Art contest interest check

[NovelNerd]

Hi there,

I have not really frequented the art forums much here on the Arena, but I've met several of you on other parts of the forum of course. I've been debating for some time attempting to hold an art contest, and I wanted to see if many people were interested?  I want to do something big, but I'm still fleshing out ideas. I decided posting an interest check first with some of my thoughts would probably be best.

Subjects for the contest
My pony Oc characters and maybe a few regular ponies that I just overly love (ex Applejack or Nightlight)

A few of my pony oc characters do not have ref sheets yet, so I'll be working to get those together. Each character though should have a picture reference when this contest starts.

It will be like a couple theme. Two characters together from my pony list of ocs. It doesn't necessary have to be like a couple couple. It could be a mother and baby ect.

Prizes
I'm thinking of buying a few MIB G1 (like right now I'm selling a MIB flutter, but I might keep her to give away as a prize) ponies or even Mountain Boys if I can track a few down to offer as prizes. I'm thinking a 1st-3rd place sounds right. Then there might be a few side prizes for various things.

Date
Right now I'm looking more towards Feb which gives me plenty of time to get prizes and plan this out and set it up. I know it would be bad to attempt to do this during the Christmas season with so much going on.

I'm also thinking since I'm wanting to offer bigger prizes that the contest will run a bit to give people plenty of time to work on entries. A few months? Maybe longer? I'm open to suggestions.   I started typing up a joint contest once with another girl on a different forum (we never went through with it), and we had decided six months for our date. Does that seem too long?

I've bought commissions from DA members and Gaia members for years, but this would be my first actual art contest type of thing. I would like it to be successful and fun for everyone. I'm also very curious though to see how many members feel they would have time to enter such a contest or if they would even be interested? I might put up another interest check with character info closer to time, but I was going to go ahead and start putting some money aside for prizes depending on interest.  I want to make sure people would be interested and it not be a flop of course.

[Moss]

I'm not the best artist but I'd be interested in entering! I like a challenge now and again. February sounds good, too. As far as time frame goes I'd say no longer than three months. Anything longer and I feel like people would forget about it. Just my opinion, though.

[ZennaBug]

I may enter the contest when you start it.  Sounds like you will have some awesome prizes, which usually draw lots of entries.    I think 6 months is a bit long, people might burn out.  2 or 3 months should be enough time for people to come up with something really good, but not so long that they forget about the contest.

[Rhini]

I'd love a pony drawing contest!  I haven't really got a good chance to flex my pony drawing muscles, so I think it would be fun.

The only thing I'll say is that I would stay away from having people draw your OCs. I find that people tend to judge the artwork on how well it captures the character, instead of the quality of the work and its just is a pet peeve of mine when that happens.

[NovelNerd]

Alright so for time period shorter. I can do that.

Rhini: I can see your point of view, but the oc characters I will keep. You have to see it from my point of view. If I'm putting time and effort into it I want it to be of characters that mean something to me. Using ones that are not mine but created by Hasbro doesn't mean as much. I hope that makes sense. I would like to feel that I require a mix of both. I want quality but also a good representation of my characters. I do intend to have my friend help me judge though if that is any consolation. She would be a bit less partial since she is not a MlP fan. 

[Rhini]

Don't get me wrong, I would also definitely want pictures of ponies that were special to me. It's just frustrating for the artist to see obviously lesser quality work getting higher prizes because it's truer to character and that's something really hard to do when we don't know the characters at all. I think really really detailed ref sheets helps alleviate this a little, as well as a blurb about what styles of artwork you are partial to. A second impartial judge is always a good idea too

[HollowZero]

3 months is doable, because after that point us artists tend to forget... I know I do!

And man, I'd enter a contest for a Peachy. I love art contests and G1s.

[NovelNerd]

Don't get me wrong, I would also definitely want pictures of ponies that were special to me. It's just frustrating for the artist to see obviously lesser quality work getting higher prizes because it's truer to character and that's something really hard to do when we don't know the characters at all. I think really really detailed ref sheets helps alleviate this a little, as well as a blurb about what styles of artwork you are partial to. A second impartial judge is always a good idea too

I will attempt to do my best to keep it fair as possible is all I can promise. I do not want to work on contest things exactly till I have the characters ready to go. I can say that they will have ref sheets but of course as you stated looks are not everything. The only other thing I can point out is being an English teacher I love to read and write. The majority of my characters (human ones I'm not sure about ponies this is new to me) tend to run in the 5k-10k word description area. Honestly I've been turned down by a lot of artists for not wanting to read whatever wild description I throw at them.

I also tend to focus on buying from better artists if possible. I've collected a long time and prefer nicer quality in my collection, but I do enjoy a balance of thoughtfulness and quality.  I mean I guess in the end all I can do is tell you guys about my characters and what I would like to see.  I do intend to set up a section explaining what I'm looking for. I know trying to please a person can be difficult since obviously you don't exactly know what I'm expecting.   More than likely I'll look for things that fit my wants of style and character development, and she will help me nitpick. She's more for the artistic aspect, another set of eyes never hurts.  I think for me a winning picture is one that can balance the quality and ability to capture characters, just one or the other isn't enough.  I hope that partially puts your mind at ease?


HZ: Haha fine if you win I'll just give you a Peachy

[Eluluu]

id say mid to late feb is a good start time. both of my custom swaps should be about wrapped up by then (and theyll be taking up most of my focus) but as soon as those are done ill be able to put all my attention into the sketches. =] im definately interested. =] cant wait to bombard you with questions about styles, cartoon (true g1 style) vs realistic etc etc =D

[jwalraven]

I wouldn't mind joining in. Gives me something to do to improve on my art.

[NovelNerd]

Bwhaha a few more to fall into my plot.

Oh Elu you're such a perfectionist I'm sure your picture will be lovely.

[Eluluu]

if i dont end up setting it on fire in the process in a fit of OCD rage...

[NovelNerd]

if i dont end up setting it on fire in the process in a fit of OCD rage...

fire sounds fun!

[Eluluu]

hmm will i win a pony if i mail you fire then? *gets ideas*

[Iceglider]

Yay! I love contests. I've entered many pony ones a long time ago on the old TP.

I would SO enter with awesome prizes like that! OC, Hasbro ponies, whatever you want. It would be an super amazing contest to take part in. Another art project for me!



Maybe you should make up a little signature advertising the contest and the prizes when you post the "Official contest thread" to generate more attention.