Chow 104 :: VOTING :: The Four Brothers

[S.C. Watson]

FINALS ONLY
-=ROUND 104=-
-=THE FOUR BROTHERS=-

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IF WE HAVE MORE THAN 45 ENTRIES - NOT ALL ENTRIES WILL MAKE IT TO POLL
A MAXIMUM OF 45 ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED IN THREE CATEGORIES:
CATEGORY 1 - Beginner's category
CATEGORY 2 - Intermediate's category
CATEGORY 3 - Advanced's category

ACCEPTANCE TO POLL WILL BE BASED ON THREE CRITERIA:
1: DID THE ARTIST FOLLOW THE BRIEF? (allowance for creative takes will be made).
2: IS THE PIECE ARTISTICALLY SOUND? (Is the illustration "finished?" - did the artist pay attention to anatomy, perspective, other fundamentals?).
3: IS THIS ILLUSTRATION THE BEST ONE? (reserved for rounds with a large amount of entries).

Depending on round turn out, the number of accepted entries in a given Category may vary from round to round. For example, if only 5 Advanced entries are made, that leaves EXTRA 10 slots open for Intermediate and Beginner.

Only Advanced Entries will be accepted for the the thumbs on the Queens Roster. If no Advanced entries are available for a round, then it will fall to the Intermediates. If no Intermediate are available, then it shall fall to the Beginners.

For further information on how this works, please see this post. (Still being updated at this time).
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SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY:
1: You must submit ONE full sized image.
2: Make sure your name and CHOW # are EASILY READABLE on your entry.
3: Use the Standard format (Below);

Due to a very generous donation of a Photobucket Pro Account, you will no longer have to worry about the thumbs


PLACE THE IMAGE IN A FRAME WITH YOUR NAME/TOPIC
SAVE YOUR FILE IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT:
Chow##_Nickname
example: "CHOW#100_Oregano.jpg"

THE REST IS EASY:
1: No comments before poll is set.
2: Sit back and enjoy the show.
3: Good luck to all.

[Mark Tarrisse]

Here's mine :

[Stephan_R]

[Ive]

[madhatter106]

Here's my swing at bat.

Here's the Latin translations for you intellectual types...

The Jack of Hearts - Pro Populus - "For the People"
The Jack of Clubs - Incruentus Rabies - "Bloodless Fury"
The Jack of Diamonds - Vinum Hominis Concentus - "Wine, Men, and Song"
The Jack of Spades - Totus Inanis Est - "All is Vanity"

[Giordan]

Here 's mine

[longshao]

Here's mine. My computer crashed yesterday and it's kinda unstable; I barely finished 2.

[LexCassar]

Final.

[kayness]

[Dark_Eyes]

Here's my final, had a lot of fun with this one... Much love to yoitisi for his continued critiques and support. Hope you likey!

[muleskinner]

[Chate Noire]

[the shivaree]

here is mine

[Migsta]

Final...

[t11]

f i n a l .

[artdwx]

Here is mine again

[|flow|]

not quite finished ... i'm too slow.

[2ma2]

[Mirana]

[S.C. Watson]

no entries past this mark.

[Giordan]

Oreg thanks for putting me on the poll one question though did you put us all in intermediate because the short amount of finished entries?

[S.C. Watson]

Oreg thanks for putting me on the poll one question though did you put us all in intermediate because the short amount of finished entries?

Essentially, yes. While we've got some kick ass entries, we don't have enough to set up either the Advanced or Beginner's Categories. So, as a "happy medium" I kept everything at "Intermediate" this round.

This is the second time this has happened - the cool thing is that if one of the entries that would normally be considered "Beginner" got enough votes, it would win the round

So, again, this isn't a value judgment on anyone - it's just keep the poll going.

Actually - now that I think about it, I'm taking the "Intermediate" listing out.

Thanks!
Ciao,
~Oreg.

[daestwen]

I voted for:

Stephan_R: Not sure that diamonds fits the brief as much as I would like, but clubs is just so damn perfect.

Chate Noir: Nice and clean, I like that you've kept their insignia and colours easily readable from each other - they read different, but obviously belong to the same place.

Mirana: It's a bit busy, but I liked the idea well enough to go ahead and give you a vote.

[KellyMan]

The shivaree - LOVE your use of colour and lighting! Great designs too!

Stephan_R - Awesome take on the characters.

madhatter106 - The way you've captured each of the character's personalities is great! The clothing design is also fantastic!

[Mirana]

Apologies for long-winded critiques. This is why I don't usually do them...

The shivaree I love your painterly touch and think your "modern with a touch of romance era" Diamond is a great design. However, I wish I could see the design you put into Clubs.

LexCassar Your blending of the Clubs/Diamonds theme into their outfits is done so subtly and I like it! You capture the brute in Clubs well, but Diamond doesn't have the "standoffish" or "inadept with swords" feeling. That dude is obviously ready for battle, and one would hope he'd be knowledgable about sharp edges lest he stab himself with that arm blade! (I dunno why, but Diamonds reminds me of Christopher Lambert in the face...that's always a good thing ;D)

Flow These two definately look like the figureheads without knowledge of swordfight/consequences of war that they are supposed to be! I wish you'd had time to complete the render of their legs & weapons.

Ive The restraints of the thumbnails do not do justice to your horizontal format! I love the almost comic-like reveal one gets from side-scrolling--each character getting a bigger chuckle than the last. Just when I thought Hearts spewing love was the best, then I got Spades and his back-stabbing and Diamonds with his dogs. XD! Props for making each character destinctive from each other, but still in the same relative time period. I will say that Hearts/Spades/Diamonds look great together, but Clubs looks out of place--like the brother mom had with a troll.

Artdwx I love the concept of Hearts playing to crowd in a battle with Clubs! He even looks like the rakish character we usually associate with a Jack. Their designs are fun and the dynamic poses are great. Unfortunately, it's really hard to see what's going on with the color--Clubs armor blends to the background, Hearts blends into Clubs' club, and the yellow is so bright that it immediately becomes the focal and I have a tough time seeing anything else. Also, the perspective is all sorts of wacky--which I can totally dig for this style--except for the stage. Clubs is standing right on the line, and Hearts (who's in front) is sinking into it.

tomato I LOVE the way you worked the shapes into their designs so subtely! Great body shapes too and a cute idea with the postcard. The style lends itself to designwork for a cartoon and that makes me think I would have liked a brighter color palette.

Chate Noire I love western animation styles, so I enjoyed yours immensely. They look like they could walk onto a set right now. Great posture, rich color and clean lines. They aren't too far out of the box though and it would be interesting to see what you did with that style on something way different. (I need to mention that the Bat-Utility-Belt on Clubs makes me giggle--though that is totally un-critique worthy. )

CollinSully What a fun narrative! I really like the design you did on Clubs--Yes, he's a brute, but he doesn't have to be one in armor and chains. The detail is great! Diamonds is fun in his frilly collar and painted fingernails--but I want to see the rest of him!

Kayness I realize Spades is supposed to be a dandy--and I like that association--but boy do I keep mistaking him for Diamonds. Clubs is adorable and it's an interesting narrative when you make him brutish perhaps to compensate for his size. Also. props for the nice warm tones and gritty background. (I want Spades' coat!)

Migsta I love the unity in the gold stripes, but how each still have a different design in uniform. Clubs looks mental, Spades looks like a general, Diamonds the dandy and Hearts the weary crusader. Is Diamonds asking, "Does my butt look big in this"....?

Mirana HAHAHA. Spend more than 1 day on a challenge next time.

muleskinner Once I figured out what the yellow piece was, I LOVED the story idea between Spades and Clubs--it got a laugh out of me. I'm confused about Diamonds and Hearts, though. Looks like you took the "gay" attribute from Diamonds and gave it to Hearts...that gives "fighting for the people (but usually cute guards)" a new meaning. ;D I'd like to see more defined shapes (maybe getting away from all that gray?), 'cause it got a little difficult to see the characters and props from their background.

Stephan_R Great rendering! I especially like Clubs shirt and body hair. Your concepts are solid (though I've seen plenty straight guys dressed like Diamonds--haha ). Clubs is well-proportioned, but Diamonds is all over the place (large hands, small feet, long neck, big head...). However, these two really LOOK like caricatures so the wacky proportions work well. If intentional it would have been cool to see Clubs pushed further.

longshao Heehee...two HALF brothers? You've got a badass Clubs with a "INflamable" gun and Daniel Day Lewis playing your pimp Diamonds. I love it. Makes me giggle. Your characters seem to get way shorter in the legs and bigger in the feet.

Markusthebarbarian They look like over-the-top cartoon characters. I like that you worked Diamonds' theme into a plasible diamond hairsytle. Even Clubs bald head and posture remond me of his symbol. Great muscle rendering on Clubs. I wished you'd worked a bit more of the narrative in--especially with such crazy designs.

Giordan I would love to see this coats as a real costume--I bet they'd be awesome. I also liked that you made Clubs a brute in gun-stength mafia, not steroids. Spades definately embodies the suave. Even though they're brothers, they almost look like twins and I couldn't identify them right away. Maybe that's intentional?

TroyWilkerson OMG, what's with the swords in front? HOW do they not stab themselves?? XD I will say that Spades pulls it off with phallic flare, but it sort of looks pasted on Hearts. I love the sinister look of Spades, the "wounded" and priest-ish look of Clubs and the pancaked, frivolity of Diamonds.

MadHatter Going above-and-beyond on the shields and crests was a nice bonus. I imagine you must know the meanings of the designs and unless that's a hobby, I commend you on your research! Even though it's not my favorite style, I have to say that I love all the details you put into each character!! The medals, the bow-tied cod pieces, and great looking hats.

[Giordan]

hi mirana wow thanks for the crits , yeah i tried to make them really look like brothers and give them but the modern touch with the beautiful ornaments of the real cards, but i think i went a lil too far on the resemblance maybe i should have one of them be a lil bit taller or something , and maybe i should have included more identifyable things in there outifts , oh and i really dig yours i want to know how did you came up on doing a egipcian aproach on the caracthers really awesome, oh and the diamonds and spade really look alike almost like twins as well , hope to see you all in the next CHOW

p.s oh and chate noire really awesome work love the clean look and your style ... please be my mentor ! jejejeje

[Giordan]

hi mirana wow thanks for the crits , yeah i tried to make them really look like brothers and give them both the modern touch with the beautiful ornaments of the real cards, but i think i went a lil too far on the resemblance maybe i should have one of them be a lil bit taller or something , and maybe i should have included more identifyable things in there outifts , oh and i really dig yours i want to know how did you came up on doing a egipcian aproach on the caracthers really awesome, oh and the diamonds and spade really look alike almost like twins as well , hope to see you all in the next CHOW

p.s oh and chate noire really awesome work love the clean look and your style ... please be my mentor ! jejejeje

[Chate Noire]

Mirana, thanks for the comments =)

Giordan, thank you! That's really flattering, but I'm definitely a long way away from being anyone's mentor...

Vote for:

tomato - cute cartoon style and characterization. I like how they all look like they belong to the same family, but each has a different personality and look.

Migsta - love your choice (and rendering) of colors. I wish the brothers were a little bigger, because while their clothing looks really cool, their faces and expression are hard to see.

Mirana - You went for a really cool time period with this, and the choice to have all brothers interact in a scene is great - it helps bring out their character and makes an illustration with a story that's fun to look at.

Stephan R - Already wowed this piece. It's awesome.

[kayness]

Mirana: thanks so much for the crit! and hey wow, I didn't see your entry before, it's so the most interesting because in addition to what Chate Noire said about going on a very cool time period, you also made them from a totally different part from the globe as the rest of us did as well.

you definitely got one of my votes!

oh and Oreg, no skill levels this time?

[mythril_golem]

I'm voting stephan r, shivaree and collinsully.
I didn't think there were many interesting designs this week but the rendering was top notch and so I based my votes on that.