BLOODSPORT 12! SELL SOME BEER!

Hey everyone! We really enjoyed the last creature challenge, and will get to the judging as soon as we can! but its time for us to apply a new skillset- one a lot of us avoid. Chances are somewhere along the line of your career, youll need to use art to help sell a product. we arent talking about concepts this time, but actual art people will see in stores. Similar to the action figure box art challenge, this time were going directly from your image to the buyer. its time to sell them on your product using GRAPHIC DESIGN.

now I know that a lot of people in the concept art community think graphic design is somewhat alien and boring- but that couldnt be more false. Think of it as a tool to layout the framework your illustrations will be built upon. Elements reflective of style, audience, and composition become hugely importat- so everything you do must be designed accordingly!

with that being said, we are asking you to create a BEER LABEL to be put directly on a BOTTLE.

you get to choose what brand of beer youll be working with- or if youll opt to create your own. both are acceptable. the important thing though is that your label has an intended market, and a fitting style for that market. is this a fancy beer meant for upper class people? is this a trashy and cheap beer meant for college partygoers? is this a badass beer meant for biker gangs? its up to you. Choose a market, choose a style, and go to town!

SOME EXAMPLES TO GET YOU GOING--
**Remember- beer can come in all size and type of bottle- go as fancy or simple as you like!**

AND REMEMBER! THIS TIME WE ARE EMPHASIZING COMPOSITION, GRAPHIC DESIGN, AND TARGET MARKET!

Remember- In this challenge there ARE NO LIMITS! you can use a pre-existing beer, or invent one. anything is possible and were hoping for some exciting results!


REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ENTRIES! 


- MUST be DESIGNED as a LABEL
- MUST be designed from the ground up to APPEAL to a SPECIFIC AUDIENCE OR MARKET.
- MUST include studies done to be eligible to enter! Poses, materials, reference studies, lighting, composition sketches, etc.




****ALL IMAGES MUST BE SUBMITTED ON THEIR OWN AND PASTED ONTO A BOTTLE TO SHOW THAT THEY WORK AS INTENDED! ATTACH BOTTLE COMPOSITE WITH STUDIES!*****


Goodluck!

BLOODSPORT 11! LIVING STATUES!

Hey everyone! we took 2 weeks off to let everyone play some catch up and hopefull get down to business on whatever comissions theyre working on. We hope youre all as busy as we have been lately, and apologize for not being around as much! with that being said, its time for the new bloodsport. were leaving behind the choose your own aventure model for now, and returning with a creature challenge. we hope you like it, and look forward to the results. here goes! -

This next challenge is the LIVING STATUES challenge! Your Task is to use a monster (pre-existing or self developed) and turn it into a living statue version of itself. Similar to the concept of a gargoyle, these statues can be of any monster, and can be made of any  material. Once youve decided- bring it to life! backgrounds are a MUST.


AND REMEMBER! THIS TIME WE ARE EMPHASIZING COMPOSITION, TEXTURE, AND CREATURE DESIGN!

Remember- what creature or monster you use for the statue is entirely up to you. Also keep in mind that the statue can be made of anything- stone, wood, metal, jewels, ice- ANYTHING, and that it should be textured and handled accordingly. creature MUST be in an environment that works with its design- so think carefully on the creatures look, purpose, and location!


Remember- Statues are MAN MADE. this implies a CULTURE behind the craftsman. keep this in mind when stylizing the creature to fit its statue form! these are not stone versions of real animals! they should be stylized to fit their creators!




REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ENTRIES! 


- MUST contain creature AND background!


-MUST be designed to emphasize the statue having a purpose. no random environments! use the background as a means to give insight and narrative to the statue's origins or purpose.


- MUST include studies done to be eligible to enter! Poses, materials, reference studies, lighting, composition sketches, etc.


Goodluck!

BLOODSPORT 10! Choose Your Own Adventure 3!

Hey! Were going to continue for a bit with the more open, choice based challenge model, so here we go!

This next challenge is the Choose Your Own Adventure 3 challenge! You have 3 choices from our 2 properties and 1 established character from popular fiction!


AND REMEMBER! THIS TIME WE ARE EMPHASIZING COMPOSITION AND ENVIRONMENT!!!

We want to stress that you can either stick to the idea 100% or do whatever you want with the NAME and KEY elements. YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THE TAGLINES AFTER THE NAMES IF YOU DONT WANT TO. but feel free if you do. 


So, with that being said, here are your 3 choices!

MOLLY MILLIONS- from Gibson's Sprawl Trilogy

As our first major female character, we decided to go for something popular as well as iconic. Were going for a Cyberpunk staple, the femme fatale Molly Millions from the works of Cyberpunk creator William Gibson. She is a female assassin who uses state of the art bodily augmentations to enhance her fighting ability. Below is a description of Molly. Keep in mind her environment should also reflect Gibson's universe- a gritty lived in future set in a Blade-Runner like environment. there are also numerous scenes with her on space stations overlooking the world.

Description:

A lean, athletic, attractive woman who appears at first glance to be wearing mirrored sunglasses, Molly has in fact had her eye sockets sealed with vision-enhancing mirrored lenses that were surgically attached to her face by the skilled black-market surgeons of Chiba City. To accommodate the inset lenses her tear ducts have been re-routed to her mouth; consequentially, on the very rare occasions Molly cries, she spits out or swallows the tears instead. She never lets others touch the lenses as it would leave messy fingerprints requiring extra cleaning.

Her sensory input, metabolism and reflexes are also artificially heightened by means of electronic implants and exotic forms of advanced surgeries and other medical procedures. Molly also sports razor-sharp retractable claws underneath her fingernails: ten double-edged blades four centimeters in length.^[4]

 *Molly has a very distinct look. TREAT THIS CHALLENGE LIKE A JOB! do research on the look and feel of the character, and attack from an informed position!

KEY ELEMENTS - True to description.  Gritty / Futuristic feel. 

KAGAN KRALL- IN THE YEAR 1986!

This option is an exercise in CHARACTER JUXTAPOSITION. Popularized by many movies in the 80s, a character from a set time period is transported to a strange future world not his own. Many movies delt with this by sending characters to the past, but for this challenge wed like you to bring some kind of barbaric warrior into the world of the late 1980s. everything in his surroundings should feel like 1986, offsetting his rugged and ancient look. you can also take any other approach to this you can come up with that works in the set guidelines. Maybe hes trying to fit in, like the trench-coated dude from highlander, or maybe hes just a shitty version of HE-MAN walking around a video game arcade. You decide!

KEY ELEMENTS - Barbarian look or feel to the character, 1980s looking environment. clear that he DOES NOT BELONG HERE.

JACK BLACK- VOODOO RIVERBOAT GAMBLER

Third in our series of celebrities who dont deserve their names, JACK BLACK is a voodoo themed riverboat gambler from the gulf regions of the american south. What you do outside of these themes is entirely up to you, including setting, time period, and clothing. maybe hes a literal voodoo witch doctor whos out wo win some cash, maybe hes a zombie raised from the dead to be a bread-winner, or maybe hes just a hexed adventurer with a sixth sense for card-games. SHOULD NOT BE THE ACTOR JACK BLACK. were just stealing his name cause he sucks and doesn't deserve it. good luck!


KEY ELEMENTS - voodoo themed character design, creole or riverboat visual setting. Not the actor jack black. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ENTRIES! 


- MUST contain character AND background!


-MUST be designed as compositionally gripping pieces. think BOOK COVERS or MOVIE POSTERS.


- MUST include studies done to be eligible to enter! Poses, materials, reference studies, lighting, composition sketches, etc.


TITLES ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR THIS BLOODSPORT. FOCUS ON COMPOSITION.

BLOODSPORT 9! Choose Your Own Adventure 2!

Hey! Were going to continue for a bit with the more open, choice based challenge model, so here we go!

This next challenge is the Choose Your Own Adventure 2 challenge! You have 3 choices from our 3 properties!


AND REMEMBER! THIS TIME WE ARE EMPHASIZING COMPOSITION!

We want to stress that you can either stick to the idea 100% or do whatever you want with the NAME and KEY elements. YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THE TAGLINES AFTER THE NAMES IF YOU DONT WANT TO. but feel free if you do. 


So, with that being said, here are your 3 choices!

TEX MECHS- Justice is Binary

Wild west themed robots, they are defenders of the peace who enforce justice in an untamed frontier.

KEY ELEMENTS - Mechs with a western / cowboy design aesthetic 

TALLAHASSEE JAMES- And the Tomb of Terror

An adventurer with a taste for archeology and historic treasures! You can go any direction with this- the obvious Indianna jones reference, a more UNCHARTED or nathan drake feel, an 1800s tomb explorer, or even a futuristic doctor digging up things from the past.

KEY ELEMENTS - Archeological adventurer / explorer

JUDE LAW- He is The Law

We'll be doing these from time to time, re purposing famous people names for good things. Jude Law is a keeper of the peace wherever you feel right placing him. Maybe hes a medeival bounty man, maybe hes a futuristic play on judge dredd- or anything in between. - Should not be the actual actor Jude Law, should not be a pun about Jews. (yes, some people asked.)


KEY ELEMENTS - He is the law- wherever and whenever seems appropriate. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ENTRIES! 


- MUST contain character AND background!


-MUST be designed as compositionally gripping pieces. think BOOK COVERS or MOVIE POSTERS.


- MUST include studies done to be eligible to enter! Poses, materials, reference studies, lighting, composition sketches, etc.


TITLES ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR THIS BLOODSPORT. FOCUS ON COMPOSITION.

BLOODSPORT 8! Choose Your Own Adventure

OOOHHHH, hello everyone! We're back doing the Bloodsports after the 2 week break! Dan and I took some time to think over the best of the bloodsports and have come up with a pretty good amount of new ideas. The next Challenges should be awesome, I know we're both looking forward to them.

This next challenge is the Choose Your Own Adventure challenge! You have 3 choices from our 3 properties!

We want to stress that you can either stick to the idea 100% or do whatever you want with the NAME and KEY elements.


So, with that being said, here are your 3 choices!

Shazaar - Overweight Wizard

Optional - He is in constant battle with Diabehdeez - Ancient demon lord. This battle is internal as well.

KEY ELEMENTS - Fantasy, Overweight, CANNOT be Elderly 

Maxx Marnsten 2099 - 'The ladies love him... But he'd rather be alone'**

*For example - Avoids women because... Robot, Gay, Penis blown off in space war, wife died, etc. <3

KEY ELEMENTS - Futuristic, Scifi

Wolf Blitzer - Full Moon Quarterback

We'll be doing these from time to time, re purposing famous people names for good things - Should not be actual Wolf Blitzer the CNN dude at all.


KEY ELEMENTS - Football player, Werewolf

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ENTRIES! 


- MUST contain background!


- MUST include studies done to be eligible to enter! Poses, materials, reference studies, lighting, compositions, etc.

Deadline: 5pm est, Friday, April 6th via 

Please send submissions to - CrimsonDaggersDropBox@gmail.com


Share your process with the group! - Crimson Daggers Forum!

Top 3 entries will receive live crits (via Crimson Daggers Dave Rapoza Livestream banner link above) from some kinda hot industry professionals!

Watch live streaming video from fuckinartwithmrdelicious at livestream.com

BLOODSPORT 7! WINDWAKER REWORKED!

BLOODSPORT 7- WINDWAKER REWORKED!

Created by: Dan Warren


WHAT THIS IS!
    This challenge is focusing on the power of art direction and what it can do for intellectual property. After the overwhelming success of nintendo's Ocarina of time, the eventual follow up, Windwaker, was released. whether one likes or dislikes the game, its impossible to ignore the effect the drastic shift in art direction had on its international sales and reception. many people argued it was 'too childish',  while others refused to even play it. and all due to art direction. We're not saying the design for Windwaker was bad by any means <3.


Your challenge is to pretend you got the job to take the series in a new direction! however, you cant do whats been done before, or whats been done since. take one of the most recognized franchises in gaming to a new place!

Requirements:

 - Must contain all 3 of the series' standby characters. Zelda, Ganon, and Link.


- image must contain Nautical themes! though you are altering the visual style of the game, the plot and world settings remain the same! oceans!

 - Images MUST be planned on a horizontal! you can choose one of two options! split vertical images with separate vertical front and back designs, OR a unified, WRAPAROUND illustration, designed compositionally to work as two separate pieces when split down the middle. (EXAMPLES AND TEMPLATES BELOW)

- Leave room for TEXT! the title logo on the frontside as well as room for a paragraph size description on the back!


*****IMPORTANT*****
While this contest IS a type of fanart, you CANNOT use the art direction of windwaker or the other zelda entries! the challenge is to take it somewhere bold and new, just as nintendo tried to do at the games release! consider markets, thoughtful design, and visual themes!


                                                                so DONT look like THESE!

 - Studies must be provided and must be relevant to the character design and elements used in the illustration. COMPOSITIONAL SKETCHES are also REQUIRED with studies in order to be eligible!

EXAMPLES AND TEMPLATES FOR HORIZONTAL DESIGN!


                                                     SPLIT VERTICAL COVER DESIGN!

                                                WRAPAROUND HORIZONTAL DESIGN!

                                                                       TEMPLATE!

                       ***disregard central margine for spine if using a wraparound image

Deadline: 5pm est, Friday, March 9th via 

Please send submissions to - CrimsonDaggersDropBox@gmail.com


Share your process with the group! - Crimson Daggers Forum!

Top 3 entries will receive live crits (via Crimson Daggers Dave Rapoza Livestream banner link above) from some kinda hot industry professionals!

BLOODSPORT 6! MONSTER HUNTER CHALLENGE!

BLOODSPORT 6 - Monster Hunter Challenge!


Created by: Dave Rapoza

Requirements:

 - Must create a HUNTER influenced by a real culture from our world but you gotta alter it to fit yours. Must be equipped with anything that makes sense for hunting your monster(can be based on the culture you studied as well) 


- HUNTER MUST BE IN 3/4 VIEW, MUST SHOW FRONT AND BACK OF DESIGN. FULL COLOR

 - MUST create a MONSTER based on real world creatures but altered to fit your fantasy/scifi/or whatever else universe. MUST show full color concept of monster and a side view(can be sketch for side view) explaining whatever info is lost in the initial concept.

- MUST create alternate design of the HUNTER after he has slain the MONSTER and fashioned the MONSTER's design into his own - this can be anything from the monster but should be fashioned to hunter in such a way that it still works with his initial culture.

Aspects to consider for the design of hunter from the monster -

bones, claws, scales, fangs, fur, carapace, tails, feathers, etc.

EVERYTHING ON THE MONSTER CAN BE CONSIDERED A RESOURCE

 - Studies must be provided and must be relevant to the character design and elements used in the illustration. POSE AND DESIGN SKETCHES are also REQUIRED with studies in order to be eligible!

*THESE DO NOT HAVE TO BE EXACTLY LIKE MONSTER HUNTER, THAT IS NOT THE CHALLENGE. THE IDEA WAS SIMPLY INSPIRED BY IT.

SOME EXAMPLES -

Deadline: 5pm est, Friday, Febuary 24th via 

Please send submissions to - CrimsonDaggersDropBox@gmail.com


Share your process with the group! - Crimson Daggers Forum!

Top 3 entries will receive live crits (via Crimson Daggers Dave Rapoza Livestream banner link above) from some kinda hot industry professionals!

BLOODSPORT 5! MIYAZAKI REMARKETED!

BLOODSPORT 5 - Miyazaki Re-Marketed!


Created by: Dan Warren

Requirements:

 - Must create a composition that works as a DVD cover AS WELL as a POSTER. format should be a VERTICAL RECTANGLE similar to the gauntlet piece. include space for the title and credits, tho including them IS NOT required. 

 - Must use one of Miyazaki's 9 canon films. they are listed below! 

- Images must include a MINIMUM of ONE CHARACTER. feel free to add more! image MUST also include an ENVIRONMENT or ELEMENTS  of an environment! no single shot portraits!

 -character designs MUST be relative to the look and feel of the movie chosen! feel free to make alterations to small details or expand on vague elements, but no total costume overhauls! no genre mixing! stick to the films visual feel!

 - Studies must be provided and must be relevant to the character design and elements used in the illustration. COMPOSITIONAL SKETCHES are also REQUIRED with studies in order to be eligible!


LASTLY! Images must be in a visual style that IS NOT ANIME! Images sent that are will be disqualified!

This challenge is all about an increasing trend in today's MOVIE MARKET! the challenge is to take an already developed and proven IP from a froeign market and reimagine it for another audience. which audience that may be is up to you! whether you are taking a more serious miyazaki plot and pushing it to full realism or making one of his more whimsical stories even m ore childish is entirely your choice, just keep in mind that because the point here is to REIMAGINE and get your visual translattion skills going, so NO ANIME! this would result in images for a market the film is already a major part of. were looking for new and exciting takes on some of the most influential animated films of all time, not fanart rehashes of movie stills! feel free to use ANY of the 9 films in Miyazaki's core Canon. films outside this list will not be eligible to win. they are-

• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
• Castle in the Sky
• My Neighbor Totoro
• Kiki's Delivery Service
• Porco Rosso
• Princess Mononoke
• Spirited Away
• Howl's Moving Castle
• Ponyo

Deadline: 5pm est, Friday, Febuary 10th via 

Please send submissions to - CrimsonDaggersDropBox@gmail.com


Share your process with the group! - Crimson Daggers Forum!

Top 3 entries will receive live crits (via Crimson Daggers Dave Rapoza Livestream banner link above) from some kinda hot industry professionals!

BLOODSPORT 4! ACTION FIGURE PACKAGING!

BLOODSPORT 4 - Action Figure Packaging!


Winner! John Silva!

Created by: Dave Rapoza

Examples!(You cant use these properties! just examples of other packaging!)

Examples!(You cant use these properties! just examples of other packaging!)

Use these logos on your packaging! Feel free to modify them if you need to regarding final products design.(OPEN IN NEW TAB, SAVE AS .PNG!)


Provided Properties! You must choose from one of these, its up to you to make them cool(thats the challenge)!

CLICK HERE FOR 

PACKAGE TEMPLATE!

Requirements:

 - Must create a composition that includes space for the actual TOY!(you do not need to draw the figure itself, just the illustration of the figure on the package)

 - Must use one of our THREE PROPERTIES! Character must represent the property in some way!

- Must use provided template although you can feel free to modify it with your own designs(cut into the package, etc.) IF you're doing something more like a 2 pack character feel free to do so.

 - Studies pertaining to finished illustration MUST be shown with the piece in order to be eligible to win. Studies MUST include compositional comps and thumbnails

 - Studies must be relevant to the character design and elements used in the illustration. 

This challenge is to design a Action figure package using the provided template and logos. The character must represent your chosen property, feel free to interpret them any way you like, we want you to have fun with this! If you want to include little additional text about what it can do all action packed like feel free. 

Deadline: 5pm est, Friday, January 27th via 

CrimsonDaggersDropbox@gmail.com

Top 3 entries will receive live crits (via Crimson Daggers Dave Rapoza Livestream banner link above) from some kinda hot industry professionals!