As you know I'm in a bit of a computer bind this week due to the stolen laptop, so I once again have to make this, unfortunately, more brief than my usual contest finalist write-up.
So I'm going to put all of our excellent Finalist into a grid below. You can click on each one to get the illustrator's name and see the image at full size.
Thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations to our Finalists! As to the overall winner, I'll add that after the gallery ...
And the overall trophy goes to ... AMS! I might have to put a Lifetime Cap on wins here pretty soon for you, big guy.
I think his entry works both conceptually and in terms of execution as an actual illustration. Great job, sir!
G.G. for the finalist. Nice entries.
Congrats ams! And thanks for the finalist nod, Jeff. I had that idea stuck in my head waiting for the Sloth contest back when the Greed contest came out.
You picked the wrong game Myro. It should have been “I’m busy playing Mass Effect 3″…
I still don’t like the way the new contests are. I liked it when you looked at the entries by scrolling down.
Yes, WolfMoon, I agree. Which is why I introduced this announcement in the very first sentence with:
Now that I have a laptop back, next week I can return to the usual method of announcing finalists.
Metalhead was awesome! Congratulations, ams! Keep on keeping on!
And the roll of the d16 dice is “2″. Phatchick (the Chosen One) is the winner of dblade’s Random Finalist Consolation Prize!
1. The Chosen One can choose one new item to be created for any existing category in Hero Machine 3 with the exception of these categories: Backgrounds, Companions.
2. The new item must be applicable to the default body type. No specialized items for alternate body types (turned head, 3/4 torso, back view, etc…)
3. I reserve the right to ask the Chosen One to pick another item if the request is beyond my ability or inappropriate for Hero Machine 3.
4. Reference images or a really good description must be provided so I can fulfill the request with the minimal amount of heartache and frustration.
So there you have it. As many of you are familiar with my contributions you know I can handle a wide range of art requests so don’t let the guidelines scare you. I do have limitations (damn you, Human Hair!!) so please be understanding if I have to decline a request.
Gratulation the winner Ams(what a fat ugly boy) and the other winners( and …argh…me too…twice…thanks)too.
*go sleeping
…huh what, sorry I was sleeping.
Congrats, ams! (I think that I went to high school with that guy.)
These contests have been really tough to come up with designs. Everyone brings something unique, which is very pleasant. Quick nods to:
borntobealoser (great use of items)
Cliff (can’t believe you designed the whole HM GUI!)
headlessgeneral (the whole team is coming along well)
Jack Zegler (turning off the lamp is a great touch)
McKnight (the TV/DVD combo made it more apparent)
Myro (the game controller is genius, but the room looks to clean for a gamer!)
Quill (Apathy: facial expression with the lyrics as a background is solid & Slothishness: great pose and overall design)
Skybandit (hilarious)
Tarkabarka (I like your close-ups)
Watson Bradshaw (the fez seals the deal)
Yeah, when I saw the shading on AMS Metalhead Sloth, I told myself. that is probably the winner. Congrats Dewd!
There was so many awesome pieces considering the sorta limitd subject.
I will admit I was happy my couch patato was ONE of the ones that made it to the HMs. Thanks Jess..
I was aftraid that my satyr fetish was keeping me from winning. >}:^{D>
at least I know it was ability and not satyr subject.
I can live with that >}:^{D>
I had not seen Tarkaburka’s LAzzzY
or kytanna’s Dino Sleeper .
I relly lieked them.
as well as all of the other finalist
and congrate Phatchick on your rRandom Win
Jeff: What the hell do I keep doing wrong? I work for a good, solid chunk of time on these things and never seem to have anything to show for it, not even an honorable mention. This exactly why I wanted some feedback before.
I feel like I give this speech a lot, but look, the fundamental thing to remember here is that art is subjective. It’s the opinion of just one person, and if something happens to not hit me right and I don’t like it, that doesn’t mean it’s not any good.
The hardest lesson for any creative person to learn is to know at a visceral level that some people will not like what you do as much as you do, no matter how good it is. And that’s ok. It doesn’t mean it’s not good, and it doesn’t mean it’s not bad. It just is what it is — one person’s opinion.
In this specific case, my personal opinion was that your illustration wasn’t balanced. The black overwhelmed the upper portion. It didn’t read as a television to me, even with the cabling. If the viewer has to spend any time deciphering the intent of the illustrator, that’s a problem.
Now, it may be that all of that is wrong, or that you or others see it differently. It’s just my opinion.
I think it’s important to always remember why we as creators do what we do. If it’s for adulation or honors or kudos, then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Those things are ephemeral. The only thing that matters is the joy you get from creating it, and whether or not you like it at the end of the day. That’s it. The rest is just flair.
If you’re not having fun doing this, if being designated as a Finalist is more important than the joy you feel at creating it, then you should step away and stop doing it, at least for a while, so you can remember what’s important. Namely, not me or my opinion.
Should post your entry to the next open critique day. So long as it is not a current contest entry Jeff will give his Critique to it.
Congrats ams and all the finalist. And thanks to The Atomic Punk for the nod 🙂
Sorry, Jeff. I am having fun, so that works, I think the biggest problem was that I didn’t have any real material for this one. I was just sort of wingin’ it. I think I just need to lower my own standards on this kind of thing and realize how much time it takes to come with something good. At least I’m getting good reactions overall from the Caption Contests. I hope the new computer’s working out at least.
Congrats ams- great entry!
And congrats to all the other finalists, too!
HA! Unfortunately, I haven’t played any of the Mass Effect games, so that would be a lie. And Skyrim’s still been absorbing quite a bit of time since X-Mas, when I can put some time in on it, of course.
True that. This room actually has DVD and game cases scattered around the place and a couple soft drink bottles lined up. Fiancee hates when I get it this messy, and I do have to clean after a while. Still, if I put a realistic amount of clutter in my picture, I’m sure it wouldn’t look as good.
I’m glad you like the game controller; I was staring at my X-Box controller while trying to build it. Chair had to be built from scratch too. There was a lot more object building in this one than I’m used to, but since I had the idea weeks before, I’ve been using a bit of time on HeroMachine to experiment, and it looks like I figured out what I was doing.
Well, you should! It is a great game! I simply thought it to be more fitting because it just came out last week.
See, that’s why Skyrim is better. He hasn’t gotten around to ME3 yet.
Thanks the good mention for The Atomic Punk and Cliff.
Domo Arigato Guys.
HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!
Thanks for the win, Jeff! A sloth-themed character was the hardest yet out of the Seven Sins, and all the finalists came up with some great entries. Congrats to all!
I’ll let you know what I choose for a prize when I think of something. (Any updates on prizes? I know with yer laptop stolen, you must have had a major setback.)
p.s. DON’T CAP ME DUDE!!!!! Cheers!
Yeah, I’m dead in the water in terms of prizes/items. I finally got a replacement laptop, but I don’t have Flash on it and my drawing tablet got stolen along with the old system. Until I can get those two items replaced — and then get back to Colorado where the HeroMachine Flash source files are that I need to do the items in the first place — I won’t be able to get anything done on it.
Congrats ams! And thanks for the finalist