Official fanart contest results are in!

[Taskmage]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

People have to do that for themselves, the artist can't do that for them.

I think that since most people aren't actively pursuing new thoughts and ideas, whereas an artist generally has an idea they actively want to share, it falls to the artist to make the passive viewer want to look deeper for the message. You can't make them drink, but you can at least lead them to water. Though I'll concede there must be at least some effort on the part of the viewer.

[Legal Fish]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

I'm not going to hold my tongue, even if it is someone's fiance. That "Beastmen Ladies" picture is garbage, big steamy shitty garbage. So is the Manly-Mithra one.

Its upsetting to know people who can actually do art lost to those two pictures. Hell, people who can't do art lost to those pictures.

The moment I saw that picture I felt like shouting "Yiff in hell furfag" out loud at my PC screen. It's just bad and if I was the artist I would have never sent it in. A lot of people on several messageboards are going to say a lot of bad things about. I hope that whoever the artist is sends in a piece of good quality next time, even if they have to practice a lot to do it.

The Mithra pic is so bad, I really hope someone brings it up next interview, that should be a laugh. At least the Beastmen picture is colored.

And shesh, OMGWTFBQQwhatever, it's like every other goddamn thread you are telling people what they can or can't say. It's ridiculous and annoying. Ever heard of having an opinion? No matter how harsh it is, opinions are opinions and everyone has them.

And guess what!? You don't have to be artist to not like someone's art. Art isn't made only for artist to see and enjoy, it's made for everyone. Wild stuff, I know. Food isn't made only for food critics and videogames are not made only for videogame developers. Oh, and if you don't interview SE with "correct" tone it is not a big deal, most people are not reporters. (Bad enough you are practically a hypocrite because you go against what you say many times).

And I would easily call that art crap to the face of the artist in rl. I do it all the time to people in my class. My opinions are not about the person, but what they have created. Being biased isn't good.

Anyway, my favorites Azuma one(I really love the style, and how different it is, very refreshing with all this "kawaii" stuff in your face all the time), Peach Tower(thick with flavor and the style is awesome, should of been 1st place), and I can't remember the name... but it's the one with Shantotto looking bored and using her wand to scroll through a book. Typical Shantotto awesomeness.

SE should just have monthly or weekly fan art galleries, much like that WoW site. Their site could be a little more active. If they really want to push the LS Community to use, they should give more reasons for people to be on their site in the first place.

[Taskmage]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

/sigh ._.

[Hyrist]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

Art, in and of itself, is Subjective at best. Weither or not it is aesthetically pleasing does not always convey the message that appears in the mind's eye of the artist.

For perfect example the Piss Christ ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ )

"Anyone can stick a crucifix in a bottle of piss, and call it art." One might say.

One might even be assaulted at their holy symbol being submersed in several solid gallons of elephant urine.

Is it appalling? Aesthetically, yes. But is it art?


Anyone can be a troll like Legal Fish (ello BRP, not banned again yet?) and say how they hate something, or insult its quality. Just like anyone can attempt at art. But it's those who stand out who really get noticed. Even people who are excessively good at bitching can make a living off it.

I find it hilarious how people insult the piece, but fail at the utter hilarity of its meaning. It's meant to insult people's perspectives. I almost think it's fitting that Iris didn't get the opportunity to finish the work, it justly fits with its counter-cultural approach.

Yes, I think theres several substantial improvements that could be made aesthetically to the quality of the picture. Of course, living with her and knowing the circumstances in which the piece was created, I can excuse those more easily than others.

But the point being is that everyone who made no effort to participate in this 'fan art' submission are now sitting on their backs insulting something that, in their opinions, a child could have done better!

Too bad that 'child' didn't submit anything of that style.

When it comes down to it, she did it, and it got on the PoL site. Love it if you want, hate it if you want, but it's there. It has been acknowledged by the people who ran the contest, whoever those might be. Who cares about the reason?

My perspective on why it won the "Goblin Award" might be because of it's originality, despite being ugly (much like a goblin) and it has it's own charm.

The fact that even though it pales in comparison to all the well done artwork shown up there aesthetically aside, it's one of the most talked about pieces there as well. That alone strikes a certain merit.

[Murphie]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

I'm sorry, Hyrist. I still don't like it. It's interesting to hear the thought process behind it, and understand the reasons it was submitted. So while I understand it better, it doesn't stir anything in me beyond casual dislike.

Thanks though, for giving us more information about it. Much appreciated.

[Hyrist]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

Hah, never said you have to like it Murphie, that would ruin the entire reason behind art in general.

Personally? I hope they do another one of these art contests for the Festival of the Sword. If they do, I'm going to submit one of my own.

A good point of contrast between her art style and mine.

[Aksannyi]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

I would love to see more fanart contests like this. I didn't know this one even existed, but if I had, I would have attempted something. I've never tried fanart, but there's no reason why I shouldn't.

[Feba]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

Guess its easier to criticize than submit your own art for our public viewing, eh?

Its spineless to play art critic on the internet and not post your own art to show us something better. Put up or shut up.

You didn't sumbit a piece, nor did I, so where is our place to make cruel commentaries on what was submitted?

See, that's exactly the thing. I didn't submit art because it *is* crap. Look at my deviantart (feba35.deviantart.com), everything i've done worth looking at was done in photoshop, and even that isn't very good. That's exactly the point, not everyone is talented, but that doesn't mean we have to put up with things that aren't good. Would you buy a video game, even if all you've heard of it is crap, just because you don't feel you have a right to distinguish among good games and crap? Would you listen to Simple Plan on the radio, just because you can't play chopsticks to save your life?

I'm very much will to bet you don't have the backbone to give these criticisms to these artists in real life.

It would depend. I have friends that own a pottery painting studio. When I see them working on something I don't like (which is very rare), I say what I don't like about it. I have friends online that have art, sometimes drawn, sometimes computer animated, sometimes photoshop, and I say what I like or dislike about it. While my friends have never shown me absolute crap, if one ever did, I would not withold judgement.

What would it depend on? If you were a customer at the above mentioned studio. I cannot list the amount of times i've seen kids paint butterflies neon green and metallic black,then have them glittered and glossy all over. It looks like crap, but again, they're customers. Never insult the customers. Just smile, tell them they're a great artist for an 8 year old, and swallow the little bit of vomit that tries to come up the back of your throat.

[Rostum]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

Feba, you should check out my DeviantArt, I need some proper critics instead of friends and family saying how wonderful it is.

Anyways, I think there are some fairly decent pieces of work in that contest. Some aren't that great, but oh well. None of it is particularly good when you compare it to some DeviantArt's I've seen that have FFXI fan art -- but I don't think that's really the point.

Anyways, if I had of known I would have submitted something!

[Legal Fish]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

Art, in and of itself, is Subjective at best.

You are right and you should of ended your post with just that.

In my thinking mind I feel that the "object of art" is the worst thing I've encounter in a long time. I think it is so bad, that it shouldn't be there. I dislike it. I dislike it so much I'm calling it garbage. No personal offense to your future wifey. At least she can appreciate the fact that her piece isn't the ugliest on their, that belongs to the Manly-Mithra abomination.

And like I already said, you don't have to be an artist to "understand" art. I don't do art, at least nothing that I would show off as art.

I'm *terribly* sorry if my feelings on art offends you.

[Feba]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

StarvingArtist's submission might not be very high quality, but it LOOKS better than quite a few of the winners. Really though, I think SE kinda gives some of the crappy artwork honorable mentions, just to make people feel better, they sorta did the same thing at FFFF.

[Hyrist]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

Not at all BRP. Not at all.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of it. In fact, introspection is one of the founding purposes of art as it stands today.

But no matter how much you like or hate it, and wither or not it should or should not be there, the undeniable fact is that it IS there. That fact alone overshadows all complaints that might surface from it's presence on the site, or lack of 'polish'.

So it really doesn't matter how you feel about it at all. If that was the case, it would have been open vote.

It's nice of you to share your opinions though.

Edit:
I should note, Irisjir is the one responsible for the modifications done on the avatar you see on my account. She's quite talented under the proper circumstances. I really do wish she would give the beastwomen picture another shot, but she says she doesn't want to start the project over.

[Legal Fish]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

So it really doesn't matter how you feel about it at all.

I don't know where you are going with this, but just because it is there doesn't make it any better. Just like being in theaters doesn't make a movie good. Think about the hundreds... maybe even thousands who saw that pictures and instantly thought it was horrible. Anyone who is praising it is just being nice or legally isn't allowed drive due to such a poor eyesight, and even then you will find those people the minority.

My opinion matters as much as you or your future wife's, hell if they didn't matter, why is this thread even existence? What a dumb thing to say, I think.

The only your future wife picture being there proves is that either A) SE doesn't care who they pick, B) SE has horrible taste, or C) SE shows pity to bad artist(I bet it's this one).

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

I hate the movie Final Destination. I think its a dumb film series, yet, they keep making sequels because dumb, predictable horror flicks have a market. These movies are made for someone, its just not me.

Maybe this audience liked watching Jackass, Fear Factor or any matter of reality television. They probably watch Cribs, Pimp My Ride or what little music videos MTV actually does play. They probably like to tell people how stoned they are on Xbox Live and deepthroat the mic because they're too retarded to put the mic below their mouth.

But it is clear that Final Destination connects with them in some way. I think the movies are stupid and probably the people that watch them are as well. The local cinema clearly could fill a theater with a better movie, but this one makes money just like any other. It moves the popcorn and the Skittles. And there's going to be a film critic that does like it, I don't know why, but they will. They'll be in the minority and given wedgies by the other nerdy critics who wear their Clerks T-Shirts, but they're still there.

Is there really anything artistic about Final Destination? Well, there are the special effects, set design, hairdressers and stunt doubles. Anyone who could get these actors to deliver a witty line they couldn't accomplish on their own? I think that's an artistic gift, man, they'll probably write speeches for a president some day. They'll lie to us, but you'll probably vote for them anyway purely because they say what you want hear and have nice sound bytes.

Instead of complaining that Final Destination exists, I simply opt not to repeat the mistake I made with the first movie and, therefore, do not waste $7.50. I pay it no mind and just go see something else if the mood strikes me. Someone appreciates Final Destination and will want see it and have a good time. I don't see how its possible, but these people exist and, to them, it's art. I will not deter them.

It's not like you're going to prevent movies like the Dukes of Hazzard movie from happening, or even My Super Ex-Girlfriend. Luke Wilson needs work, man, its not like he's Passion of the Christ material, much less Batman material. Well, he could have been better than Clooney, but we'll never know now, Christian Bale has that gig locked down.

So if you do not like a movie series, simply avert your eyes and move on, it was not made for you and it will probably still make money. But don't do it for yourself, do it for the Skittles and Luke Wilson. Luke Wilson has mouths to feed and Skittles need mouths to fill.

Luke probably went through five bags of Skittles after getting stoned in his trailer yesterday. Its a vicious cycle.

[Wind Adept]

Re: Official fanart contest results are in!

The thing about art is that people read into something much more deeply than the artist intends sometimes.

For example: I could interpret the manly-mithra drawing differently; the general opinion of mithra is that they're cute and pretty, and so we have many males playing them for aesthetic reasons. But what would they actually look like in real life if we had cat-people? They'd be hairy and probably not so pleasant to look at.

Really the dude that drew it probably just did it as a joke. I think the fact that the title is "The Beauty That Is Mithra" kind of gives that away.

You can put a lower-case "t" somewhere in a drawing and people will think it's a cross, then make up all this crap about it and how everything in the drawing is related to religion... but the only reason it's in there is because you thought it looked cool to write a big word in the background, and that "t" happened to be prominent.

Art is subjective. People will attach significance to the insignificant, depending on what they've experienced. But as others have said, the general population will only do so when they're looking at something pretty.

. . .

Personally I don't think that the mythril prize deserves its place. The characters are out of proportion, even within the realm of stylized art, and that irks me. But I can see that many like that sort of thing, and I can also see that the subject matter would make some smile.

One piece that no one's mentioned is the Bomb Prize, "AZIMA!!" It's very simple, but also very appealing. The expression on the woman's face, as well as the artist's comments make it fun to look at.

"Magic Paradise Weekly" deserves higher than it got, I think. It's one of those with so many little details that it's hard to get bored; the jokes about the quests surrounding Shantotto are also a nice touch.