Our Queen & her Court

[S.C. Watson]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I present our Queen of Character:

Jennifer “Jumper” Rheesa, 18-25, Near Future Distopian “Urban Corsair”

Jumper is a Parkour master thief and leader of her local urban corsair band. She is charismatic and outgoing, but can become emotionally detached without warning. Perfering to outsmart rather than kill her opponents, she is not afraid to use violence when needed and carries a homemade katana, crafted from scrap metal, to help enforce her will among rivals and enemies. She is often tired, dirty, hungry, and worried for her small band of corsairs. They may be urban pirates, but they’re also her tribe.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b338/deceptant8/corsair_devenecia.jpg

Congratulations to Lukavi - 40 votes beat out everyone else by a solid margin!

Your reign is for 100 rounds, at which time we will choose a new Mascot! Long Live the Queen!

[S.C. Watson]

Character Type: Merchant
Setting: Fantasy/Sword & Sorcery/Conan-esque
Race: Human

Aderillin SeVinis leads the nomadic life of a caravanning merchant. Born and raised among the caravan, he has spent his entire life traveling along the string of city states that dot the Imperial highway from Ighn Hall, the seat of the Teldariam Empire to the Ulder Hills where the vast underground dwarven cities of the hill folk are – a journey some two and a half thousand miles one way – more than a year travel time for him and the caravan he travels with.

As a man, Aderillin is stocky, though not overweight, around 45 with darkish hair and a full beard. He dresses according to his station, marking him as a merchant of the Teldariam realm, and so allowed certain privileges, though these are never discussed. At present, he has no family, but does often share the road with another trader friend, Kaldan of Ciric, a tall man of exquisite intellect and a bard by trade. Good friends for longer than either can remember, the trips the two share together are recalled fondly and often. Aderillin is known in the caravan for his steadiness in most situations, fair trading, and even voice. Rarely coming to an anger, many come to him to settle petty disagreements. He is not terribly imaginative, but is reliable, and therefore trusted by his peers.

Aderillin specializes in dwarven wares – the best of any make. As a tradesman, he knows his clients and customers equally well, and has a keen love of the goods he hauls – how could he not? Dwarven goods rival all in craftsmanship, detail, beauty, and value.

Aderillin harbors a deepening dislike of the Kings Guard, as of late their interest in dwarven goods has increased, and, not surprisingly, have the bribes he has to pay for smuggling other… items. But then, slavery in the empire has always been judiciously ignored, for the most part.
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1346/aderillinkaldan14si.jpg
CONGRATULATIONS TO POSHSPICE - 29 VOTES.

[S.C. Watson]

Serren, Transdimensional Dragon Hunter

Serran is human, but from an alternative dimension, so there’s some oddness about her that you can’t quite place.

She is controlled, manipulative, treacherous, vile, cunning, a murderer and a technophile, loving all sorts of technology with a special love for Jules Vernish mechanical aparati and gadgets. She views pretty much everyone else as a tool of some sort to be used or exploited for her own ends, including her employers.

Physically, she’s roughly about mid height (about 5 ½ feet), slight of build, with pale skin, though not albino. Her features are not ugly, but not unpleasant to look upon either. She typically wears an authentic WWII American Bombardier’s Jacket, and often wears a necklace or belt made from dragon teeth (small ones).
http://mv.cgcommunity.com/images/dragonhunt.jpg
CONGRATULATIONS TO M@. WITH 68% OF THE VOTE!

[S.C. Watson]

Mortimer, The Devil's Advocate
NON-HUMAN

If the Devil had a Lawyer, Mortimer would be it.

Closely related to Succubae, Mortimer is an asexual minor deamon who’s will is that of it’s Overlord. Sent to parlay delicate matters of Spiritual Ownership, Soul Use, Spiritual Development and Management, Theological Planning and Soul Collection, Mortimer is a cunning negotiator and loves what he does because he is very, very good at it. And thinks it's fun watching people squirm.

But what Mortimer would love the most is a glass of ice water.

http://www.robertomarchesi.com/temp/chowa.jpg

CONGRATULATIONS TO R_M WITH 25% OF THE VOTE

[Oblio]

OK - Let me try to fill this up ;)
I have big shoes to fill.



Chow#005 - DEGENESIS

Johann Alaric is a mystic, living in the urban ruble of the world we know today. He is somewhere in his late 50’s through late 60’s.

He is a healer, wiseman, guide and council elder for his tribe, who dwell someplace in northern Europe, possibly near what was once known as Warsaw. His is a world of snow, ice, concrete, metal and brutality

http://home.exetel.com.au/bumskee/con/chow_6_1.jpg

The court welcomes the prodigy of bumskee gaining with 21.47% of your votes.

[Oblio]

Chow #006 - VOTING: Retail Gigagiant Wherehouse Checker --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Margaret, the Retail Gigagiant Wherehouse Checker
Suggested Theme: Humorous

Margaret is 35, works insane hours at the local Retail Gigagiant Wherehouse Store somewhere in the U.S. Midwest, and just wants to do two things: Write a novel, and take a vaction. Without her family.

She has survived Black Friday – stood her ground against the onslaught of the Christmas-Sales-Crazed-Customer hordes where many of her coworkers broke down in tears or just quit on the spot. Her store manager is very happy, but she’s just exhausted after working a 16 hour day after getting up at 2am and is still expected to cook dinner for her vestigle deadbeat husband and four screaming kids (1,3,4, and 5) after getting home late to their doublewide trailer.

http://www.artofromance.ca/ca/projects/CHOW/Margaret.jpg

This baby got ROMANCE 25.86% of your votes.





CHOW #007 - WWII North African Italian Infantry Soldier

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWII North African Italian Infantry Soldier
Historical

293851

Congrats to FridayEve who got 24.77% of your votes.

[Oblio]

CHOW #008 Battle Angel

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Battle Angel
* female
* EXTRA BROWNIE POINTS: NO cliche wings allowed (like feathers). Must create your own type of wings that you think no one has ever done before.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/824/littleangel013zw.jpg

Poshspice won this one. (14.8% - close call - see the thread. Awsome battle).

[Oblio]

Round #009
A BOY, A CLAUS, AND AN ELF

Timmy’s world has been destroyed.

Timmy won the world wide competition for the much coveted trip to Santa’s Workshop. His entry, like the billions of other entries from the world over, was why he wanted peace on earth, what he’d do if he were the President of the United Nations, and why wired hair dachshunds are the best dogs in the world.

Upon arriving at the North Pole, Timmy found that “Santa’s Workshop” was, in fact, an industrial wasteland of name brand products being mass produced by megalithic multinational merchandising subsidiary companies handed no-bid contracts by Santa, Inc. Items "crafted" in Santa’s sweatshops hadn’t seen native workers in years, the workforce having either been imported from warmer regions or, in most cases simply outsourced. The native elf population was all but forgotten, disenfranchised and living in hovels, getting drunk on eggnog and selling black market “candy” canes just to survive on the seedier edges society. Santa’s Village, the sprawling metropolis of loose morals, iffy ethics, high prices, and merrily twinkling Christmas lights, loomed over all.

Santa had sold out.
--------
Chose one, two or all three characters:

1. Santa the Sell Out
2. Timmy, just off the plane.
3. A displaced Elf worker.
-------------------------

299691

Chuck,mate - indeed - 55%

[Oblio]

Chow #010: Asteroid Miner

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Prospecting the belt is a lonely job for Merideth, but when it pays, it pays big.
(think of a 22nd century prospector, maybe a lone wolf, maybe part of a small crew, searching among widely scattered orbiting rocks for that mother-lode nickel-iron 'roid that'll bank mega-credits and get him/her back on station for few months... anywhere but out in the Big Lonely...) -- further desciption provided by masque

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/Hovig1977/asteroidminer.jpg

38.46% votes for Rascar Capac Woot woot! :yayca:

[Oblio]

Chow #011: THOG THE MASTADON SLAYER

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Thog the Mastadon Slayer

Thog the Mastadon Slayer is the hero of the tribe, heart throb of the ladies, built like a saber toothed tiger (and as friskey as one!), completely fearless (except for giant spiders, those just freak him out something serious), and none too bright.

Dim he may be, but underneath that cromagnon cranium, a stone wheel tirelessly turns with a single purpose: bring home the Mastadon meat, with a supersized side of Giant Ground Sloth.

Thog is not to be found anywhere without his *Club of Klunking*, provided by Thag & Sons, and sporting his spotted Stag Moose Cape and Loin Cloth (part of the Peccaries ensamble) on those cold and lonely nights during the Mastadon hunts.

Totally Styling and absolutely stoopid, Thog the Mastodon Slayer is a true hero of the Pleistocene era!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/artdw2000/thogcopy.jpg

With only one extra vote artdwx got his character before our Queen. Nice battle. Check out the thread.

[Oblio]

Chow #012: LADY ISABELLE FREDRICKSON

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lady Isabelle Fredrickson

Historical Fiction*
Lady Isabelle Fredrickson. Mid to late 1800's. Character is the wife of one Lord Fredrickson, Lich hunter & Master of the Occult, who is not far from a Lich himself, having been cursed by one when he was younger. She knows his secret, and has sworn an oath of secrecy, though she would die before revealing her husband's curse.

Lady Fredrickson often accompanies her husband on his exploits, taking them across Europe and to many exotic locales, including Egypt, and the Far East, and lands unknown.

Beuatiful, elegant, educated and poised. She is Lady Isabella Fredrickson.

http://home.exetel.com.au/bumskee/con/chow_9_1.jpg

bumskee adds another character to the Queen's ball with 36 votes over 31 of Main Loop. Other great entries are to be found in the thread too.

[Oblio]

Chow #013: LORD FREDRICKSON

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Lord George Henry Fredrickson

Historical Fiction*
Lord George Henry Fredrickson. Mid to late 1800's. Lord Fredrickson is a Lich hunter & Master of the Occult of some quiet acclaim in certain discerning circles. By nature he is a reserved man, brutally intelligent, quick in thought and often in action, but never reckless.

Cursed more than a century ago by an Egyptian Lich, Lord Fredrickson walks the twilight between the true light of life and the enternal darkness of death. He can not die, though he can not really live either.

With each Lich Lord Fredrickson dispatches, he desperately searchers for a counter curse to his affliction, but none have been found, much to his continued frustration. Over the past few decades, his searches have turned more desperate, as madness is slowly claiming him. In his more lucid moments, he fears for those he cares for, but holds little hope of chaging his fortunes. Isabelle, his wife, has been instructed in the art of horcrux destruction, and how to kill a Lich, but as Lord Fredrickson has no known horcrux, it is feared that all efforts will be futile.

*Open for interpetation
----------------------

http://www.moranconcepts.com/images/chow-13.jpg

What a battle!!!!
Her lord was destined by orcatraz with 69 votes. This was a round to remember. Lots of neat entries.

[Oblio]

Meanwhile....



One Month Challenge - Puppet Master and Puppet!

bluefooted
title: Queen Mab
medium: ink, watercolor, digital
size: 390x644

299463

[Oblio]

THE EGYPTIAN LICH

Fantasy/Historical

Known only as the Egyptian Lich, this abomination is responsible for the curse of Lord Fredrickson. It is served by it's eternal guard, mummies of servants from ages past.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/trevorclaxton/EgyptianLichFinal.jpg

Good stuf Trevor!

[Oblio]

Chow 15 - Nancy Goodaim

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NANCY GOODAIM, SPACE HEROINE

Nancy Goodaim, Space Heroine and Flying Ace. Set in 2010 as seen from 1950. Nancy Goodaim saves Danny Seeker, the perky reporter from the Galaxy Daily, and the universe, from the clutches of Tal Largethought, the evil scientist and his nasty sidekick Kraw the Cruel in weekly episodal installments.

Character needs to be larger than life, but not comical. Think Buck Rogers style pulp science fiction heroine. Another reference might include Captain Franky Cook from Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Angelina Jolie’s Character).

thanks to Undertow and Dogfood.

http://www.darkrising.co.uk/Stuff/NancyWIP.jpg

Poshspice got that on top with 63 votes! Wow!

[Oblio]

Chow 16: 35 Year Old Gamer

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FAT, GREASY, PIZZA MUNCHING 35 YEAR OLD GAMER

Who lives in his parent's basement playing WoW all day long and his online character is a sexy looking night elf archer.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e197/bennewman/fatgamer.jpg

Newman captured it best with 39 votes.

[Oblio]

Chow 17: Venus On The Half Shell, Revisited

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Venus On The Half Shell, Revisited

We need a revision of Botticelli's Venus (the other characters are not needed). It needs to be contemporary, but not trashy. Venus, for this illustration, needs to capture the character of love, beauty, and the strength of womanhood. Class is the word of the day. It needs to be elegant, slightly, but not overtly, erotic for the Valentine week (yeah, it's slightly late, so make it special!). The clam shell is imperative to the character illustration. Ideally, the finished image will in some way be reminiscent of Botticelli's piece, while at the same time presenting womanhood, beauty and love in a fresh, contemporary light. Keep it original and creative.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/mightyevilbunny/venus.jpg

And Venus came from mybutterflyiris who got 31 votes.
Check out the thread - awsome works there.

[Oblio]

Meanwhile - the CHOWppers jumpes on the...
ConceptartCohesion #001: 8th Day

Storyline:

The year 2446 CE

Mankind and its technology have advanced at an exponential rate, however trivial political, religious and social demands have caused the splintering of former superpowers into smaller nation states, pitting themselves against each in a number of minor conflicts.

Since 2395 a minimum of 27 conflicts, hostile incursions and border disputes have been raging in various confined areas across the planets surface, sparking a new global economy.
Covenants of major corporations have banded together in various factions and are now the true international players, feeding the ever increasing demand of new weapons technology.
The change in style of warfare has rendered weapons of mass destruction virtually useless increasing an appetite for more unconventional weapon systems, specifically the VidaNova Corporations newest developments in the field of creating new species of animals bred for specific purposes.

The idea behind this new move is too harness the animals natural intelligence, sensory abilities, and ability to traverse difficult terrain. They are currently working on models for civilian implementation, ranging from beasts of burden for remote areas to leisure models as pets. However there have been worrying reports of certain products escaping from captivity, and having unexpected effects on the flora and fauna they interact with, conspiracy theorists place blame on a huge range of subjects, ranging from the Cytarabinoside used in manipulating metabolic pathways in the animals, to mother earth resting control back from humanity to satan himself.
Some minor political and religious groups are already rallying, trying to bring this series of unnerving events to the public eye, wild rumors and conspiracy theories are already calling this the 8th day of creation.




topic for ChOW:

Leader of the Special Unit Jungle Force

...specialized on hunting down escaped and mutated creatures. These guys are called when there is trouble with escaped creatures preventing attacks and damage caused by them. We need a charismatic leader, strong-willed, professional and cold-blooded - one who will survive in the jungle and accomplishes his mission under any circumstances. Of course he must be presented in the special units battle dress.

And the Winner is:


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
artist: Laurentiu_Bontea
concept: The leader of the special unit is a mechanically enhanced ruthless cyborg. He has a strong character altough his brain is filled with implants that influence his humanoid decisions. His agility and lack of mercy can take his team to success in any conditions and he's feared for not failing in murdering his own family.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/Laurentiu000/conceptart/Leader_Laurentiu_Bontea.jpg

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[Oblio]

then followed another topic based on the same story.
Please see the other weekly activities - as creatures, environments and industrials are mixed in this.

Topic for ChOW:

"The Head" - Chief of VidaNova

"The Head" is the founder and chief of The VidaNova Corporation. This man had a high position in the army of one of the leading states. He was known for his merciless command and for despising countries hostile to his own. His hate and cruelty made him a much sought-after target for the adverse military but also even inside his own ranks.

It wasn't a big surprise when he was a victim of an assassionation attempt. He survived the assassination, but some areas of his body were mutilated and deformed and could only be recovered by bionic technology. After this radical experience, he lost his position in the army, but due to his good connections got a high position in a different section of the military. He worked as a high ranked consultant in the research division for alternate military resources.

Reflecting his own life-story to the military area he was fascinated by the idea of military units which are partially organic and partially technological. The succes of the first resulting military units and his pertinacity and ambition made him the leader of the research division. With the achieved power and success he was able to gain independence for the institute, which resulted in founding VidaNova Corporation.

and voters decided that digitalfly gets the praise.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
artist: digitalfly
concept:
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/3822/8thdayvnhead019bb.jpg

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[Oblio]

Then the time changed and our Queen wanted new weekly topics.
And summoned was... THE METROSEXUAL PIRATE!
Check the thread... it was awsome!

CHOW 18 - Metrosexual Pirate
"The metrosexual, is an urban male of any sexual orientation who has a strong aesthetic sense and spends a great deal of time and money on his appearance and lifestyle.[M.Simpson]"
Artist: VampireHungerStrike
------------------------------

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/larriva/metropirate2.jpg

What a round...

[Oblio]

CHOW #19 - Twisted Anatomy Beauty

Artist: Oregano
------------------------------

293920

And there she was.. waiting for the colossus to make her a wife. :x

[Oblio]

CHOW #20 - Clockwork Collosus
a massive, intricate, and powerful automaton. Built by a race of long dead astronauts and left on a desolate moon.

keywords- enigmatic, intricate, massive.


Artist: Blaise
------------------------------

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/3899/clockworkfinal24sp.jpg

amazing round.. all entries were.. fantastic.

[Oblio]

CHOW #21 - The Good, The Bad, the Ugly - as kids.
The artist: redehlert

293975

[Oblio]

CHOW #22 - Spiderman Female Sidekick.
Artist: Walnut
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/walberg/spidergirl.jpg

Err, She's calling herself Synergy, age 16, she's extraordinaly intelligent (way over Mensa level) and has psionic powers, such as levitation, telepathy and the ability to deliver psychic "stings". The suit she designed to enhance these feats and power herself up. While not possessing superhuman strength, she's still able to deliver Spidey from nasty situations with her wit and mind-tackling tricks. She actually outsmarts Spidey by a few lengths (hey sh's a woman right) but wouldn't dream of taking the glory. See, she reveres him like a god and in fact has a huge teenage crush on the webhead, though she'd die before admitting it.

[Oblio]

CHOW #23 - Platformer
Artist: Cognition.sb
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/cognitionsb/cognitionsb_CHOW23_GREGapr06.jpg
Possessed Greg(continued from image story)

...After running riot, Possessed Greg was eventually captured and stored in a subterranean facility, bolted into a box inside a chest inside a sarcophogus. However, as the next Halloween approaches his powers grow stronger. Strong enough to break free of his shackles!

Now... As the player you must guide him to his birthplace, devouring souls along the way to increase your abilities.

As a character he's limited to human movement (walk, run, jump), simply because of the scarecrow vessel housing the demon. However, as a demon his connection with the 'other side' provides extra functions. Also, the demon is not restricted to any one form, growing stronger with the addition of more souls. He's essentially invulnerable, but you need to keep the scarecrow body habitable while heading towards the ultimate goal.

[Oblio]

CHOW#24 - Motocentaur...
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8150/digitalflychow242zy.jpg

[Oblio]

CHOW #25 - Vlad the collector...
http://studentpages.scad.edu/~wbrach20/may3/MrBlonde_CHOW25.jpg
Vlad constantly reinvents himself, modeling his career after the late Madonna, the latest craze is sadomasochis-arabian excess... He started his career in 2069 with his "'69 dead animals" publicity stunt on new years eve, where he slaughtered 69 different endangered species with a chainsaw... while they were "69'ing" each other. He is the most popular Television personality since Oprah, and he is frequently compared with her.

[Oblio]

CHOW #26 - BAtaka Rai - 1st CA
http://www.carotellogallery.com/CA/carotello_chow26_batakarai.jpg
The son of Djoser's favorite Hem Netjer (a common priest title), Bataka Rai was born during the third dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The child was gifted with an uncanny imagination, and his father often drew upon the lore his son created to entertain the pharaoh, after reciting the sacred words to him. As a child, Bataka Rai would draw on the dirt -for papyrus was reserved for official documents and religious texts- by the temple doors as he would await the return of his father from his daily duties. It was here that Djoser, the pharaoh, came to recognize the image the child drew from that of his dreams: a face brilliant and magnificent and holy, Ra himself.
Djoser brought the child into his home, and treated him as his own son, but the boy who was shy felt ever estranged from the luxurious life that surrounded him. Throughout his education, Bataka Rai concentrated all his efforts in putting his dreams to papyrus, now readily available to him. During his artistic education he became acquainted with Imothep, the great architect. Imothep would become the forger of Bataka Rai's dreams. Bataka Rai the designer, would set down what would become the face of Egypt, and Imothep would see to it that it was built. While they became fast friends; Bataka Rai also felt their differences keenly. Imothep was outgoing and socially inclined, and he eventually became recognized and highly awarded for his work. Bataka Rai, who tended to be taciturn, became arrogant and bitter, and remained widely unknown. Slowly he withdrew from the real world and submerged himself into his own, a world filled with fantastic creatures; beloved friends who were always there at the merest summoning thought.

[Oblio]

CHOW #28 - Non Japanese Geisha
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/Evil_Sloth/EvilSloth27_AfricanGeisha.jpg
Only the finest of pure women are chosen to be in the company of kings and leaders of men. The harsh deserts of Africa can be tamed by the slightest smile and warm gesture from a Geisha who knows her power and how she must use it to survive.

[Oblio]

CHOW #28 - Chess Piece - The Knight
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/2043/2knights7vg.jpg
Father & Son: These Knights practice a sword martial art that is passed down to one heir each generation. Their deadliest attack involves waiting for thier opponent to strike, they then sidestep and leap forward two or three paces with their sword in a "closeline" position. Instantly decapitating their enemy.
Here, the Father: Kythen stands with pride of his Son's: Asden, skill and power.
They are a deadly team, and only the foolish would mess with them.

[Oblio]

CHOW #29 - Montreal MB Workshop MASCOT
http://www.mikecorriero.com/images/MontrealWorkshop-web.jpg
Montreal Workshop Shaman:
The Montreal Mascot is the holder of life, love, death, creation, destruction and the birth of imagination. The Montreal Workshop Mascot contains elements of both the Massive Black logo and the Montreal flags colors and the iconic maple leaf.

[Oblio]

ChOW #30 - Most Unfortunate Lady
there is nothing worst in this world, then for a mother to loose her child.
yet worst is for a mother to have a kid that wants to die.
but tragic has no end - since worst that this is for a mother to have such a child, that she begins to ask the Lord to take him away.
these are terrible times...
French Revolution Period
She used to be a noble.

marco nelor's unfortunate lady...

21312

[Oblio]

CHOW #31 - Non Spanish Toreador
http://www.dumbhot.com/casketchbook/flex-mathews-chow31-toreador.jpg
masai toreador
-he worked as a guide for foriegn big game hunters traveling in africa. he maintains traditional masai garb, adorned with trophies of previous hunts. he mainly kills wildabeests, watusi, and other large bulls of africa. the combination of his brightly colored attire and his game of choice earned him the nickname, the toreador, by spanish hunters he was guiding through the bush. he was later brought to spain to fight bulls professionally.

[Oblio]

CHOW #32 - vissara - orc female beauty

Every race has beauties but Visarra went beyond that. For orcs she was unreal. And to make the story even harder to believe... her love affair that casted her out of her kingdom... was with a Dwarf named Gunka... they both had to be outcast. Unreal as it seems.. the story is true.

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/8607/blaisechow32orcfem2589e15jg.jpg

[Oblio]

CHOW #33 - Theodios - Orthodox Patriarch of the new world.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/trevorclaxton/sketches/2890e7d6.jpg
"we have cowered in fear for too long at the will of men no better than ourselves.
God has had a plan for us since before the great destuction. we have become one with the machines
the tool of humanities undoing and now we will reclaim our holy land, our birthright!
those that have lived above the surface have become heathen monsters. it is now our time
to inherit the land that once belonged to our fore fathers
NEW YORK!"

[Oblio]

CHOW #34 - Morganica - 1930s First Android
http://www.miguellleras.com/images/Migsta_CHOW34_Morganica.jpg
He couldn't believe his eyes... in the middle of the night... it moved.
He fell asleep and the sound of the whole installation moving... made him shiver. It bloody moves!!!!
The professor witnessed his creation working on itself, finishing what he had started.
He could not even consider the possibilities of what he created.
Dark thoughts were in his mind...
It was real... now what?

294233

Winner: Migsta

[Oblio]

CHOW #35 - X-90 - Cyan Monster/Horror Movie
http://www.bolman.nl/cgtalk/supervlieg_chow35.jpg
The Unknown
It was said strange creatures inhabited the swamps. The people of the nearby village suspected that these creatures took
people that drowned and transformed them into the living dead of the swamp. They were known as "the unknown". Some
that survived the encounter with the unknown spoke of "A spider-like ghostly image rising from the swamp, Its skin blue,
cyan even, transparent. Their limbs were protruded with long spikes, or sticks which made them very mobile in the sludge.
Their image was truely frightening!"
The swamp has been closed for public since a series of accidents, but people often speak of the strange silhouettes moving
in unsettling jerky movements over the swamp and of their high pitches howles that sound through the night.

Winner: Supervlieg

[Oblio]

CHOW #36 - Olivera
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2256/chuckmatechow36smallko6.jpg
"Oliveria Lisa Norton is not an animal.
Oliveria Norton is a human being. Just like you, just like me.
She's a sweet and kind child, and she never did anything wrong, to anyone.
She has a condition. An illness. A disease.
She never had a boyfriend, and she didn't go to this year's field trip.
Oliveria probably won't go to the prom, either.
But oliveria Norton isn't a freak. She's not a monster.
Oliveria lisa Norton is not an animal…."

- Jodie D. Norton, Mother.

Winner: Chuck,mate.

[Oblio]

CHOW #37 - Thief - Human/Animal Mix.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/ChuckWadey/chow/Chow37.jpg
As shipping routes were first being established in the eastern Mediterranean, a timid aquatic civilization was being displaced by the growing traffic and trade. In a hopeless attempt to preserve their secluded way of life, these Cephalopodic humanoids conducted raids on port markets. The Octopus men were perfectly adapted for thievery with skin that could morph color and texture to blend in with all the rich patterns of the bazaar and a tentacle for every tasty morsel. Regrettably, as much as they stole and sabotaged, it was not enough to stem the surging tide of commerce.

Winner: Chuck Wadey

[Oblio]

CHOW #38 - Scotish Dandy

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4077/chuckmatechow38finalyn5.jpg
(in a VERY heavy Scottish accent)
"hello, binnie.
men alive this vacation is great!
this is me on top of the "Sheppard`s Buttock" higeland mountain, watching over loch-ness lake.
strangly enough, there`s no wind at all up here, and everything looks REAL flat and silly and cartoon-like and boring, which really bothers me for some reason.
but i do look smashing, if you don`t mind me saying so, lassie.
the photo was taken by Spencer Mcleary, who`s a friend of mine which i am not attracted to whatsoever,
i do not dream of him at nights, and i never Undressed him with my eyes while drooling.

i`ll be back to the studio in a week or so, hold down the fort for me, Binnie.
and please tell Misses Ogilvy her dress will be ready for her as soon as she`ll manage to fit INTO IT.
Right.
well, all the best
William of Ornshelm, haute couture."

Winner: Chuck,mate.

[Oblio]

CHOW #39 - Jason and the Argonauts

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/1685/chuckmatechow39smallup2.jpg
2006:
It is time again.
These are desperate times. Times of uncertainty and tragedy.
A world of dismay and corruption is calling out for help.
Crying out for heroes, once again.
Summoned by Zeus himself,
Dead or alive, these once revered men of legend,
Must keep a promise Taken in the days of the ancient.
Dead or alive, these men, now forgotten,
Must take upon themselves one last task.
On the battleship "Argo" Lead by a heavy medicated Jason, and an emotionally crippled Hercules,
these men, merely ghosts from a dead past, set out on one final mission
For the sake of all human kind.
It is time again.
These are The Argonauts.


Things are about to get ugly.

Winner: Chuck,mate.

[Oblio]

CHOW #40 - The Dreamcatcher
http://www.jdillon.net/jdillon_chow40_dreamcatcher.jpg

Dreamcatching is a very rare talent among sorcerers, and as such those who manage to do it are very much in demand, especially by the parents of children chronically plagued with nightmares. In the case of this particular Dreamcatcher, a family has hired him to help their daughter sleep peacefully through the night. Dreams are physically intangible, so he must place himself in a mental state between waking and sleep and summon his own dream avatar to get the job done. The dreamcatcher’s avatar dutifully bundles up all the girl’s nightmares into a small compact glowing ball, allowing the good dreams to filter through undisturbed. During the day while the dreamcatcher gets his proper sleep, his partner fashions the glowing nightmare balls into jewelry and accessories that they then sell for a ridiculous price to rich and bored customers. The nightmare balls are very popular, for not only are they very beautiful, they allow their bearer to catch waking glimpses of a child's fertile imagination. Whether this is ethical or not does not concern the dreamcatcher, as he makes a tidy mint off of the things and considers it only fair since he has to spend all night psychically battling away children's fears of spiders and snakes and creepie crawlies, which naturally is quite taxing.

Winner: jdillon


CHOW #41 - The Weappon

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2091/theweaponad5.jpg
Winnter:ANDREW LEY

The Weapon

Its beautiful forms dance over its surface until it is claimed by anyone brave or foolish enough to attempt to wield it.

Once grasped it can take on the form of almost any weapon the user can imagine.

Gradually the weapon consumes its master growing ever more powerful

[Oblio]

CHOW #42 - Oxigen King
"Sustaining what little remains of the tree of life and guardian of its offspring, the Oxygen king represents the source of mankind’s suffering and its futures only hope."

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5598/kingab3.jpg
ANDREWLEY

[Oblio]

ChOW #43 - Bi-Polar Man

No wonder... the BI-POLAR MEN challenge.. had a tie for the 1st place.
YES... 2 winners.

99412

Winners: Joe-Hell and Lolow

[Oblio]

ChOW #44 - ORTHO - 3 eye masked mechano goblin hunter

And another 2 winners for the big 3D round

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/ChuckWadey/chow/Chow44.jpg
http://www.bjornhurri.com/sb/06/October/chow3.jpg

congrats to ChuckWadey and Hurricane - you guys are a nice pair :p

[Oblio]

Chow #45 - World War One - Secret Special Unit - The Wizzard!

StephenR ... made it magical...

99413

[S.C. Watson]

Trevor

[daestwen]

Alright. Time to clean up this thread, boys and girls. :)

CHOW #47 - GAME/TOY - RAYMAN - NO RABBID!

Topic elements:

1 = Ortho.
2 = Simple
3 = Stupid

293930

Winner: subtle_squid

[daestwen]

ChOW #48 - Multi Topic
And the TOPICS are:

Text Man fonts, resizes, and formats his foes' defeat! - by TechLoveAffair
Geneticly engineered bastard shemale truck driver - by Supervlieg
Fairy hitman - by Stephan R

293936

Winner: salaryman

[daestwen]

CHOW #49 - Sewer Mermaid King/Queen

out of suggestion thread - thx. gethsemane
Beneath city streets, among waste and giant long-forgotten alligators, there are mermaids. They may not be the pretty little fish-women of myth -they are urban, begrimed and toughened and adapted to survive in the harsh environment beneath the city- but they are mermaids nonetheless. This is their king/queen.

293937

Winner: trevor

[daestwen]

CHOW #50 - Founding Fore-Father/Pilgrim of Mars
Guest Host: salaryman

A first traveller and Settler of the red planet. 20 or 200 years hence

293940

Winner: xgabo

[daestwen]

CHOW #51 - Steam Punk Airship Pilot
Guest Host: Trevor

Just what it says, cool steam technology coupled with the spirit of high seas adventure and rouge swashbuckling badassnes.

293946

Winner: AndrewLey

[daestwen]

CHOW #52 - Vampire Hunter Elvis Impersonator
Guest Host: xgabo

Topic elements:

1 = Use EOW.
2 = Vampire Hunter.
3 = Elvis Impersonator.

293951

Winner: Phuzion

[daestwen]

CHOW #53 - X-Com - The Chryssalid - ORTHO
Guest Host: Julian Gollop, creator of the X-Com series

Hi Andrei,
So the character I have chosen is a re-imagining of the most feared
alien from X-Com - The Chryssalid.

Description:

The Chryssalids one of the main alien terror species in the PC game 'X-COM: UFO Defense'. They are roughly humanoid in size, with an insect-like exoskeleton and menacing claws. They strike fear into X-Com soldiers in a major way. The reason? They turn civilians into zombies by injecting a parasitical Chyssalid spore. Since the Chryssalids attack in densely populated civilian zones, the task of the X-Com commander becomes perilous. Every civilian is a potential zombie recruit, but it is much worse than that. A new Chryssalid will emerge from a zombie in a frighteningly short space of time. It is entirely possible for an X-Com commander to find his squad transformed into a horde of Chryssalids, with no hope of salvation.

The task is to re-imagine the Chryssalid. How can it's parasitical nature be portrayed? Perhaps it has some human genetic material combined with its own? There could be a hint of some human features mixed with something horribly alien. For added effect, the creature can be portrayed shedding its human-zombie host.

Here are some informational links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chryssalid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-COM:_UFO_Defense

293962

Winner: hurricane

[daestwen]

CHOW #54 - James Stanton
Guest Host: phuzion

The year is 1875. After the Civil War ended, the Union marksman, tracker and scout was out of a job. The only suitable job left for men in Stanton's position was bountyhunting... after all, hunting men is what he does best. Armed with two Army issue Colt 45 Peacemakers, and an 1873 Winchester Deluxe Lever Action Short Rifle, James Stanton hunts down the baddest of the bad. The lowest, most dangerous scum of the earth that prey on helpless caravans, killing the men then raping and selling the women for ammunition and cheap whiskey. Stanton has no tollerance for this kind of lifestyle, having lost his wife and daughter to simillar brigands. Now, after 5 years, he has made a name for himself as the fastest gunslinger from Missouri to the Rio Grande. Outlaws beware! Stanton aims to send them to meet their maker via the bullet train express!!

293963

Winner: phuzion

[daestwen]

CHOW #55 - God/dess of Art
Guest Host: phuzion

293964

Winner: phuzion

[daestwen]

CHOW #56 - Bard of the Apocalypse
Guest Host: AndrewLey

Through his song and music he brings about the end of all things.

293967

Winner: MarcoMazzoni

[daestwen]

CHOW #57 - The World's Mightiest Kid
Guest Host: Hurricane

293987

Winner: MarcoMazzoni

[daestwen]

CHOW #58 - Nintendo Character Made Real
Guest Host: MarcoMazzoni

Nintendo Hero made real - 12 years later

In 1995 Nintendo of America officially discontinued the Nintendo Entertainment System and purged their stock of the console. In an oversight that would forever change the world, a new werehouse manager at the Japanese distributer acidentally cleared a batch of "prototype" consoles for shipment in the last wave. Never meant to reach the hands of the consumer, these consoles had the strange ability to bring playable characters from the games to life. By the time Nintendo was able to track down and incinerate all 800 of the anomalous consoles it was too late. An estimated 23,000 NES playable characters had materialized into our world. Due to the quantity of systems and popularity of certain games, many of these are duplicates of the same character.

12 years have passed since the incident and the government has made all possible effort to integrate these characters into our society. While many have made the best use of their powers in our world, some still struggle to adapt.

Your task is to redesign a playable NES character showing how they have adapted or are stuggling to adapt to the limitations of our reality. What are the possibilities of having several duplicates of one character? There are no video game villans to do battle with, but there are still many uses for heroes of extrordinary ability in our world. But remember not all playable characters are necessarily concidered heroic. for every Samus or Link, there is also a Qbert and Chef from Burger Time... or the marble from Marble Madness!

It can be any playable character, but it MUST be from the original Nintendo Entertainment System.

293990

Winner: bwkeough

[daestwen]

CHOW #59 - Nanotech Gardener
Guest Host: MarcoMazzoni

Nanotech Gardener as suggested by cognition.sb
In charge of maintaining a garden full of species that are part-organic part-machine.

293991

Winner: Andrew Ley

[daestwen]

Chow #60 - Non-Human Law Enforcement Officer
Guest Host: bwkeough

From any time period, must be obviously non-human (robots are ok, pointy elf-ears are not enough). Must also have a uniform with insignia and at least one non-lethal weapon.

294021

Winner: oishiiniku

[daestwen]

CHOW #61 - Chief Librarian of the Lost Sea Scrolls
Guest Host: Andrew Ley

The Chief Librarian was once a lord of Atlantis. Foreseeing the city’s demise he gathered the most sacred and powerful texts and took them to a place where no mortal could find them. He now lives in solitude, the sole guardian of the secrets that allow one to control the most powerful forces in the oceans.

294023

Winner: D-BAKER

[daestwen]

CHOW #62 - Aztec Space Traveler
Guest Host: oishiiniku

Intelligent life forms have been visiting our planet for thousands of years. They created a giant landing strip in the Nazca desert. They have been celebrated as statues and other relics created by many civilizations in Central America.

Design a space traveller (humanoid or otherwise) wearing a costume influenced by Aztec or other similar cultures.

294038

Winner: cakeypigdog

[daestwen]

CHOW #63 - Iorek Byrnison
Guest Host: D-BAKER

Iorek Byrnison is the exiled king of the Panserbjørne (armoured bears). He forged his own armour from sky iron. His armour is his soul.
Like all Panserbjørne, Iorek follows a very strict code of contract, and will in no situation betray a promise he has made. He possesses incredible strength, and like many of his kind is an expert smith.

(Edit: From the book "The Golden Compass" by Phillip Pullman)

294064

Winner: Marco Mazzoni

[daestwen]

CHOW #64 - The Black Queen
Guest Host: cakeypigdog

The year is 2025. The Black Queen is the figure-head of the British- Japanese empire known as the GBNR.

The GBNR are one of 3 super-states at constant warfare with each other. It is the hundredth year since the forming of these states. Our queen is a divine leader as well as a military commander.

Her appearance should bring together Victorian and traditional Japanese aesthetics but also take into account the 100 years that have passed since the joining of these two cultures.

294069

Winner: Poshspice

[daestwen]

CHOW #65 - "Space Dick for hire" Sam Gunn Intergalactic P.I.
Guest Host: Marco Mazzoni

He can be human or just humanoid, as long as he's a detective capable of solving intergalactic mysteries.

294243

Winner: Poshspice

[daestwen]

CHOW #66 - Petra Hepburn

Sixties supermodel. Petra is an appalling example of how fashion superstardom can go to your head. She indulges herself in all the latest trends and vices of her age, and hangs around with the 'in' crowd of Sixties New York. (Warhol etc) Indulged and decadent, she knows no limits.

Examples of strong sixties female characters: Julie Christie, or Twiggy, Jane Birkin, Jean Shrimpton, Marianne Faithfull, Edie Sedgwick, Mary Quant, Diana Ross etc. For a good 'sixties look' think Linda Harrison as Nova in Planet of the Apes. Also think of movies like the original Casino Royale or even Austin Powers.

Your concept should include a feel for the sixties, but exageration is the key. Also concentrate on character and personality as well as 'the look'. And remember to think outside the box!

294249

Winner: Poshspice

[daestwen]

CHOW #67 - Crud Buttowski - Space Trucker
Guest Host: Poshspice

Crud Buttowski - Independant Intergalactic importer/exporter. Crud spends almost every moment, piloting/driving his SilverGlide 6000 Pantecnicon (a space truck) between job after job. Mostly legal, but Crud has been known to do the odd backhander; a box of Ribos 6 Angel Pineapples (which give an extra ten years of life to those that can afford them) slipped in amongst the crates of Poot Chickens, just help a bit with the up-keep of his trusty rig. Perpetually cheerful, except with other Space Lane users, whom he just regards as an inconvenience, he's always on the lookout for the Rozzers (an old British Earth coloquialism meaning police) or a couple of hot hitchers. Puffing on his cheroot and either chatting on the SCB (space citizen band radio) or singing along to his favourite choon, the days couldn't be happier for Crud.

He can be alien or humanoid. It's up to you. Just have fun with him in any style you want!

Ending in a tie, with two winners:

294297294298

Winners: MATTHEW_CAMPBELL and simon_gustafsson

[daestwen]

CHOW #68 - Mr. Hyde
Guest Host: Poshspice

Mr Hyde. Most of us know of the story 'The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson, and it has been played around with in many ways in the cinema. Mr Hyde actually being female at least once in 'Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde'! And reinterpreted in movies like 'Van Helsing' and the awful but visually impressive 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'. So taking that as a starting point, redesign Mr(!) Hyde, and if you want, include Dr Jekyll too (but that's not essential). I'm not going to give a description of the character this time, as a little bit of research should be required by anyone setting out to follow a brief. But it must be specific to the period the book was written, that is the only requirement. This means you have a lot of free rein in appearance etc, but the character must be time specific. When? Find out...

294300

Winner: Bumskee

[daestwen]

CHOW #69 - Death's Horse

Topic elements:

1 = Horse or.. derivated
2 = Death rides on it - or... you ride it when you die.. or.. something alike.

294311

Winner: Bumskee

[daestwen]

CHOW #70 - Modern Day Red Riding Hood
Guest Host: bumskee

294320

Winner: Meatsworthy

[daestwen]

CHOW #71 - Fallen Valkyrie
Guest Host: Bumskee

"fallen valkyrie" - a valkyrie that once served at Odin's side, she has been tainted by evil and banished to the underworld

294336

Winner: lukavi

[daestwen]

CHOW #72 - Post Apocalyptic Scavenger
Guest Host: Meatsworthy

I'm thinking of a survivalist who uses found technologies of the previous civilization.

Reference that comes to mind are: Mad Max, Fallout, Wasteland

294337

Winner: Meatsworthy

[daestwen]

Chow #73 - SOUL COLLECTOR
Guest Host: lukavi

294339

Winner: bumskee

[daestwen]

CHOW #74 was cancelled, so:

CHOW #75 - Demonic Pirate Lord
Guest Host: bumskee

294344

Winner: coldrum

[daestwen]

CHOW #76 - The Puppeteer

1. recognisable outline - separate image
2. define character
3. include puppet.

294353

Winner: AndrewLey

[daestwen]

CHOW #77 - Ice Druid
Guest Host: coldrun

294887

Winner: trevor

[daestwen]

CHOW #78 - Sky Fishermen
Guest Host: AndrewLey

Design two or more characters who act as a team while Sky-Fishing.

Sky Fishing is open to interpretation. Characters can be male or female

295282

Winner: jubjubjedi

[daestwen]

CHOW #79 - Character Archetype: Navigator
Guest Host: Trevor

need an image of a male and female archetype for the Navigator character class
can be in a scene or just on a plain BG
can be from any era real or imaginary

must have:

1 male and female archetype
not necessarily the same design but definitely must be related
2 FULL FIGURE! no 3/4 or waist up business
3 at least 2 props

295284

Winner: vida

[daestwen]

CHOW #80 - Intergalactic Bohemian Troubadour
Guest Host: jubjubjedi

295285

Winner: bumskee

[daestwen]

CHOW #81 - Heavy Gunner
Guest Host: VIDA

295297

Winner: Bumskee

[daestwen]

CHOW #82 - In Memoriam Glen Angus. VICTORY GALS.

No winner, for this round. To see those who participated, please check the thread.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=102426

[daestwen]

CHOW #83 - The Overprepared Backpacker
Guest Host: bumskee

295337

Winner: fedezz

[daestwen]

CHOW #84 - Chemical Warfare Field Medic
Guest Host: bumskee

295339

Winner: whiteeeeeee

[daestwen]

CHOW #85 -Z-69 the Robotic Gigolo
Guest Host: Fedezz

295342

Winner: Newman

[daestwen]

CHOW #86 - The Junk Collector
Guest Host: whiteeeeeee

295344

Winner: Mime

[daestwen]

CHOW #87 - Future Caveman
Guest Host: Newman

295345

Winner: Newman

[daestwen]

CHOW #88 - Fly Breeder
Guest Host: Mime

295347

Winner: trevor

[daestwen]

CHOW #89 - Avenging Winter Princess
Guest Host: Newman

295353

Winner: Poshspice

[daestwen]

CHOW #90 - The Antagonist
Guest Host: trevor

295354

Winner: Newman

[daestwen]

CHOW #91 - The Gangster and his Moll
Guest Host: Poshspice

295362

Winner: JessiBean

[daestwen]

CHOW #92 - The Miner's Daughter
Guest Host: Newman

295382

Winner: JessiBean

[daestwen]

CHOW #93 - The Apple Gatherer

Time period: Turn of the century (1900's England, Northern Europe or North East U.S.).

The Apple Gatherer is an outdoor bogeyman. Sublime, subtle, deceitful and malicious. He is known to keep company with goblins, kobolds, redcaps and other foul ferries. He is especially fond of children, small dogs, and farm cats.
Seen most frequently in apple orchards, he haunts only during the twilight hours, when he is most likely to catch a farmer's child lingering unawares.
Focus on the psychology and emotional impact of the character. He needs to be believable and frightening* - NOT just some monster slammed together.

295383

Winner: bumskee

[daestwen]

CHOW #94 - Yin & Yang
Guest Host: JessiBean

In traditional eastern cultures and religions, the Yin and Yang are a system of cosmic balance, dark vs. light, good vs. evil, male vs. female, etc.

For this chow there need to be two characters who are polar opposites and yet, through their contrast and conflict, balance one another out. The yin-yang symbol does not have to be in the image unless you want it to, nor does this have to be Asian inspired. The emphasis WILL be on contrasting personalities and the relationship between the two. Be creative with your opposites!

295385

Winner: lukavi

[daestwen]

CHOW #95 - Squirrel Mage

Cedartuft is the female lead in sword and sorcery Middle Grade Reader (ages 8-12) story of high adventure.
Cedarturft also happens to be a squirrel, a mage, and on a quest to save squirrel kind in her world.
She carries a small cedar staff (a stick to us), a gray green cloak, and has various pouches, satchels and tidbits associated with her craft.
Think of this as if it were for a book cover; so leave extra room at the top for a title, and show some action!

295389

Winner: lukavi

[daestwen]

CHOW #96 - Farmer Thicket

Secondary or support character
Farmer Thicket lives out in the boonies, farming… well, no one in town is really sure what Farmer Thicket does farm, except crop circles these days, but they’re sure he’s a farmer. He’s got the truck and the gun racks to prove it.

A well known Alienophile, Farmer Thicket will tell anyone standing still long enough about how he was “Abicticated way back in ’59 by dem little grey guys wit’ their high-techy shinny ships.”

When not in town explaining the difference between saucer types, he spends his time attempting to recontact the extraterrestrials with his home made "telempathonicating enhancimator", whose parts include, but are not limited to, a colander, truck battery, and jumper cables.

Big hat, big boots, big buckle, big ears, little man. Farmer Thicket is just slightly spun.

295393

Winner: mayk

[daestwen]

CHOW #97 - Hippie Joe

Primary Character
Across the field from Farmer Thickets' Crop Circle farm is the local recycle, run by a friend of Thicket's, Hippie Joe. Nam vet (he was a corpsman), and ex-emergency room doctor in the inner city, Joe lives a quiet life recycling the local recyclables and pontificating upon the world's woes.
A little more than slightly reactionary, he is now the local peace activist, animal rights activist, aniti-war activist, Global Warming activist, Pro-Choice activist, and, just activist in general. Anal about what goes where in recycling (plastics are *never* mixed with glass, which is also, by the way separated into brown, green, and clear) cardboard goes over behind the dumpster but aluminum can go *in* so long as it's not tinfoil. All recyclables must be washed clean of food products.
And he's strict vegetarian. Eggs are okay, because they're "cackleberries."
Long reddish brown hair, tie dye shirt, torn jeans and a Jesus beard with beads, he's Hippie Joe.

295398

Winner: food

[daestwen]

CHOW #98 - King Minos

295403

Winner: JessiBean

[daestwen]

CHOW #99 - Herald to the Queen

The End of an Era, Bring on the New Queen!

The Herald is a powerful member of the Queens' court, announcing her arrival and departure, and acts as her body guard and protector. A knight of unrivaled power, The Herald is the one who champions the Queen and all her ventures.

This character must be powerful. Watch your anatomy - we need a heroic, but believable character. This character needs to look the part - poised, strong, in control even in adverse situation.

The character needs to be executed in a more realistic manner - no cartoons or comic styles will be accepted.

295405

Winner: Stephan_R

[daestwen]

CHOW 100 - MEDUSA THE QUEEN!

INTRODUCING THE NEW QUEEN OF CHOW, JESSIBEAN!

447597

Winner: Jessibean

[daestwen]

CHOW 101 - The Spanish High Inquisitor

Historical Fiction
Spanish High Inquisitor Father Domingo Cristobal

“The Society of Jesus was established by the papacy in 1540 as a very special "fighting unit" at the total and exclusive disposal of the Roman Pope -- whoever he might be. From their beginnings, the Jesuits were conceived in a military mode. Soldiers of Christ, they were given only two purposes: to propagate the religious doctrine and the moral law of the Roman Catholic Church as proposed and taught by the Roman Pope, and to defend the rights and prerogatives of that same Roman Pope. Purely spiritual and supernatural purposes. And specifically Roman Catholic.”
--From The Jesuits, by Malachi Martin

Father Domingo Cristobal’s faith has never failed him. Years of Jesuit training has made him a stoic man, stern but loving with his order, loyal to his superiors and an unrelenting pursuer of the heretical Protestants. He is used to applying any method necessary unflinchingly in purging the world of sins of the flesh, mind and soul. There is no question about God’s Will.

And yet… a shadow lurks in the back of his mind. Unanswered, unrecognized, quietly probing, and exploring – what if Holy See is wrong?

447599

Winner: Meme

[daestwen]

CHOW 102 - The Italian Plague Doctor

Historical Fiction II
The Italian Plague Doctor
1349

Coming out of the East, the Black Death reached the shores of Italy in the spring of 1348 unleashing a rampage of death across Europe unprecedented in recorded history. By the time the epidemic played itself out three years later, anywhere between 25% and 50% of Europe's population had fallen victim to the pestilence.
--Eyewitness to History (www.eyewitnesstohistory.com)

“My name is Gabriella. My father was a doctor, and I learned from him how to treat various maladies and to set bones and which herbs and mixtures and such would treat this illness or that.

“My father, he died two months ago from the Black Death. I did not know what to do, so I donned his mask, gown, his boots and stick and gloves, and try to care for those I can.

“I try to help. But they die anyway. So many. I bring the flowers and perfumes, the hot drinks, the blessed artifacts, leeches – I even smoke like a man now to ward the Death away from me! The laxatives do not seem to work, and I hate covering the poor souls in mercury and placing them in ovens to burn the disease out. They scream so….

“May god have mercy on our souls, for I do not believe anyone shall survive…”

447601

Winner: Marctaro

[daestwen]

CHOW 103 - Evil Genie

FANTASY - OPEN ENDED

Evil female genie.
This is NOT to be a boob show. Focus on the character, give it a Middle Eastern spin. Be creative, not lecherous.

Thanks to -Food] for the topic

447602

Winner: alice_

[daestwen]

CHOW 104 - The Four Brothers

OFF THE DECK

The Four Brothers
Choose at least 2 of the Four to illustrate

The Four Jacks – brothers all – but like most royals, bitter bickering and hatred sours their relationships with each other.

Jack of Clubs is the Brute, and wounded on the inside – and can’t stand the site of blood.
Jack of Spades is suave, sophisticated, and self centered.
Jack of Diamonds is as gay as the day is long, and just avoids it all.
Jack of Hearts doesn’t fight for himself, but for the people!

To say they hate each other is akin to saying the sun rises in the morning. Their wars across the city are pitiless and brutal, each claiming a district decorated in their colors and code of arms and regalia. Elaborate duels, vile deceptions, and daring deeds are the duty for the day. But for all of their posturing, daredevil deeds, verbal salvos, and machismo – none can sword fight worth a whit.

447604

Winner: Stephen_R

[daestwen]

CHOW 105 - Amaterasu

Amaterasu, Japanese Goddess of the Sun.

This round is mostly open to interpretation, but do your homework and pull your design from the original mythology. You're welcome to do a fictional restyling, just make sure you can justify your reasoning.

Here's some links to get you started:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu
http://www.lyricalworks.com/stories/.../amaterasu.htm
http://cla.calpoly.edu/~bmori/syll/3...Amaterasu.html

447605

Winner: Platypus_Green

[daestwen]

CHOW 106 - Lady of Shalott

The Lady of Shalott

Try to keep it traditional - but feel free to be creative. So, to totally confuse you: try to keep within the parameters of the poem and character, but if you want to throw a twist on it, go for it.

447606

Winner: Poshspice

[daestwen]

CHOW 107 - Steampunk Penguin Professor

Steampunk Penguin Professor

He's a penguin. And a professor. And he's steampunk.

Currently, he's on an expedition to the arctic with his assistant.

Illustrate both. The assistant is totally open to whatever you make of it - but remember that it's the supporting character. He/She/It should not outshine our Prof. Penguin.

447608

Winner: Einen

[daestwen]

CHOW 108 - Hot Male Vampire Pin-up

HOT MALE VAMPIRE PINUP

have fun, but keep it humanoid.


447610

winner: Ryuloulou

[daestwen]

CHOW 109: Extraterrestrial Immigrant

EXTRATERRESTRIAL IMMIGRANT

Imagine that it’s 1000 years from now on earth and extraterrestrial species are now inhabiting the planet. Paint what one of those immigrants would look like.

It must be a species entirely from your imagination. You can not paint any existing species or a species with a visual representation (in art, movies, etc.). Also it must be in a realistic style. Make believe that this is for a movie that requires ultimate realism like Star Wars. The immigrant can be any place on our planet as you want.

Have fun!

Thanks to Jake Kobrin

447611

winner: Tom Garden

[daestwen]

CHOW 110: Historical Gender Bender

HISTORICAL GENDER BENDER

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

You must take one real historical figure from any period in history (up until 1950), and recreate that person in the opposite gender. You may place them in a different time period, a different planet, an alternative universe, -whatever you like - BUT you must make it recognizable as the person you are attempting to portray, using either costume, props, facial characteristics, whatever you can think of.

You can do this in whatever style you like, just again, make the historical figure clear and recognizable.

This is a research topic. Therefore, you must provide at least one link and three pictures (whether they be pictures, paintings, etc) of the historical figure you are portraying when you submit for the final burning. Anyone missing any of these will be disqualified!

(If you're having trouble finding reference, don't hesitate to pm me, and I'll try to help you out.)

447612

Winner: Ryuloulou

[daestwen]

CHOW 111: Sam Smythe and the Scurvy Skalliwags

Main Character(s) for the Children's Story (age 7-10): Sam Smythe and the Scurvy Skalliwags.
Choose one, two, three or all four characters:

Sam Sheridan Smythe lives in Smithtown, which as a small matter of note, has been inundated with Skypirates of late. Big, scary, overly hairy, absolutely barbaric, and simply rude Sky Pirates. Only Sam knows why.

Cynthia Sandleburg, Sam's neighbor and best friend, and the only one who knows how to get rid of the Sky Pirates and send them back to the Cloud Cove.

Spot, the most worthless watchdog that ever cowered beneath the back porch, and Cynthia's terrified terrier.

Captain Saunder Sunder Skinner, the evilist, scarriest, scummiest, surliest Sky Pirate that ever flew the unfriendly skies and pillaged the unwitting suburban towns of the Southwest, and leader of the Scurvy Skalliwages, Inc.

This is a fairly open topic, and designed to have some fun with. See what you can you do - but keep in mind what it's for: you're creating characters for a children's book - not full blown illustrations this time around. Include character studies - expressions, stances, costume and artifacts, etc. You don't need to do an orthographic, but you want to get a real feeling for who these people are. We want something silly and fun, so no hard realism this time around. Artwork needs to finished, not sketchy.

448414

Winner: Chate Noire

[daestwen]

CHOW 112: Grandma The Serial Killer

Grandma took up a new hobby, and it ain't needlepoint. She's a sweet old lady, we swear, she just has an insatiable hunger for human lives. But she bakes great cookies!

Key to this week's character is to get the point across without excessive use of gore. Extra points if there's no blood at all!

448415

Winner: Mayk

[daestwen]

CHOW 113: Shapeshifter

This round is a little more open than the last few. The guidelines are thus:

1 human form, male or female,
and 1 shape-shifted form, either an animal, creature, monster, ect. (For example, a werewolf = human to wolf monster, or a selkie = woman to a seal, etc.)

This is an illustrative ChOW, but you've got freedom with how you decide to give your character story. We should be able to tell that there is more to them than just being able to turn into something else - give them a time period, a home, a reason for existing. Both forms must be in some way shown in the image.

You're very welcome to write a little side story to go along with your image, but we encourage you to make your illustration readable enough to not need it!

448416

Winner: PuppyKitten

[daestwen]

CHOW 114: The Beast

Re envision a contemporary Beast from the classic fairy tale Beauty and Beast. You may need to do some research for this one. Wikipedia is an acceptable source, however, expand your horizons a little bit and perhaps go to a library instead of the web.

[CLARIFICATION]
Okay, what I meant by "Re envision a contemporary Beast from the classic fairy tale" was to take the general theme, the idea of the beast, and come up with something more contemporary - I did not mean for you to do the boar-guy in a suit. Be creative - make him creepy, or frightening, in a contemporary sense. Don't like fur? Fine. Give him scales, or wet skin, or feathers - it doesn't matter. Keep the theme, but be creative with your design.

448417

Winner: Markito

[daestwen]

CHOW 115: Near future East African Gang Leader/Warlord

Time for some CHOW badassery:
Near future East African Gang Leader/Warlord. Keep it real - Near future as in within the next eighteen months to three years, not fifty. In other words, no sci-fi.

Character can be male or female. They should be battle hardened from a life time of living in a world that most in the west can not imagine. Refer to to the reference provided - character needs to be able to fit into the world in a believable manner. This character also has a pet of a singularly nasty nature - a savage, harnessed beast, used only as a means to induce fear in his enemies. Pet at your own risk.

Stay away from cartoony characterizations this round.

448418

Winner: fulcrum919

[daestwen]

CHOW 116: The Host

The Host - Many things are described as "the Host", angelic choires, fae armies. One of the defining points of the Host is that on an individual level, they are also called "the Host". Research material can be found on wikipedia and monstropedia ( http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Sluagh sluagh means "host"). This is an open ended topic. "the Host" can be many differen things: Angels, Demons, Faerie creatures. Your job is to depict ONE of them.
Keywords:
Angel, Warrior Angel, Sluagh, Host. Sithra Akhra

Thanks to Studio Colrouphobia for the suggestion!

448419

Winner: Coldrum

[daestwen]

CHOW 117: Smaug

“Smaug should not be "the Dragon in the Hobbit movie" as if it was just "another" creature in a Bestiary. Smaug should be "The DRAGON" for all movies past and present. The shadow he cast and the greed he comes to embody- the "need to own" casts its long shadow and creates a thematic / dramatic continuity of sorts that articulates the story throughout-

"In that respect, Smaug the CHARACTER is as important, if not more important, than the design. The character will emerge form the writing- and in that the Magnificent arrogance, intelligence, sophistication and greed of Smaug shine through- One of the main mistakes with talking dragons is to shape the mouth like a snub Simian one in order to achieve a dubious lip-synch. .. A point which eluded me particularly in Eragon, since their link is a psychic one.

"To me, Smaug is the perfect example of a great creature defined by its look and design, yes, but also, very importantly, by his movement and -One little hint- its environment - Think about it... the way he is scaled, moves and is lit, limited or enhanced by his location, weather conditions, light conditions, time of the year, etc. That's all I can say without spoilers but, if you keep this curious little summary you'll realize several years form now that those things I had in my mind ever since doodling the character as a kid had solidified waaay before starting the shoot of the film ...”
-- Guillermo del Toro on Smaug.
http://www.wetanz.com/holics/index.p...5&catid=2#more

448420

Winner: Matt Dixon

[daestwen]

CHOW 118 was cancelled.

CHOW 119: John Carter of Mars

Resources:
John Carter of Mars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carter_of_Mars) on Wikipedia - stick as close as possible to the character description provided there-in.

Pulp Science fiction book cover (http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/jcblbmar.jpg)

Frazetta (http://www.tarzan.org/art/ffddpm.jpg)

You can go retro, or dystopian or whichever way, but keep it SCI-FI :geekg:

448421

Winner: Kian

[daestwen]

CHOW 120: Dark Knight Villians

THIS IS AN OPEN ROUND

Pick up to three* villains from the Batman series to set in the Dark Knight world - They must fit with Christian Bale's Batman and Heath Ledger's Joker.

DO NOT PICK A VILLAIN THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SEEN IN THE DARK KNIGHT MOVIES.

Think edgy, gritty ... ah, hell, just go watch the movie again

*You can one, two or three characters depending on what you feel comfortable doing for the week.

448425

Winner: Poshspice

[daestwen]

CHOW 121: Icarus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus

Icarus! HOWEVER, can be any version of Icarus *except* the original Greek Mythology version.

Feel free to play around to make things interesting, but make sure to stay true to the original idea!

NOTES:
No, I does not have to be a literal retelling. Aka, you don't *need* to have wings. But you WILL want it to read as belonging to the same story/moral. For example, the soldier one is probably too vague - could relate to absolutely anything, there's nothing 'Icarus' about it in particular. The one with the boy on the edge of the cliff is much closer to what I mean. (But I think I will still have wings in mine anyway. ) Keep in mind that if *I* can't see the Icarus in it, or Oreg can't, it won't be going to poll. I know it's a tough order, folks, but I also know you can do it!

Yes, He has to be male. Sorry! I love love love gender-switching and all that, but Icarus is pretty specifically male.

No, the image does not have to involve the fall. Necessarily, anyway. But his fall *is* the most obviously recognizable story-point, and if you're diverging far from the subject matter, you'll want to keep as many cues as possible. If you were, however, taking Icarus literally and putting him simply in a different period, you could even just having him standing around - other visual cues will give us a clue to who he is.


Open topics like this are always hard because you have to figure out your interpretation yourself, and if you have any specific questions about your piece that you don't want to ask here, feel free to PM me or Oreg.

448431

Winner: Onionface

[daestwen]

CHOW 122: Red Sonja
Classic Character Redux!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sonja

Do your homework! This round is similar in nature to the "John Carter of Mars" round, so if you're interested in what way to go with this, go check out that round.

Key Points:

Red Haired Conan-era Warrior Woman!

448433

Winner: bumskee

[daestwen]

Chow 123 :: The Blood Moon Monk

The Blood Moon Monk:

A strange figure with no particular religion or philosophy tied directly to him. He travels the world in search of knowledge - both of himself, and of the universe. To him, to be is to know, and only in knowing there is being.

He seems to only wander into populated areas just when there is someone who needs to be 'taken care' of. This be a young man who needs only to be set back on the right path, or someone - something - much more dangerous, for which only lethal force can be used. Somehow, this strange monk just seems to always be in the right place at the right time...

Notes:

- He is almost a vigilante, but he has his own set of rigid rules and morals that he abides by - he is first and foremost a monk, second a man.

- We're looking for a more eastern/Asian feel on this one, but don't let this limit you.

- The Blood Moon is his emblem. You aren't required to use it, but keep it in mind.

452954

Winner: indus

[daestwen]

CHOW 124: 24th Century Space Smuggler

Bahati ("Bad Bones") Lawrence is a Near Future (2400's) Jamaican-Japanese female ship pilot of a run-down merchant/smuggling/mercenary vessel for hire. She plows the space lanes with her alien co-pilot, a being from the Rim Worlds, looking for the next deal or Black Market shipment she can get to help make ends meet.

Off beat and punky with a penchant for bright colours, shiny things, fuzzy dice, and little statues of Hawaiin girls that shake in those dresses, plus all the other detritus of living for long periods of time between ports and avoiding the authorities, Bahati is an okay shot, but much better at high-tailing it out of a tight squeeze.

Her copilot is a non-human/non-terrestrial something. Be creative if you choose to include it, but it's not necessary.

Notes:
Bahati is female and Jamacian-Japanese.
Her co-pilot is alien. If you include it and it looks like a human in a goon suit, you'll be automatically disqualified from the round.

Reference: Blade Runner, Alien, Tank Girl and Firefly.

458874

winner: trevor

[daestwen]

Chow 125 :: Aztec Child Sacrifice to the Rain God Tláloc

A young child is preparing for the sacrifice to the Rain God. Between 5-10, boy or girl, and BEFORE the sacrifice, not during or after! (We don't want to see any gore, thank you very much!)

This is a bit of an open topic, but it IS a historic round. Feel free to play around with whatever ideas come to mind, but KEEP TO THE TIME PERIOD and the idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_sacrifice

464952

winner: Poshspice

Congratulations on winning ten rounds!

[daestwen]

Chow 126 :: Scheherazade

DESCRIPTION

Heroine and teller of the 1001 tales in the "One Thousand and One Arabian Nights".

Read the attached for details on her story.

The basics:

- Her character and the stories that she tells have been traced all over the ancient world - Persia/Arabia/Egypt/India - so feel free to experiment within the time period, but this IS in the ancient world. No Alien Arabian Nights, please!

- A strong woman, and an awesome story teller. Please keep in mind that she uses stories over seduction - your character should reflect that, and not just show off a skimpy outfit!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boo...and_One_Nights

http://www.bartleby.com/16/1002.html

471670

winner: poshspice

[S.C. Watson]

CHOW 127 :: The Little Mermaid

DESCRIPTION

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Mermaid

Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid'.

Please keep in mind that this is *not* the Disney version, and I don't want to see anything even remotely related to it.

We need Two Character Designs for this: her mermaid form, and her maiden form. You may want to do this more as a straight-forward, orthographic design, but you are not required to.

478156

winner: laterDays

[S.C. Watson]

CHOW 128 :: The Clockwork Heart

DESCRIPTION
"The creaking of floorboards and the sound of heavy footsteps in the hall dragged the boys mind back into the damp and dark living room he had been playing in. Someone was at the door. The boy glanced at the clock to check the time, but the clock had stopped working ever since his dad had thrown it against the wall years ago. The doorknob squeaked. The boy dragged the wooden locomotive, which missed a wheel since he could remember having it, back with him into the shade as he hastily crept back to his corner, a hiding spot behind the desk. A tin soldier was left behind in the middle of the bare floor but the boy did not dare leave his hiding place to go back and retrieve it. The door creaked and then slammed shut. The footsteps came closer, then suddenly stopped. The boy peeked around the desk and caught sight of a large silhouette of a man in the doorway, framed by the light coming from the hall. The figure turned its head towards the boy. Not daring to move, the boy stared wide-eyed back at the man. Daddy was home.

Without showing any sign of acknowledging his son, the man grunted and slowly took another step. With every step the man took, he seemed to slow down and become more and more unsteady. Finally he reached a flimsy wooden chair and sank down on it with a deep sigh, making it almost collapse under a weight is was never build for. The man’s breathing had become louder and heavier all the way towards the chair. With a tired sweep of his arm he took off his hat. Slowly he started to unbutton his heavy coat, and what at first was a faint ticking at the edge of hearing since he had entered now became the steady tick-tock like a clock. It seemed to come from inside the man’s clothes. The boy knew what was coming, but he remained hidden still.

The father kept unbuttoning several layers of clothes, until he came to a leather chest piece held together by several belts. The ticking became louder. The boy dreaded this moment worse than any other time of the day, even worse than facing the other kids at school. With each belt that was unbuckled, the ticking seemed to become more aggressive and present. Finally, the leather chest piece came loose. The boy closed his eyes, but his mind could picture every detail of what he did not want to see. Roughly where the man’s heart should have been, a metal contraption was buried in his chest that ticked with the deafening punctuality of a clock. Moving parts where visible inside it, gears and flywheels and springs, all moving to the same beat. The boy opened his eyes, preparing for what was to come.

The man fumbled with the clamps that kept the contraption in place, then grabbed the clockwork heart with both hands and with a grunt of effort he pulled it out and slammed it on the table next to him. It kept on ticking, but now the table acted like an amplifier. The boy wanted to clasp his hands over his ears to keep the sound out, but knew it would only make his father angrier. Slowly he got up on his feet, dropping the toy train. With an impatient gesture his daddy motioned him to come closer. This movement seemed to cost him a lot of willpower, as his eyes rolled up to show only white for a moment and he gasped for breath. A hoarse whisper came out of his mouth: “rewind it, son…before mom comes home...”

NOTES:
The main character is the father. You may illustrate the son and the mother if you wish, but they are not necessary.

If you plan on participating in IDW as well, the Clockwork Heart must be included in a sidebar and be fully illustrated.

It may be easier to do an Ortho view of the Father for this round.484838
Winner: MarkWinters

[daestwen]

CHOW 129: Sherlock Holmes

DESCRIPTION
Sherlock Holmes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes) - keep him to his period. Inclusion of other characters, such as Watson, or Moriarty, are optional.

491966

Winner: Poshspice

[daestwen]

CHOW #130 :: Dr. Watson

DESCRIPTION
Dr. Watson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Watson), friend, confidant, and biographer of Sherlock Holmes. Keep him to his period.

497004

winner: Tom Garden

[daestwen]

Chow 131 :: Stilgar

Stilgar Ben Fifraw (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stilgar)

515715

winner: MarcoMazzoni

[daestwen]

Chow 132 :: St. Alia of the Knife

St. Alia of the Knife (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alia_Atreides)
Keep her to the first book.

515733

winner: openanewworld

[daestwen]

Chow 133 :: Spike, the Dragon Dentist

Ike goes by "Spike" and he's a Dragon Dentist. So you dread getting your wisdom teeth pulled? Spike offers wisdom while pulling your teeth! Many used to gossip that Spike was a dragon "slayer" based on the tools in his possession. A wanderer by nature, he's never had or needed an office.

-Spike is a Dragon Dentist without an office, he travels the lands answering house calls (carries the tools he needs with him at all times) No pictures of a dentist in an room with a dragon in his chair please

-Spike is old and wise, something of an ancient legend himself

-Time period could vary from ancient fantasy to modern day, but nothing about Spike is ordinary.

-Spike is human.

515736

winner: Stephan_R

[daestwen]

Chow 134 :: The Eclectic, Eccentric Singer

Inspiration: Tom Waits "Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards"

Description: A man or woman who has been around for a long time, their age disguised by wrinkles and scars that the times have written on their face. A person of faith, but not necessarily of a religion, just a power of greater than their own. No man tells them what to do with their life, they are guided by winds and season. A drifter by day and a power of soul by night. They travel from town to town, playing in low-lit bars, drinking to drown out a regretful past. They sleeps when they can, eats what people give them. Their clothes are dated to a time before modern day technology i.e. a tattered suit with old snakeskin boots.

Their only goal in their memorable life is to sing about their life story, full of tragedy and despair. They has a good heart but life and appearance shows different.

In short, a vagabond.

529909

winner: aeronik

[daestwen]

Chow 135 :: Agetha, The Victorian Automaton

ADVERTISEMENT:
Witness the Miraculous Agetha! A realistic, full-size clock-work doll, Agetha is made of all British Empire materials, including genuine Indian Ivory, Canadian copper and bronze, and Pearls off the Australian Coast. Designed and built by master craftsmen Henry Dunnet, Agetha is fully capable of mimicking all human emotion. Wound by a secret form of steam technology, Agetha only requires one hour's wind up a day, and can do all your daily chores for you, with a happy smile and a spring in her step. You'll never want to go back to your old life, once Agetha is in it! Made to Order for a Limited Time, please contact Henry Dunnet for full details!

Scrawled at the bottom:

NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. First Agetha failure. Set to be destroyed. Please pull ad from new week's newsletter. Henry Dunnet wanted by police for misconduct and endangering the Queen. Send all information to Col. Newcastle at Scotland Yard.

529911

winner: JessiBean

[daestwen]

Chow 136 :: Goblin Gunslinger

Just what it says: A Goblin Gunslinger - however it needs to be an orthographic view. (Front, Side, Back). Greyscale or color.

533434

winner: matjosh

[daestwen]

Chow 137 :: Goblin Boss

IF YOU PARTICIPATED LAST ROUND: Assume the goblin gunslinger you designed last round is the good guy. Now come up with the Goblin Boss for the world he occupies. The Boss has to make your goblin gunslinger look like a pansy.

IF YOU DID NOT PARTICIPATE LAST ROUND: Review the entries for round 136 (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=142158) and create a Boss Goblin that fits one of those worlds (include your inspiration pic so we know who's world you're working from - and it has to come from the finals thread to keep it consistent).

Ortho views required.

536995

winner: matjosh

[daestwen]

CHOW #138 :: COUNTESS ELIZABETH BATHORY

Countess Elizabeth Báthory 16th century countess who was rumored to bath in the blood of blue blooded girls to prolong her youth.

She is supposed to be the inspiration of Dracula and vampires, but Vlad the Impaler was used as the visual form.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory

Thanks to Adele for the suggestion!

542336

Winner: algenpfleger

[daestwen]

Chow 139: Jiao-Long, Velociraptor

Jiao-Long is no ordinary pet. Found deep in the jungles of a far off land, the all-powerful Emperor had the great beast brought to the Forbidden City as both a prize for China, and as a symbol of greatness to his people.

Jiao-Long is a velociraptor, a vicious predator made half-tame by numerous handlers and a life-time of pampering. He is the last of his kind - a bizarre accident - somehow millions of years from where science expected him to be. He is fed only the freshest food, and the rarest - baboons, tigers, elephant, brought from all over the world. He has presents lavished upon him both by the Emperor himself, as well as all who wish to please the emperor. Though he has been known to kill handlers when he is displeased, he shows a remarkable amount of intelligence and cunning, and the Emperor lists him among his 'most cherished advisers'. Whether this is true, remains to be seen.

He is, however, revered at almost an iconic status - seen as being kin to the dragons of legend and the ultimate symbol of the Ming Dynasty's Power.

546090

winner: Venger

[daestwen]

Chow 140 : Betty Page Tribute

As a tribute round, there was no poll.

Instead, view the images in the Finally Finished Selection Thread (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=145003) and the Final Burning Thread (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=144741).

[daestwen]

Chow 141 :: The Ghosts of Christmas

This is a two-week Chow for the holidays! Because you have some extra time, you are asked to do three characters this year. For those of you familiar with Dicken's the Christmas Carol, you'll recognize all three: The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Please feel free to go wild with these designs - you don't need to stay exactly true to the description in the novel, just to the spirit! There have been plenty awesome designs of these characters over the years, so take a look for some inspiration!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_of_Christmas_Past
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_of_Christmas_Present
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_o...as_Yet_to_Come

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol

581815

winner: Jeremy Hoffman

[daestwen]

Chow 142 :: Knights of the Round Table

Choose one or more of the Knights of the Round Table. If you do more than one, please keep the designs consistent so they work in the same universe!

Please give some visual clues as to which knights you are illustrating - I don't want just random knights, I want designs based off of the particular stories of the characters you are trying to illustrate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_the_Round_Table

Some of the more popular knights in particular:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_arthur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Galahad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Lancelot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Percival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gawain

Other figures from the Arthurian legends who are knights, but not necessarily knights of the round, I will also allow, as long as you ask about them in particular first. (ie, the Green Knight, King Pellinore, etc.)

581820

winner: Matt Dixon

[daestwen]

Chow 143 :: Cheshire Cat/Caterpillar

OPEN ROUND

Take the Cheshire Cat and/or the Caterpillar anywhere you like. Long as we can still tell their character, I don't care what species, genre or period they are from.

Based from the characters in Alice in Wonderland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice%2..._in_Wonderland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheshire_Cat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpi...in_Wonderland)

581827

winner:Giacobino

[daestwen]

Chow 144 :: The Siamese Twins

It's year 55 P.A. - Post apocalypse. The nuclear war, and the devastation it caused afterward, led to a huge increase in the number of abnormal births - at least in those populations that survived. In the pockets of the planet that are still relatively untouched, civilization is trying to find a fledgling grip on itself again.

Outside those, however, is chaos.

The Siamese twins are rarely known as anything else. Cold and rational, these two not-so-individuals have learned to survive in a world set almost entirely against them.

Working as "protectionists" for those who wish to cross the wild, they are part mercenary, part guide, part shaman, part extortionist.

Notes on this round:
-the twins can be either male or female, but they should both be the same gender
-post apocalyptic, but the amount of technology they have available is entirely up to you

581838

winner: peppi

[daestwen]

Chow 145 :: Supervillain Self Portrait

Kind of a different round for CHOW this week. Totally open, just a self-portrait of yourself as a supervillain. (I mashed together a couple different ideas from the suggestion thread. )

Make sure that along with the design, you get across what your powers/super evil weaponry/death glare is!

588346

winner: deadred

[daestwen]

Chow 146 :: Queen Titania

Titania, Queen of the Faeries.

Don't have to keep to the Shakespearian view of her, feel free to interpret faeries how you will.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titania

595314

Winner: Ciaee

[daestwen]

Chow 147 :: Baba Yaga - IDW Crossover

Baba Yaga, notoriously evil witch of legend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Yaga

For recent renditions, I suggest 'Hellboy' and 'Fables'.

Again, like Titania, free to interpret, though a sci-fi baba yaga might be a little out of place. :]

601782

winner: bumskee

[daestwen]

Chow 148: E.G. Brownstone, P.I.

Edmund G. Brownstone, Private Investigator... of the Paranormal!

Mr. Brownstone specializes in paranormal mysteries - and the occasional adultery case (though they frequently overlap).

Time Period Open.

611606

winner: FAST ART

[daestwen]

Chow 149 :: Female Sith Lord

Pretty much exactly as it says. A female Sith Lord for the Star Wars universe (read: the movies).

Pretty open, but a description is required. Just one or two lines is fine.

615040

winner: Vorace

[daestwen]

Chow 150 :: Queen's Consort

Well guys, we've made it! 150 rounds of Chow!

This round is open. Basically, this is a lead-up to Round 200 and our new queen. Every Queen needs a consort... who will yours be?

637736

winner: Mark Winters

[daestwen]

Chow 151 :: Puss In Boots

PUSS IN BOOTS!

Design the cat! Your own interpretation! Boots are essential!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puss_in_Boots_(fairy_tale)

637738

winner: dwinbotp

[daestwen]

Chow 152 :: Mary of the Blue Lights

No one is quite sure where Mary comes from, or how she manages to survive. Twelve years old, she lives on the city streets, despite many attempts to move her to a stable habitat. Somehow she manages to survive despite adversity, giving credit only to what she calls the 'blue lights'. Strange, glowing lights that she speaks to and that help take care of her. Only she can see them. Some people see her as crazy; maybe she is, or maybe she is in touch with forces that speak only directly to her.

637742

winner: Clochette

[daestwen]

Chow 153 :: Dr Who: The Final Doctor


He has been through them all. His lives burnt up through the aeons of time, and The Doctor has reached his final regeneration. There will be no more.

Design the Doctors final form. His last appearance before time claims him, or doesn’t…

With David Tennant stepping down and Matt Smith, the youngest ever actor to play the Dr stepping up to fill his shoes, decide where his regenerations might lead. It could be simple or complex, so go with your imagination. However, try and keep it within the Whoniverse, the world of Dr Who. And remember, this is a TWO WEEK ChOW.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

(Dr Who is copyright of the BBC.)

682753

Winner: RichLyons

[daestwen]

Chow 154 :: Character for a WWII Motivational Poster

Pretty straight forward, guys. Design a character to be used on a WWII motivational poster. Remember that you want to think about what subject you want your character to be addressing. Convincing people to enlist? Reminding them that there girlfriends are probably spies? Telling their girlfriends that to help the boys they need to work in factories? "Keep Calm, Carry On?"

You don't have to do the poster itself, just the character. But you might find it fun if you design the poster too. :] just keep the 3/4ths rule in mind! If you want a close up for the poster, you should include a full-body sketch too.

682755

Winner: JessiBean

[daestwen]

Chow 155 :: Dra'llk, Lesser Demon

Dra'llk is a lesser demon, in charge of many important and noble temptations. That's what he says.

In fact, his list of responsibilities includes:

1) Tempting people to play bejewelled or browse facebook on company time.
2) tempting people to steal grapes or small chocolate from grocery stores.
etc.

He has many other responsibilities, all along the same level. He is determined to succeed as well as can be possibly achieved in order to move up into the 'tempt people to cheat on their wives with the landlady' category of sin.

682760

Winner: RichLyons

[daestwen]

Chow 156 :: Joan of Arc

Jeanne d'Arc

Or Joan of Arc. Probably one of the most famous historical figures of all time, Joan really needs little introduction. But briefly: Joan of Arc was born a peasant girl in 1412 France and became a military leader who persuaded the King, Charles VII, she had divine right to expel the English from Northern France. After victories at Orleans and Patay she failed to take Paris and was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the English. She was tried for witchcraft and heresy, and supported by a tribunal of French Ecclesiastics who were in league with the English, she was burned at the stake in Rouen in 1431 aged just 19.

But for further information on her there is always Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc

http://archive.joan-of-arc.org/joano...biography.html

One of the interesting things about Joan is we know so much about her, certainly after she came to the 'authorities' attention. In fact the whole of her trial is documented almost word for word. However, don't feel restricted to presenting her in medieval attire. Feel free to experiment with her outfit and time period but that is not a strict requirement. Interpret her as you will.

682781

Winner: RichLyons

[daestwen]

Chow 157 :: The Endless

The Endless

Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Despair, Desire and Delirium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Endless

The Endless are brothers and sisters created by the British writer Neil Gaiman (with the exception of Destiny – Marv Wolfman and Bernie Wrightson) for the DC/Vertigo Comics series ‘Sandman’ (Dream). Each one is a personification of a natural force and has very distinctive characteristics.

Destiny: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destiny_(DC_Comics))

Death: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(DC_Comics))

Dream: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_(comics))

Destruction: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction_(DC_Comics))

Despair: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despair_(DC_Comics))

Desire: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_(DC_Comics))

Delirium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_(DC_Comics))

DC/Vertigo: http://www.dccomics.com/vertigo/

Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to design one of The Endless, or if you are feeling industrious as many as you like, but that is up to you, there is no bonus for producing more than one. Avoid designing them as previously presented in the comic, stick to gender, although bear in mind each one has very individual motifs and sigils (example, Death’s Ankh, or Desire’s Heart) and provide your own interpretation.

682793

Winner: Dan!

[daestwen]

Chow 158 :: The Green Fairy


This one has been requested a few times, so here you are. The personification of absinthe, often referred to as "The Green Fairy".

Illicit, mysterious, and often thought of as an aphrodisiac and narcotic (both of which probably aren't true), the Green Fairy was a symbol for artists around the turn of the century.

Let's see your own interpretations. Keep in mind you don't have to do this in any specific way - If you don't want to glamorise drinking, feel free to make her the villain in the piece. Think she's treated unfairly? Make her the hero.

Just keep in mind she is Absinthe Personified, so you will want to tie in elements into your drawing to make that clear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe

Please double check posting guidelines!

682797

Winner: Clochette

[daestwen]

CHOW 159 :: THE OUTLAW

The Outlaw

Thomas 'The Baron' Cochrane was one of the last of his kind. The twentieth century had dawned and he was an unwelcome memory of a violent time in his country's history. He had ridden with Quantrill’s Raiders, had known Jesse James and Cole Younger, and between times as a paid killer he had worked the ranches alongside William Bonney and John Chisum. Now he was approaching old age, the scars of battles fought across his face and reflected in his bitter eyes. All he owned he brought with him, his gun, his horse, his bedroll and the bottle of laudanum he was addicted to. Not much for a lifetime of thievery and murder. He was despised by a country that was fast becoming respectable. But he wasn't going to go with a whimper. There would be one last gunfight, and he didn't intend for either of them to walk away from this one.

Cochrane is a cowboy and gunfighter. You have free reign with his look, but he is aging. Not young. And bare in mind he is now part of the early twentieth century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfighter

702923

winner: NicHolS

[daestwen]

Chow #160 :: Erica, Zombie-Slayer

Erica's life was quite fine before, thank-you-very-much. She had just accepted a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Robert, landed herself a nice job with a nicer paycheck and an apartment downtown.

Now Robert is a flesh-eating zombie, the entire world in in panic and Erica has to fight for survival just to make it day-to-day.

Let's just say, Erica is one angry little lady.

Notes:
- Near future, zombie apocalypse
- Erica is around 30 years old
- Zombie boyfriend is optional. ;]

702930

Winner: Cosmitron

[daestwen]

Chow #161 :: The City

No it's not Environment of the week! Thanks to Zaxser for this suggestion.

This week we want you to take a city, anywhere in the world, your own, or another, and visualise it as a character. Present a city as a human personality, male or female it’s up to you. If possible try to avoid national costumes, and instead imagine how the city would look as a person.

Zaxser’s suggestions:

London is crying. It's just one of those days.

Paris is such a tease.

New York is a huge .

People think of Miami as a party girl, but she keeps her secrets well with an abyss of hidden depths.

Tokyo is incredibly obese, writhing and feeding. No one knows where she ends and her sisters begin.

Some people say everything is bigger in Dallas. Some people lie.

Since the flood, New Orleans just hasn't been the same.

New Amsterdam is the normal one in the family. What's their problem?

People keep saying a character can be a plant, an animal, an object, a place. All it needs is personality. Prove it. Present a city as a character.

702934

Winner: Cosmitron

[daestwen]

Chow #162 :The BOGEYMAN

Hush, hush, hush, here comes The Bogeyman!
Don’t let him come to close to you,
He’ll catch you if he can...

What does he look like? According to Wikipedia he’s a child’s embodiment of terror. It may originate in Scotland from the word Boggart, but every culture seems to have a ‘bogeyman’. What is your bogeyman. Let’s see him! No horror film characters though; Michael Myers, Freddy Krugers or hockey masks etc. But it doesn’t HAVE to be humanoid, that aspect is up to you.

Remember this is a character challenge, so shadowy hidden figures might be atmospheric, but make sure we can see him/it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogeyman

750221

winner: dwinbotp

[daestwen]

Chow #163: Envoy of the Khemethar

Nearly 6000 years ago, the Khemethar discovered a small blue planet on the edge of the galaxy, and sent an envoy to the primitive species that lived there. They made contact with a strange but industrious people in a place which first would be known as the Upper and Lower Kingdoms, and then the united nile valley would come to be known as Egypt.

The primitive race could not completely understand where their new guests had come from, and explanations of their journey through the stars led the Egyptians to believe that they had met Gods. The Khemethar's mission being one primarily of study, they allowed the egyptians their belief in order to get closer into their culture and to study the people of this planet much more closely.

Though a peaceful race in the grand sense of the word, they still suffered the same flaws as humanity, and fights often broke out between the members of the envoy - more than 2000 in number - some ending in injury, and death.

The stories of their hardships, battles, and revelations to the Egyptian people became legendary, and finally mythical. When they took their leave of the egyptian people, they left an undeniable mark upon them.

Notes :

- Design One or More of the Khemethar envoy, based upon one of the Egyptian Gods (ie, Aten-Ra, Isis, Osiris, Set, etc)

- You do not have to depict them as the Egyptians did - think of interesting things that they might have had/worn that might have been interpreted the way they were by the egyptians either for symbolic reasons, or simply because it was the closest thing that it looked like, not having the same technology/clothing available to them.

750226

winner: dwinbotp

[daestwen]

Chow #164 :: Newborn

Two week special! Chow, along with the other weeklies, have been invited to participate in the CA-wide contest 'Newborn'.

Pretty open topic this time, and we're only going to narrow it down a few ways.

1.) You must start a new piece just for chow. Since Newborn allows multiple entries, this means that either you'll finally get a start on one, or you'll have a second to enter by the final deadline.

2.) It must be character-centric, and follow chow rules. So you must be able to see 3/4ths (at least) of the character.

3.) The character must embody the idea of Newborn. But not necessarily literally! Think creation, folks - creator, or creation, it's up to you. Keep in mind that CoW is doing something as well, so make sure you're in the character direction, not the creature direction. You will want to include the character in a background (abstract or realized) and it can be of more complex narrative too. Idea development and design are key!

We know it's very open this week, but we hope this will inspire you to be part of the contest and support CA!

750227

winner: JessiBean

[daestwen]

Chow #165 :: SuperCute!

This week's challenge is a little different than usual!

Design a Superhero, with only one stipulation: your superhero must have the most ludicrously cute super power you can think of! We will also allow Supervillians for this contest, but they must again have super cute powers.

Can't think of anything? How about some examples: A boy that when he sings the notes leave his mouth in candy rainbows? A girl that transforms into part-girl part-unicorn? A boy with a marshmellow shield? Stretch your imaginations here!

Please make sure to focus on two things: the character design, but also a visual way to get across your hero/villian's powers, as if you were designing for a comic book or other visual medium

750231

winner: rvdtor

[daestwen]

Chow #166 :: Pride and Prejudice

Yes Colin Firth nailed it for many, but put him out of your mind for now. Put Jennifer Ehle and Kiera Knightly out too, because this week your challenge is to interpret Mr Darcy and/or Elizabeth Bennet from ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen. One or the other or both, it’s up to you. We’d like to see people stick to historical accuracy and dress them in the Regency/Napoleonic clothes of two hundred years ago, but it’s up to you.

Character descriptions from Wikipedia:

Fitzwilliam Darcy is the main male protagonist. At twenty-eight years old and unmarried, Mr. Darcy is the wealthy owner of the famously superior estate Pemberley in Derbyshire. Portrayed as handsome and intelligent, but not convivial, his concern with decorum and moral rectitude is seen by many as an excessive concern with social status. He makes a poor impression on strangers, such as the people of Meryton, but is valued by those who know him well.

Elizabeth Bennet is the main female protagonist. The reader sees the unfolding plot and the other characters mostly from her viewpoint. The second of the Bennet daughters at twenty years old, she is portrayed as intelligent, lively, attractive and witty, with her faults being a tendency to judge on first impressions and perhaps being a little selective of the evidence she uses to base her judgments upon. As the plot begins, her closest relationships are with her father, her sister Jane, her aunt Mrs. Gardiner and her neighbour Charlotte Lucas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is one of the most read novels in history. We don’t expect people who haven’t read it to do so for the challenge, but it is available to do so online at:

http://www.oddparts.com/oddparts_pre...ejudice/0.html

There has been a recent Zombie version of ‘Pride and Prejudice’, so no Zombies please!

750241

winner: Poshspice

[daestwen]

Chow 176 :: Saladin

Historical research, boys and girls! Meet Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn - known in the west much more often as "Saladin". Military Commander, Conqueror, and ultimately a Sultan, he trounced the Franks quite a few times during the crusades!

This weeks round is a historical round, but there's tons of room to take this guy. We don't mind if you fantasy him up a little bit... he's a legend as much as he is a man! Mostly this round is about getting into some non-western history (though they did overlap obviously) and design and creating a compelling design for a man who was quite compelling as it was!

Keep him at least referenced to his time period, but not strict. (Just like how most people now imagine Richard the Lionheart or Charlemagne a lot differently from how their time period would portray them, Saladin has grown beyond the historical figure).

However, you're gonna do a bit of research! But we don't require you to provide proof - we'll see it well enough in your design!

Here's some sites to get you started.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saladin

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/...518809/Saladin

http://historymedren.about.com/libra...lwwsaladin.htm

There's also a bunch of movies with him in it, most recently 'Kingdom of Heaven' comes to mind, but also apparently an egyptian movie in the 60's named after him. A quick you tube search would help you out!

Remember, this man was considered a hero on both sides - even those fighting against him respected him and saw him as a very chivalric man!

750247

winner: njoo

[daestwen]

Chow 168 :: Where the Wild Things Are

... is a wonderful children’s book published in 1963 by Maurice Sendak, and if you haven’t read it, you should have! Apparently it is one of Obama’s favourite books! It might be sacrilege to even attempt it this week but imagine a new monster for Max (the central little boy of the story) to meet. They have a very distinctive look loosely based on Mythical Creatures, and of course the style of Sendak is what appeals, but don’t try and match his technique. Use your own and design a new one with his used as inspiration. This is for fun, and although they are ‘wild things’ they are somehow warm and friendly so perhaps steer away from anything gorey. I think the only requirement is yellow eyes!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Wild_Things_Are

750250

winner: ALH

[daestwen]

Chow 169 :: Killer Prom Queen

She's a Killer Queen... Tiffany-May White is 18. She’s a Prom Queen and cheerleader and has a lovely smile. The thing is, Tiffany-May is also a bit unstable. Well to be honest, she’s completely insane, psychotic in fact! Tiffany-May hates all the other girls, hates the boys, hates the teachers too. She’s not overly keen on most of the parents either. But Tiffany is Prom Queen now, because she smiles ever soooo sweetly, and so now... they’ve all got to listen to her. Because isn’t that what happens when you’re Queen? People DO WHAT THEY ARE TOLD! And if they don’t, well... Tiffany will just have to get even with them... and smile ever so sweetly as she does... ever so sweetly!

Prom Queen, murderer, bonkers! That’s all you need really, other than to add, she doesn’t have to be contemporary. It could be 80’s, 60’s, or earlier. The 50’s are cool. It’s up to you, but no earlier than the 1930’s when the proms really took off.

This will initially be a one week ‘normal’ ChOW, but if people from Team Chow want to participate, we’re open to extending this for a further week.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prom

http://www.prettyforprom.com/prom-history.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_(1976_film)

899754

Winner :: Aly Fell

[daestwen]

Chow 170 :: Napoleonic Naval Battle

- Design a hero in the navy (english, french, spanish, american, whatever you wish, but ONLY navy, no pirates or privateers please) along the lines of Nelson, Hornblower, Aubrey, etc.

- Napoleonic time period, but with some lee way (hah). Naomi Novak's "Temerraire" series, for example, is based in the time period but with dragons. Some very early steam punk or clockwork punk is also acceptable. You should be around 1800 to 1815.

- Ladies are allowed, but keep to uniform convention, please, no random hot ladies wandering around, no one would know what to do with them. (Also, that was mostly the work of pirates.)

Some books and movies to help you get started:
"Master and Commander" (and the rest of the series, and the movie) by Patrick O'Brian.
the "Horatio Hornblower" book series (and BBC TV miniseries) by C.S. Forester.
"His Majesty's Dragon" (and the rest of the series) by Naomi Novak.
Any Biography on Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson, Captain Cook (though this is a little early, most of the stuff is the same) etc

there are tons of other book series and stuff based in this time period, so have fun!

899760

Winner :: Falkedward

[daestwen]

Chow 171 :: Ti'phar of the Ararita

Thank you to Sorknes for this suggestion.

Ti’phar is the third wife of Tao’a’teh ruler of Ararita a small planet known for its civilizations artistic beauty, whether it is in architecture, sculpture, painting or general creativity. Ti’phar is determined to be more than a pretty consort for the king though: and she has become a force to be reckoned with in the political system of the planet, having established herself as Prime Minister, and rumours persist that the real power lies with her, rather than her husband. She has become the chief negotiating officer for inter-galaxy matters of state, and her upbringing though formal and staid, has been useful in diplomatic situations where tact and empathy have been important.

She sees no conflict with her two offices, that of Queen and central executive officer, and is a stickler for formality and custom, precise in her dress, and fashionable to a fault, following the strict rules of her planet’s customs; decorum always being a priority, which dictates modesty and elegance. She is proud, graceful and sophisticated, and above all clever.

Her species are known for their beautiful looks; humanoid, tall, thin with elegant refined features.

Open to interpretation, but stick to the description. They are humanoid, but you can elaborate on that to a degree within the limits of 'humanoid'.

899761

Winner :: Wiggers

[daestwen]

Chow 172 :: NPC Design

NPC - Non-Player Character. The "others" in video games, which the player can't control and are used as background or minor characters for the player character to interact with.

This week's contest is simple. You need to design a minimum of three NPCs. Genre is up to you, style is up to you, race, creed, what-have-you.

The only stipulation is that they should be able to be built off the same base, as if they were going to built off the same model. (If you want to do male and female NPCs, please do at least 2 of each.) 3 minimum, after that you can do as many as you wish. They should all fit into the same world, but what that world is would be up to you.

Turnarounds are not necessary.

899765

Winner :: Nichols

[daestwen]

Chow 173 :: 1930’s-40’s Costumed Hero/Villain

Design and invent a 1930’s/40’s superhero or villain, detective or adventurer. The 30’s and 40’s were the golden age for these costumed vigilantes. We got Batman, Superman, The Shadow, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Torch, Doc Savage, The Phantom, The Spider, Captain-America etc.

Male or female, it’s up to you. However we are going to stick to ‘on-brief’ this time very closely, so keep the character in historical perspective as to period look, hair, weapons, materials etc. The line between Detective and Pulp comics and Superhero ones blurs at times, but ‘Detective Comics’ gave us Batman, so ignore the genre specifics for this. Although backgrounds aren’t a problem please bear in mind that this time we want people to concentrate on design and character not environment, and we want to be able to see the entire character, so no ambiguity with three quarter views please. If your character has a mask, also include a version with the face visible. This need only be an insert.

If you’re looking for inspiration, the recent movie version of Watchmen had some great designs of early heroes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_Comic_Books

899776

Winner :: Hangar One

[daestwen]

Chow 174 :: The Black River Crew

The Black River Crew is a gang of kids between the ages of 14 and 21 that spend most of their time causing trouble. Seeing themselves as noble rebels and Robin Hood figures, they 'liberate' other people's property, 'decorate' the neighborhood and generally run amock. They are fiercelessly territorial, and 'protect' their neighborhood from unwanteds - whether this be other gangs or niave cops. They have, however, also been known to legitimately help the neighborhood - like when the Black River flooded and they went down to work on sandbags and evacuation before the government had time to react. They are less like organized crime and more like idealistic but cynical kids that are very very bored. Thus they are somewhat tolerated by the population, though they've had more than one shoe thrown at them.

Right now, however, there is a vacancy of power in the Black River Crew. The former gang leader has moved on, and they need someone new to lead them.

Enter the contestants. You may design one or both of these characters.

Time period: Present Day

Kimiko

Kimiko moved into the neighborhood when she was very young, and grew up on the bank of the Black River. She is rather small in stature, but huge in presence. She can silence any of the crew with a stare. She tells them with regularity that she is the decendent of a powerful yakuza family, but whether this holds any truth or not remains to be seen. She is just about 19, with jet black hair and fierce eyes. Though she can brawl with the best of them, she watches out for her crew, especially the younger ones, and will come between them and anyone who intends to hurt them. She's very bright but has no patience for book learning, preferring to take to the streets than do her homework. Everyone in the gang looks up to her, but are also very wary of her temper...

Akecheta

Akecheta is 17. He also moved into the area as a small child with his mother when his father died, so he’s not ‘family’. This has made him much more protective of his role in the gang. If anyone calls him out or challenges his loyalty he is prepared to strike out. His father was half Sioux, and he is fiercely proud of that part of his heritage. He is determined to make leader. No-one’s going to beat him. However Akecheta is hiding a secret, one that makes him bitter and angry: he is gay. No-one knows, and he’s determined no one will.

899780

Winner :: dwinbotp

[daestwen]

Chow 175 :: THEME SONG
Two Week Chow

Welcome to Chow 175! Since we have such a pretty nice round number this week, we're going to do a bit of an experiment.

Below, you will find six songs/pieces of music that Daestwen and I have carefully selected. None of them have English lyrics. (If you speak one of the languages sung in a song below, please don't choose that song! It would defeat the purpose of the exercise.)

So, here's how to do it.

Choose two songs (at the least - if you want to do three, four or all five you can give it a try, but please start with two). These two songs will be the theme songs for your two characters. Listen to the songs, try and get a feeling for the kind of personality you picture when listening to them. The songs can be (and probably will be) totally different in feeling and personality, so this is where the hard part comes in.

Design one character per song, trying to reflect the song in the character design. The hard part of this is that all the characters you create should feel like they fit in the same world, but still have their theme songs be different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJqUbb-WuPQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z9aqnmcVhI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u_CttIV7VY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvPu2PGzcSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPG9GcykPIY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frDWvFaseHc

899784

Winner :: fersteger

[daestwen]

Chow 176 :: Chow Carnivalé

Masquerade!

This week we're taking a leaf from Venice and 17th/18th century europe, and holding a masquerade ball!

You are all invited, but remember, you must come in costume, complete with mask!

The rules this week are simple. This is a self-portrait round, where you will be portraying yourself in costume for the event. Masks are a requirement, but that does not mean you have to wear them - you can be holding them, have them off to the side if you want to show the face as well, etc.

Your costume must somehow reflect you, but how it does this is entirely your choice! Maybe it's your favourite colour, or incorporates design elements from your favourite season, or animal, or maybe you're dressing to match your favourite historical period.

The (hypothetical) ball itself is modern day, but with a historical twist, just like most modern-day masques.

We look forward to seeing you there!

900848

Winner :: JessiBean

[daestwen]

Chow 177 :: The SEASONS

The seasons have long been an inspiration to artists. Mucha for example has been hugely influenced by them. As the old year is beginning to fade, this week the challenge is relatively straightforward: choose a season, (or more, if you’re feeling industrious) and design the personification of that season. Visualise your chosen one and turn them into a character, male or female. Use the links as inspiration only, and try to avoid too much emulation of other artists, use this as a chance to show your own style rather than copy.


http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databa...ge.asp?id=9821

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databa...ge.asp?id=4424

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databa...ge.asp?id=4425

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databa...ge.asp?id=4426

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databa...ge.asp?id=4423

http://www.artinthepicture.com/artis...a/seasons.jpeg

900854

Winner :: JessiBean

[daestwen]

Chow 178 :: UNIVERSAL MONSTERS

Was that the trees a rustling? Or the hinges on the gate? Something spooky in the shadows... IT’s ALIVE!!!!!

HALLOWE’EN, the old festival of Samhain is here and this is a two week ChOW! Take one (or more if you fancy) of the classic Universal Monsters from this list and produce your own take on them.

Dracula (1931) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021814/)
Frankensteins Monster/The Bride (1931/35) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884/) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026138/)
The Mummy (1932) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023245/)
The Wolfman (1941) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0002574/)
The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046876/)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0014142/)
The Phantom of the Opera (1925) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016220/)

And if you’re feeling inventive,

The Invisible Man (1933) LINK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024184/)

900864

Winner :: Adam Schumpert

[daestwen]

Chow 179 :: 2706 AD Jousting

The year is 2706 AD and the most popular sport in the solar system (and near by extra-solar outposts) is a bizarre revived form of jousting. The rules? Participants ride STEEDs, an invention of Hastilidium Inc, to mimic (and improve) horseback riding in zero and near-zero gravity. They later created the 'earthSTEED' that could be adjusted to any planetary body's gravity, but the zero-gravity version of the game is still the most popular one. On the back of their STEEDs they ride across a long narrow strip called the 'plane' which can be any surface, or indeed no surface at all, as long as the borders and middle line are clearly marked. They ride towards each other with lances (newly redesigned for maximum efficiency and awesome-looking-ness) and attempt to knock one another off their STEEDs. Injuries are uncommon, but do happen.

Participating in the games is very expensive but the pay off is often much greater than the investment. Jousters are the most famous faces in the solar system, more recognizable than politicians or any other form of entertainment, and often make a side-income by doing advertisements or lobbying for particular candidates for government. Jousters have even been known to join government themselves, and are often very successful, whether or not they are actually any good at their job.

Usually Jousters are either individuals with large fortunes or that come from rich families, or charismatic and talented young people that are 'sponsored' by a corporation. Every entrant wears a 'shield', complete with heraldry, and it is here that the sponsoring companies incorporate their logos in order to advertise. (Only one company per jouster.)

CHOW REQUIREMENTS.

- Design a Jouster, including armour and heraldry
- You may, but are not require, to design the Lance and the STEED

Some links to help you :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jousting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraldry

900868

Winner :: Fjooner

[daestwen]

Chow 180 :: The STEAMPUNK HAREM

They are pampered and preened for the Sultan and Sultana. Doused with pungent oils, washed with lavender and cinnamon scented perfumes, their skins perfect and their complexions refined and painted to reflect the whim of their master and mistress.

They are treated with respect and adoring attention, but they are prisoners; birds in a gilded-cage. They are the concubines of the king and queen, the harem slaves of oriental fantasy. But the world these particular chattels inhabit is a Steampunk world.

This week design a Steampunk harem boy or girl. Either gender, it’s up to you; and environment is also at your own discretion. This harem is fantasy, and we suggest looking at odalisques and Victorian Orientalist painting as inspiration, but keep in mind their costume and world they inhabit is Steampunk.

If you’re not familiar with Steampunk, just type it into Google and browse the enormous amount of reference there is. Some reference for Orientalist art here:

http://www.orientalist-art.org.uk/

http://www.orientalist-art.org.uk/harem.html

http://www.alloilpaint.com/orientalist/p1.htm

Also remember this is a forum for all ages, so please bear that in mind in your design.

900873

Winner :: fersteger

[daestwen]

Chow 181 :: Cú Chulainn

Cú Chulainn is an Irish hero from Celtic/Gaelic culture. He also appears in Scottish and Manx storytelling. He was a knight of the 1st century and often compared to Achilles in Greek Mythology. When enraged he would become a ‘bezerker’ as in Viking culture. He was slain in a fight and like El Cid in later history, was propped up in an heroic pose, spear in hand to strike fear into his enemies even after death, and it was only when a raven landed on his shoulder that his demise was revealed.

He was seen as an Irish hero, riding a chariot, and defending Ulster against usurpers including Queen Medb of Connaught and even appeared to Saint Patrick as a ghost.

Cú Chulainn‘s appearance is open to interpretation, but he is described as clean shaven, young ( he died at 27 ), and some tales tell he had seven fingers on each hand and seven toes on each foot. And seven pupils in each eye. There is much description of him on his Wikipedia page, as there is of his life. There should be plenty of inspiration there in his adventures for an interesting version of this mythological hero.

Remember, knights of the 1st century would have been nothing like middle-ages knights. Their appearance would have been more ‘Asterix the Gaul’ than traditionally styled Arthurian knights. So leather, furs and armour more suited to Romano-Britain and Europe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BA_Chulainn

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/c/cuchulainn.htm

Although not strictly a two parter, this ChOW will be followed up with a linked character next week.

912974

Winner :: Venger

[daestwen]

Chow 182 :: The Morrigan

First off this is nothing to do with the Capcom character!

The Morrigan is ‘The Phantom Queen’ of Irish Celtic legend. Associated with death, prophecy, sovereignty she would appear to heroes when their life was in mortal danger. She appeared to Cú Chulainn ( from last week’s CHOW ) as an apparition of three crones, and her symbol, a black crow or raven appeared at his death. But she is more commonly seen as a beautiful and terrible woman with long wild hair. As a shape shifter she could also take on other animal forms. In mythology she is often seen as what is known as a ‘triple goddess’, incorporating ‘the crone, the mother and the maiden’, common across many cultures.

The Morrigan was once mistaken to be a banshee, the female spirit of ill omen and death, but she is more complicated than that. She is not a spirit but a goddess. Your task is to provide your personal interpretation of The Morrigan. Keep her in the mythical past, so no updating, but feel free to portray her as either terrible goddess, crone, mother or maiden. However, because of her associations with ‘battle and death’, you might do well to keep these aspects in mind when designing her.

912985

Winner : k a y a

[daestwen]

The Dragon's Egg

This week's brief is a little more vague. The idea is to design a character for a young adult novel, a girl (between the ages of 12 and 16, your choice) who has found a dragon's egg. She will appear on the cover of the novel.

This is the whole brief!

Some things you will want to keep in mind:

- Include the egg please!
- Though the genre is young adult, we haven't outlined anything else : fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, magical contemporary, it's up to you
- Remember this is *not* an adult book, so keep that in mind when designing clothing and when using colour!
- Come up with a story for the novel yourself to help your design progress. Is the egg a curse, or a blessing? Is it a burden, or a treasure? Is it something given to the royal heirs, or a special mistake found by a poor vagabond? These are up to you! We hope to be able to read something about your story from your design.
-Remember this is a character design contest, not a cover design contest. You are welcome and encouraged to do it as a book cover, but please keep in mind that all chow rules still apply - including the 3/4ths rule.

Please don't actually write out the story! At least not until after the poll is completed! Let people guess through your work - this way you'll be able to tell if the things you are trying to get across are actually making it!

912988

Winner :: Adam Hunter Peck

[daestwen]

Chow 184 :: The Surveyor

The Surveyor is a being of unknown origin an age. It appears, at least here on this planet, to resemble a woman of around 30, though eyewitness accounts vary.

The first account of her is marked as her appearance in times square, but theories abound that she actually started her survey well before this, simply in a less-obtrusive manner.

Different populations have regarded her from everything as an alien to an angel. The reality seems to be more complex. She seems to be a representative of a multi-dimensional population. She appears at random all over the planet, and speaks to representatives of the human population about everything from the mundane ("What kind of spices do you put in your soup?") to the highly theoretical.

At first it was assumed that there were thousands of surveyors, since near-simultanous conversations were reported all across the globe, but once a compiled list of known conversations had been made, it was apparent that two never occured at the same time - there was always a .0005 second delay between one sighting and the next.

Conventional weapons were found useless on the surveyor and once the reigning govermental bodies declared her to be benign, she was granted almost complete access to any knowledge on Earth. She could, after all, appear anywhere at any time - including in the middle of a hidden nuclear facility. Withholding information was deemed useless.

No one knows why she is here. When asked, she simply says 'for the survey', hence the formal title that has been given her.

They expect her to interview every living being on the planet capable of speech before she disappears.

So far 14.7 million interviews have been reported.

When will she speak with you?

912997

Winner :: B-Russ

[daestwen]

Chow 185 :: Snowflake Faeries

Snowflake Faeries

How do snowflakes fall to gather in fluffy white drifts upon the ground? Gravity? Of course not! Each individual snowflake has to be guided personally and specifically by a snowflake faerie.

Snowflake faeries come in many different breeds - some meant for peace, some for war.

The blizzard faeries sole purpose is to drive their tiny, individual sharp snowflakes of DEATH into the unwary eyes of random passerby!!!!!

The flurry faeries are much more friendly.

937159

Winner :: bagtaggar

[daestwen]

Chow 186 :: The Archeologist

The year, had the human terrestrial calendar still exsisted, would have been just shy of 5200 AD. The fact is though, that human kind has been wiped out for nearly three thousand years. All that remains of this curious population is a wealth of relics. Huge dump sites hold billions of objects, many surviving for thousands of years, especially anything created in a substance known as 'plastic'.

Teroth is an archeologist. It (Teroth's people don't use gender pronouns) has come to 'Earth' on the second major expedition in order to uncover the history of this lost alien race. The planet was discovered about a century ago (by earth time), and the first expedition was an overwhelming success, though a bitter sweet one. They had hoped to find a civilization matching their own - proof of another intelligent race in the universe - only to come a few thousand years too late.

Teroth hopes, like many of it's kind, that maybe learning about the Human Race will help them to learn more about themselves, and perhaps lead them to other intelligent beings in this universe...

937163

Winner :: JanJager

[daestwen]

Chow 187 :: The Celt

The Celt remembers very little of his homeland any more. Though he was fifteen when he was captured and sold into slavery, his memories of his time before Rome are so few and so fleeting that he wonders sometimes if he merely dreamed them.

His home, for the last ten years, has been the largest ludi - or gladiator school - in all of rome. And he, their prize pupil.

Though maybe once he railed upon his captors, it has been a long time since he has thought of any other way of life than the sword, the bow, and the chariot.

For the last three years, he has been an Essedari - a war chariot fighter. His chariot is his prize possession - even if technically he doesn't own it. He has spilt so much blood onto it that it is closer relation to him than any living person on the entire planet, and he loves it enough to prove it.

Though he often fights on foot, especially for the one-on-one battles, he and his chariot are now so famous that Rome would be devastated if he did not at least use it as a backdrop for every battle.

Today, outfitted in all the splendor his keeper could manage, he fights for the emperor himself.

937168

Winner :: Devoid

[daestwen]

Chow 188 :: The Magus

London, England 1907. Cyril Grey is the leader of the ‘Order of Shining Starres’, an occult organisation that aims to become the most dominant in Britain. Grey has access to some of the darkest forces of the astral realm, and demands complete devotion from his acolytes. He is a man obsessed and committed to the promulgation of his black bible, the Book of Regulation, or Liber Ordinatio said to have been dictated to him by a messenger from the gods that provided to him his magical motto, Sit Vis Vobiscum. He has inherited wealth, independence, and apparent youth; appearing little over 35. But there is talk that he is older and uses a ‘glamour’ to fool his followers. There is also talk of the wealth running out, and debts beginning to mount up; of pretenders to his position, and of... murder. Dark murder, as prominent figures in the occult underworld start to... go missing...

Design Grey in his ceremonial robes of office. Consider the historical period (Edwardian) and setting. Also consider his apparent age and powerful persona, and try to present that in your design.

937177

Winner :: Jager

[daestwen]

Chow 189 :: Zach and the Doombots

More than any other 15 year old he knows, Zach hates his parents. Okay, he doesn't hate them, but he sure in hell doesn't understand them, or like them.

Picture perfect mom is the famous superhero 'Starlight Fantastic', though when she was younger she was known as 'Star Girl'. Zach thinks both names are totally ludicrous, considering that his mom can issue hyper-charged beams of light from her chest. He's never heard of anything more ridiculous, but for some reason the stupidity of the general populous loves her.

The only thing worse, is his Dad. Captain Awesome. His name just sounds like he's a bratty, elitist surfer kid. Who's father flies around in spandex and says things like "Not to fear, Captain Awesome is here!" ??

Zach has had just about enough of the embarrassment. Sure, maybe no one knows that he's their son, but he sure knows, and he almost dies every time someone talks about them at school. The last straw was when his best friend drew a pin-up of his mom! Gross!

He's got to put an end to it, and fast. Unfortunately (luckily?), he inherited none of his parent's powers. Instead he has to find another way to deal with them...

Robotics Club wasn't for nothing. With an army of Doombots at his command, his parents will never be able to embarrass him again!

942868

Winner :: Quinn Simoes

[Martheart]

ChoW#190: Kitsune

Fox spirit from Japan.

"Appearance: That of a superb vixen with a bushy tail ... Or that of a young woman who is so alluring that none can resist her. ... When the Kitsune turns herself into a vixen, she retains something of her womanly appearance, and when she is a woman, the vixen that quivers beneath the surface cannot be forgotten."
From : "the Complete Encyclopedia of Elves, Goblins and Other Little Creatures" by Pierre Dubois

Portray a Kitsune! Depending on the story they can be tricksy devils or loving wife (though usually with a tragic ending!). They are always beautiful and always slightly dangerous! Think up a story for yourself where a kitsune might appear, and design her accordingly!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow190afekay.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#191: Junkyard Golem

With no knowledge of who created him or why he's been put on this world, this golem has been wandering around in the junkyard it woke up in about 35 years ago. With a body built out of the junk it lives in, it feels right at home in the abanndoned landfill and has never seen reason to leave.

With only his dog for a companion, it has elected itself as guardian of the junkyard until its master finally shows up to tell it its reason for existence.


When the night is quiet, and any passing human-beings long gone and fast asleep, the golem spends its time sorting debris, smashing the occassional car to a neat square block or finding bits it can add to its own body.


Link for inspiration ::

Io9.com: Nothing is ever junk when it can be reembodied

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW191_sinix.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#: 192 Shila'h Andralzzi, Atlantean Anarchist

Man or woman, Shila'h is a feared anarchist, rioter, agitator, and insurrectionist, causing unrest and violence in the once utopian city of Atlantis. At the head of a dissident faction called "The coral reef", s/he is an obscure figure, renowned for being an excellent orator and a crowd manipulator. Without going into a Manichean description, s/he is neither nice nor bad, just an idealist living in an environment of idealists, from whom s/he doesn't share the same conception of "perfection".

Special Thanks to Afekay, Winner of round 190, and Guest Host this Week!

Extra Note from Afekay!

"The purpose of the topic is to focus on the psychology of a character. Shila'h is living in "perfect city", but not the way s/he wants. We all have a different conception of an ideal, there is no good/bad things about this. S/He's a leader, but you may know only very few things about her/him and her/his life, that's what I called an "obscure figure". You can portray her/him alone, or arguing with her/his troops, or taking part of a fight, etc. Is s/he a noble? A folk? Part of the politics? Atlantis is legendary city, you can imagine it the way you want: ancient, contemporary, futuristic, it's up to you.

I voluntarily choosed to let some parts of the subject open, I judged that it was yet enough restrictive."

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/ChOW192AtlantianAnarchistyoitisi.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#193: CA Ink

"Design a character that is at least 25% covered in tattoos. There are lots of types of tattoos, from tramp stamps, to yakuza body suits, to super mario bros half-sleeves, to MS13 face pieces. The style is up to you, but your character should feel invested in their tattoos. Let your creativity flow through the canvas of your character's skin. Have fun with it."

Thanks to Sinix, the Guest Host for this topic.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW193_JasonRainville.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#194: Robin Hood

As most of you will probably be well aware who Robin Hood is, I won’t give a long description of him. There are a few important aspects of him that will need to be included in your entries though: he’s an outlaw living in the woods, he’s an excellent marksman with the bow and a great swordsman, he steals from the rich to give to the poor and he is assisted by a group of people known as the ‘merry men’ (however, drawing them or any of the other characters that are not Robin Hood is optional!).

For a little more information you can always look up the numerous books, movies and ballads that have been devoted to this fictional/historical character, or you can of course revert to y’olde wikipedia:

Robin Hood – Wikipedia

Note that the character of Robin Hood -as well as the characters surrounding him- have changed many times throughout history (even as far back as the 14th and 15th century there are controversies). It’s up to you what version you’re running with for your entry this round.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow194_jessibean.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#195: Mystic Gunslinger

This wild west character, not satisfied with the power of their 6-shooter, has combined the use of pistols with magic. It’s up to you how the combination works and what effect it has.

While the character can be from any time period, the pistol(s) and costume must reflect the wild west theme. He or she can be wielding laser pistols or steam punk compressed gas handguns, so long as we can look at them and see that they really have a thing for the old cowboy tales.

---

Thanks to Jason Rainville for the topic this week!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW195_artozi.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#196: "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, 1900

Dorothy is a girl who lives in a farmhouse in Kansas with her Uncle Henry, Aunt Em, and little dog Toto. One day the farmhouse, with Dorothy inside, is caught up in a cyclone and deposited in a field in the Land of the Munchkins in the Land of Oz. The falling house kills the ruler of the Munchkins, the Wicked Witch of the East and Dorothy sets off on an epic journey along the yellow brick road to find the Great Wizard Oz who can send her back home. Along the way, she meets a Cowardly Lion, a Tin Woodsman, and a Scarecrow who become her traveling companions.

Pick any one, two, three or all four of the main characters - Dorothy, the Tin Woodsman, the Scarecrow or the Cowardly Lion - to (re)design. Give it your own spin if you want - you can set it in the 1930s midwest like the movie, the original Victorian context in which it was written, or any other time or genre, just make sure the essence of the characters and the story is still captured in your design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Gale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarecrow_%28Oz%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_Woodman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowardly_Lion

---

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow196_jessibean.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#197: Gestapo

WWII. Can you transfer yourself into those times and feel the atmosphere of war? Not just anybody could become a member of secret Nazi police. Intelligence, shrewdness, determination, ruthlessness are some of features that he must have had. Who could doom people to death and stifle their own conscience?

Close your eyes, take a deep breath to concentrate your mind. Your task is to reinterpret the theme while keeping the atmosphere and function of gestapo. I do not limit anyone to realistic WWII times. Post-apocalyptic, steampunk and others are allowed. Choose any stylization you prefer the most, but preserve the mood.

Situation. To make things difficult, imagine what animal would most fit his character (again, not necessarily real) and include it in design as his assistance. Personally I would prefer not in-action shots as it is too obvious. Try to show emotions and suspense.

---

Thanks to artozi for the topic this week!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW197_JohnBridges.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#198: Sergeant Dan Pulp Covers - Two Week Chow

1950s/60s Pulp Novel Cover (actual cover layout optional) - Sargent Dan is the hero, and as in every episode of his epic story, campy battle action ensues. Pick one of the titles below. Time frame and genre are up to you - it can be a noir murder mystery, a spacey science fiction thriller, an occult detective story, etc. etc. Just make sure you reference the campy nature/storytelling of the 1950s/60s pulp novel covers.

"Sergeant Dan and The Terrible Twins of Torture"

"Sergeant Dan and The Crypt-City of the Deathless One"

"Sergeant Dan and The Valkyrie from the Void"

"Sergeant Dan and The Bat-Men of Thorium"

"Sergeant Dan and The Brain Thief"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_magazine
http://www.coverbrowser.com/top/pulp

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW198_AdamSchumpert.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#199: Courtier

It's round 199 guys! We're finally here!

Every Queen has her court, and every court has it's courtiers - men and women of the upper class who make up the Queen's close social circle - and also harbour some of her worst enemies.

This week's round is very straight forward - design a courtier character. But let's think out of the box! Next week will be the new mascot round, and this courtier will be the herald to the mascot, so to speak.

Don't be afraid to push boundaries on this one. Maybe it is the court to the queen of the gods? The soldier/guard bee of the beehive? A band's screaming groupie? A medieval lady in waiting? A hyper-future galactic warrior queen's right-hand man? Think about the kind of queen you are designing the courtier for, and have fun!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW199_Bnoch.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#200: The MONARCH of CHOW

The queen is dead. Long live the... queen? 200 ChOWS, or rather 199 and it’s time for a new mascot, and this time it doesn’t HAVE to be a Queen. We want a monarch, so it could easily be a king instead.

The flag bearers have raised their poles. The courtiers are quivering in antici.... pation. The herald has blown his trumpet dry and the ministers are stroking their long... beards! The stage is set for a monarch’s grand arrival so let’s see that royal entrance! Design and create the King or Queen of MUSIC. What kind of music? Well, that’s up to you. Put your take on it. Metal, punk, classical, country, industrial, rockabilly, dance, goth, EMO, AOR, hard house, rap... the list goes on! Or somehow incorporate all those genres into one, if you’re plain bonkers enough.

Need more options? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_music_styles

Remember, the monarch is to be the mascot of the next 100 ChOWS! The reigning sovereign, so regal quality is pretty essential to the character; otherwise it’s a fairly free brief. Make sure your chosen music is reflected in the character and costume and we want only one character design, male, female or any points in-between. As for whether human or not, human please as this is based on human experience. But variations thereof: ie: angel, vampire, mermaid etc. are OK as they feature in a lot of musical symbolism. More than one entry is permitted.



Behold the new Queen of Chow!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW200_sakuranym.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#201: Andromeda

To kick off a fresh new reign of ChoW we dive into greek mythology and this week's topic is: Andromeda, the chained princess.

Story:
Andromeda was the princess of the kingdom of Ethiopia and daughter of Cassiope and Cepheus. One day, Cassiope bragged that she was prettier than the daughters of the seagod Nereus. The Greek Gods did not appreciate this and sent a seamonster to punish the queen for her arrogance. The only way to stop the monster from destroying the kingdom, was to sacrifice beautiful Andromeda. She was chained to a rock in the sea to be devoured by the sea monster...


Find out what happened to Andromeda:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_(mythology)

http://www.mythindex.com/greek-mytho...Andromeda.html


The story of Andromeda inspired many artists throughout the ages:

http://bitterhermit.files.wordpress...._andromeda.jpg

http://www.wga.hu/art/w/wtewael/perseus.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Andromeda.jpg


Now it's time she inspires you!


Since you have some more time for this ChoW, you will have to include the seamonster in some way. Feel free to experiment with Andromeda's outfit, style and time period, but keep to the story and include the sea monster.

Good luck!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW201_Rusty.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#202: The Ultimate World Tournament Fighter!

This week, you will design a character for a fighting game:

The world’s toughest fighters from all ages and all over the world are
gathered to challenge each other in the Ultimate World Tournament! Who
will come out on top?

Design a fighter based on a culture or country. He/she can be from any
period in time.

-This is a videogame character so feel free to exaggerate: think of a good
silhouette! Make your fighter stand out and recognizable!
-Design a good weapon/fighting style. Again, it can be inspired by all ages.
-Give your character a fitting name!

Who will win this ultimate challenge? Will it be Jimmy James, the American
Cowboy hero? Or Yuki, the Harajuku ninja? Maybe Sir Roy, Knight of
England? It’s up to you to design the best fighter!

Some inspiring ref:

http://creativeuncut.com/gallery-03/sc4-mitsurugi.html
http://creativeuncut.com/gallery-10/...-sawamura.html
http://creativeuncut.com/gallery-03/sc4-raphael.html

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow202_RichLyons.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#203: Rosie, top student in Necromancy


Rosie von Kreuzberg is top student in Necromancy at the University of Dark Arts. This school has been around for hundreds of years and only the most talented students are accepted! With her talents and skills, Rosie could easily become the most powerful Necromancer in history...

Design Rosie in her student outfit!

- Setting can be anything; from modern age to high-fantasy worlds.
- Maybe she’s arrogant because of her powers, maybe she is very shy and modest, it’s up to you to give Rosie a fitting personality. Show this in your design!
- Age should be fitting for a university student, around her twenties.

Some reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necromancy


Good luck!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow_203_AlyFell.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#204: Captain of the Sky Pirates



As a respected member of the Sky Pirates for more than ten years, it was obvious that after the previous captain suffered an “unfortunate accident” in battle, (s)he would take up the leadership of the pirate crew. Behold the new Captain of the Sky Pirates: feared by his/her opponents, admired by his/her crew!

Design the Captain of the Sky Pirates!

- Setting can be anything; steampunk, fantasy, sci-fi etc. as long as the “sky” part is evident !
- This is a Captain, so show his/her authority in your design.
- Extra points for design of the Sky Pirate ship!



Yarrr!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW204_openanewworld.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#205: Gaia



Gaia is the Mother of Nature and the personification of Earth. She appeared from Chaos and is the bringer of all life.

Design Gaia!

- Setting can be anything! You don't have to stick with the Greek myth.
- Go wild in your design: Gaia is the mother of all life so her appearance should show her grandness.
- It might be interesting to think of the human influences on nature and how this would reflect on Gaia's appearance.


Some reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology)



Good Luck!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW205_Afekay.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#206: Father Time



Last week was Mother Nature’s turn, this week we are going to visualize a more abstract concept: Father Time!

Father Time is the personification of time and death and he is often depicted as an old man with a scythe and an hourglass. He announces the passing of time and the coming of Death. When you see Father Time, you know you’re time is up…

Design Father Time!
• Setting can be anything
• Include references to time and death (not necessarily the scythe and hourglass) and both have to show in your design
• Father Time is not the same as the Grim Reaper, as he also symbolizes the passing of time!
• Remember that Father Time is an old man, not a young stud


Some reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Time

And images:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ther-Time.jpeg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...ather_time.jpg


Good luck and have fun!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow206_RichLyons.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#207: Military Unit: The Hacker


It’s the year 2090, a few years after World War III... Officially, the war is over; but in the borderlands of the three remaining superpowers there is still conflict. War has changed however, as electro-magnetic fields have blocked out all wireless communication on the planet. This caused a new Spec Ops unit to arise; the Hacker. Not only does he have to infiltrate military bases in order to hack into the mainframe and mechanical units, he also has to be able to defend himself when discovered!

Design the military unit: The Hacker!

- Setting is futuristic, though no wireless devices!
- Hacker can ofcourse be male or female
- The Hacker is a solitary unit, so he has to be able to defend himself
- Basically the Hacker is intelligent and stealthy, but also has a tough side.


Good Luck!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow_207_IceMoon.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#208: Marie Antoinette



Marie Antoinette was the famous and extravagant French queen, almost a fashion icon in her own time. She lived a life of extreme wealth outside of Paris in Versailles, which was like a golden cage to her. During her reign the people of France were suffering, she met her sad fate at the guillotine during the French revolution.

Design Marie Antoinette!

- Marie Antoinette was very fashionable, and wore many beautiful dresses. Go wild in your design!
- Stick to the historical setting.
- In her life she has seen both extreme wealth as imprisonment and execution. It is up to you how you want to portray her.

Lots of information and pictures:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette


Good Luck!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow208_lianti.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#209: Fallen Archangel Samael



There are many interpretations of the character Samael, being an angel of both good and evil. Most stories portray his evil side though: the accuser, seducer and destroyer and the fallen angel... Some even compare him to Satan. This week you are to design Samael as a fallen angel, an angel gone very, very bad..

Design fallen archangel Samael!

- Think of a grim atmosphere, this is an angel with a dark side
- Setting can be anything!

Some information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samael


Good Luck!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW209_BrokenLawnmower.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#210 :: Yuki Onna

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW210_PxelSlayer.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#211 :: Aladdin

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow211Kaktuzlime_.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#212 :: The Veteran

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow212_dwinbotp.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#213 :: 8bit Character Redesign

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW213_Afekay.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow213_RLyons.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#214 :: Koschei the Immortal

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow214-Vaejoun.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#215 :: Insect Based Armour Design

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/prepsage_chow_215.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#216 :: Day and Night

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow216_brandozer2.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#217 :: The Underground Tribe

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow217_lodin.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#218 :: The Lady of the Lake

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW218_PxelSlayer.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#219 :: Halloween Special :: Zombify yourself!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/prepsage_chow_219.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#220 :: Classic Fantasy Pinup


http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow220_Sakuranym.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#221 :: Sun Wukong - The Monkey King

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow221vaejoun.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#222 :: Steampunk Superhero

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW222_IDP.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#223 :: Barbarella

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW223_Crookedhorn.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#224 :: Harajuku Warrior

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW224_Dranyer.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#225 :: Viking Berserker

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow225_parsakoira.jpg

[Martheart]

CHOW#226 :: Your Muse

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Muse_CHOW226.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#227:: 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow227-jager.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#228:: Thalestris, Queen of the Amazons

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/tq3VU228.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#229::The Serial Killer

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow229-jager.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#230::Rangda the Demonqueen

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW230_GEB.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#231::The Intergalactic Postman

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/231.jpg

[Martheart]

ChoW#232::The Zodiac Warrior

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW232_AlexBoca.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#233:: Steampunk Aphrodite
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW233_Rusty.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#234:: Gods of Media and Technology
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow234_tokotewhero.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#235:: Cirque de Mystère
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW235_JessiBean.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#236 :: Snowmancer
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow236_MatejaPetkovic.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#237 :: Modern meets fantasy
2 winners this round!
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/chow237_parsakoira-1.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW237_ChaoticKnight1.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#238 :: Post-apocalyptic Paladin
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow238_MatejaPetkovic.png

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#239 :: War-Criminal
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/Chow239_MatejaPetkovic.png

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#240 :: Fairytales retold: Red Riding Hood
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW240_AndrewSonea.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#241 :: The Yakuza
2 winners this round!
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW241_GDLR.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW241_JeiWo.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#242 :: The Royal Wedding
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHoW242_Veshkau.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#243 :: War of the Magi
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW243_Dranyer.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#244 :: The Guardian of Atlantis
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW244_QuinnSimoes.jpg

[Parsakoira]

CHoW#245 :: Jack the Ripper
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/ChoWinners%20190-210/CHOW245_danlambert.jpg