CH's Contest Thread- At The Beach -CLOSED for judging-

Crystal Hikara

Crystal Hikara

Gone
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So, I'm just lookin' around for any sort of contest that a humble aspiring artist such as myself could enter, and what do I find? Spritespritespritespritespritespritesprite! All contestants are limited to submitting SPRITES. Now, what of the others that don't sprite, but still manage artwork, such as banners, or even writing? What of them? They don't get any contests to join!

So, in hope this is allowed, I'll be holding a two-week long event for any and all people, all formats welcome. Not to say that everyone's gonna be smushed into the same category, no! There will be categories for each different sort of entry I get...

Spriters: Obviously the more popular category for this site, spriters will be marked on their shading, their neatness, and style of their spriting in addition to the other criteria for the contest that applies to all categories. I'll need one or two helpers to judge this category.
Banner-Makers/Artists: Banners and actual pieces of artwork are to be submitted into this category. THIS COUNTS OEKAKI SKETCHES. Each piece will be graded on artistic composition, style, and other graphic effects. I'm going to be grading this category on my own unless I see someone who can tell me upright the elements and principles of design and which they work in for their art. I'm goin' to college for this stuff.
Writers/Keyboard Artists: Not to forget our lovely writers and keyboard artists, each are expected to clearly and concisely, in less than 2,000 characters without spaces for writers (I don't need to be reading an epic novel!) and 300 characters for keyboard artist, show us a vivid image of the given subject. I will need one or two keyboard artists to aid in judging and another writer to help me judge the pieces of writing. This is actually two categories smushed together for when there are a lack of either or both.
Other: Other artworks will go here, if any, if they can't be thrown into any other category.
Overall Criteria for All Categories: In addition to the specific requirements and/or what I've said groups will be judged upon are the things that all will be graded upon.
Creativity- People will be graded upon their creativeness of the theme given. If it states a Pokemon is to be in the image, for example, you can get creativity points for making it into furniture and having a different Pokemon instead lounging upon top of said furniture.
Effort- If I can tell that not a lot of effort was put into combining two sprites, not coloring a lineart, or not using descriptive terms, your Effort score will go down. I should be able to look at the piece and say, 'this feels wonderfully finished'.
Originality- If I say Charizard and get tons of Charizard fused with another starter, I swear I will cry. And mark you down. Blastoizard is not original. There are tons of Blastoise-Charizard mixes out there. Why not take an unloved Pokemon, like Bellossom, and work on fusing that together with the Zard? That's a LOT more original.
Personal Score- what the judges personally want to say about the piece. If they just don't like the art for the way it's drawn, they can choose not to add the point given to them by this.

Note that you may only enter each category ONCE. You will not be given two prizes if you win two different categories, as well; the prize will go down to the next contestant in the second, third, etc. categories you entered.

So, here's how it'll go, in terms of numbers:

Spriters Category
Shading: 10
Neatness: 5
Style: 4
Creativity: 10
Effort: 10
Originality: 10
Personal Score: 1
Total possible score: 50

Banner-Makers/Artists Category
Artistic Composition (is all the space well used and interesting?): 10
Style: 4
Graphic Effects: 5
Creativity: 10
Effort: 10
Originality: 10
Personal Score: 1
Total possible score: 50

Writers Category
Word Choice: 7
Followed Character Restriction: 3
Grammar/Spelling: 4
Vividness of Scene: 5
Creativity: 10
Effort: 10
Originality: 10
Personal Score: 1
Total possible score: 50

Keyboard Artists Category
Use of Characters: 8
Followed Character Restriction: 3
Vividness of Image: 8
Creativity: 10
Effort: 10
Originality: 10
Personal Score: 1
Total possible score: 50

...as you can see, they all add up to 50, meaning one contestant can be statistically picked out as the grand winner for each contest. There will also be a contestant favorite winner.

Now, what fun is a contest without some prizes?!

Art Prizes (10 or more different contestants only):
Winner of Category: Free sketch request from me of one trainer/Pokemon of choice.
Winner of Contest: Free, colorable lineart request from me of one trainer/Pokemon of choice.
Contestant's Pick: Free sketch request from me of one trainer/Pokemon of choice.

...note that contestants cannot vote for themselves for the prize. And, addition to the little sketches I can do, you get braggin' rights, I suppose. And if I only get 9 or less competitors, I'm not offering the prizes. It wouldn't be worth it to me.

Now, let's see...

Past Contests:
None.

Current Contest:
This bi-weekly theme is 'At The Beach' in honor of the coming summer. No size restrictions for spriters and banner/artists. Start date 6/20/08 to end date and time 7/1/08, 11:59 PM EST. No extentions. Judging will commence from 7/2/08 to 11:59 PM EST 7/4/08 with winners being posted on 7/5/08.

Judging Panel:
All- Crystal Hikara
Spriters- sneaselflygon
Keyboard Artists- None
Writers- None

Contestants:
Achmetha, Writing
Achmetha, Spriting
Dead_Center, Writing
Pokelen, Writing
Aspiration, Keyboard Art

...I think that just about does it. Anyone up for entering or judging, or general feedback on the idea of this contest? I know that was a massive wall of text for an explanation...
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

Here is my entry for the writing category.

Lost Forever​
A chill breeze tickled the specks of sands, sending them dancing across the dusty plain. Water crashed against the shore in the grayness of a January day while a woman sifted through the granular surface with her bare toes. She knelt softly, smoothing out her skirt, and raised a small thin stick. In the sand she found an easel as her mind was filled with thoughts of artistry.

But, no, she thought. It was too familiar, too painful. Still though, the young lady tied her brunette locks behind her eyes with her mother’s satin ribbon while standing and began to draw a picture within the sand. Her works, innocent as they were, depicted something deeper, something within. As she sketched her face, the picture seemed to burst alive with color. She saw her hazel eyes hiding a wistful expression behind the pale shell of the image. Then, she portrayed a quiet hand on her shoulder. It led to a face so painful to her now.

She could hear his voice, floating on the wind, whispering words of kindness. Words she’d never hear again. The girl had closed in upon herself that day; she became a door locked from the inside. No way in, and she didn’t want to come out. The stick fell from her hand and landed with a soft thud as waves rose over her artwork. She gasped, contemplating the parallels with her life. Everything erased. Her family was no comfort, her friends had left her. She was alone.

Reaching up to touch the bruise upon her tanned cheek, she wondered if things would ever be the same. Ever be happy. Her attempts at comfort were futile and she wept gently in resignation. Tears fell to the water around her ankles, mingling with the brine.

Beads of rain began falling from the shady clouds as she threw her hands to the air and howled in frustration. The water washed away her teardrops and her doubts. She fumbled for a ring with her right hand and swiftly plucked the diamond encrusted band from her finger. She gazed long at the circle in her palm, thinking how it symbolized a full life, a blissful life. And now, at the very shores where she acquired the ring, she knew, her life wouldn’t come full circle without her moving on. Her slender fingers closed around it and she raised her arm high to the sky. With one final yell, she tossed the ring into the salty depths.

It sunk slowly and hit the bottom, lost forever.
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

Excellent! Our first entry! I'll add it right this minute to the [non-existent] list. =D

Any others?
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

I assume the entries don't have to be Pokemon-related?
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

I"ll help with spriting here for judging. If you need examples of my work go to the Spriting Legends thread. I have tons there
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

beachcn4.png

I saw no rules against entering in two different categories, so I made this.
Nine colors custom pixelart.
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

Prof. Shinx- What, you're entering as a spriter or you're helping with spriting judging?

Aspiration- Let me just tell you that you can do non-Pokemon entries, but having a Pokemon in it will definitely get you a better, more complete score.

sneaselflygon- More than happy to welcome ya in. :3

Achmetha- Thanks for reminding me! I'll be adding a '1 per entry' rule. Aaaand I'll take that as our first art entry, because it's not spriting, IMHO.
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

I couldn't really fit 2000 characters since if I went on there would be no point in the write up as it would go on and on and on.

This is for writers!

Love in Death​
It didn’t occur to her that she had killed him by sending him away because of her own sadness. It did a couple of times, but she never admitted it. She never wanted to tell herself that she killed her one and only lover. His death struck her heart like an arrow shot her heart as it pained to look at his face.

She loved her and he loved her, but they could never be together as she was an adopted daughter of Sun Jian and he was a former pirate that defected to join Wu. She sent him away knowing this now she sees him dead in her arms.

“Are you going to be OK?” Someone asked.

It was her sister. She would always help her through many memories. She nodded her head with eyes filled with tears remembering his words near his time of death. “I love you.” Those words repeated in her mind as her memories flooded back.

“Are you going to be OK?” Another person asked.

It was her older brother and the eldest of the siblings, Sun Ce. As her other older brother stopped behind him. “Yes.” She replied sadly. “You’ve been out here for hours.” He sighed looking at his brother behind him; “Quan do you think you can comfort her. I have business to attend to.” He said walking away with thoughts of his own.

“You can go Quan.” She said turning to him, “All I need is time alone to think.” He nodded his head to leave as the girl put her ear right next to his chest where his heart would have been beating. “I should have been dead.” She whispered, “You wouldn’t have died if you weren’t protecting me Gan Ning.”

In the hours she had been with his lifeless body thoughts of Gan Ning came in to her mind even more as the thought that she killed him. “I’m sorry, that I killed you.” She whispered into his lifeless body admitting her own sin. “I shouldn’t have acted so childish and wouldn’t except your offer to be aided by you.”

“I love you Gan Ning.” She said while tears in her eyes. She bent down and pressed her lips against his lifeless body yearning his lips one last time. “I love you and only you.” She said under her breath. She felt something in his pocket as her frail hands ran down his sides. Her hands picked out a box that was covered in silk.

‘I hope this is for me.’ She thought opening the tiny box.
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

I'll put my writing entry soon. I'll be joining, and I'm happy you made this. All the contests were for spriters, and that is not my category of excellence. I'm an okay writer, and hang around in the Writing Corner a lot. You'll be seeing my entry soon.


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Shade of Glory​

It was a foggy evening. The moon lit up the whole world. A Blade lay on the ground, only to be seen when the moon is out. A majestic blade, carved and crafted professionally. Two letters were engraved on it, S and G. The clouds hovered over the moon, and the sword disappeared. The clouds moved away, and the sword appeared again. A sudden silence fell over the world. The trees stopped moving, the wind stopped, and a figure picked up the sword, and fled! The world stopped, time stopped to be more specific. A loud CLASH destroyed the time barrier as a golden warrior appeared in the field. Helmet shaped like a V, wearing heavy gold armor, but no protection on his legs. He took out his sword and walked towards the edge of the field. Below him was a river, a flowing river. He spotted the Shade of Glory. He was at the egde of the field, and could continue no longer. He jumped off the edge and landed in the river. The river was not strong, so he walked out. He crept closer to his target. He drew his blade once again, and attacked!

The next day, next morning, the news was crazy. “The police have found a, what people might call, “Knight in Shining Armor.” He is dead, though. At first, they thought it was just a costume. When they rolled the body over, they saw the knife in his head. After they took its helmet off, they found out that it was not a human, rather an alien of some sort. How it got here, or where it came from is still unknown. Back to you, Jeffrey” she said.

“Mom, did you hear that? Finally, evidence about aliens. All that research isn’t for nothing. Now I can start a career where people won’t laugh about me” the boy said. He was eating some yogurt and sitting on a leather couch. He was wearing a shirt with blue stripes on it and everything else on the shirt was white. His shorts were completely red. He was wearing an Orioles’ cap, and was heading out. It was a sunny day and the sun beamed down on him. His name was Rob. Robert Nicles to be exact. He quickly jumped into his dad’s car. The air conditioning was on, just how he liked it. “Alright Dad, let’s go to school” Rob said, like he would say every day, with sarcastic tone.

On the way to school, time had stopped again, but nobody realized it. Another golden warrior appeared. But this time, in daylight. He appeared on the road, where Rob and his dad were driving. Time started again, and they drove right into the warrior. The car stopped dead. Rob hit his head on the window and was unconscious. But his dead hit the window full force, and the glass shards slashed into his brain, killing him.

Rob awoke, and saw that he was not in school. He was in a closed room, and all he saw was the scary looking Golden Warrior he saw on the news. “Welcome child. I hope you didn’t get hurt, but we need you. You have been chosen by the NSUC, Night Space Ultima Corporation. This is an intelligence only known to us aliens, not humans. We need you because you hold the power to destroy the Shade of Glory. The Shade of Glory is a sword. It holds great strength, and none of us normal warriors can defeat it in single combat. Or any combat of that sort. That is why we have you. You have the power, “Crystal Moonlight”, which is something that blocks out the moonlight. This power only activates when you are near the Shade of Glory. This power of yours shuts down the Shade of Glory’s power, thus, making the opponent weak. All we have to do is teach you the ways of the blade, and you’ll be on your way to destroy the powerful sword. All it does is harm to do this world. And if not destroyed in time, your whole world, Earth, could be destroyed.”
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

Crystal Hikara said:
Achmetha- Thanks for reminding me! I'll be adding a '1 per entry' rule. Aaaand I'll take that as our first art entry, because it's not spriting, IMHO.
Click to expand...

Are you sure? I would much prefer that to be in the spriting category.
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

Prof. Shinx- well, let me know. Looks like we'll probably be in need of a writer judge soon, if you'd be up to that...:3

Pokelen- Thanks for entering! Glad someone else likes the idea of a free-for-all. Your entry shall be added right away. =D

Achmetha- Eh, with pixel art, it's sort of hard to decide what category it falls under. It's not a sprite, but it's pixel. :/ That's what's making me decide it should fall under the 'art' category, given it forms a picture more than a simple sprite and I am counting mouse art as the art category instead of spriting. I can change it if you really want to, but I personally think it fits better under the art category. :/
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

i might if nobody else comes along for that.... but ill definaty judge sprites :)
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

Wait, did my story entry have to be about the beach? Or was that just for the spriters/artists?
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

Prof. Shinx- Alright, but just so you know, you might not have anything to judge this time around.

Charizard88- Entry please!

Pokelen- No, the overall theme for this biweek is 'At the Beach'. Each category is responsible for undertaking an image or creating one within their preferred category.
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

Crystal Hikara said:
Achmetha- Eh, with pixel art, it's sort of hard to decide what category it falls under. It's not a sprite, but it's pixel. :/ That's what's making me decide it should fall under the 'art' category, given it forms a picture more than a simple sprite and I am counting mouse art as the art category instead of spriting. I can change it if you really want to, but I personally think it fits better under the art category. :/
Click to expand...
I still think it is a sprite because every pixel was hand placed and it uses a limited amount of colors.
 
RE: CH's Contest thread

I suppose thus is true, though it is a scenery rather than a character...

*move entry*

Any others? We have only 3 different contestants (4 entries), last time I checked...which means there would be no prizes. I can't hand out prizes unless there are 10 individual entrants...
 
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