Horse Fable :: Nittrous' Coloring Contest [Runs until December 1st]

Nittrous' Coloring Contest [Runs until December 1st]

Nittrous [Basic || 77 posts] on 10/31/2023 1:13 pm

Hello hello! And welcome to my coloring contest!

As I sit around lamenting the fact that I love to draw up this fun little sketches but don't always want to go through the process of selling/recoloring them, I decided to hold a coloring contest instead! This is my first one, so please ignore any bumps in the road as I work to make a functioning competition with as few issues as possible.

I've spent the last week or so coming up with this design and idea behind this contest. I started digital art myself around 15 years ago and have always kept it around at least as a hobby over that time. The tools of my trade have advanced, but it all started with a mouse and keyboard and ability to color. I'd like to spark some imagination into the next generation of people who may want to work on digital art, so think of this as a bit of competition as well as a nice, basic learning experience.

Long-windedness behind us now, lets see what this contest is about!

"How am I supposed to color that? I've never colored anything online before!"
It's simple™! All you need is a software that can open photoshop (.psd) files! There are a ton of 'free' softwares out there that will allow you to work with layers. I use photoshop or procreate currently, but I first started out with good ol' Paint.net. I'm sure there are many others that a google search can help you find. This cannot be colored in paint, it needs to be a program that allows for layers/reading .psd files.

"But why would you color such an odd rainbow horse?!"
To help you! This design is made in bright blocky colors so you can see what you might not have colored. I put each 'block' of color onto the horse, then lock the layer so it cannot be colored outside of the lines. This makes it much like a coloring sheet, and even easier than coloring lineart.

"HEEEEEELP!"
I'm glad to answer questions in the comments, but I do not want to hold anyone's hand through a step by step tutorial of photoshop. I learned through googling and teaching myself, and it did help in the long run. I've tried to make this as simple as possible though, so hopefully it's a pretty cookie cutter coloring experience.

The Rules:
1. Coloring only. No additions, no editing shadow/highlight layers.
2. Don't claim the artwork as your own. I didn't add a signature as I don't want it to be distracting towards the designs, but that doesn't mean you can go make money by selling a bunch of recolors on here or anywhere else.
3. You can recolor a bunch of your own characters on this and use them for your own personal use. You don't have to have an entry in the competition for that. Just download and have fun.
4. One person per coloring/design. No working with friends for this.
5. Maximum of two competition entries. You can change your entries (within the post they are originally placed, through editing) any time until the competition is over.
6. I'll be judging the entries, probably with some input from my kids as to their favorites.
7. Any colors, designs, patterns are acceptable as long as they are acceptable for the site. I will look at your neon tiedye entry, if that's what inspired you. These do not have to be realistic colors and patterns - I want to see what you think your best coloring/design is.
8. The fox is a separate group itself, with a pied option that I attempted. You're free to color your own to suit, to ignore it and leave it off altogether, or to use one that I've colored. The fox will not be judged, only the foal design.

The Prizes:
First Place - 50k bits, 1 free recolor from 2 of my art sales.
Second and Third Place - 25k bits, 1 free recolor from one of my art sales.

Entry Fee: I would like one suggestion, as simple or complex as you'd like, as to a future piece of art I should do. Fairy horse in mid flight? Dragon and horse in a chess competition? (it doesn't have to be equine related). Put it in the post containing your entries as your competition fee.

.PSD File Download - https://sta.sh/02562zii65zq

The layers IN CAPITALS saying things like HORSE COLOR, EYE COLOR are the layers to be colored on. They should be alpha locked so they cannot be colored outside the lines.