Okay, with the judging up and everything, I might as well do the big "Cen answers/comments on stuff"-thing.
Working backwards in the thread:
Those who use 3d modelling in the next round will receive extra kudos towards the winners slot. I think that this should even the playing field a bit given the return of Cenere, Zophia, and Strop are discouraging a few folks
Boo!
With themes like robots (and glasses?), I don't think I at least do much harm to the spirit of the competition.
Speaking of:
I know that I am missing something in the phrase, though given that it seems to be more of a ghost than a machine to me that throws it way into left field. Perhaps I would understand it better if I read the book but sadly I have not.
It was a bit far fetched, I am well aware. The monster in question is, and this is, btw, a spoiler to the book, so if someone wants to read the book-series and not get spoiled, skip to the next paragraph, technically more metabionic, or metaphysical, than neither ghost nor machine. However, the protagonist does keep wondering about them through the book, because they don't seem natural. He keeps having the word 'machine' pop into his head, which was what I latched onto.
Speaking of the theme itself, I don't think I have ever had as much trouble trying to get a proper picture done for a theme, and the above is merely the best result of what is probably close to seven or eight attempts at various compositions, ideas and styles.
It is probably clear that machines and I are not in fact good friends.
Other attempts include the likes of this, this and this.
But seriously I cannot give the prize to you everytime, even though I am compelled to say its probably some of the best refined submissions on this thread. I try to be unbiased and determine what best fits the theme.
I both respect the decision, and agree with its importance.
Honestly, I kinda stopped entering the art contests here for the sake of winning a long time ago. I am interested in the comments (and praise, even if I am bad at accepting it), critiques and sharing some of my brain children with people.
My major annoyance point in previous contests has been a lack of - respect when it comes to either subject matter, or how well something fits the theme. I still remember the 'night' theme in one contest, where the sole commentary on my entry (note, as far as I remember, it was a long time ago!!), was that the only reason it could fit the theme, was because I had made it nighttime in the picture...
Ahem. Either way, I trust your decision as a judge to be fair, and pick the one you believe fits the theme best, or who has the best idea, or who did something better or what not, so no complaints from me.
Ah, i am just very bad with mouse. I just want to control the pen with my hand. Not with a mouse. You can't just make those little details just with a mouse xD
Man, the pictures I drew with a mouse back in the day...
I don't like his new face...
The old version is about a page or two before the new version, as they have different urls.
While saying nothing of my own opinion on the matter, I will say the new version fits my original idea better.
Okay, long post short... I can't draw robots.
And while I can draw glasses, of both the eye- and the drinking- variety, 3d is definitely not my cup of tea.
Whether I will be entering will be seen, I guess, but otherwise I just want to say, that the last round's entries were all either interesting, very thoughtful, creative, good, or all of the above, and I think everyone (perhaps besides Zophia, who also went a bit unconventional) did a better job at robotics than I.
So great job everyone!
Rant out/