to each piece, and I'll be sure to tell them not to be just downright rude (as in saying, "Oh this piece sucks" as some of you think Marick somehow told you in his reviews). I hate when people are fake, and when they are being fake to you in reviews so they don't hurt your feelings, they (and you, who is demanding that they gently word everything) are not respecting you as an artist. This is because as artists, you should be able to take negative feedback, whether you believe it to be "rude" or not, and turn it into something positive.

Now, if you really don't want to see their reviews because you think they'll be too harsh, just don't read the reviews.

[Loony BoB]

I think what should be kept in mind is that you don't say "The background is horrid, what is the bow tie there for? Ugh." etc. and instead say "I liked what you did with this, this and this. I think that you could have improved it by doing this."

You guys need to keep in mind that art isn't done in a week. Chances are they know what they could improve on anyway, they just didn't have the time.

I've been known as my Mum's biggest art critic over the years - and I give her rave reviews on many occasions. If there's something that I didn't think was done right - be it something being too big, too small, too bright, too dark, the wrong colour, I tell her. But there is never a need to be brutal with someone who doesn't appreciate it. Some people may enjoy it, but only if they ask for it. There are two ways you can drive people to improve in this world - encourage them to do so or demand they do so. Do you think Bill Gates got rich because his father told him the way he did his work was crap? I don't know about you, but the driving force behind my achievements can often be people. A push in the right direction is good, but only if it's a push, not a shove. If I was told "Hey, why don't you do this?" etc. then I'd be more likely to do it than if I was told "You didn't do it well enough. You fail."

If I was going to be brutal, I would rip a hole in how this comeptition is being run, noting everything that I see as having been done all wrong. If I was going to be productive, I would point out things that I feel weren't done right and suggest ways to improve them, and highlight areas that I see as a success.

Finally, an art critic is nothing without the knowledge of the time and effort it takes to put together a piece of art. I've been to art competitions before, and art exhibitions. They don't go around slating works of art, they go around commenting on them.

I don't think that artists should be slated as if you were Simon Cowell on X-Factor, that's for sure.

Here, I decided to investigate various organisations, competitions and universities noting instructions for judges with regards to commenting.

"All entries are to receive comments. It is important that judges comment with sensitivity, particularly to the experience level of the entrant. Comments, in particular any criticism of the work, should be made in an instructive manner. Additional resources or further information is always welcome."

There is, of course, a difference between giving someone first prize and "going easy" on them with the comments. You can be very harsh and give a good rating, or very light and give a poor rating. Be as harsh as you like with ratings and point systems and rankings etc, but when dealing with someone's artistic ability - particularly when you are not an artist yourself - you should always be sensitive and, when dealing with flaws, you should be constructive rather than keeping it to "I don't think this was done right."

Comparing art is also something you should never really do, as far as I'm concerned. You should judge each piece of art on it's own merit, as art can differ dramatically - as we've seen in this competition!

*gets back to lurking*

[ValkyrieWing]

Get ready for this one. I'm out if the contest. Not for a personal vendetta or anything, but because i severely sprained my wrist last night. I need to keep it braced, and it's agony to type. Because of this, i will be unable to finish my collection.

Best of luck, Nominus and Mum. I'll be watching closely your presentations. And, again, i'm sorry....