Long time, no contest

[bladespark]

I'm doing an art contest again! Here's the deal:

1. Prizes. I will award first, second, and third place prizes. First place is a $50 coupon, second place a $35 coupon, and third place a $20 coupon. These coupons are good for that amount off of any work by me. If what you want is equal to or less than the value of your prize coupon, I'll make it for free. So first place could get any Loonakit or (almost) any tail, second place could get most loonakits and most tails, and third place can get something very simple. Or any of them can get that much off of something more complicated/larger. Coupons are not cash, and cannot be used retroactively on something you've already paid for.

2. Deadline. Art will be due on July 31st, at midnight pacific time. That gives you just over one month. I'll post several reminders as the deadline gets closer.

3. Subject matter. This contest I'm going to ask for depictions of my Guardian Dragon. I'm giving no references. Why? Because the Guardian Dragon isn't so much a character as a concept. So this is not about accuracy, this is about creativity. The Guardian Dragon has three traits: 1. It is an oriental dragon, not a western dragon. 2. Its colors are purple, red, and gold. Where, what shades, and in what proportions those are used is entirely up to the artist. 3. It is a guardian creature, so it should show wisdom, power, or compassion. How you do that is, again, entirely up to you, the artist.

4. Allowed content/media. NO PORN. The Guardian Dragon is genderless and asexual, so even pinups are inappropriate. No sexual content at all. Creating sexual content will automatically disqualify your entry from the contest. Any and all media are allowed, real media, digital media, 3-d media, fabric arts, anything and everything you'd like to use, no restrictions.

5. Judging criteria. I'm the sole judge here, so the biggest factor in judging is what I like. :) That said I usually consider the following things: 1. Artistic skill. This includes all those things like good anatomy, good posing, harmonious color choice, etc. etc. etc. 2. Time and effort spent. Even if you're very good, if you slap off something that took you ten minutes, it tends to show. I'm more inclined to favor pieces that have been polished at least a little. Sketches are certainly allowed, but are less likely to win. 3. Creativity. Plain side views of the dragon standing still are not what I like. Show some action, show some personality, show something more interesting if you possibly can. Plain side views aren't disallowed, of course, you can do a lot with them, but the more creative and interesting you get, the better.

For anybody who creates any kind of real media entry, I'll happily pay postage in order to get the original, I like having them. :) I do not expect full rights to your art, you can make prints and do whatever else you want with it.

If you have any questions about the contest, feel free to ask them!

Comments

[harliquinnraver.livejournal.com]

I'M IN! :D

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Awesomesauce!

Oh hey. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuur. I keep forgetting to remind you. Do you think you could mail my package tomorrow?

[harliquinnraver.livejournal.com]

shit. when i put my computer back to factory settings, i forgot to download Trillian. D: will do so when i wake up.

payday is Thursday so i can mail it thursday or friday (depends on what Psyko's schedule looks like those days. if he has a commanders call or something on thursday, itll get sent friday). id mail it tomorrow but we are literally down to no money at the moment. which is why im making crockpot beans tonight. gotta live on those for a couple days. luckily, i like beans.

ill be sure to send it Priority.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Works for me. :) I'll try to remember to remind you.

[uneko.livejournal.com]

I'll be drawing on this idea later~~ :D

just as a couple of random notes, though, it'd be REALLY awesome to be able to browse your website and have a better of idea of "this is a 30$ loona kit, this is a 50$ loona kit." or "this is a cheap tail, this is a stupidly expensive tail." :) something to give people a better idea of what's what. :D

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Heh. Well, the coupons can be used for anything, so giving all possible examples would be, er, impossible, but I suppose a few examples couldn't hurt.

$35 Loonakits: http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/DSCN1481.JPG
http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Dscn1312.jpg
http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/DSCN1500.JPG

$35 tails: http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/saletail58.jpg
http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Dscn0734.jpg
http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/saletail52.jpg

$50 Loonakits: http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/DSCN1514.JPG
http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Dscn1306.jpg
http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Dscn1177.jpg

$50 tails: http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/P1020887.jpg
http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/DSCN1472.JPG

[uneko.livejournal.com]

Oh! I'm sorry! I totally meant as sort of a "hey, here's a way your website could be improved"...

BUT! That's actually awesome because I was totally off on some of those.. :) Especially on the tails, which is what I'd totally want, I think... so, thank you :D

*scribble, scribble* :D

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

My website DOES have examples of pricing, on the commissions page. Putting prices on everything in my gallery would only add to the problem I already have of people thinking the things in my gallery are for sale, which they are not! Not to mention that would also mean I'd need to edit every one of the well over 1,000 images in the gallery every time I changed my prices. Which I'm not going to do, that's way too much work.

[uneko.livejournal.com]

oh goodness, no, I wouldn't dream of suggesting that you should add a price to every picture in your gallery.. that'd be crazy c_c

but the only loonakit prices you have listed on your commisions page is "25$ for a character, 15 for a premade"... no mention of 50$ loonakits, and what they'd look like... Likewise, tails say 20-200, averaging around 40-50... and linking a picture of a fox tail with no indication of if its' a 'cheap' or an 'expensive' one.

My suggestion was basically just changing the price links (or something) to show/link an example of what that sort of money will get you in terms of quality... that way your'e not left going "that's a gorgeous fox tail... but is that the 20$ type or the 20$ type? :)

No offense was meant anyway ♥ ...it's really late here and I'm sleepy, so I probably totally failed at communicating. your website is pretty awesome and works spectacularly for what you need it to :) I just saw a place where My brain said "this could be better"... then totally failed at expressing the idea :) I'm sorry for the confusion and hope you don't think me presumptuous to make the suggestion ♥ Just trying to help~

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Heh. The commissions page is already HUGE. Putting in every possible example of every possible price... I mean, I price my tails at $20, $25, $30, $35, $40, $45, and so on all the way up to the $250, which is the most expensive tail I've made. I really can NOT give every possible example! I'd much rather people just contact me with what they want, and I can give them a quote.

And it does explain that the listed prices are starting prices, and they start there and go up. I shouldn't have to say that there are $50 Loonakits, that's implied by the "and up" bit. (And the fox tail isn't meant to define price, it's just meant to show I make quality tails. Price is defined for a customer when they tell me what they want, and I give them a price quote. Like it says on the page! I really can't think of ANY way to show what you get for all possible price values without making the page into a huge nightmare. I'd much rather just give quotes.)

[uneko.livejournal.com]

Alright, alright... I must majorly be miscommunicating my thoughts here because what I'm trying to say isn't... apparently at all like what I'm actually managing to say... But, like I said, I was jus' trying to offer a friendly suggestion from a stranger trying to browse your website.... But I guess I shouldn't be writing posts at 5am, as it apparently makes me stupider then usual...

In any event, it's late, I'm getting over a massive cold, and I've never claimed to be particularly intelligent. What you have clearly works for you, so, you obviously know better then I do, and I'm just wasting your time with my silly little thoughts. I'm very sorry for that, as I'm sure you have better things you could be doing then explaining yourself to someone like me. :)

You have a great night/morning, whichever end of the day it is for you. I'm going to go take some more nyquil, and put my sleepy head into bed. May your day be productive and happy.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid if you're not trying to say that I need more examples, then no, I have no idea what you're trying to say. *shrugs*

Honestly people telling me I should change how I run my business is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, so I don't tend to respond to it well. Sorry if I've been rude to you. I know you're trying to be helpful.

[xzeeko.livejournal.com]

I am TOTALLY joining :D

This will be so fun, and I love your Loonakits.
Does the Coupon cover shipping?

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

It does, yes. :)

[xzeeko.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I am going to work so hard on this :D
How many people have etered? (Including me)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Fifteen people have said they're going to enter. I expect to get fewer entries than that though, some people always end up being too busy and not actually doing anything.

[xzeeko.livejournal.com]

Oh, Wow. I hope I can win a place! I am so glad I found this before the dead line.

[xzeeko.livejournal.com]

Also, one more question. Can we submit multiple entries?

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Certainly. :)

[xzeeko.livejournal.com]

Cool! I am so exited! I need to find my Copic Markers for this.

[owl-catfish.livejournal.com]

I'm in!!

[xzeeko.livejournal.com]

I have finished! Has anyone else entered yet?
Click me! (http://audreysaddleclub.deviantart.com/art/Guardian-Dragon-Contest-Entry-245730962)

I like it :D I hope I win!

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Oh cool. Thank you! I have had a bunch of entries, I've been keeping track of them over on FA. http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2479291/

I'll announce the winners tomorrow. :)