The rules are simple. Below you will find the links to where you can download which version you would like to colour.Sadly, I received the majority of reaction to the ‘Spirit colour contest’ in discussions at conventions or e-mails directed to my Web site, rather than this Forum where an exchange of ideas and opinions would have been most productive. There were two points of discussion worth clarifying here for entrants, and potential entrants, in the ‘Phoenix colouring contest’.
First, there were people who never entered the ‘Spirit contest’ because they believed they lacked ‘artistic ability’ or ‘technical (digital) experience’ and or hardware/software. To remove the later obstacle, this contest has three alternative versions of the pencil image from which to choose. The light pencils can be manipulated by anyone with digital capabilities. The dark version is for anyone without the capability of darkening the pencils prior to printing a hardcopy to ‘manually’ colour. And the blue-line is for anyone who may like the additional challenge of inking the image, either digitally or manually, prior to colouring it.
The important point to remember is that whether coloured over light or dark pencil or inked blue-line ALL contest entries must be full colour. This is NOT an inking contest.
The second point to clarify is my criteria for selecting the winner of the ‘Spirit contest’. While it may seem that I chose an entrant who simply avoided obscuring ‘my’ linework with dense colour, that wasn’t the reason—a factor yes but not the most important consideration. As I explained when I posted the result…
… Richard Cirrilo’s page certainly wasn’t the most accomplished or technically proficient but he did focus his efforts on the subject of the page while some of the more adept colourists, who produced very dramatic and moody scenes to a professional standard, gave prominence to lighting effects and one or two reduced the Spirit to a near silhouette. I’m sure there will be those who disagree and say that the darker pages are more ‘realistic’ but, as a storyteller, I think Richard’s minimalistic blue and creamy-yellow palette was well chosen and set the right mood without being too dark. The overall retro feel was also appropriate to the Spirit character but what impressed me most was Richard’s rendering of the folds and creases in the Spirit’s suit. This was most successfully executed on the arms and in a style that I thought reminiscent of Eisner’s modelling.
The simple fact is, if I had intended the Spirit figure to be heavily shadowed figure or silhouetted I would have drawn it as such. The only reasons I can imagine why a colourist would obscure the central figure in a composition with dark colour, other than to avoid rendering because they can’t draw (rendering is drawing (painting) with planes and tone, as opposed to line.,) was to deliberately sacrifice the figure in order to show off the relative brightness of a digital glow or lighting effect they had added.
I have often spoken out against current colouring techniques because I believe the majority of professional colourists are basically technicians with a limited bag of pre-programmed digital tricks. (I should emphasise ‘majority’ because there are a few good colourists that actually work to enhance the penciller and inkers efforts). A penciller designs an illustration with a specific narrative purpose much in the same way as an architect designs a building for a precise function and with an innate style. ANY decoration should work to enhance or complement the structural attributes. I am not against the appropriate use of digital effects and I did incorporate a few in one of the three alternate colour roughs I made over the Spirit sketch but applying arbitrary and haphazard effects that go against the blackline is akin to putting florid flock wallpaper on a Pagoda.
I really hope what I have said here doesn’t dissuade anyone from having a go in the ‘Phoenix colour contest’ because my intention is to prove that everyone can and should enter, even if they feel they lack the necessary ‘skills’ because technical proficiency is not a priority. I will judge the colour entries by how it enhances the narrative, character, mood or emotion of the black-line illustration.
Please, give it a go. You may discover abilities you never knew you had.
Alan
-The contest begins NOW. It will end in a little over 3 weeks on October 22nd 2008.
-No entrant should post their work (anywhere) until the closing date. This will prevent anyone from copying or downloading and altering another entrant's work. They will be disqualified if we find them.
-The scan of the image is to be coloured is at 300 dpi. This will give all entrants an equal start.
-All colour entries will be posted at the same resolution 72 dpi as RGB files.
-The final colour images should be e-mailed to Alan at his e-mail address. (alandaviscomic @ yahoo.com) The subject line should read "OFFICIAL PHOENIX ENTRY". That way we don't lose any.
-Entrants will need to include your name and e-mail address (e-mail address will NOT be published with the gallery posting). Once a winner is announced, we will contact winner for postal address.
-If you have any questions or concerns, please let Alan or I know. The best way to ask would be to post a question on this thread. Don't be embarrassed or shy in asking, asking your questions pubically on this board will assist everyone.
-Shortly after the closing date, Alan will post all images in a simple gallery for everyone to view. Images will be able to be viewed simultaneously for comparison as thumbnails but they will be capable of being enlarged for a closer look.
-Alan and I reserve the right to deny any inadequate image and disqualify whomever we want for any reason. So no complaining!
-We are not going to post the actual 'prize' image since the modeling Alan has done may present a bias. Basically, the grand prize will be the Phoenix original art. There will also be two runner up prizes this time, for second and third place. The prizes offered will be the limited edition Ex-Libris board mounted image from this years Kultima Convention, which was held in Paris recently, signed by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer. http://www.alandavis-comicart.com/image ... ris_22.jpg
Good luck to everyone! Remember that there really isn't a wrong or right way or approach. This is an exercise of creativity, the object being to encourage diversity in technique and presentation.
http://www.alandavis-forum.com/images/P ... test_1.jpg (light version)
http://www.alandavis-forum.com/images/P ... test_2.jpg (dark version)
http://www.alandavis-forum.com/images/P ... est_3_.jpg (blueline version)
and a difficult one.
