The Town Herald

The netpaper about Elftowners, by Elftowners, for Elftowners.

The Town Herald Contest Arena

--- The Sea - Myth and Fantasy ---

Winners:
1st: [Charybdis]
2nd: [Mom]
3rd: [cheesecake]
Runnerup: [Gwendolen]

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1. [the Indigo] my whale-girl ^-^

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2.[blackphoenix]-sea/ice serpent

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3. [Paul Doyle]- *gasp* I finished it on time?!?! *Harrison Ford-style astounded look on my face*

(a.)"Underwater Chase"--inked. click thumbnail for full size.


(b.) "Underwater Chase"---colored. "Telkar Chronicles: Book One" (working title) novel illustration. (Click thumbnail for full size)The main character of the five-novel sequence is actually a human ;-)

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4. [Charybdis] couldn't resist ^^

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5 [iippo] In case I don't find anything more... more-ey to submit.
a.



b. A sort of octopus-lady... o.O I intended to make her trapped in a fishing-net (hence oddly pose)... This is iffy even in my standards, if it's not relephant then remove it.

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6.[Mom]

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7.[Kemical Reaxion]

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8. [Lothuriel] (click on image to see larger view)

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9. [Gwendolen]"Blackfin".
Yes, a mermaid, how original... -.-' Something I doodled and inked a while ago. When I saw the new theme, I thought what the heck. Got even some color on her in time. ^-^
<- Click.

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10.[cheesecake] "Glowing Night" She isn't a mermaid. She is a seamonkey! Or something. I really have no clue. But I like her. She will soon be swimming into Elfwood once we can put up new works again. *crosses fingers* I hope that is soon.

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Short interview with the winner, [Charybdis]

-How long and how seriously have you been doing art for? Do you have any words of encouragement for those of us on Elftown new to art? :)

I've been doing art since I can remember, and I've always loved it, but I finally got my butt in gear and bought a sketchbook about five years ago. Since then I've gone through quite a few... Yes, there's a piece of advice to listen to, young grasshoppers... sketch! Sketch sketch sketch! You don't have to produce a beautifully finished piece every time. Get your ideas down on paper! Often scribbles are the most expressive form of art. Experiment; that's how you'll learn ^^



-Is *the sea* a usual subject for you, or was this contest a challenge?

Yes, I've done it before; there's something about aquatic fantasy creatures that's just really fun to do, whether it be mermaids and hippocampuses (hippocampi?), sea serpents, or other strange creatures of the deep... although I think that this is the first time I've actually coloured something underwater (and finished it.)



-What sort of mediums did you use for your image, and do you usually use these, or was this different from normal? Any advice on good mediums or programs for beginners?

This was a really basic pencil drawing I did in my ubiquitous sketchbook, which I then scanned in and coloured with Photoshop 5. That's the combo that works best for me, because my scanner is old, decrepit, and scans so badly that I can't put up any of my better pencil drawings because the detail will be lost. I generally have to go digital for any relatively decent work to put in my EW gallery. That's just in my case, though. Something that goes for everyone is to look at the equipment you have at your disposal, and do your best with what you've got. If you're just starting out, often traditional media are the best and simplest way to go; grab a pencil, or pastels, or charcoal, then fool around. They don't take as much time to learn as programs like Photoshop, and they're easier to control than a mouse or a tablet's stylus.



-Do you think you'll be participating in future Herald contests?

I certainly hope so! Plus the badges are pretty :p


-Anything you'd like to say to elftown in general? because heres your chance :P

I'd like to thank my parents, and my friends, and my fish, and- no, just kidding ^^ Stay great, Elftowners! Remember that not everyone thinks the same way as you do, and that's okay. Also, for the artists, don't get discouraged by others' work (I'm guilty of this myself, but it's never gotten me anywhere)! Rather, be inspired. ET is a one-of-a-kind community, and it has a lot to offer ^^ Cheers!

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