Pop Quiz 15 Results

Many thanks to all who took part in the last Pop Quiz contest. We had a lot of great entries, so without further ado, here they are!

Unfortunately, Drago Smith and barbario were disqualified for not naming their files properly, causing me to have to go back after downloading them all to figure out who did them.

Out of the remaining entries, I had a few I thought were the most outstanding.

BornToBeALoser came up with a terrifically clever flip-face composition.

DiCicatriz has a real knack for coming up with faces that look like actual people instead of generic placeholders. This one is no exception.

Harlequin's "Prepare to Battle" is a very cool illustration.

Iscarioto's homage to one of the most famous faces of all time was inspired and gorgeous.

MisterDinoMan's grumpy old man had a lot of character.

I don't think I've seen anyone do what Rancid does in his image. It's a neat idea very well executed, and the actual portrait itself (the most important bit for this contest) is also great.

Rozenstal's general also shows a lot of individuality, the key to doing well on this particular outing.

As you know, of course, there can be only one winner. What I wanted this time was a facial portrait that looked like an individual, a unique blend of common features that would stand out in a comic as if it were a drawing of an actual person instead of a generic sort of stand-in. The person who did that the most successfully this week in my opinion was ... Shiboreth!

The coloring, the lighting, and the accessories all combine with the well proportioned and convincing features to give me something that looks like it could have come from a current comic book. Great job!

Congratulations to Shiboreth and many thanks to all of those who entered.

29 Responses to Pop Quiz 15 Results

  1. DiCicatriz says:

    Awesome! Congrats to Shiboreth, quite a character you got over there 😀

    I haven’t had a lot of time to participate in contests lately so it was nice to get a shout out. I might actually continue Refugio’s story with a supporting cast…

  2. Dangerfish says:

    Absolutely awesome Shiboreth, it’s bloody amazing, it is

  3. fuzztone says:

    Congratulations to the finalists and especially to the winner – really great work. The ability to get expression into a character’s face is the magic, X-factor ingredient in an HM picture and these are all cracking examples.

  4. ams says:

    Cool contests and many great pics. Congrats to Shiboreth for the awesome image! Would have like to participate, but weekend life got in the way. Next time…. Cheers!

  5. Drago Smith says:

    Congrats Shiboreth awesome pic, very imaginative.

  6. Herr D says:

    Shibo! Congrats! This did turn out to be a rare competition. I think I liked every single entry better than mine. Rancid? I’ve been trying to get right the EXACT thing you did for a sub-thread. Pointers? IM me?

  7. Harlequin says:

    Gratz everyone.

  8. Shiboreth says:

    Holy crap, thank you everyone!

    Sorry to ask again, Jeff, because you seem to get this every time, but since I haven’t won one of these before, how do I go about making my request? Just an e-mail, a PM, or something like that?

  9. Harlequin says:

    I answer.

    Wrote down here what you want, attach a link if you need an item, or a bw picture or portrait, or send mail directly for Jeff afdstudios@gmail.com

  10. dblade says:

    Awesome work! I love seeing these all together.

    Congratulations, Shiboreth!

  11. Kytana says:

    Gratualtion the winner!
    So i try first time to make a comment about the entries.
    In german…no joke… in bad englisch…yes!
    @karzykyle: I like the colour composition, simple and good.
    I dont like the small eyes and the nose. It looks like she is sick.
    @atomicpunk: Looks like a mixture from a troll and a snake. Nice tattoo,
    i want see the rest of his body please. Only the two tongue, it doesnt figure.
    @borntobealoser: Good idea, looks like a crazy dream for me. Right side is the wife, right?
    @carp: Brrrr… yukky. The pig, not the work. But bushy eyebrows makes it more delicious.
    @DiCicatriz: For me the winner, very nice picture. I like the look he make, it seems to me like a bodyguard or a doorman.
    @face2(?): Arnold Schwarzenegger as a pirate. Thats not my tasty, but its a solid work.
    @firecracker: Your portrait is create… have you are girlfriend? Green and red are a good combination but he looks not scary enough for me. Or want you be a good alien? Then sorry.
    @gendonesia: A late, but good work from you. Lip, nose and eyes a little bit to small, but fine.
    @Harlequin: Good work as always. I like the eye reflexion and the look is great. I hope you win next time.
    @HerrD(german?): Yep, very funny- i think. But why you use the word done and donne? A write error?
    @Imp: Oha, i hate clown, see “It” to much. Looks like the oncel of pennywise.
    @Iscarioto: It a good picture and i think you worked long on it. But the hair looks unfinished for me.
    @JonnyGear: For me it looks like a comic carton eh is a little bit overdone for me(i dont know its right word for that). But nice effects.
    @jr19759: Without mask he look creepy. I think he is so angry because he have toothaches. Very snappy picture.
    @Kytana: Whats that? Ugly old woman. Why you dont make sweet cats or woman with big boobs. Thats much better as this.
    @lime: He looks not angry to me, more confused. But good work, i like the freckless you used in this picture.
    @maddoctor: Weird… more i cant say for this. Hope its not real person.Oo
    @Madpac: Fine work, but it have no emotion in there.
    @maniacmick: Same for this, it looks to simple for me. Only i like his t-shirt and the scar.
    @MisterDinoMan: Bad angry Men. Looks like his neighbours dog have piss(ed) of his garden a.d he want cry: Keep off the grad or i piss(ed) your dog! Nice.
    @MirVampire: Good idea. A Handface or facehand. A work in 3 minute, right? Ah… i dont can to something like this. *to be envious
    @nha247: Twoface brother, nice. I dont like the mouth of the right side(the transition), but all over its ok.
    @rancid: For me the second place. Creative idea. Great. Only the right eyelash is to small. Skill come with practice!
    @Rozenstal: My mistake, i believe first time he is a porter. So now i know he looks like out of humor. The head is to small, but i want not bother him.
    @ryan: Nice light effect. But without shadow it looks a little bit like plastic skin.
    @Gozuforce: The same like karzy, the red nose is disturbing. Also the wrinkle under her eyes. Her facial expression is good.
    @scarface: I like this face, the lack of emotion, the background. Only nose is too long but rest is ok.
    @Shiboureth: Place number three. Looks like a 80s portrait. Very simple and nice.
    @Skybandit: Looks like you were on a long trip or you had a curious dream like i often did it. The mouth is al little bit to big for a side face.
    @Superfan1: Kid of drugs number two. Who want pick that girl in his car
    when she would money? But nice picture.
    @Vampyrist: Simple entry, too simple for me. The eyes and the neck are a little bit to big/broad for an old men.
    @Wwebpulp: I dont like the effect, but over all its nice.
    @Zulrath: A friedly alien, i hope. I like the few color you used.
    @Yurasagi: Ok this is the last and one of the best entry. Like the hair, the clothes. All that looks like a great comic with a vamp story. Or is she the girlfriend from jr19759s entry?

  12. Iscarioto says:

    Awesome work Shiboreth! Phenomenal effort all round!

  13. Kaylin88100 says:

    Yeah, I thought that one might win. n_n
    I also liked the entries from DiCicatriz, Gendonesia, Harlequin, Iscarioto, MisterDinoMan and Rancid. 🙂

  14. Gene says:

    Wow, those were all very cool. Good job all, and congrats to the winner 🙂

  15. ryan says:

    i could of won but congrats winners didn’t mean to sound rude but i was still confused about typing in the right link name but the next contest i will do better i promise i will stop being enraged and also i will type in the right link name next time

  16. ryan says:

    Kytana:
    Gratualtion the winner!
    So i try first time to make a comment about the entries.
    In german…no joke… in bad englisch…yes!
    @karzykyle: I like the colour composition, simple and good.
    I dont like the small eyes and the nose. It looks like she is sick.
    @atomicpunk: Looks like a mixture from a troll and a snake. Nice tattoo,
    i want see the rest of his body please. Only the two tongue, it doesnt figure.
    @borntobealoser: Good idea, looks like a crazy dream for me. Right side is the wife, right?
    @carp: Brrrr… yukky. The pig, not the work. But bushy eyebrows makes it more delicious.
    @DiCicatriz: For me the winner, very nice picture. I like the look he make, it seems to me like a bodyguard or a doorman.
    @face2(?): Arnold Schwarzenegger as a pirate. Thats not my tasty, but its a solid work.
    @firecracker: Your portrait is create… have you are girlfriend? Green and red are a good combination but he looks not scary enough for me. Or want you be a good alien? Then sorry.
    @gendonesia: A late, but good work from you. Lip, nose and eyes a little bit to small, but fine.
    @Harlequin: Good work as always. I like the eye reflexion and the look is great. I hope you win next time.
    @HerrD(german?): Yep, very funny- i think. But why you use the word done and donne? A write error?
    @Imp: Oha, i hate clown, see “It” to much. Looks like the oncel of pennywise.
    @Iscarioto: It a good picture and i think you worked long on it. But the hair looks unfinished for me.
    @JonnyGear: For me it looks like a comic carton eh is a little bit overdone for me(i dont know its right word for that). But nice effects.
    @jr19759: Without mask he look creepy. I think he is so angry because he have toothaches. Very snappy picture.
    @Kytana: Whats that? Ugly old woman. Why you dont make sweet cats or woman with big boobs. Thats much better as this.
    @lime: He looks not angry to me, more confused. But good work, i like the freckless you used in this picture.
    @maddoctor: Weird… more i cant say for this. Hope its not real person.Oo
    @Madpac: Fine work, but it have no emotion in there.
    @maniacmick: Same for this, it looks to simple for me. Only i like his t-shirt and the scar.
    @MisterDinoMan: Bad angry Men. Looks like his neighbours dog have piss(ed) of his garden a.d he want cry: Keep off the grad or i piss(ed) your dog! Nice.
    @MirVampire: Good idea. A Handface or facehand. A work in 3 minute, right? Ah… i dont can to something like this. *to be envious
    @nha247: Twoface brother, nice. I dont like the mouth of the right side(the transition), but all over its ok.
    @rancid: For me the second place. Creative idea. Great. Only the right eyelash is to small. Skill come with practice!
    @Rozenstal: My mistake, i believe first time he is a porter. So now i know he looks like out of humor. The head is to small, but i want not bother him.
    @ryan: Nice light effect. But without shadow it looks a little bit like plastic skin.
    @Gozuforce: The same like karzy, the red nose is disturbing. Also the wrinkle under her eyes. Her facial expression is good.
    @scarface: I like this face, the lack of emotion, the background. Only nose is too long but rest is ok.
    @Shiboureth: Place number three. Looks like a 80s portrait. Very simple and nice.
    @Skybandit: Looks like you were on a long trip or you had a curious dream like i often did it. The mouth is al little bit to big for a side face.
    @Superfan1: Kid of drugs number two. Who want pick that girl in his car
    when she would money? But nice picture.
    @Vampyrist: Simple entry, too simple for me. The eyes and the neck are a little bit to big/broad for an old men.
    @Wwebpulp: I dont like the effect, but over all its nice.
    @Zulrath: A friedly alien, i hope. I like the few color you used.
    @Yurasagi: Ok this is the last and one of the best entry. Like the hair, the clothes. All that looks like a great comic with a vamp story. Or is she the girlfriend from jr19759s entry?

    oh zulrath is a friendly alien he just got to fight against the evil rebels before they invade the planet mara and destroy every living alien

  17. Herr D says:

    For anyone who might not know: John DONNE (pronounced ‘dun,’ same as done) is famous for, among other things, making famous the line: “no man is an island” So Carl Isle misunderstood the fish. . .one of the problems I’ve often had is alluding to things that I vastly misjudge on how well known or understood they are.

  18. Myro says:

    Congrats to Shiboreth, and awesome work from all the finalists. Didn’t get a chance to participate unfortunately, work was insane.

  19. Vampyrist says:

    Congratulations Shiboreth, a very well deserved win.
    As Herr D said Donne is famous for “No man is an island” as well as “For Whom the Bell Tolls”

  20. dblade says:

    Vampyrist:
    Congratulations Shiboreth, a very well deserved win.
    As Herr D said Donne is famous for “No man is an island” as well as “For Whom the Bell Tolls”

    I thought Metallica was famous for “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. 🙂

  21. dblade says:

    ryan:
    i could of won but congrats winnersdidn’t mean to sound rude but i was still confused about typing in the right link name but the next contest i will do better i promise i will stop beingenraged and also i will type in the right link name next time

    I hope you understand now why Jeff requests you put in the correct name. It makes it easier for him to know who each entry belongs to when he downloads them all into one place. This is especially important when he has a large number of entries.

  22. Harlequin says:

    @Kytana – Ich werde nie gewinnen. Aber ich danke Ihnen.

  23. dblade says:

    Harlequin:
    @Kytana – Ich werde nie gewinnen. Aber ich danke Ihnen.

    Now, now. I believe there is a certain “Ember Joker” that demonstrates that you can win. And more often than not your pieces are in the finalist circle, which is personally what I’m shooting for every time. I go in expecting not to win because there are enough creative people entering that there is a good chance someone is going to top me in creativity, innovation, or character design. Sometimes I get lucky.

    Your pieces are usually some of the most innovative, but I also think you have some room to get better in refining your images. The advantage of the “base” design (as you call it) is an artist is always working with a refined asset provided by a professional illustrator (The Exalted Jeff Hebert) in a way that does not alter it’s construction. Your job is harder because you step way outside the “base” toolbox and construct new anatomy and poses, going many steps further than most. As you continue to work with rearranging the assets you will only get better with making Hero Machine magic.

    I just hope you stay positive and try to avoid going down the path of self pity. Just keep providing the cool and reveling in the positive feedback.

  24. Most gratulations, Shiboreth! Very awesome yet quirky. Love the freckles and attitude.

    Have to say, maybe acknowledgments for beginners, intermidiates, and “OMF… how did you do that?!?” Love the skill and presentation that DiCicatriz, Harlequin, and rancid bring. Don’t get me wrong folks, I appreciate your contributions. But these are…. OMF… how did you do that?!?

  25. @Kytana: Danke, my design was… zufällig (random?) The two tongues were just because… unbedeutend(?). Sorry, I am studying German again (my first language until I was six years-old). Working my brain.

    My mom just had a stroke. She has been code-switching these past few days. She patters in German and Armenian. It’s very frustrating to the nurses (who know “por favor, donde esta el bano”). It’s also frustrating for my niece and nephew. who don’t speak German. Kids today, no culture.

  26. Kytana says:

    Harlequin:
    @Kytana – Ich werde nie gewinnen. Aber ich danke Ihnen.

    As dblade say: You can win. But i think Jeff dont like so much the mangastyle in your picture. I think its not his taste, like some picture of me. I am not so a superhero fan(not missunderstand i like many comics and movies), more an artist and i give my best. But long time it works not(since 3 or 4 entrys), so next time i try a little bit more his taste and then i think it works more.
    @TheAtomicPunk: Trau dich nur, ich trau mich auch! 😉
    “Mein Design ist zufällig ausgewählt worden.” Unbedeutend= minor i think.
    Look at france. The like no other language as her own and all other people must speak france too. German is difficult, so its ok.

  27. Jeff Hebert says:

    Shiboreth: Sorry to ask again, Jeff, because you seem to get this every time, but since I haven’t won one of these before, how do I go about making my request? Just an e-mail, a PM, or something like that?

    You can post a comment on any blog entry (I get email copies of all comments), or you can use the Contact Us form, or you can email me directly.

  28. RobM says:

    Missed out this time because of a busy weekend, but I wanted to say congrats to the winner and all the finalists. There’s some real inspiration here to, as Jeff said, go beyond placeholder faces and construct faces with real character, which Shiboreth did especially well. Great job.

  29. Kaldath says:

    RobM:
    Missed out this time because of a busy weekend, but I wanted to say congrats to the winner and all the finalists. There’s some real inspiration here to, as Jeff said, go beyond placeholder faces and construct faces with real character, which Shiboreth did especially well. Great job.

    I never get in on these pop quizzes as my job is the most busy on the weekend, so I’m up all night ( working my tail off ) and sleep all day, ( recovering ).