Post by: Windrider on May 09, 2012, 05:56:35 PM
Its that time of year again! Even though I have officially retired from running the Calendar Contest, Maggie asked if I would do the honors and start off the theme discussion for the 2013 calendar. I think what has been decided is that even though we have a weekly planner calendar all the way until the end of 2014, those here are still interested in a 12 month calendar to go along with it.
So let's get talking about a theme!
To get you started thinking about themes, here are the past ones:
Past Themes:
2012 Pinups
2011 Hidden Moments
2010 Finding One's Place
2009 The Magic of Elfquest
2008 Favorite Moments
2007 Home and Family
2006 Elf Art Through the Ages (Art History with an Elfin twist)
2005 Beloved Dead
2004 Then and Now
2003 Celebrations
2002 no theme
Themes on the current ballot:
Contrasts: Day & Night, Young & Old, Good & Evil, Warriors & Healers, Starsong & Wolfsong - the Elfquest saga offers many studies in contrasts.
Elfquest Goes to the Movies: Very much like Elfquest through the Ages, except our favorite elves do Hollywood; iconic movie characters and/or movie posters or scenes. (This would be an awesome theme to have if and when an EQ movie comes out)
Every Picture Tells a Story
Elfquest is a comic - comics mean telling a story with art (maybe words, too) in panels. Why haven't we done that for a calendar!? :o So.... each entry would be a single image made up of at least three, but probably no more than six panels. They can be arranged anyway you like but the total image must conform to the usual calendar size (or whatever size is chosen). The story: any theme you like because the theme is telling a story! What kind of story - well, it doesn't have to be (and probably shouldn't be) too complicated. Just a little interaction between characters: something funny or sweet or violent or action-packed.
Otherness, inter-species relations: When the High Ones crashed on the WOTM, they were forced to relate to other species in a way they never dreamt of before. Humans, Trolls, Preservers, Bond Beasts, the Neverending. Throughout their history, the relationships have ranged from enemies, hunter/prey, to god/worshipper, to friend, and many in between.
Teachers and Leaders: A tribute to those who provide(d) guidance.
Post by: mistmaker on May 12, 2012, 03:05:26 PM
Post by: Afke on May 13, 2012, 12:49:13 AM
Post by: Treefox on May 14, 2012, 01:53:46 AM
My favorite is Otherness and I also like the contrast theme.
Post by: Startear on May 14, 2012, 03:19:21 AM
Post by: DestinysGift on May 14, 2012, 05:23:30 PM
Post by: Wolfrider on May 20, 2012, 12:42:54 PM
Actually, I had recently done an EQ sketch based off the Casablanca poster...
Post by: Windrider on May 27, 2012, 11:46:30 AM
So far no one has contributed a new theme (please feel free to), but we've got some votes for having a couple previous ones back for another round:
Contrasts - 4 votes (definitely on the slate)
Teachers and Leaders - 1 vote
Courage - 1 vote
Rogues and Wildcards - 1 vote
Otherness - 2 votes (on the slate)
EQ Goes to the Movies - 2 votes (on the slate)
Maggie and I were chatting a bit and she expressed a wish for a theme that was "actiony" and involved storytelling. I agreed, especially as a change of pace after all the pinups, which were mostly character studies. Of course, any theme can be interpreted in a narrative action-packed way, but some themes demand it. As far as the theme listed above, I think Choices and Courage both require storytelling and likely Otherness would too. But in our chatting, I was commenting to Maggie that illustration is by definition storytelling, and I love our local illustration art gallery, called "Every Picture Tells a Story." So I got to thinking, what would a theme by that title be like? Here's my idea:
Every Picture Tells a Story
Elfquest is a comic - comics mean telling a story with art (maybe words, too) in panels. Why haven't we done that for a calendar!? :o So.... each entry would be a single image made up of at least three, but probably no more than six panels. They can be arranged anyway you like but the total image must conform to the usual calendar size (or whatever size is chosen).
The story: any theme you like because the theme is telling a story! What kind of story - well, it doesn't have to be (and probably shouldn't be) too complicated. Just a little interaction between characters: something funny or sweet or violent or action-packed. An example would be Lorraine's submission to Warp for the Wild Hunt job (that was published wasn't it? I don't think I just saw that in person) - a single page with three panels (I think it was): Ember being thoughtful but someone's boots sneaking up along a branch behind her - then Skywise summersaults out of the tree and lands in front of her - her reaction.
An example from our own gallery here by Eregyrn (love this one):
http://www.elfquestfanart.com/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=2665 (http://www.elfquestfanart.com/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=2665)
What do you think - anyone interested?
Post by: Startear on May 27, 2012, 03:48:39 PM
The problem it might cause is that not all characters or plots are know. Let us say that someone makes a comic of Ahnshen having PTSD from when the Go-Backs attacked the Sun Village. Ahnshen only showed up in two stories, Moonshade and one which I can't remember at the moment. And then we have that war... Which only was hastily covered by Blair.
My concern is that perhaps the judges might not know the storylines, thus not knowing how canon complement said mini comic would be.
Another thing... How much room is there for conjecture? The Calendars are after all trying to be as close to canon as possible, but one might have to remember that we all see the characters diffrently. What I might think is very Strongbow may not excatly corespond with how the character is. with certain characters, it would be hard to tell. Me, I see him as a trollpoker who thinks he is best of all, looks down on others and is damn well ugly. And no one could actually prove that Bowki did not break his arrow whip during a hunt, or sometimes go to visit the chamber where his father lied until he died.
Though, despite everything above, the idea really ticks me. I still feel more like a storyteller than artist, so combining them for a project with a deadline is pretty neat.
So it certainly has me vote.
Post by: Afke on May 27, 2012, 11:40:11 PM
Startear; I don't think you need to worry about such things. It has never been a problem before. I think this entry of Foxeye is a good example of an unknown character in an unknown situation, and it works, everyone believes it. It could be canon, while Cutter smooching Rayek will never be canon. ;)
And I wouldn't say "Many of us lets the character just stand/sit there" is true either, especially when it comes to the calendar. People have always done a little bit more for this project. Even in the character studies for the pinups people have tried different things to avoid this. So it doesn't matter which theme we pick, I always expect at least some action. ;)
Post by: Startear on May 28, 2012, 05:13:22 AM
Though, I do think what could be canon or in character could be up to debate. Especially concerning the smaller characters.
Post by: Maggie on May 28, 2012, 05:01:25 PM
Post by: DestinysGift on May 29, 2012, 12:59:10 AM
Post by: Treefox on May 29, 2012, 07:11:37 AM
So inspiring.
Post by: Czarine on May 30, 2012, 02:06:41 PM
Post by: Windrider on June 01, 2012, 10:52:27 AM
Startear: Your concerns about canon can come up no matter what the theme. Unless you are going to copy something by Wendy (which you shouldn't do), everything fan artists draw is conjecture. For the calendar, it just needs to be canon compatible.
Foxeye is well known for drawing unseen scenes for the calendar - not just the one Afke showed above, but there is also a beautiful one of Savah and Yurek. Eregyrn drew Cutter and Ember using the Palace to commune with Bearclaw and Joyleaf (also never shown). Most of the art for the calendar is like this. The Lorraine Reyes mini-comic I mentioned is also not specifically canon, but no one would doubt that the characters are totally in character.
I found Lorraine's panels online here, but it is longer than I remember. Still, it is a fairly good example anyway:
http://aerie.geofront.com/EQsub.html (http://aerie.geofront.com/EQsub.html)
Post by: Afke on June 01, 2012, 01:06:06 PM
Post by: silentleaf on June 01, 2012, 04:18:27 PM
Post by: silentleaf on June 01, 2012, 04:20:45 PM
Post by: Maggie on June 02, 2012, 08:35:04 AM
I am so Happy that we are doing a 2013 calendar! i for one am in no matter the format!! JOY OH JOY to see more elfy art from my fav art farts! I like the otherness one and teachers and leaders!
I was wondering when you would comment. ;D You being one of my fave artists from the calendars.
Post by: silentleaf on June 02, 2012, 10:42:37 AM
Post by: Maggie on June 02, 2012, 08:07:09 PM
hehe I am so busy in life right now UGH 6 months from finishing my marketing degree and major life changes have been going on, but I do haunt the boards looking at the new eye candy now and then!Haha, well glad to hear you are at least haunting us. :D
Post by: silentleaf on June 03, 2012, 09:11:31 AM
Post by: Maggie on June 04, 2012, 05:15:57 PM
Post by: silentleaf on June 08, 2012, 02:42:05 PM
Post by: Maggie on June 12, 2012, 06:10:56 PM
Post by: Windrider on June 12, 2012, 08:07:45 PM
Post by: Maggie on June 13, 2012, 05:24:13 AM
Post by: jaRf on June 15, 2012, 05:45:09 AM
Post by: Maggie on June 19, 2012, 05:13:39 AM
Post by: Treefox on June 19, 2012, 05:53:47 AM
But I actually would have ideas for any of these themes, so either way I am all ;D
Post by: Startear on June 19, 2012, 10:15:31 AM
Post by: DestinysGift on June 19, 2012, 11:10:49 PM
(Cheesy lord of the rings joke, sorry...)
Post by: Eregyrn on June 20, 2012, 08:00:11 AM
For me, I think, the main challenge of the "Every Picture Tells a Story" theme is that I usually find coming up with subject-matter to be the most difficult thing. Most other themes suggest a topic that helps to narrow down ideas, and then if you are deciding for yourself which characters you'd like to do, that often helps narrow it down even more. But for this one, the topic is really wide open, and that's when I find it harder to come up with something.
Still, I think it would be a really interesting challenge!
Folks who are worried about the amount of work represented by a multi-panel piece can take heart from a few things. One: if the only requirement is that it be multi-panel, then don't forget that "multiple" can also mean "two". If you're trying to tell a story via sequential art, you can do that in just two panels. (Technically, you can of course show a story in ONE panel, but that isn't "sequential art".) So start thinking about it like that -- "I only really have to draw two pictures that go together". Obviously, you can get more ambitious than that (although I really like the idea that this theme would put an upper limit on it, too), but if you're trying to assure yourself that you really can do it, start out thinking of it that way. If you've got months and months to do it in, you can surely do two panels, right?
Two: there are plenty of mechanical tricks you can use to cut down on the amount of sheer work that multiple panels can be, so that's another way of reassuring yourself that multiple panels isn't such a daunting task.
Windrider kindly pointed at a multi-panel piece I did as an example, :-* and one of the key things about that piece is that I totally did NOT redraw each panel from scratch each time. So I didn't need to do four complete drawings. I drew various elements and re-used them from panel to panel (like the sleeping wolves, the sheep skull, and the postures of the sitting elves). Yes, I inked and colored each separately, which helps keep them from looking completely the same. But in cases where I needed to change something from the previous panel only slightly, I used a lightbox so that the previous drawing became a foundation for the next one. So again, the finished product is less ACTUAL work than it looks like.
If we end up going with this theme, maybe it will be a good idea to start up a thread in the forum for people to share tips and tricks, and to ask for advice on how to tackle certain kinds of projects?
Post by: branchscamper on June 20, 2012, 10:22:44 AM
I also have concerns w/the panels as I am horrible at repeating like that. I do have an old piece of art I did that if I find it I might use the idea from lol But as I said whatever gets chosen I will be happy!
Post by: Treefox on June 20, 2012, 10:39:21 AM
Post by: Yavia on June 23, 2012, 10:07:18 AM
It looks like you like to do the comic.
I allready have an idea for that and I think I will make it (It do not include Haken, if someone thought about it).
And, if it will be the 13th Pic, and does not fit in the calendar, or if we do have another theme, I like to update it anyway.
Post by: Maggie on June 26, 2012, 05:30:25 PM