Artist Battle: Kyuzo vs. Vampyr (Art Submission)

[MuGen]

Do not post under this thread. We will post our artwork in this thread starting 12:00AM FRIDAY, MARCH 11th.

Deadline is 11:59PM FRIDAY, MARCH 11th.

Vampyr and Myself have until end of Friday to post, if we're lucky ; we'll post at the same time.

Then, GameMaster's "royal" panel of 5 judges who have not bet on any of this event, will decide the winner.

[MuGen]

Submitted for the approval of the GameTavern Society... I call this.... Meteor Rain:
http://www.rasengan.net/gallery/Meteor-Rain.jpg

Key Elements:
3D Studio Max Renders
Photoshop Airbrushing
Stock Images of Final Fantasy AC Logo, and Cloud Strife

Briefing: I basically wanted to create that Midgar'ish futuristic feel to the whole grey matter atmosphere with spikes and the Life streams.

As you can see this piece is 100% original, made by me in 3DSM and Photoshop, excluding the FFAC Logo and Cloud Strife picture.

Comments are welcomed, however voting is in the hands of GameMaster's Elite Royal Panel of Judges

[GameMaster]

Good work, Kyuzo.

Vampyr has until 11:59 P.M. tonight to submit his piece. Once he has done so, the Royal Panel will gather and each one will cast their vote along with one comment. I will then return to this thread and post each panelist's vote along with their comment. Both contestants will be congratulated for their work and the winner will be given special recognition.

The winner's rank will be temporarlily changed to "Art Battle Champion". vBookie bets will be settled and distributed.

The loser may either declare a rematch or challenge someone else to a battle.

[Vampyr]

Here is my piece:

"Heroic"
http://www.thefilebin.com/userfiles/vampyr/heroic.jpg

Key Elements:
Render of the Human Torch
Photoshop Brushing and Blending

Briefing:

The only thing I didn't make in the piece is the picture of the torch, and the quote. All of the brushing and blending and editing was done by me in photoshop 7.0. I actually got the idea from myself. After making my sig, I decided I would like to make a full size work of art from it. So I used more of the render, and increased the size, and added a quote, and used more sophisticated brushing and blending.

I wanted to glorify the Human Torche as much as possible, with his liquid fire and jet streams of heat swirling about him, and he erupting from them in a moment of stunning heroism. The piece depicts his power and heroic fury, but at the same time picks up on and uses his pain and high expectations.

Comments are welcome, but like Kyuzo said, it's all in the hands of the royal panel.

[Null]

Thats disturbing. gunna be having nightmares now. hehe

[Vampyr]

Thats disturbing. gunna be having nightmares now. hehe

Eh, you know what homophobia really says about you, right?

;)

*edit*
And besides, the sexiness of my current sig balances it out.

[Null]

lol. well. um. i sure hope purple girl looked better in her original colors, sexy isnt what i was thinkin from that one. i was thinkin more like vampire girl. which is what i thought you wanted cuz of the name and everything. :p

[dropCGCF]

I seem to notcie Vampy likes monochromatic stuff.

[Vampyr]

I seem to notcie Vampy likes monochromatic stuff.

If you are talking about the color in my sigs, than yeah, some of them tend to have a unifying color. It gives them unity. But I also do several sigs that have varying colors. It just depends. I thought that the vampire girl blended well in the purple.

And no other color would fit in heroic. He and his fire are orange.

Seriously, though, Null, do you think I should redo the vampiress sig? I really like the render and I want to use it, but I want to use it well. Just tell me what you think is wrong, and I'll compromise. Can't promise to change everything, because it's my art. :)

Oh, and I love the new render you are using in your current sig.

*edit*
And she was a vampire in the original pic as well. But there are some vampires girls I would do.

:)

[Null]

i dont mind how it looks in the sig. i dont really like her tho. lol


as far as the total sig tho, the name down there by itself, and a bit hard to read bugs me slightly. but sig is fine really. the girl kinda creeps me out. looks like she's she's starving,

[Vampyr]

i dont mind how it looks in the sig. i dont really like her tho. lol


as far as the total sig tho, the name down there by itself, and a bit hard to read bugs me slightly. but sig is fine really. the girl kinda creeps me out. looks like she's she's starving,

Ok. I knew the font wasn't good, so that doesn't bother me. :) I've been trying to think of a way to fix it. I'll think of something. The reason I made it so faint was because I didn't want a lot of focus on my name.

And the girl freaks you out? lol. Oh well. I like her. Can't really change that opinion, so I'll leave it as is until I come up with a font solution.

[GameMaster]

So riflemen are your favorite WC unit, Null? :)

Edit:Hey, I just noticed Null is using a monochromatic theme also. Since Vampyr and Null are using that style, I think I will too.

And back on topic, 4 of the 5 panelists have responded. I'm just waiting for one more before the winner is announced.

[Vampyr]

So riflemen are your favorite WC unit, Null? :)

Edit:Hey, I just noticed Null is using a monochromatic theme also. Since Vampyr and Null are using that style, I think I will too.

And back on topic, 4 of the 5 panelists have responded. I'm just waiting for one more before the winner is announced.

THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!

[Null]

So riflemen are your favorite WC unit, Null? :)



no. lol. i like the night elves. but all the night elfs pics i fight either arent right, or are of a rather ugly female night elf.

so just playin around with orcs and dwarfs in the sig instead.

[Fox 6]

So riflemen are your favorite WC unit, Null? :)

Edit:Hey, I just noticed Null is using a monochromatic theme also. Since Vampyr and Null are using that style, I think I will too.

And back on topic, 4 of the 5 panelists have responded. I'm just waiting for one more before the winner is announced.
Isn't there some sort of Judging Panel Light Beacon you can activate?

[Vampyr]

Isn't there some sort of Judging Panel Light Beacon you can activate?

Or some sword you can hold up and go "Royal Panel, Royal Panel, Royal Panel HOOO!"

[GameMaster]

Ladies and gentlemen, the panelists have all responded and it is now time to announce the winner of our very first Digital Art Battle.

As we gather here today to congratulate both our winner and loser for a good battle, please remember that these judgments rest soley on the pieces submitted today and the outcome of this event does reflect your total talent.

I would like to thank our two contestants, Kyuzo and Vampyr for their effort and work. You both are exceptional artists who will do many great things in your lives. You will forever be remembered as GameTavern's first two warriors in the Digital Art Battles.

I'd also like to thank the Royal Panel for their critiques and participation. And now the moment we've been waitingfor. We'll first begin by posting each Royal Panelist's decision and closing comments:

Judgement One:

i would have to choose vampyr's work "Heroic".

it has the look of a professionally designed graphic, although there's something about the font that doesn't seem to fit. i really like the colour and brush choices.

the colouring of kyuzo's work doesn't fit the central graphic. i'm also not a big fan of the grungey brush used in the background... *shrug*


Judgement Two:


My choice is Heroic by Vampyr. My comments: Great piece done. Really shows out The Human Torch. Nice brushing and other things used. I only have a few minor minor things. Its bright for a reason but maybe a little too bright. More flames would be nice. But those are minor complaints to a great piece.

But overall, a really well done piece.

Comments to Kyuzo's Meteor Rain: Very nicely done also. It really shows the 'pain' seen in the image to the lower left of the picture. Lighting, brightness, etc..done really well. I just felt more 'pulled in' by Vampyr's.

Overall: Really nice job done you 2. Very excellent pieces.


Judgement Three:


Choose Vampyr's work, Heroic.

I like Vampyr's work because it thrives for something original - something interesting to the eye. The strokes all around the Torch are fun to look at. I would've chosen Kyuzo's piece but I have seen a lot of other pieces like it.


Judgement Four


i would pick Kyuzo's FF:AC picure because it's not as random as Vamp's and it's easier on the eyes...for me.

also i like the theme and the colours he used for the theme.

looks more organized, yet simple...which isn't always bad.

you can go ahead and say i said that


Judgement Five


I pick Kyuzo because it has a better sense of space. The ff logo, the picture, and the honeycomb graphic create a triangle that makes the viewer scan the whole image. Vampyr's was flashy but I just didn't like the page's layout. Given the content of the image I think he could have expanded it quite a bit more instead of just having a centered image on a nice flashy background.


Final Score:

Vampyr: 3
Kyuzo: 2

There being no further business, it is my duty to announce Vampyr as the winner.

Congratulations Vampyr and Kyuzo for your great work and efforts!

I would now like both contestants to give a speech. :)

http://www.thefilebin.com/userfiles/vampyr/heroic.jpg

[Vampyr]

I would like to say thanks to everyone, especially Kyuzo for providing such a challenging competition. This is the first Art Battle I was ever in, and it was very exciting. I spent the entire week looking forward to Friday.

I would also like to thank the judges who chose my piece, and those who didn't. It sounds like you did a good job grading us.

I look forward to future art battles, and hopefully we can have some free for alls, with more than two artists involved, although duels will still be extremely entertaining.

Good job Kyuzo. (You owe me 200 doubloons. ;))

GM, do you think we could have like a GameTavern hall of fame stickied in the Artists guild, with every winner of the art competitions work put there?

[MuGen]

Congratulations on winning this one Vampyr, your doubloons is on the way. I would like to thank the judges. For future reference, I did not use Grungey brushes in the background of the image, it was pure 3D Render. So it was a faulty interpretation, but an interpretation it was, so I accept it.

And Vampyr... I would like a rematch... only do something I haven't seen before. I was looking forward to seeing some of the art I haven't seen before, which was the whole point of my challenging you. I was a little disappointed at your piece, as I've seen some of it already in your signature. The piece is in no way, lacking.... However I do want to see new work and work I haven't seen, in future challenges.

Rematch, set for next Friday?

Agree to these terms:
1. Must be totally new work (hehe)
2. Elements allowed: Any art program you feel is needed
3. Image Dimensions: No restriction
4. Stock Images: None (completely rendered/fabricated in Photoshop)

No vBookie event, forum members will vote, no panel judges. (I would like to hear from our fellow members... and without the vBookie we will have honest and all out critiques to our work.)

Accept these rules,
Decline these rules?

(your 200 doubloons is coming!)

[Vampyr]

I would accept...but GM and I have cooked up another idea. I'm sure he will be posting it within the next 24 hours. Don't worry though...our dueling will witness another sunrise...

In the mean time I have to "purchase" 3D Studio Max off the internet so that I can make some renders to use in our next showdown, because i can't win with just photoshop and not allowed to use any stock photo's.

I look forward to battling you again.

And just so you know, my sig isn't a section of that piece. I completely remade the background for it.

Good battle, old friend. :D

[Dark Samurai]

In both, Kyuzo's and Vampyr's pieces...

I was impressed, though if I was one of the judges for this said competition... I would've gone for Kyuzo's piece, rather than Vamp's. Reason being is, Kyuzo's had a lot more of an originality than Vamp's, because I've seen that graphic before.

Not to be hyper-critical, but Vampyr's work has been done and Kyuzo's work was new...

But I have nothing bad to say about the pieces, except maybe on Kyuzo's where its too "gray" and Vamp's where the guy looks like he just farted...

[Vampyr]

In both, Kyuzo's and Vampyr's pieces...

I was impressed, though if I was one of the judges for this said competition... I would've gone for Kyuzo's piece, rather than Vamp's. Reason being is, Kyuzo's had a lot more of an originality than Vamp's, because I've seen that graphic before.

Not to be hyper-critical, but Vampyr's work has been done and Kyuzo's work was new...

But I have nothing bad to say about the pieces, except maybe on Kyuzo's where its too "gray" and Vamp's where the guy looks like he just farted...

Lol. He's erupting from the flames!!!

And *I* was the one who used the render before...I can't lose originality for that, can I? Ah well. There will be future battles.

There were just a couple things I didn't like about Kyuzo's:

1. The static.
2. He put a lot of work into making a 3d render, but made it so faint that all the emphasis was on the cloud picture.

[MuGen]

The 3d render was an accent/offset to maintain a visual presence that I was aiming for the struggle that was Final Fantasy VII. I'm going to start posting random designs I do.

I'll try to make this Artists Guild, a real guild and bring all the artists together...

just like the Shadowness Community and DeviantArt.

[GameMaster]

The position of Artist Guild Leader is already taken! :mad:

Good day, Sir!

[MuGen]

I think it's too quick to determine Vampyr as Art Battle Champion, GM, considering he's only beaten me in battle.....

[GameMaster]

No, I meant me. The leader is different from the champion. The leader organizes events and hosts them.

[Null]

In both, Kyuzo's and Vampyr's pieces...

I was impressed, though if I was one of the judges for this said competition... I would've gone for Kyuzo's piece, rather than Vamp's. Reason being is, Kyuzo's had a lot more of an originality than Vamp's, because I've seen that graphic before.

Not to be hyper-critical, but Vampyr's work has been done and Kyuzo's work was new...

But I have nothing bad to say about the pieces, except maybe on Kyuzo's where its too "gray" and Vamp's where the guy looks like he just farted...

I agree, i was suprised by the results. i definitely woulda gone with kyuzos.
Altho i wonder if his monitor is darker because on mine it appeared a little too light and had a slight grainy look. But other then that it was very well done, clear and clean.
vamps, while it was good, too many little things bugged me, it looks like flat picture of a 3d image, cut out and moving out of a 3d background. might be a bit of the way its blended, but it just doesnt look right. That and the text looks 2 plain and doesnt really fit in with the image. to say it the easiest way, the text on kyuzo's looks like its part of the image, the text on vamps looks like it was put ontop of the image afterwards.

but good pictures on both side tho.

[MuGen]

I accept the outcome, however I kinda iffy on some of the panelist interpretations. A lot of them did NOT get my message and those panelists who did get the feel of struggle and pain , understood the color choice and effects in my piece.

This is why I wanted a rematch with GT members voting, and not betting... so we know whose voting and we get to hear everyone's opinion.... Such as some of the artists here, Bluefire, Crash, and you...... Null.... lol

But in any case, it's hard to accept judgement from a person you don't know or see....
Next battle I want GT members critiquing and voting.

[Vampyr]

But you can't blame someone for interpreting your art the "wrong" way. People feel whatever they want to feel from it.

[MuGen]

Like I said, Vamp..... I accept the outcome........ However next time I would like to be judged by people I can see, people with names.

It's an empty gratuitous gesture to thank judges you don't know.

I'm surprised Null and BLueFire wasn't part of the panel considering they are part of the Artist's Clique in GT more than anyone else. I'm pretty sure Null or BF didn't bet in the vBookie either.

Another thing I wanted to ask you Vamp..... How did you render that in Photoshop only? It seems like the lighting effects and material could only be done in 3dSM... and you don't have it.

I'd like to know...

[Vampyr]

Like I said, Vamp..... I accept the outcome........ However next time I would like to be judged by people I can see, people with names.

It's an empty gratuitous gesture to thank judges you don't know.

I'm surprised Null and BLueFire wasn't part of the panel considering they are part of the Artist's Clique in GT more than anyone else. I'm pretty sure Null or BF didn't bet in the vBookie either.

Another thing I wanted to ask you Vamp..... How did you render that in Photoshop only? It seems like the lighting effects and material could only be done in 3dSM... and you don't have it.

I'd like to know...

I'll tell you as soon as you stop using so many periods. :p

To make the background, I used a ton of the abstract brush's that I have collected since I started using shotoshop, and I had like 20 layers of brushing. Then I used the colorize tool to make them all orange by sampeling a piece of the torch. I turned up the saturation and slightly turned up the lighting to give it a bright, 3-d fiery look. Then I erased all the overlapping areas of the brushes, and merged them together.

Then I put the torch underneath them all, and set the blend mode to either hue, saturation, or color. I can't remember which. For some reason parts of him became grey after that, so I had to go back and color them in. That was pretty much it. I used a brush and some clever alignment to make it look like he was erupting out of the flames.

[GameMaster]

Although anonymous, the judges were real people. With the exception of one, the other four judges are not active artists here on GT or elsewhere as far as I know. Even though they were randomly selected, I actually think having non-artists judging can be better. Because the judgments you receive from them are purely based on what they see. Unlike artists, who would also be to spot certain photoshop techniques, filters, effects, etc. By having people who can't spot that stuff, you get a more effective judgement because they're simply voting by what is plainly visible and the emotions that the picture evokes in them. Which is one of the fundementals of viewing art and creating it.

In my opinion, it's not important whether the judges are identified or not. Knowing their names won't change their true opinions. I actually believe that by keeping their identities a secret, you receive a more honest critique because no one has to worry about hurting feelings and ruining friendships.

Anyway, me and Vampyr are hard at work planning the future of Artists Battles here. It's likely that future battles will use polls to determine winners. That way, more people can vote and we won't having anyone questioning the truthfulness of the Royal Panel. And those who want to comment can post their opinions within the thread and those who want to remain anoymous won't have to post anything.

[Fox 6]

Although anonymous, the judges were real people. With the exception of one, the other four judges are not active artists here on GT or elsewhere as far as I know. Even though they were randomly selected, I actually think having non-artists judging can be better. Because the judgments you receive from them are purely based on what they see. Unlike artists, who would also be to spot certain photoshop techniques, filters, effects, etc. By having people who can't spot that stuff, you get a more effective judgement because they're simply voting by what is plainly visible and the emotions that the picture evokes in them. Which is one of the fundementals of viewing art and creating it.

In my opinion, it's not important whether the judges are identified or not. Knowing their names won't change their true opinions. I actually believe that by keeping their identities a secret, you receive a more honest critique because no one has to worry about hurting feelings and ruining friendships.

Anyway, me and Vampyr are hard at work planning the future of Artists Battles here. It's likely that future battles will use polls to determine winners. That way, more people can vote and we won't having anyone questioning the truthfulness of the Royal Panel. And those who want to comment can post their opinions within the thread and those who want to remain anoymous won't have to post anything.

That was very thought provoking GM

/me has a overload of thoughts

[Null]

well maybe 'artists' are more critical, but thats because they know whats going on, and know what level of talent things take, and how much work was put into it.

and maybe people who have no eye for art can sit back and look at something at a totally different view. Which would be why if you had a set of judges, it 'should' be half and half. 3 high level artists, and 3 unartistic people. Would give you a wider range of views. Because just cuz some people cant see certain details and what skill things take, doesnt mean they shouldnt count for anything.

(note none of this applies to anything anyone has created or drawn up here, its just totally in general)

[Stray_Bullet]

Yes. The ones with PS knowledge would judge techincally, and those without would judge artistically.

[BlueFire]

Holy crap, I just found this thread existing.

Damn, what a shame. :[

I liked both entries. Great job :P

We should have photography and traditional art battles too. That would be fun. :]

[dropCGCF]

I would LOVE a philosophy battle.

I am the first official entrant in a philosophy battle, who wants to challenge me?

[MuGen]

The idea of half and half is perfect.

Because the view from non-artists is good as well as the view from fellow artists. If they spot the techniques used, they can judge on how well the technique was done. I always found critiques to be more full coming from fellow Designers, because they would know best how to improve on my work, so that I can improve as a designer as well.

Coming from non designers, they give critiques that are constructive yet give me no information on how to work on it.

I went to IT school for Multimedia Design and I loved class critiques because thats how I learned how to be better.

i.e. coming from a Designer, "You're using the airbrush too much, you can tone it down a little and you will create that perfect effect."

i.e. coming from a Non-Designer, "I think it's too bright for me, and I'm not a huge fan of this kinda effect...... thats it..."

lol anyways, I'm glad to see everyone hopping on the artists bandwagon.