Good turn out this week folks!
Honourable mention this week goes to Kellkin. The mask is great, but I find some of the elements, ie. multiple spikes and belts, unnecessary.
Runner up this week is Ubiquitous Pixel. Once again, the mask is beautiful, and I love the cape. The stance and shading are also well done. My only criticism is the same as it was for Kellkin; some areas start to look "busy". Just my opinion.
And the win this week goes to...
AMS
I try to avoid consecutive wins, but this is a gorgeous design and came closest to the brief. The mask is stunning - yet suitably grotesque, and the costume could believably be created by someone who does not have a Master's degree in costume design. I might have included a t-shirt.
Your prize will be posted to the blog later this week.
Thanks to all who entered.
WOW! Thanks for the first place, djuby. I really thought I didn’t stand a chance against Kelkin and the mighty Pixel. Both creations were pretty cool.
Found it difficult to incorporate the Heavy Metal and Steam Punk aspects to the image. Went with the main stay overcoat for Steam Punk and the “Deep Purple” leather pants for the Metal. After that I tried to channel my inner “Stargate” for the mask.
Glad you like it!
Happy Victoria’s Day/May Two-Four!
Years ago I read an interview (with whom I cannot remember) about designing for comic books. The interviewee said that simplicity was key. Since the character would have to be drawn, by hand, over and over again in a single issue, the simpler the details were, the better, and that sometimes more is just more.
The way I judge these contests is that I download all the entries to my computer. I then scroll through the entries once from beginning to end. On the second scroll through I eliminate roughly half based on how well they follow the brief.
Then I get picky, and i search for the one that invites me to examine it further. Your mask was the first thing I saw and the purple of the pants drew my eye down through the rest of the image. If my eyes get stuck on an overly detailed boot or glove or whatever then I cannot focus on the character as a whole.
There were a lot of great entries this week, but your version of Seth was simple in all the right ways
Ams-Who you calling mighty, mighty Ams;)? It was hard to top yours.
djuby-Yah simplicity is key, I got carried away and I never am satisfied with my work. I tried too hard to incorporate the steam punk and heavy metal…along with giving an appropriate nod to the historical aspect of Seth whilst making him an intimidating leader for a villainous group against super humans. All my ideas exploded at once while searching steampunk inspired gear and looking at heavy metal things such as Kiss. I also took “whatever is clean” as in clean cut, looking sharp. Oops. Love this kind of criticism, helps me improve. Keep on keeping on.
I appreciate your approach to judging, djuby. An artist would go with simplicity when every frame is drawn by hand. The classic 4-color panel. The same approach to costume design whether Imperial Stormtroopers or real-life soldiers.
Where we are now with mass production and 3D printing, customization is replicable. That is why it’s important as ever that we have designers, artists, and make-up who ultimately produce by hand. I can only imagine, though, that in your profession, what a pain! It’s worth it to preserve craft.