2010 FArt Competition

(*is mesmerized by Soul Kitten's compelling gaze, but refuses to model for any R-rated art, which would compromise her standing as a positive role model for younglings*)

I look forward to the wide gamut of artistic interpretations which will be offered in this upcoming competition.

(*looks at Tigerztale -- and the other fine artists -- and smiles toothily*)

All R+ rated art that would have been of Amerikatt is now going to feature Melanie instead. That is all.

Any art is acceptable! We had a suncatcher last year, for goodness' sake ^.^

The point of the battle is to best encompass the theme given. If you can do that with anything from graphic design, to oil paints, to macaroni and glue, go for it!

There will be ONE month where the theme itself will be using a certain medium... but believe me, you guys will have fun with it =)

I'm well prepared to put up the theme, but Foo is supposed to be getting me some sample arts. I was just waiting on that. But if you guys want the January theme before January, I'm all set on my end.

It's hard to get any work done over the Xmas season, which means things are going to start piling up in January. So knowing the theme early would be nice, at least to start coming up with ideas.

Damn you people! Now I have a deadline even closer than January 1st!

I think I'd also like to participate in the competition. Am I in time to register?

Yes I think she said that "registering" was just submitting a piece the first month. If you do so, you're in.

This is going to be *SOOOOOO* exciting! If this year's competition was the gold standard, then I prognosticate* that the 2010 competition will raise it to the platinum standard!

NOMOLICIOUS!!!

Please have a happy and safe New Year's Eve, Everyone!



((Yes, I *did* step off of my dictionary to give you all a new "word for the day"!!! ))

I never really left, but I am back. Good to see Wassy running this thing for 2010. I have no doubt she will do an awesome job. Seeing the topic for January is the Olympics and I live where it is going to happen in the city of Vancouver, I'm in.

Looking back to this year's competition (congrats Foo!), many artists were eliminated by simply failing to submit a piece, myself included. I think it may be a little harsh to be eliminated for the remainder of the year by missing the deadline once, especially if the topics for the following months were something you'd have enjoyed working on.

So I am here to suggest an alternative format: In keeping with the friendly nature of this competition, what if there were no eliminations at all? By allowing anyone to participate in any month, we'd see more variety of works submitted throughout the year. We would still vote to pick the winner of each month, but there will be no need to single out a "loser" in case everyone manages to submit a piece.

The biggest downside I see under these rules is that by getting rid of elimination you also lose the pressure of being eliminated, which may result in a very low turnout for any given month or submission of sloppy work. However, there are still incentives for doing one's best, as we will vote on the winning pieces of each month at the end of the year to decide the champion of the year. It would be a nice way of commemorating the best artworks produced in the year. (Does anyone remember the winning piece for every month of 2009?)

Also as a safeguard against producing one marterpiece and then dropping off the radar for the rest of the year, there should be a minimum number of submissions to be elligible for the champion title, like you should have made at least 6 submissions by the end of the year or something. Not to take anything away from Foo's victory, but I believe consistency was the single most important thing you needed to have a shot at the title this year. With these rules, quality and consistency will be equally important.

Does this sound like a good idea? I think it may actually be more competitive this way than with eliminations. You can't take a breather from a possible contender getting eliminated, and you have to try to outdo the winning entries from previous months. The rules for January are already posted so this may be too late to implement, but I just wanted to throw it out there to see what everyone thinks.

You could give points for win, show, and placing each month and the champ has the highest points at the end.

It may lose some of the edge to not have that head-to-head elimination thing going on, though.

I think that that's a nifty idea, Foo. We have so many talented people in this forum that it is going to be exceedingly difficult to pick just one person per month.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze would let three competitors be recognized for their contributions. Of course, *everyone* who contributes something is automatically a winner.

Let the Games begin! RAWR!


(*shakes her little kitty pom-poms*)

Hmmm, I dunno, without the threat of elimination you could conceivably have months where no one posts and the thread dies due to lack of interest.

Just cuz you get eliminated it doesn't mean you have to stop submitting pieces (Tigerztale submitted pieces last year even though he/she was never even in the contest) it just means you are out of the running for the title.

with Foo's suggestion if someone gets far enough ahead on the points they could conceivably slack for several months, choose to not even submit a final piece and still win, while someone else who puts up a piece each month may have no chance to win... you could also have a win on a technicality.

While I do like the idea of more than one person placing (like an Olympic gold silver and bronze) I am ok with having just one champion as last year did... whatever Wassy decides is fine by me.

One --> Artz Giveaway <-- To Rule Them ALL!

I will settle this. ORANGE FTW! - Ex Libris

I personally would still like to keep in the eliminations, because it feels like more of a competition if the field slowly narrows. But I do see what you mean about someone missing one deadline and dropping.

I'll have to think on it (and take suggestions), but maybe we can in the summer have a way to win your way back into the fray? You know... like how people can get back in The Biggest Loser or something.

The problem I see with a point system is the one that has been stated, it would be possible for someone to get far enough ahead so that the could coast into the win, or at least the finals.

A problem I see with eliminations each month is that we don't know the number of entrants yet and don't know how many will drop out which could result in 10 people left for the finals or not having enough people to make it that far... (I think TA solved this by having some months with no eliminations or counting those who didn't submit as the eliminated?)

Frankly without a set number of entrants and gaurantees they will compete each month I don't think any system is going to work perfectly. I think Wassy will have to adapt and adjust as things go on... One of the perks of running things I guess


I do like 1st, 2nd and 3rd being recognized each month... Sure you could have counted all the votes to see where you ended up each month but recognition is good for ego's and we all know how fickle and shallow artists are

I also like eliminations. They are harsh but they are also motivating. I think combining eliminations with the idea of a mid season return being possible would be a great idea... Heck, I'd even enjoy it if 1 person was eliminated each month but part way through (4 months? 6? Whatever) those eliminated could once again submit pieces and there would be two votes: The first for who won that month out of those still in the competition and those who won the month out of those eliminated - The eliminated winner wins their way back into the contest. You could do this every month so that people have a reason to keep trying...

I would probably have some rule though that an elimination on any month eliminated you from being the overall champion. I would hate to see someone who was in the top 1 or 2 each month lose the championship on the final month to someone who narrowly won their way back in but then had one final masterpiece work. Seems a bit unfair...


I would really suggest one or two "free passes" for every entrant which would allow them to skip a month. This is a long and time consuming contest and I imagine it's hard for everyone to give it their best each and every month... If they had a chance or two to take a break to catch up with life it might improve the overall quality...

And that's all I have to say about that... for now at least