2008-08-26 [Paul Doyle]: Well, leave it to me to get the poll-comments going again. I seem to have found a new ET niche, however low-key it may be :3

2008-08-26 [Serwa]: Actually some very nice works here, well done all! My vote went to i) who's the artist?

2008-08-27 [Cia_mar]: if you go to the wiki for the contest you can find the artist's names

2008-08-27 [((lost))]: wow some really good work here, im so impressed it was definately a difficult decision! x

2008-08-28 [*Phoenix*]: man.........my first ET contest and I didn't make it..........hmmm.....try harder next time, I quess.....

2008-08-28 [Jawny]: My vote also went to i). Good work! f) is a great piece too. I wonder where he's flying to.

2008-08-28 [*Phoenix*]: mine went to E cause I really like it! If you click it to make it bigger she's making a fairy!! ^_^

2008-08-28 [NOOOPE]: I went with i), cause I honestly think it's the most professional one on there. They are all really good, but I feel like i is on an entirely different level. I mean, I can see lots of these getting mod's choice on elfwood, but I can see i getting daily deviation on deviant art, if you catch my drift. That or being on a video game cover or just, you know. It's just on another tier in my eyes. It blows my mind.

2008-08-29 [Mikie9191]: I totally agree with you [NOOOPE] I think i stands apart from everything else. Good work.

2008-08-30 [The Scarlet Pumpernickle]: i) is really amazing! It was the one I voted for as well. e) is my second choice because the movement is incredible! But ya... i)'s is a completely different style than the others, so dynamic... *swoons*

2008-08-30 [Paul Doyle]: Sometimes I wish we could choose a first place, second place, and third, though I realize this would make things way more complicated. Sometimes you feel a tiny bit guilty not voting for Choice X because Choice Y is maybe a fraction of a percentage point better . . or something.

*eats homemade chicken pasta sauce over something else besides ramen*

2008-08-30 [Jitter]: Indeed it would be nice if we could multivote in the mainstreet polls.

2008-08-30 [NOOOPE]: That would be awesome. Because, well, they all really rock

Question though, Paul, why would you vote for one if you knew another was better? I'm not being... hostile or anything. On mainstreet pools, I find that I almost always think the best comes in second or third, and it's always confused and frustrated me. Being an artist... it always makes me sad, 'cause it makes me feel like even if I do my best, and really rock it out, I still wont win, if that makes any sense.

I'm sorry if I'm, ya know, ruffling anyone.

2008-08-30 [windowframe]: I think he's saying that if you think two entries are excellent, and you vote for the one which is fractionally better, you feel bad that you can't vote for both, because they're still both excellent, not that he'd vote for the one which wasn't fractionally better.

2008-08-30 [Paul Doyle]: Exactly :)

2008-08-30 [NOOOPE]: Oh, alright. Totally misunderstood.

2008-08-30 [Future Dictator]: im surprised #i isnt winning right now... (lol number i....letter i whatever)

2008-08-30 [windowframe]: Oh, and M! I agree completely - but I find that it's even worse in actual magazines. I've decided that especially in magazine's, and almost certainly if there are age categories. If there are age categories, you can just forget the idea of the best artist winning. I saw the winners of a contest where the second place was an absolutely stunning water colour picture of an eagle done by a 16 year old. And first place was a spider done in pencils by a 12 year old. I saw nothing above the skill level of an average 12 year old in the drawing of the spider. I saw a lot above the skill level of an average 16 year old in the water colour... but hey, basically, if you're not 12 you can't win, or so it seems, nowadays. -.-

2008-08-30 [NOOOPE]: I had a problem like that with a newspaper accepting editorial cartoons from students for a chance to win a scholarship. 'Cept the results of that contest were so ridiculous, it was like they shuffled the stack of entries and picked 5 off the top to win. The winner of the 500 dollar scholarship was the least skilled, least original, least creative one of the bunch. Considering I entered, and money was involved, and I put thought and effort into mine, I basically flipped out. That was not a fun time, my friend. Hell, even my art teacher was a bit pissed off.

2008-08-31 [Crankychangeling]: i) is stellar. It is the most professional looking and the colors are amazing. Also, the detail in the subtle things like the folds in the clothing and in the persons hair are really impressive. Not to mention that in terms of realistic proportions it is clearly the best. I'm really surprised that it isn't winning.

2008-08-31 [Morphea]: I`m sorry but what do you mean by realistic proportions?

2008-08-31 [Crankychangeling]: The body structure of the human is well proportioned. The person looks like a real human.  Her (or it could his) limbs are balanced and seem to fit with each other. None of the limbs seem to be larger then the others.  For example you'll sometimes see legs or arms that are unrealistically thin. They might be what the artist considers pretty, but they are so misshapen that you wouldn't see them on a normal human being. Also the way she is positioned is very realistic (aside from the floating). Her limbs are not bent at weird angles. She looks relaxed and normal, not bent oddly to give an unrealistic effects. 

2008-08-31 [NOOOPE]: The proportions are wonky... but they are stylistically wonky. Controlled wonky, intentionally wonky, as opposed to mistakenly wonky on account of skill level. Maybe that's what she meant, kinda sorta, maybe I'm stretching.

2008-08-31 [Crankychangeling]: Thank you M!. You're really not stretching at all, that's basically what I meant. I was having issues explaining. I should probably state that my comments regarding the picture are my personal opinion. 

2008-09-01 [Morphea]: hmm... It is quite interesting to hear what ppl get out of the diffferent art entries :)
"She looks relaxed and normal, not bent oddly to give an unrealistic effects." To me she look infact the total opposite. I do not get the relaxed feel from her. I feel that she is stiff..and I feel that her arms look "wrong".
By all means I see this as to be quite beautiful and artistically done but the aura of the entry gives me nothing..No offence to the artist what so ever here.
It actually pains me to say this because I absolutley LOATHE to speak ill of someones entry.
But I find it quite interesting how the human psyche can get such different feelings about a pic.
But that is what so great about art ...that we can have friendly discussions about disagreeing on a piece.

 

2008-09-01 [jaraden]: i think their all wicked, hard to choose just one..if these are the newbies, i feel sorry for we vetrans... sad old gents like us. good job on every one, congrates to whom ever wins although i think they all deserve a badge!
cheers

2008-09-01 [windowframe]: Well technically you'd class as a "newbie" too. ;)

2008-09-01 [NOOOPE]: I agree about her hands, [Morphea], but out of the eyes of an art student here, I think i speaks to me 'cause it uses lots of artistic principles, like the complimentary colors in the socks and the hair/all over, the mirroring of the eye color in the robe... The artist seems to me to be very knowledgeable about color relations, and the sideways S of the composition makes your eyes flow across it. It makes your eyes swirl around in almost a dance. Then the definition of the fabric, contrasting with the blotchy background... the subtle shifts in color, the texture on the robe. All these pics have their flaws, this is an amateur art competition, and even then professional's aren't perfect. But I find that i is the most distinguished in an artistic standpoint.

As awesome as e is, it's all blue and gray, and I find the shading to be uneven and rough. I mean, it was originally pencil I think, and I find that the traditional media in the the piece and the digital elements clash. And it's not anatomically perfect, but really, none of these are, Hell, my stuff isn't. E'S still freaking awesome and better than I could do, but I think i would win among a group of art professors.

The swirl in e, though, is great. I love the movement in it.

2008-09-01 [Morphea]: "But I find that i is the most distinguished in an artistic standpoint." Absolutley...there is no doubt of that. :)
I am the first to say that i is very very good in all aspects. And I understand where you come from I really do.
But what puzzels me continous is that I can see a brilliant piece of Munch and Van Gogh....and can see their genious teqniques/composition/color but still I "feel" nothing.
And I wonder why that is.....
Am I making any sense here !?! *slaps head for not being capable to explain better*
Please feel free to join in the slaps since I am so stupid to start such a philosophical topic where it probably do not belong. ;)
*slap one* 

2008-09-01 [windowframe]: You're having a debate about the contents of the poll. And that leads to a debate about art. You're on a site for art, fantasy and sci-fi lovers, and you're worried that this isn't the place to discuss art?

2008-09-01 [NOOOPE]: Oh no, dude, I get it. Van Gogh does nothing for me. But even though it doesn't, the fact that it is masterful would make me pick it out of a group of lesser stuff, just for art's sake. I'm kindova tight ass in that respect. I pick masterful over if it sings to me.

i does both for me, though. I mean... I guess my favorite pictures are the pictures that tell stories. I think the reason e appeals to more people is because it's rather straight forward. A sorceress making a fairy in a dark mysterious place might make for a better, easier to invent or trendier story then a red headed magiciany person making glowing birds, floating on steam, with a dragon, in a foggy place with cool socks. i is a little more abstract and I feel like maybe that's a reason for it flying over people's heads... maybe? Does this make any sense to you?

2008-09-01 [Morphea]: I would not pick Van Gogh over lesser stuff....I would pick the one who make me feel.....For me art is feelings, no matter who/what/when made it :)

Hehe yes you make perfect sense. i is much more powerful in its story. For me i can have several stories and they can be quite different...e on the other hand is quite forward. There are no why/when/ifs there.

2008-09-01 [Morphea]: I think there is as many answers as there are questions in the field of art and maybe I just have to accept ( and stop wondering) that I probably never going to find out why some like this and some like that.
But it is fun to ponder on that sometimes though ;)

2008-09-01 [NOOOPE]: Editted, I was thinking at dinner... My issue about that is, though, are we voting on what piece has the best story... or what piece is the best? I find that in these contests, entries with interesting or possibly even cliche stories, or entries that resemble popular images beat pictures that are extremely skillful and well done. And I take issue with that. This being an art contest, I think we should be voting on the quality of the art. Like, I find it kinda sad that something more abstract, and less self explanatory has to lose, despite it's amazing quality, because it's nature eludes some people.

I guess, with amateur art, hobby art in a setting where not everyone has artistic training, it is a lot about the feeling. People can have crooked faces and perspectives can be off because it's really not important. But when you want to make it a profession, when you really want to make money off of it, feeling doesn't cut it. Since I am striving to no longer be a amateur artist, the main question is quality. Message, yes, but quality definitely.

By the highest quality entry not winning... as an artist, it makes me feel like there's no point to improvement, or taking risks. It also makes me feel like I shouldn't bother trying when I enter these contests, 'cause quality doesn't matter to people. 

Not saying the winner so far isn't awesome. Again, 's way better then my stuff.

2008-09-01 [windowframe]: If I read the Divine Comedy in original Italian, it does nothing for me. Because I don't know Italian. Art is about communicating a message and it's forms are varied. Maybe those pieces don't "speak" to you, because you don't know their language.

2008-09-07 [Mortified Penguin]: I assume Magic Photo Contest for Newbies will be the next poll?

2008-09-07 [windowframe]: Yup.

2008-09-08 [chriskin]: i voted for (i), it is really strange it is not number one :S

how can i find who made this drawings so i can find more of their art?

2008-09-08 [Linderel]: See the Magic Art Contest for Newbies Entries page. ;3

2008-09-09 [chriskin]: thank you Linderel, sorry for the newbish question as well

2008-09-14 [a vamp named spaz]: muahahaha i tied it.

2008-09-14 [Mortified Penguin]: Don't do that! Now we have to wait a long time for one of them to take an obvious lead... unless they end the poll now and claim it was a tie... *eats ramen*...

2008-09-14 [Future Dictator]: lol 3rd place is 100 votes behind the first two

2008-09-15 [Paul Doyle]: I think a good question to mull over would be, "What defines an obvious lead?" Should there be clarified marks, like those used in tennis or volleyball? Or should we just continue idly commenting away about nothing in particular? :3

*brews some virtual coffee and pops some virtual popcorn*

2008-09-16 [Cina]: I'll sit and comment idly in the hope that it will somehow bring this heated contest to a close and get on with deciding the winner of my heated contest! :P
Not that I don't care who wins this one. >.> <.< >.>

2008-09-17 [a vamp named spaz]: i love how some one told me not do make it "tied".... ummm my vote is my vote... like anything it doesnt really matter... cuz the one i voted for aint in lead now... silly peoples. ^.^

2008-09-17 [Mortified Penguin]: ...*eats virtual ramen*...

2008-09-17 [Cina]: Well, look at it this way, if you hadn't voted, the one you like would be even LESS in the lead!

*slurps some cup noodles*

2008-09-17 [a vamp named spaz]: lmao yea... but not really...

winning is winning, doesnt matter if its by one vote, or 100...there can only be 1 first place.

2008-09-17 [Paul Doyle]: Damn underpowered microwave not popping enough kernels!

*finishes the job with anthro-dragonfire*

*scorched popcorn triggers the fire alarm, and then the overhead sprinklers*

2008-09-22 [loam]: as a current resident of the magic capital of the world, i'll stand by my vote for [j] . it tends to capture the instant association of magic yet also the fantasy of both floating in the ether.
[loam]

2008-09-23 [a vamp named spaz]: mmmhmmm. yea that pics not bad either... but im still sticking to my vote.

2008-09-24 [Mikie9191]: thanks for the vote [loam]... (I dont think I am anywhere near fantasy enough for elftown)

2008-09-25 [Mortified Penguin]: I voted for G. ...*eats ramen*...

2008-09-28 [moira hawthorne]: things havent much changed here in a long while... couldnt it be said that the winner is known? e has kept the lead over i for the majority of the contest and theres no way anyone else is gonna suddenly take the lead

2008-09-28 [windowframe]: Yes, just gimmie a chance to breath, please, then I'll get round to closing polls and opening more. (it's been a very hectic, internet-less two weeks for me here).

2008-09-28 [moira hawthorne]: this wasnt criticism of you [windowframe]. isnt there many people on the council? if you were unavailable b/c of real life... you shouldnt be expected to do things all yourself. I just see alot of contests that need to be voted on (and alot of impatient people) and this one seem mostly summed up...

2008-09-28 [windowframe]: Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so blunt. ^^; (still de-stressing a bit). True there are many council people , but we all tend to be busy, and I did say that I'd run this contest, so other people weren't expecting to suddenly have to cover for me. I'm sure they would have, if I'd have managed to ask one of them, but I didn't even have time to do that. O.O

2008-09-28 [moira hawthorne]: well if you have alot to catch up to now.. maybe you can divide some of it now... just offering advice..

2008-10-02 [Shjahjdahdvwa]: True. Some people actually got tired of elftown due to the lack of updates. There's a lot of elftown members who would be glad to help mantain elftown, but they keep the council so restricted. You need to be friends with friends... And so on...

2008-10-02 [windowframe]: Uh. Yeah, we're so restricted, what with the Apply to the crew wiki to let anyone who wants to help say they want to, and give their credentials. Y'know, that most of our members are chosen from now? No?