Calls To Artists
•MCA 2014 Biennial Alumni Exhibition
MCA announces a call to alumni for participation in the 2014 Biennial Alumni Exhibition. Entry is open to all degreed alumni and those who have completed 12 hours in a degree-seeking program. Entries must be one of a kind and have been completed within the last five years (2009–2014). Artists may submit up to two pieces in any media, including installation and performance pieces. Guidelines and submission form can be found at
mca.edu/mcaalumni. For additional information, email
alumni@mca.edu.
•2nd Annual Best of Memphis Student Show
Undergraduate and graduate students attending the University of Memphis, Memphis College of Art, Rhodes College or Christian Brothers University are welcome to submit entries to the Best of Memphis exhibition at U of M's Box Gallery, juried and curated by MCA instructor Tad Lauritzen Wright (MFA '02). Multiple prizes will be awarded. The exhibition runs March 24 – April 11 with a reception April 4, 5–7 p.m. Submission deadline is March 9. For complete rules and submission info, visit the
Box Gallery Facebook page. Contact the Box Gallery via Facebook or email
box.gallery.email@gmail.com with any questions.
•Diablo III Fan Art Contest
Malthael, The Angel of Death, has manifested in the mortal realm of Sanctuary with a deadly new purpose: to steal the Black Soulstone and bend its infernal power to his will.
Prepare yourself! Show one or more central figures getting ready for the coming conflict against Malthael. You may choose figures from the six heroes of Sanctuary or even Malthael himself!
We've provided
a trove of images and supplies of references to assist in your task.
A 2 night trip to Blizzard HQ in Irvine, CA to meet the artists and developers of Diablo III!*
A framed print of the 1st place entry signed to the artist by the Diablo III Creative Team
$5,000 USD
Signed boxed copy of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Collector's Edition
8,000 deviantART Points
1-year Premium Membership to deviantART.com
A framed print of the 2nd place entry signed to the artist by the Diablo III Creative Team
$3,000 USD
Signed boxed copy of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Collector's Edition
4,000 deviantART Points
6-month Premium Membership to deviantART.com
A framed print of the 3rd place entry signed to the artist by the Diablo III Creative Team
$1,000 USD
Signed boxed copy of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Collector's Edition
4,000 deviantART Points
6-month Premium Membership to deviantART.com
Signed boxed copy of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Collector's Edition
1,000 deviantART Points
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False Starts
Title: False Starts
Medium: Photoshop CS3 & CS6
Scale: Varies
Notes: I think the most important thing to realize here, is that this happens to everyone. The sketching. I used to think this was a bad thing to not finish what you start. And I still think it sometimes. The point though, is to realize that sometimes the process is just as important as what you ultimately get out of the final piece.
John Lee goes on about this type of thing over and over
here. I would honestly suggest that you read a bunch of this to really get some good advice!
More pretty sound advice from
Jeff Simpson at the Collective
here. (thanks
Erica!)
All-in-all, the point I'm trying to make is two-fold:
1) Do whatever it takes to get your final piece out. I mean, WHATEVER it takes. The industry from what I understand has such a huge turnaround rate that I think it's important to note that you might have to make finalized pieces in a day. I once read an article (can't find it at the moment) that talked about if you have a week to finish a piece, it better be a damn good piece. If you have an hour, then you give them your very best in an hour. Point being, always try your damn best!
2) Sometimes just purely sketching is just as important as finalized pieces. Just make sure that all of your sketching is actively pushing you towards some goal or you are just sketching for the sake of sketching. While this may work for certain artists (mainly because they lack a specific end-goal) you should always be actively researching things, making them look representational (and I could start a whole rant about how stylized and abstraction should be first influenced by correct basics, such as proper anatomy, proper color theory, etc.), and overall, making them appealing. Not specifically to everyone else, make sure that YOU enjoy your output. If you can't love your own work, how do you expect anyone else to?
ANYWAY... just some thoughts I had while sketching.
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