2017 improvement challenge [closed]

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Update 28-02-18

Small update on the judging, since so many people ask.
Unfortunately real life and health issues have been getting a bit in the way of my online activity lately. That combined with the sheer number of entries and all of the stories that come with them (many people wrote large texts in the descriptions) make judging both hard and time consuming. There will be judging, but I really want to do watch and read every entry properly, as that would be fair to all of the contestants. Long story short; it's gonna take another while.


Update 02-02-18


The contest now is officially closed.
To those that submitted, please make sure your work is in the contest folder. If not (and you submitted your entry according to the rules) please send me a message.

There's a lot of entries, and I want to actually read all of descriptions people wrote underneath them.
Please allow up to two weeks for judging. I'll keep you updated :)


It's 2017 and time for another challenge!!!


As a follow-up of last year's challenge, I want to organize another one.
The general idea of a challenge is that it's done for you. It's not a full contest. Yes, there are prizes, but the main goal of a challenge is your own improvement. To some degree all of those that enter are winners. You've all won at improving your own art!

Note: This journal will be updated when things change 
Last update: December 20 2017


The challenge


The challenge is simple. 
Take an artwork from your gallery from either late 2016 or 2017 and re-do it. 
Make it better! Show us what you've learned in the past year.


How to enter 


Bullet; Red  Pick one of your older artworks made between October 1 2016 and June 1 2017 (There are no exceptions for these dates!!!)
Bullet; Orange  Redo this artwork. You don't have to use the same medium, or the exact same setting, but it has to have enough similarities to see that it's the same thing
Bullet; Yellow  The new artwork has to be made between December 1 2017 and January 31 2018. It has to be made for this specific contest!
Bullet; Green  Put both the old and the new artwork in a before and after meme (something like this one). Make sure to add the dates of both artworks, like this!!!
Bullet; Blue  (Optional, but encouraged) Write in the artist description what you feel you've improved on.
Bullet; Purple  (Optional but encouraged) Fave this journal. Make a journal about this contest. Tell your friends about it. Spread the word! The more entries, the more prizes are unlocked.
Bullet; Pink  Link to this journal in the artwork description. 
Bullet; White  Make sure your work appears in my inbox, either by linking to this journal directly by thumb code, or to tag me DamaiMikaz (click here for instructions on how to tag).
Bullet; Black  Visual art only (no writing).
Bullet; Black  Deadline for the contest is January 31 2018

Caution  Note that you need to do all of these (except for the optionals) in order to qualify for getting the prizes!
Artworks that do not fit these criteria are rejected for the contest without any further notice!!!


The prizes 

1st prize
500 Points (original prize pool by DamaiMikaz )
500 Points by saltytowel 
600 Points by IdiotTwins 
50 Points by Glo72
100 x 100 animation by MyMelodyOfTheHeart 
Digital waist up drawing by TheKikkaKibaz
Colored sketch page by Kasperosm
Animated pixel art chibi by JellyBX
1 Randomly generated Sketchie Page by VanillatheNeko
Digital shoulders up drawing by JaceB-Art
Half Body with atmospheric background by IdiotTwins 
Short gif colored shaded with background by Glo72
Full body full shaded drawing by GuruOfNonsense
Lineart with full (fancy) sharing by LoyalTea
Full color head portrait of OC of choice by lDestiny
Fullbody drawing by cinalilli
Fullbody with a background by Temporaryfind


2nd price (unlocked when 5+ people enter)
250 Points (original prize pool by DamaiMikaz )
200 Points by saltytowel 
300 Points by IdiotTwins 
40 Points by Glo72
100 x 100 animation by MyMelodyOfTheHeart 
Bust pen sketch by TheKikkaKibaz
Sketch page by Kasperosm
Animated pixel art chibi by JellyBX
1 cell shaded bust with frame and 1 color palette pixie by VanillatheNeko
Digital shoulders up drawing by JaceB-Art
Headshot with simple background by IdiotTwins 
Short gif colored and shaded by Glo72
Full body flat color drawing by GuruOfNonsense
Lineart with color and cellshading by LoyalTea
Sketch head portrait of OC of choice by lDestiny
Halfbody drawing by cinalilli
Shaded Fullbody by Temporaryfind


3rd price (unlocked when 10+ people enter)
100 Points (original prize pool by DamaiMikaz )
100 Points by saltytowel 
100 Points by IdiotTwins 
25 Points by Glo72
100 x 100 animation by MyMelodyOfTheHeart 
Headshot sketch by TheKikkaKibaz
Sketch page by Kasperosm
Animated pixel art chibi by JellyBX
1 color palette pixie and a headshot expression Icon by VanillatheNeko
Glitched gif by JaceB-Art
Simple icon by IdiotTwins 
Short gif by Glo72
Sketch/Lineart by GuruOfNonsense
Lineart full body by LoyalTea
Sketch head portrait of OC of choice by lDestiny
Headshot/icon/bust by cinalilli
Flat Fullbody  by Temporaryfind


Star! Want to donate prizes? Contact me via personal message, stating what you want to donate for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
Star! If you want to kept updated on new prizes and updates for this contest, please press the +watch button on my page


The judging 


The challenge will be judged by me (DamaiMikaz), and will be judged on effort, rather than skill.
You don't have to be an amazing artist to win!!!


The deadline


The deadline for participating in this challenge is:
January 31st, 2018

The winners will be announced early February (Date depends on the number of entries there need to be judged)

But of course you can still do the challenge by yourself afterwards.
The prizes will be gone after the deadline, though :)


The submissions


You can see all entries here


Questions and Answers


Q: Does the before-artwork has to be from between these specific dates?
A: Yes. There will be no exceptions.

Q: I don't have full drawings from that time period. Are sketches fine too?
A: Absolutely.

Q: I don't have a DeviantArt account for so long, but I do have old drawings.

A: Drawings from an older account, or uploaded on other websites are fine as long as you can specify the date.

Q: I did an improvement meme last week/month/whatever. Can I just submit that?
A: No. The after-artwork has to be made for this contest.

Q: Why isn't my artwork it in the folder?
A: Did you include the before and after dates? Do these dates match the date brackets listed above? Did you submit your artwork more than a few days ago? If all answers are yes, contact me via PM.

Q: Why the specific date bracket?
A: It's a contest so there are rules.

Q: Can I submit more than one entry?
A: Yes, but you can only win once

Q: Can I donate a prize and still enter the contest?
A: Yes, you can. Only judges are exempt from winning.

~ Good luck and have fun! :dummy:
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FluffyBallOfDread's avatar
 Hi there #DamaiMikaz , was hoping you could give us an estimation of how much longer the judging is gonna take? Less then 143 people entered and its nearing 6 months time that we've all waited. It's unfortunate your have been having health issues and we all hope that you'll recover from whatever they may be, but i think you owe it to all the lovely people that entered at least an update on how far the judging has gone and perhaps start consider reaching out to someone else to help with it so we can do things in a more timely and appropriate manner. 

I don't mean to come off as pressing, or rude im simply giving some thoughtful suggestions that could help.