It's that time of year again. We're all in the festive spirit (or, if you're anything like me, needing a distraction from any thought of festivity) so what better time than to participate in a contest? You like stuff? Look at our fantabulous prizes? You like art? Show it off. Show us ya skillz, we know you have them! Couldn't be simpler. See contest. Join contest.

So let's get down and dirty with it:

THEME we gotta have one. It's like the law. This time round guys is NEW BEGINNINGS. That's it. You can do anything with this theme in mind, in any visual medium. This contest is running over the new year, new year new start and all, so hey, NEW BEGINNINGS! (Yes, yes I know. Providing the world doesn't end soon. though even that would be a kinda new beginning, it's the beginning of an afterlife or of nothingness or reincarnation, whichever belief you hold to.) So long as your work is titled and inspired by the idea of beginning, starting something new, something unknown it's acceptable!

We're also making it extra awesome for you guys because we have two categories here for you to enter your work into. You've not been drawing for long? Doesn't mean you can't win a contest and miss out on prizes! We have a beginners and advanced category for this contest. How awesome is that? I know some of you might be wondering what category do I fit into? Make a guess, if I think you're wrong and you're putting yourself down, I'll scream NO WAYSSS BI-ATCH and bump you up into the advanced. Likewise, if you're bigging yourself up too much (which, doesn't happen often with us lovely creative types unfortunately) I'll advise you to enter the beginners category to give you a better chance.. you can enter the advanced if you like. But I won't be letting advanced work into the beginners pond. That would be defying the point. As judges me and =charligal-stock reserve the right to relocate your work into whichever category we deem appropriate. Nothing evil. Just makes it all fair game.



THE RULES</u> Also a necessary evil. Otherwise you monkeys would riot all over the damned place and there would be mess everywhere... we can't have that, so instead we have the ruuuuules.
 Must be a new creation! - No dredging up something old from your gallery because it kinda fits the theme. We want to get you creating NEW NEW NEW stuff! We like to get you working hard for your goodies. Nothing uploaded prior to 05/12/2012 (11pm UTC (damn I had to look up what timezone I was in then..) which is midday GMT for those of you looking at me and starting to dribble)
 Must be visual art. Any visual medium that tickles your pickle! traditional/digital drawing/painting, photomanipulation, photography, sculpture, knitting, vomit (i am joking... I don't really want to see artful vomit.. especially after I've just eaten or something guys.) Just keep it visual, not written. No poetry or literature. I'm reading Joe Abercrombie at the moment, he's all I wanna read right now
 You have until 7th February 9.30pm UTC to complete your masterpieces.
 Your entries must be sent to *Tasastock in a NOTE entitled "BEGINNINGS CONTEST ENTRY". Doesn't have to be capital letters. But that would get my attention quicker I suppose. I love capslock - ain't nothing like screaming through other people's monitors eh?  Your note MUST include a link to your deviation (otherwise the note would be pointless ) and state which category, beginners or advanced, that you wish your entry to be included into. I will add your work to my favourites for the contest and leave a comment merely to tell you that I have seen the work. If I comment but I don't fave, yell at me because your work needs to be in my contest collection come judging time.
 You cannot try to enter advanced work into the beginners category. That's mean and tricksy.
 What makes you "beginner" or "advanced" isnt down to how long you've been doing art. It's about skill and quality. I mentioned years before because skill is gained with practice but that doesnt mean that you don't got natural talent honey. If you want an idea of what has been the sort of quality of work for beginners and advanced, check out the results of some of my previous contests to get an idea. Beginner: [link] Advanced: [link]
 No plagarism or theft. That ain't cool kiddos. If you use stock, credit! Follow all ze rules. You can use me and =charligal-stock's work if you want, but it's not a requirement and it doesn't get you anything extra Just use whatever stock is best for your idea if you are going to be using stock. However, google is not a valid resource. Anything created with copyrighted materials will be disqualified.
 You can enter up to three entires.
 If you have been so kind as to donate a prize, this does not stop you from entering the contest. No, no feel free! (Likewise if you wish to donate a prize to the contest (we are always accepting donations) please leave a comment here: [link] )
 All praise to allmighty Cthulhu! CTHULHU F'TAGN!


And yes, I don't half like the sound of my own voice. Why wouldn't I? I SAY AWESOME THINGS

Now we get to the good stuff. This is top quality produce we have right here for you. Come a little closer my darlings... Don't tell the cops... Here I gots you... the priiiiiizes

PRIZES FOR ADVANCED CATEGORY
First Place
1 year subscription from =charligal-stock
750 points from ^Elandria
A "mystery" prize from =charligal-stock
Exclusive stock: =CelticStrm-Stock (2 packs), =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, ^Elandria, `faestock, ^PirateLotus-Stock (2 packs), *Tasastock
Drawing or Painting: ~SageFillyLuna
Drawing from *oasiswinds and *Tasastock
Digital Portrait from ~XerafCZ
Full Body Comic Art Commission from ~NemesisXIII
Print of an existing artwork ~charligal
Download of Unreleased stock from *SenshiStock
Journal Feature: ~9thPlanetStock, =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, =EigthDegreeBites, ^Elandria, `faestock, =Ashe-Art, *kirilee, *lions-nd-yellocake, *Malleni-Stock, *Meeowy, =OanaZ, *phantoms-siren, =rockgem, *Sophia-Christina, *Tasastock
Llamas: =charligal-stock, =EigthDegreeBites, *lions-nd-yellocake, ~matkaminski, =Nephire, =OanaZ, *Tasastock

Second Place
3 month subscription from *Tasastock
300 points - 250 points from *LittlePurpleElf donated via *Tasastock, 50 from *Malleni-Stock donated via *Tasastock
A "mystery" prize from *Tasastock
Exclusive stock: =CelticStrm-Stock (2 packs), =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, `faestock, *magikstock, ^PirateLotus-Stock, *Tasastock
Download of Unreleased stock from *SenshiStock
Portrait Painting from ~DanHowardArt
Digital Drawing from *Rayne-Gryfen
Drawing from ~Psychotic-Bambi
Comic Art Commission from ~NemesisXIII
Journal Feature: ~9thPlanetStock, =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, =EigthDegreeBites, ^Elandria, `faestock, =Ashe-Art, *kirilee, *lions-nd-yellocake, *Malleni-Stock, *Meeowy, =OanaZ, *phantoms-siren, =rockgem, *Sophia-Christina, *Tasastock
Llamas: =charligal-stock, =EigthDegreeBites, *lions-nd-yellocake, ~matkaminski, =Nephire, =OanaZ, *Tasastock

Third Place
1 month subscription from *MercGribern
125 POints, 100 points from *DaeStock, 25 from *Tasastock
Exclusive stock:=CelticStrm-Stock,  =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, `faestock, *magikstock, ^PirateLotus-Stock, *Tasastock
Download of Unreleased stock from *SenshiStock
Drawing from ~Starfighterace-421
Digital Portrait from ~XerafCZ
Portrait Comic Art Commission from ~NemesisXIII
Artwork in a choice of media from ~EKeziahP
Journal Feature: ~9thPlanetStock, =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, =EigthDegreeBites, ^Elandria, `faestock, =Ashe-Art, *kirilee, *lions-nd-yellocake, *Malleni-Stock, *Meeowy, =OanaZ, *phantoms-siren, =rockgem, *Sophia-Christina, *Tasastock
Llamas: =charligal-stock, =EigthDegreeBites, *lions-nd-yellocake, ~matkaminski, =Nephire, =OanaZ, *Tasastock



PRIZES FOR BEGINNER CATEGORY
First Place
1 year subscription from =charligal-stock
750 points from *LittlePurpleElf  donated via *Tasastock
A "mystery" prize from *Tasastock
Exclusive stock: =CelticStrm-Stock (2 packs), =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, `faestock, *magikstock, ^PirateLotus-Stock(2 packs), *Tasastock
Download of Unreleased stock from *SenshiStock
Full Character Render: ~matkaminski
Drawing from ~Starfighterace-421
Digital Drawing from *Rayne-Gryfen
Digital Portrait from ~XerafCZ
Full Body Comic Art Commission from ~NemesisXIII
Print of an existing artwork ~charligal
Journal Feature: ~9thPlanetStock, =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, =EigthDegreeBites, ^Elandria, `faestock, =Ashe-Art, *kirilee, *lions-nd-yellocake, *Malleni-Stock, *Meeowy, =OanaZ, *phantoms-siren, =rockgem, *Sophia-Christina, *Tasastock
Llamas: =charligal-stock, =EigthDegreeBites, *lions-nd-yellocake, ~matkaminski, =Nephire, =OanaZ, *Tasastock

Second Place
3 month subscription from *Tasastock
300 Points - 250 points from ^Elandria, 50 points from *Reddawgi donated via *Tasastock
A "mystery" prize from =charligal-stock
Exclusive stock: =CelticStrm-Stock (2 packs), =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, `faestock, ^PirateLotus-Stock, *Tasastock(2 packs)
Download of Unreleased stock from *SenshiStock
Portrait or fanart based on a photo from *phantoms-siren
Character Sketch from ~matkaminski
Artwork in a choice of media from ~EKeziahP
Comic Art Commission from ~NemesisXIII
Journal Feature: ~9thPlanetStock, =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, =EigthDegreeBites, ^Elandria, `faestock, =Ashe-Art, *kirilee, *lions-nd-yellocake, *Malleni-Stock, *Meeowy, =OanaZ, *phantoms-siren, =rockgem, *Sophia-Christina, *Tasastock
Llamas: =charligal-stock, =EigthDegreeBites, *lions-nd-yellocake, ~matkaminski, =Nephire, =OanaZ, *Tasastock

Third Place
1 month subscription from *MercGribern
125 POints, 100 points from *DaeStock, 25 from *Tasastock
Exclusive stock: =CelticStrm-Stock, =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, `faestock, ^PirateLotus-Stock, *Tasastock
Download of Unreleased stock from *SenshiStock
Drawing from ~Starfighterace-421 and *Tasastock
Portrait Comic Art Commission from ~NemesisXIII
Portrait from ~matkaminski
Journal Feature: ~9thPlanetStock, =charligal-stock, =DamselStock, =EigthDegreeBites, ^Elandria, `faestock, =Ashe-Art, *kirilee, *lions-nd-yellocake, *Malleni-Stock, *Meeowy, =OanaZ, *phantoms-siren, =rockgem, *Sophia-Christina, *Tasastock
Llamas: =charligal-stock, =EigthDegreeBites, *lions-nd-yellocake, ~matkaminski, =Nephire, =OanaZ, *Tasastock

Bonus Prize for Best Pick from ~BennyMcsassy


It is important to note that the prize list can and will change as we recieve mawr donations. I shift things around to even things out between the two categories, and stuff I donate will totally change cause I donate extra if things get uneven. As I mentioned before, I'm going to say again if you guys weren't listening. If you wish to donate a prize to this splendiferous cause, please leave a comment here: [link] donating does not stop you from entering! Only judging does. So boo, Tasa cant claim any of these goodies!

And remember! New work before the 31st January!
Note ME ME ME with your entry! include which category you'd like to enter
Feel free to pimp this contest like the cheap whore that it is!!! I know I will be. phwwwoaaaarr!!
HAVE FUN. that is most important.

Any questions. Shoot! I don't bite... well much...






I will leave you now with my wonderful story from this morning.. I call it, a guide on how to get to know your neighbours if you live on a ground floor flat:
Step one! Get spruced up and sparkly clean. Fresh out the shower is a must!
Step Two! go into your bedroom to find clean clothes, looking out the window to check the coast is clear as ever
Step Three! discard towel! Towels are overrated! (and if it's mine, currently covered in blue and green hair dye!)
Step Four! Notice the astonished neighbour just starting to hang out his washing.
And there you have it. brilliant way to start a morning for all involved. XD

I also leave you with the news that my "s" key keeps sticking. This is devastating for me, because now I actually have to pay attention to what I am typing. and it makes it more difficult to type SEX. Which would ruin anyone's day I assure you.
(and now the title makes a little more sense.... to those of you looking for a reason for me not to be shouting sex anyway.)