Once in a while, I enter a contest. No, I do not degrade and depreciate my profession by entering book cover contests in hopes of getting paid a fraction of standard rates for the project just so an author or publisher can pay next to nothing for a skill that's taken me years of schooling and dedication. However, I occasionally enter art contests with my personal work, my original work.
Mainly, I do it to improve my own skills. A themed contest gives me the freedom to experiment without the risk of destroying my client's primary marketing tool -- their book cover. It also gives me a chance to work on something that's all my own vision.
Most of my book cover commissions are a hybrid of my interpretation of a story and the author's, which is awesome, but once in a while one that's all me keeps me ... congenial. As an added bonus, many of these contests do include a cash prize, gift certificate, or free products.
For the first time, earlier this month, I entered Daz's May 2014 Render Contest: Lyrics to Pictures. Lady of Shalott, by Loreena McKennitt, has been one of my favorite songs since my college days. It was also my introduction to Lord Tennyson's writings, which Loreena adapted to song.
This is how the contest was introduced:
Have you ever actually pictured the lyrics to your favorite song? Here is your chance to create a vision inspired by music. Choose a line or two from a song or use the title and create a picture that represents those words.
This was my entry ...
Lady of Shalott took first place. It's one thing for non-artists to appreciate my work. It's something different when the judges are also artists, so I'm really honored. I know the competition was worthy, too.
*** As a side note ... The 'vision' in the mirror is actually a cropped adaptation of an illustration created for Harry Gilleland's book trailer for his novel, A Wandering Warrior. See the original image here: http://willowraven.weebly.com/lady-of-shalott.html. I thought he was the perfect vision of a knight from Camelot.
Let me know what you think of my latest work. :D
If you'd like to read the lyrics or hear the song that inspired the image, check out the page dedicated to it on my website: Lady of Shalott {http://willowraven.weebly.com/lady-of-shalott.html}
Previous upload:
**About the credits, I used jamminwolf's character first, then modified it further to get the look I wanted. So although I wanted to give vendor credit, I don't want to confuse people as to why my character does not look like the product promos.
*Vendors, I LOVE doing artistic renders & bragging up your hard work. Contact me :D*
If you find time, check out my website:
WillowRaven
And if you like VidFolios, why not subscribe to my
YouTube channel, too. I'll subscribe back. :D
Comments (42)
Xfitz
Well let me be the first at RR to congratulate you. Excellent work and gratifying to get the recognition as you say from ones peers.
pimanjc
Good job. Congratulations.
eekdog
A big congats from the eekdog. Excellent image also.
LivingPixels
Congratz my friend your works awesome you deserve it love this stylish and impressive piece!!
ArtistKimberly
Outstanding,
Windigo
Congratulations
Wolfenshire
Congratulations, well deserved.
Faemike55
Congratulations on the win! I enjoy listening to Loreena McKennitt as well as a few other Celtic-inspired artists Wonderful image
rbowen
Congratulations! Wonderful work!
claude19
congratulations at first for your zexplanations ! I think you write coorectly about your Art and the successes price...I myself made my work in a gallery on the internet that was paying very meager tables sold ... I quit after a year because I had doubts about the frequency of my sales deteriorated. .. congratulations for your success...this composition is corresponding certainly at several hours of work, hesitations and changes!!! excellent scenery !!!
pregiato
Sensational looking image. Nice work!!!!!!
lisalisette
Congratulations.. wonderful work :)
starship64 Online Now!
Congratulations! Fantastic work.
amaranthine
Fantastic work! Congrats =)
giulband
Very good image !!!
E-Nomime
Великолепный сюжет. Прекрасные позы героев, особенно женщины. Очаровательная прялка. Здорово!
UVDan
Contratulations!
fly028
Superb work!!
gaius
Congratulations ! it's well deserved. I too love Loreena McKennitt...
legolie
Impressive work with so many details ! Congrats !
soffy
:) congrats so well deserved,excellent what you have created here,wonderful work*****
adrie
Great work on this scene, and also Congratulations my friend.
caty77
Yes, I know and like this sing of Loreena McKennitt :)) Congratulation for this scene!
cjn
wonderful..nice scene
ontar1
Congratulation on first place, fantastic scene and characters!
farmerC
Exellent work.
Egzariuf
Congratulations !!!!!
Leije
Congrats, your image is superbly done !
matstan2610
Excellent image.
drifterlee
Congratulations!!!! Wonderful work!!!!