Smeargle's Studio Update #2
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Introduction
It's been a while since the previous Studio Update, but we're back again with a lot of interesting events to look back to and review as well as a handful of new artists who made their mark with commendable contributions around the site. Along with Bummer and brightobject, I'll give you the usual review of the most recent MAC, but this time around we'll also be taking a look at some of the highlights of the sixth annual Secret Santa, where many gathered once more to share the holiday spirit together. Let's get to it!
MAC Review
Ah, the holiday excitement and winter cheer were overflowing the Studio, and what better way to acknowledge that than to embrace what we love most about the cold season: the snow! Our contestants had a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing which Pokémon to include in their entries, as long as it involved "Snow-kemon" in some way, as the title of the contest suggested. Be it a Pokémon in the form of a snowman or other Pokémon making a Pokémon out of snow, our fellow artists were free to surprise us with their innovative ideas, and man, they sure did. A handful of adorable and creative entries along with an actual "Snow-kemon" sculpture certainly gave our voters something to think about before making their pick, so let us take a look at the results.
With only four votes separating the first and second place, Jackii's simple yet charming entry was rightfully rewarded by the community as the winner with 25 votes. Next up, we have Bummer with 21 votes, who was fairly close to getting another MAC victory under his belt, and with 14 votes alecalle90 manages to take a well-deserved third place.
First Place - Jackii
Tikitik
Simplicity is not a problem as long as it's accompanied by an idea that captures the spirit of the contest's theme just right, and Jackii certainly had one up her sleeve while making her entry. The adorable Charmander clumsily melting his snow creation away while cheerfully turning around to grab more snow, along with the artist's casual style, made for a heartwarming image that easily put a smile on my face.
Bummer
Not too difficult to understand why Jackii's entry gained the votes of many. It does not stand out due to its complexity, nor due to its ingenuity, but instead by how it hits the theme right on the head. The relaxed Charmander whistling in the snow, the snowman slowly melting from the heat of its tail, the snowfall that improves the immersion even further, it all comes together to create a charming scenery that anyone who's experienced the winter wonderland can relate to. One nitpick of my own is that she forgot to add some snowflakes in the foreground so that the snowfall isn't strictly secluded to the area behind Charmander, but given the simplicty of the picture, I'm fine with letting it slide.
Second Place - Bummer
Tikitik
As you can see, Bummer brought something new to the table this time with an actual Snow-kemon! Diglett was a clever choice as something simple with still enough things going on for this snow creation to keep the viewer interested. Perhaps not an absolutely perfect sculpture, but that's exactly what captured the spirit of the contest and probably reminded many of the times when they themselves enjoyed crafting their own snowman with their family and loved ones. This is something you don't see often in our entries, and the community certainly acknowledged Bummer's effort with plenty of votes.
brightobject
We don't see much 3-D media at all in Smeargle's, so Bummer's entry was quite the nice change of pace. It was an awesome idea to take the contest theme as literally as he did and bring it over onto the other side of the computer screen, so mad props. Of course, I would have liked to have seen it with brighter lighting, but I guess nature doesn't wait for anyone, least of all Bummer. Basically what I'm saying is: nice D-igloo-ett, dude.
Third Place - alecalle90
Bummer
Arguably the most action-packed entry in the whole contest, as I can count one attacker, one defender, and two frozen casualties. alecalle did a solid job with the perspective, which is definitely what makes this picture memorable. That said, there are also numerous ways this image could improve. The snow launched by Articuno, while dynamic, could have more variety in both hue and size, since it currently contradicts the perspective created by the other components of the image. The snow is up close and large despite Articuno being far away. alecalle has also duplicated the wind effect in order to have it around the edges of the picture, and while that in itself isn't wrong (done it many times myself), he seems to have forgotten that the symmetry of it isn't really beneficial to the picture and that some variety with how the line bundles are placed could better illustrate the gusts of winds he tried to mimic. But nonetheless, this is a battle that was portrayed well and rightfully deserves its third place in the contest.
brightobject
High in the mountains, in a secluded ice cave, three Pokémon struggle against a legendary power. The mythical monster's icy gales are too powerful, and already two explorers have been felled, buried beneath heavy snow. One 'mon remains standing, but it's not looking good—the legendary bird is simply too powerful. alecalle90's admittedly rough use of perspective and effects has created a scene rich with tension, and I love it. The majesty of the Articuno, the struggling Alakazam... While I do agree with Bummer that many of the visual elements could have used refining or touching up, in my eyes this piece's dynamism brings it to the front of the pack.
Secret Santa Review
The sixth annual Secret Santa, hosted by elcheeso, brought many artists together once again to celebrate the holiday spirit and forget about the low temperatures. elcheeso also took this opportunity to announce his depature after finishing up the third Secret Santa he has hosted in a row. We've picked and reviewed a couple of the amazing pictures our fellow artists exchanged below, but you might want to take a closer look at the event itself.
By Nerina:
Bummer
This image is bottled-up Christmas magic. Vivid colors all around, with the cold, blue foreground clashing excellently with the warm light in the back, which makes for a small nod towards when one looks out into the cold winter nights while enjoying the warmth of one's home. What really fascinates me with this entry is that there's not much dark line art, or anything close to it, used in this picture, where Nerina instead left areas open to separate the various components from each other. An exquisite painting well in line with the spirit of Secret Santa, and it deserves to be applauded.
brightobject
It's always refreshing to see some traditional work in Smogon among all the digital stuff, and luckily one of the sole traditional pieces this Secret Santa was pure Christmas gold! A solid palette and nice rendering make this Sylveon watercolor one to remember (although the gaps between surfaces do bother me a bit up close), with an awesome wreath framing the whole composition perfectly! Nerina really nailed that holiday-greeting-card feeling with this artwork, and I honestly wouldn't mind having something like it up on my mantelpiece for the holidays.
By aXl:
Tikitik
This picture by aXl captured the moment perfectly. The emotions are present along with priceless facial expressions as the cheerful Cubone offers an awkward, tight hug. It practically leads me to imagine the same Cubone eagerly sprinting towards Sneasel a couple of moments before this, and along with the lovely atmosphere the artist managed to create, I can't help but relate to this image, as I acted the same way back when I was a kid while reuniting with the rest of the family over the holdays. Truly a fantastic gift!
brightobject
I always enjoy pieces that try to give Pokémon some characterization instead of the usual "cool" or "cute" motifs you usually see in Pokémon artwork, and this picture by aXl has got that in spades. The tastefully decorated background is pushed back with blur quite nicely, allowing the expressions and posture of the two Pokémonin front to catch our eyes. I will admit that the rendering could have been a bit more detailed and the shading looks a bit rough in places (excluding that fantastic scarf), but really, when a scene is this heartwarming, can you really hold that against it?
By Blue Frog:
Tikitik
If I recall correctly, Smogon celebrated Christmas with this very image over at social media, and it's no surprise they did, because this one is overflowing with holiday cheer. There's a handful of eye candy spread all over the image with plently of little details. The Pokémon resemble your usual family picture, with the children excitedly running around the welcoming house and the adults organizing everything while looking over them. Another gift to remember for sure.
Bummer
This picture by Blue Frog is extraordinarily merry, and understandably so. The warm home bathing in light, the excited expressions of those opening their gifts, the teeth-ridden fangs glistening in the glow from the Christmas lights, this picture is practically oozing Christmas spirit. It is pretty busy, however, since the viewer now has to wander across the picture not sure where to focus their sights on, making it difficult to absorb the scenery as a whole. But does it make for a nice gift? Absolutely.
Featured Artist: SailorCosmos
Not long after joining, SailorCosmos showed determination to contribute artwork for the site and didn't waste much time before getting her badge. She was quickly recognized for her amazing contributions to our Facebook page with her PotW illustrations as well as a handful of images for The Flying Press. Always experimenting with various poses and perspectives, she makes sure her images are a real joy to look at. Show the artist some support by checking out her art thread over at the Studio, or take a look at her artist profile!
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