An idea, opinions wanted.

[Zuri]

I've been cruising around the forums for a while, and everyday I see people pleading for fan and guest art and stuff. I myself don't get much in the way of guest art either and I rarely get around to it. I also see people plugging away their comic and stuff. So I got to thinking.

I participate periodically in something called the MAG ( that's Monthly Anime Gaijin ) and I've really quite liked the idea of it for some time. It's basically a montly contest where every month there is one or more characters from a artist featured. Everyone in the contest draws the characters, competing to be either the most artistic or most creative entry. Then all the entries get posted and get voted on. The winner gets their character featured next.

So here is what I was thinking. What about a keenspace version of this? A sort of Monthly Keenspace Fanart challenge? Every month there is a featured set of characters or comic, everyone draws those characters, the public votes, and then the winner gets their comic featured next.

So not only do your comics get some exposure, but you could potentially get a whole bunch of fan art and a whole LOT of exposure if you are the winner.

Obviously rules would be set out as to winning, submissions, yada. But, what I wanna know is if anyone would be interested in this?

[ZOMBIE USER 8296]

that is a nift dandy idea my little strumpet

[ZOMBIE USER 11104]

I'm not sure I understand what you are talking about...

[Sidwood]

It seems she's talking about a contest in which a bunch of artists draw the same characters.

I think it would be cool if the characters in the contest weren't the charcters of an artist... the contest should be based on a description. That way the characters people draw for the contest won't be influenced by the original.

[Chascraw4d]

I've poked around MAG and a few similar sites, and it's a pretty cool idea. I've never really gotten into to it because I don't tend to enjoy competitive activities very much, even when they're just in fun.

[MiniFoo]

I think it's a great idea. You would get to see your characters drawn in a different style than your own, because a lot of us like to draw in our own "custom" styles. I know I would do it. But it would be a shame if I won (like that would happen) 'cause I don't have enough comics for people to read... *sob*

[Dragonsong12]

Sounds fun...all-in-all, a great idea. I love to try to put my own little spin other people's characters. You know, try to keep the character intact, and yet still do it my own way. It's challenging, and fun.
I think I'd be in...

[ZOMBIE USER 11441]

That's a terrific idea, but how do you go about doing it?

[ZOMBIE USER 8124]

I like it! I'll do it!
As I (keep in mind, this IS me...) see it, we have 2 options if we would like to do this-

1.) Set up a whole new keenspace site to handle the project (ala "Bikeeni")
This would be overkill, because you don't need an archive, (you can ship all of the last weeks character art off to the original artist and be done with that) and leave a link up to all the winner's websites in a dropdown of sorts (and for past winners too). So this would really consist of only 3 pages max (index, rules, gallery for the week).

2.) You can host it as an add-on off someone's site like everyone does for the dropdowns rules pages. (I'd be happy to do this! It would be a piece of cake.) I can html up 3 webpages easy and we could outline rules here and make this an actual workable project, because it sounds neat! Yes, I've had sleep now, so this isn't some sleep-depraved wierdo-stuff I'm spouting off ^^;
Let me know what you think. ^_^

[Twentyfour]

Suh-WEET!!! Count me IN!!!

[ZOMBIE USER 9264]

That's a pretty sw33t plan y'all have there! I'd be in for that. I just hope one bitch-ass doesn't keep winneing over and over

[ZOMBIE USER 8124]

As for the frequency of winning, at the very <i>least</i> no one should be able to win twice in a row. (You can still enter for fun though!)
But then again, i'm not running this show. (Yet...^_-)
That's just what I think.

[Jamie!]

Im in!

[Zuri]

Wow! What a responce! Okay, since there is interest, I'll go into more detail. I'd be using the MAG as a kind of model, so here is how it would work.

First at the begining of the month a pinup type picture from the previous month's winning artist would be posted along with a link to his site and a pretty decent description of his characters and their personality, as well as an outline of the kind of things he or she would like to see in the art presented. ( Can it be risque or not, ie: No hentai/p0rn, or YES! You can do p0rn of my characters. )

Then the artists have 15 days to submit their artwork of the featured characters to the contest. On the 15th all the submissions are closed and the art is all put up for voting by the public. You may vote for up to two submissions in two categories. The two categories are " Most Artistic" and " Most Creative".

The winner will be determined by the votes, which will close 15 days later.
At that time the winners will be announced at the begining of the month. There will actually be two winners, the featured character between the two winners will be determined by coin toss.

The winner of the coin toss will have their character featured next, which works out to be not the month directly following, but the one after. This gives them at least 10-14 days to get their character pinup done.

You may only win and have your character featured ONCE. However if you win, but your character is not featured, you are still eligible to participate. If you want to still participate, but have already won, you can but you won't be eligible to win again. If it gets popular enough, I might do a second one thats kind of a winners circle, like MAG DX.

So there is no worries about one person winning it over and over again, it's once per artist.

Submissions can take any number of forms, but it will be restricted in size both in dimensions ( probably no more than 600pxls in width, and be under 150K in size. ) You are only permitted ONE submission, although a single submission can have multiple pages ( a la guest comic ). Flash and animations can also be used, as long as they are under 140K.

At the end of their feature, the featured artist will be sent all the fan art. By entering the contest you agree to allow the featured artist to post the fan art on their page. A link and the splash image will likely be kept in the 'past winners' archive, at least for the year.

If people really want to do this, I can set it up.

However, here is your chance to get your character featured without having to do anything. ^_^ I need two character features in advance to make this work smoothly. To choose these features I'm going to have a draw.

If you want your characters considered please EMAIL me your comics at shadows@pathwayz.org. Include your name, comic name, Comic URL, how many characters you are going to feature, their names, and your e-mail addy.

If you win, i'll contact you about getting your pinup done. But you are going to have to do it uberquick! I'd like to get going on this and see if we can't start it in september.

BTW, any ideas on a better name than Keenspace Fanart Challenge?

[THECapedCaper]

I'm not sure I understand what you are talking about...

I think I know what she's saying.

Ok, let's see...For example, let's say that the character would be my Andy sprite (aka my Avatar), then everyone who wants to enter would draw it the best they can. Then, all the best drawings get posted on some site, then a bunch of people vote for it. The winner gets some really good exposure. Simple.

Of course, sprite comic authors would most likely be kicked out of this competition. No big deal. I suck at making custom sprites.

[Twentyfour]

You may only win and have your character featured ONCE

uhhh... doesn't that kinda destroy the whole idea of this as a competition? So near the end, say everyone throws something in, and pretty much everyone has won already.... then everyone who's already won CAN't win, and the person who has gotten the highest votes out of the people remaining wins......ummm... what if they really suck, and that's why they never won before? I hate to put it that way, but what's the point in having a competitioon like this if everyone wins? I know everyone should get a chance to advertise,and you don't want to discourage people from trying because some artists are more experienced..... I dunno.. it seems kinda wonky to me.... regardless I'm still goin in on it.

[ZOMBIE USER 9264]

Custom sprites? Pfft, fuck that. I'm sure you could draw if you try. It'd at least be cool to see.

[ZOMBIE USER 10963]

I may be late, but I also think this is a good idea.

I especially like the way anybody can win. I mean, Razi could draw a characer really good one day and win, and the next Sid will do it well and win. We get to see what styles work with some characters, and some don't.

Its times like this I wish I was an artist.

[Twentyfour]

... and then twentyfour would win one....right UNFAN....right? ...... *whimper*

[McBean]

What you propopising is Comunism! that is Comunism!
Sure, I'll go along with your little contest.