COW rules extended: Detailed infos about all rules.

[Fozzybar]

Rules with detailed infos

1. Creatures Definition

a) No human-like creatures
Why? It is boring when you make an activity which is about new creatures/species and at the end you come up with humanoid anatomy. There is CHOW for all who want to stick to this.

b) No plants

c) No individual or character - Your creature must be a specimen of a species
Why? When i started this activity, i thought of a collection of species made by imagination. Like an encyclopedia of all creatures which exist. In such an encyclopdia you won't find an image of Michael Jaeckson or Bill Gates to describe the human race as a species. You will find an image of an anonymous naked man/woman with a general description of the homo sapiens, how they live, eat, behave etc. That's the reason why no characters are allowed. The individual story is not relevant.

d) No accessoires or clothing
Why? Same as above. The human race wouldn't be shown with cloths, but only naked to show their anatomy.

e) No bloblike masses with no shape

f) Focus is on creature design - No 1:1 copies from existing animals are not allowed. Though your creature absolutely can base on existing animals.
Why? There is no reason to copy an existing animal. Even if the description will differ from what we know about the animal, the visual part must offer a new approach. Of course it is allowed to take for example a lion and change or add some details. This makes the concept believable. But i won't accept a lion, which just looks like an ordinary lion.



2. Technical Restrictions

a) Final artwork: adequate quality for a weekly activity
Why? One round lasts one week. The artist have 7 days to come up with a nice entry. If the image is not up to par to the skill level of the entering artist i may reject it.
Also the images need to pass a certain quality level, not only in terms of finishing, but also in skills. COW initially was made for advanced or professional artists. Beginners art may be rejected.

b) No WIPs, sketches or rushed artwork
c) Color or b/w
d) Keep your image sizes reasonable, not too small, not too big
e) Only 2D art is allowed. No 3D, animation or photography.
Why? It is not possible to compare 2D art with 3D art or other forms. The judgement needs a base to judge on. The base is 2D art with the given topic.

f) Traditional or/and Digital
g) No crops to half bodies or heads only. At least the major part of the creature must be visible. You're on the safe side when you show the whole body!



3. Others[/B]

a) Stick to the topic
b) Background is optional
c) 1 entry and 1 image only
d) Short description of your concept
Why? Basically you have to write down a short description of your concept. If the concept is obvious when looking at the image you don't need to write a description. Though it is recommended since you will ALWAYS need an explanation for the art you made in the field of conceptart.

e) No old art. Only art which is made for this activity.
f) If an entry breaks one or more rules it's possible that it won't be taken to the poll

[Fozzybar]

Addtional info to 2.a) & 3.f)

Now, it may sound hard, but the initial idea of COW was to start a regular activity on a high quality level. We have the DSG where everyone can post whatever he likes to and really, there are mostly only about 20% of the pics which are entertaining...


So, primarily COW is NOT for the beginners or the ones who think a 10 minute sketch is worth posting it on a weekly activity...

This is also the reason why i like to take images of bluefooted, Matt Dixon, MIKECORRIERO or any other artist, whose skills are great and their artwork always a pleasure to look at. Yes, even if their concept is boring or their creature leaned on an existing one. Because i want this activity filled with much quality work as possible.

That's why i sometimes reject entries of beginners though some of the skilled members have the same lack of originality...

I know many people will be disappointed or angry about what i am saying, but have in mind that the pros artwork always transport more than the idea, and read FIRST why i am saying this:

As I saw Matt's Hill Stomper for example i loved it and had fun to look at it.

Why? Not because it's "only" a well drawn giant (yes and it was human also), there is much more behind, which makes a real pro or dedicative artist:

- many lovely details, which show a story behind the char (you can see his nature), the peaceful village/houses are just eyecandy
- the emotion of the char, you can see the fun and pleasure he has stomping the hills
- the atmosphere of the pic
- dynamic, action
- composition, colors, values etc

There is sooo much which makes this kind of art different to the entries of beginners, which does NOT mean that i don't want beginners enter COW, but it's not enough to post a sketchy drawing of a creature which already exists, because there are none of the points i mentioned above...which are the results of hard work and effort and not a bonus they got from the admins...

So, this said, COW is open for everyone, but a good artwork posted by a pro - no matter if it has a weak concept - is always good for taking to the poll.

That's why i took Genital Eclipse's piece to the poll, though there was actually no concept, but the piece had great atmosphere and your imagination could go wild when looking at it.

bluefooted's dragon didn't have a big originality in its design, but there was this wonderful magically atmosphere on her artwork, which matched perfectly to her concept.

This guys and gals provide more than just nicely drawn lines...

And don't tell me that i am frustrating newbies or beginners...there are only about 2-4 entries of 20-30 each round i reject...

[NYU]

were can beginners participate in weekly activities?

[SamuraiJordan]

Agreed with NYU
as a beginner what are the basics required for this?

[yoitisi]

NYU, SamuraiJordan: The rules mostly apply to who gets into the poll and who won't. Even if you won't make it to poll, producing something for COW is good practice. You're always free to post WIPs and finals in the original round to gain some comments on it. Some images just won't make it to poll and therefore can not win that round.

[z3r0t0lerance]

I'm new to this and quite interested in this section (COW). But I was wondering if there are limitations to what style (cartoony,realistic, paint, vector) an artist can use (not only here in COW, but overall in CA as well). Thanks.

[SGoodson]

Hello, i was er, i was just erm wondering what day of teh week is the new topic usually posted?

[RogueToad]

I agree with NYU. Can we make a sketch (B&W) if it looks just s good as a painting or digital work? Also where do we go to submit artwork for the topic of said week.

[jackcrosby]

when is the new topic posted because it would be a pain in the butt to create an entire creature only to find out it finished yesterday! haha

[lkjhgfdsa]

I wonder at how many people have read the rules...

[DominicRal]

LOL LOL LOL

[justonecog]

Hrm... been thinking as of late.

I've been working for a long time on a setting (which I plan to turn into either a story or tabletop campaign setting). Setting is basically a world in which metal is incredibly scarce and nearly all technology is biologically based... so just about every machine is actually a creature. So I've been doing a lot of creature designs for the setting.

A lot of these contests, I've looked at the topics and thought "Something fitting that general concept/topic would fit really well into the setting." ie: This week's Healer creature.

Is there any rule against using one of our own entries for a personal project? Or to rephrase that... would an entry (not old artwork, but something specifically used for the contest, following all guidelines and restrictions) be disqualified if it was also going to be used for something else?

[Si_Swe]

justonecog - As long as the entry follows the rules, adheres to the brief and is done the week of that round, you are allowed to use it for whatever you want. It is your artwork, not ours.

[rolyart]

hello, i'm still kind of new to this area of CA, but i geuss i dont understand...

-i can contribute to COW w/ a finished work in any of the threads that are open, and i dont have to be invited to do so?
-do i have to show a WIP or can i just send in a finished work? or does the WIP have to be approved prior to submitting finished work?
-is the voting (the poll) based on anything other then the finished work?
-and even if i finish the final product it is not guaranteed that it will be selected for the voting?
sorry if this has been asked before, i read the sticky but for some reason istill dont get the process or rules to this

[rolyart]

never mind, i read the CHoW rules and im going to assume that its the same deal, sorry.

[Erzebeth]

Hello, I'm a beginner in this forum and i want to post a wip for the creature of the week contest but the message says that a mod have to approve my message. I posted it 3 times and i still don't see it on the forum. I read all the rules and i'm sure to be good avout my creature or my description. Why can't i post?