Past Artwork for Tournaments Threads:
Introduction
This is the Artwork for Tournaments Thread. Refer to previous threads for original OPs and examples of excellent work. In this thread, people request art for the myriad of tournaments happening around Smogon, and you Smeargle's Studians are the ones we rely on to draw for them.
To those needing art
Use this format when requesting art:
Tournament name:
Host:
Projected Deadline:
Format(s):
Tournament Rules:
Art Direction:
- Make a request here well in advance, preferrably weeks before creating the Sign-Ups thread.
- Be as specific as you want. Giving artists completel freedom can be a double-edged sword, since some artists may not feel comfortable making all the decisions themselves, and you may not agree with all of them. Be clear with what you want to be included, and what parts the artists have free reign with.
- You retain the right to decline submissions you're not satisfied with, but also realise that the art made for this purpose is all done for free and by volunteer artists, so don't expect perfection either. If there's still time, remember to give feedback so that the artists may improve the banner or logo even further.
- If it's discovered that the Sign-Ups thread is already up, your request may become removed. We ideally want the banner to be part of the tour since the beginning, since the banner or logo is what may encourage people to sign up, as well as giving exposure to the artist's work to all the visitors checking the tour out. So while we acknowledge that certain tours don't have much leeway when it comes to the date they're announced, do realise that the exposure is one of the rewards for making these banners, and that announcing the tour without the art removes a large part of the incentive for creating a banner in the first place.
To the artists
Here's a few things we're NOT looking for:
- You do not need to be a pro artist or anything close to that. That being said, this artwork will be used to represent the site. Lots of people join our tournaments without an understanding of what Smogon is or what we do. For many users, tournaments are a gateway into our community. Let's do our best to make a good first impression.
- You do NOT need to do logos to help; however, they are certainly welcome.
- You do not need to be a typography ace to help. You do not need to use typography or lettering AT ALL. Cool images are more than enough. If a tournament absolutely needs some cool typography to go on top of an image you've made and typography is not your thing, post your WIP and look for help from another Smeargle's Studio member. Images are way more important.
- You also do not need to finish work to post it in this thread. PLEASE flood this thread with WIPs, sketches, scribbles, discussion, helpful critique for others, and feedback if you can. The goal is that we have cool stuff when all is said and done, and we are in this together. No need to spend a million hours refining something you're unsure of. When in doubt, share early, share often.
- Following that, you do not need to work alone. If you'd like to collaborate with another artist or artists (doing lines, colors, effects, or anything else), you are invited to do so, as long as everyone involved is cool with it. Artists who would like help, please feel free to link to your documents in this thread.
- You do NOT need to do logos to help; however, they are certainly welcome.
- You do not need to be a typography ace to help. You do not need to use typography or lettering AT ALL. Cool images are more than enough. If a tournament absolutely needs some cool typography to go on top of an image you've made and typography is not your thing, post your WIP and look for help from another Smeargle's Studio member. Images are way more important.
- You also do not need to finish work to post it in this thread. PLEASE flood this thread with WIPs, sketches, scribbles, discussion, helpful critique for others, and feedback if you can. The goal is that we have cool stuff when all is said and done, and we are in this together. No need to spend a million hours refining something you're unsure of. When in doubt, share early, share often.
- Following that, you do not need to work alone. If you'd like to collaborate with another artist or artists (doing lines, colors, effects, or anything else), you are invited to do so, as long as everyone involved is cool with it. Artists who would like help, please feel free to link to your documents in this thread.
If you plan on creating a banner or logo from pre-existing art (as opposed to just drawing it yourself), read this section carefully.
Smogon has a lot of committed and lovely artists who have done a lot of excellent work over the years. If you've got some photoshop skills and want to marry some of that work to some cool typography or effects, you have my blessings and encouragement.
HOWEVER, pay attention, because there are a crapload of rules for artists not using original work:
- Official pokemon artwork (Artwork done by Ken Sugimori) may be used without permission, but must be credited as such.
- Art that has been uploaded to Smogon's main site-- Either in a Smogon article or artwork done for the Smog-- may be used without permission if full credit is given to the original artist(s). Link to the page that this artwork originally appeared on, if possible. Artists have the right to remove or prohibit the use of their work from being used in this way.
- If you are using any artwork made by anyone else from anywhere, you must have the permission of the original artist. If this permission was expressed somewhere on the internet, you must link to that, if possible. Full credit must also be given to the original artist. If it is discovered that artwork has been used from another site without the artist's permission, you will likely receive a forum warning or infraction, and may possibly face a forum ban.
- You will be held to completely different standards when it comes to the possibility of being badged. To receive an Artist badge in this way, the quantity of contributed work will far exceed artists who instead contribute original work.
HOWEVER, pay attention, because there are a crapload of rules for artists not using original work:
- Official pokemon artwork (Artwork done by Ken Sugimori) may be used without permission, but must be credited as such.
- Art that has been uploaded to Smogon's main site-- Either in a Smogon article or artwork done for the Smog-- may be used without permission if full credit is given to the original artist(s). Link to the page that this artwork originally appeared on, if possible. Artists have the right to remove or prohibit the use of their work from being used in this way.
- If you are using any artwork made by anyone else from anywhere, you must have the permission of the original artist. If this permission was expressed somewhere on the internet, you must link to that, if possible. Full credit must also be given to the original artist. If it is discovered that artwork has been used from another site without the artist's permission, you will likely receive a forum warning or infraction, and may possibly face a forum ban.
- You will be held to completely different standards when it comes to the possibility of being badged. To receive an Artist badge in this way, the quantity of contributed work will far exceed artists who instead contribute original work.
General advice and thread rules
- Art direction is NEVER set in stone; if you have a better idea than what's listed, you are encouraged to do that instead.
- That said, keep in mind the tournament's organizer is going to have a voice when it comes to selecting artwork in the case of multiple submissions. The other voices will consist of me and other willing studio mods and tournament directors who wish to participate. We'll be choosing among any pieces submitted, and we may very well use multiple pieces of art that are submitted!
- Deadlines on these are wild, unpredictable beasts. Tournaments go up after other tournaments end. Tournaments end when people play their matches. People play their matches when they feel like it. A lot of these tasks have no concrete due date but will include some kind of estimate for when work is needed by.
- If you want to help, please do whatever you want to do, but just keep in mind I'll be sweating bullets and freaking out when I see urgent assignments not getting done, so if you feel like it, please consider starting there. Ask questions in this thread if you have them.
- Don't reserve stuff. If you want to do something, do it. You are encouraged to post sketches and roughs, so please share as many as you want to.
- If someone did something and you think you can do better, do it. You aren't a dick for doing this. There are no hard feelings. Our ultimate goal is cool tournament images, and literally every effort helps, even if it doesn't feel that way.
- Participate as much as you want to. If you want to do artwork for every single tournament, then you're insane, but you're also our hero.
- That said, keep in mind the tournament's organizer is going to have a voice when it comes to selecting artwork in the case of multiple submissions. The other voices will consist of me and other willing studio mods and tournament directors who wish to participate. We'll be choosing among any pieces submitted, and we may very well use multiple pieces of art that are submitted!
- Deadlines on these are wild, unpredictable beasts. Tournaments go up after other tournaments end. Tournaments end when people play their matches. People play their matches when they feel like it. A lot of these tasks have no concrete due date but will include some kind of estimate for when work is needed by.
- If you want to help, please do whatever you want to do, but just keep in mind I'll be sweating bullets and freaking out when I see urgent assignments not getting done, so if you feel like it, please consider starting there. Ask questions in this thread if you have them.
- Don't reserve stuff. If you want to do something, do it. You are encouraged to post sketches and roughs, so please share as many as you want to.
- If someone did something and you think you can do better, do it. You aren't a dick for doing this. There are no hard feelings. Our ultimate goal is cool tournament images, and literally every effort helps, even if it doesn't feel that way.
- Participate as much as you want to. If you want to do artwork for every single tournament, then you're insane, but you're also our hero.
Rewards
There WILL be rewards for helping out. If your work is of good quality, the Artist badge can be rewarded for contributing to this thread. If you put in good effort but still struggle with some art-related problems, you may still be eligible for the Community Contributor badge for the studio. That also includes contributing thoughtful, consistent, and experienced critique that can help our artists improve (both in this thread and elsewhere in the studio).
If you already have a badge, consider that most tournament threads get hundreds if not thousands of views. Talk to me and we'll see if we can't promote your work further in some way.
If you create work that we end up using, expect me to treat you like a champion. Your name will be emblazoned in gold letters in this thread forever. We will collectively be one step closer to Zracknel not crying himself to sleep at night.
Thank you for reading! My deepest thanks to anyone who participates in this project!
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