When Epilogue.net, an online community of science fiction and fantasy artists, held an art contest for its renaissance celebration, the staff was bowled over by the response. Artists from the far corners of the globe contributed their visions of rebirth and renewal. The image concepts were as varied as the media used to render them. Phoenixes and fairies cavorted in charcoal, oils, acrylics, watercolors and even purely digital mediums, pouring out in a torrent of color and creativity.
“Starcatcher” by Renee LeCompte
“There was a wide array of very nice work to choose from”, said Jeff Easley, one of Epilogue’s advisors, who judged the contest along with fellow sci-fi and fantasy art luminaries Don Maitz and J.P. Targete. Many of you might recognize Easley’s work from his years at TSR producing vivid images for their popular Dungeons & Dragons game series. Both Maitz and Targete have numerous book covers and awards to their credit, such as the prestigious Hugo and Nebula awards. This group of distinguished judges had nothing but the best to say about the contest entrants, adding that “The hardest thing was actually settling on just a few images for recognition!”
Sergey Martyn, this year’s grand prize winner for his breathtaking “Phoenix Rising”, rendered in watercolor and colored pencils, had this to say:Â “I recall one cold rainy day, back in the middle of the eighties, when the Iron Curtain was just lifted a bit and we got the first taste and first views of what was behind it.”
“Phoenix Rising” by Sergey Martyn
“There is just something about science fiction and fantasy art that transports me to another place and time. I lose myself in these images for hours”, said Chad Lockwood, founder of Epilogue. That was the reason Lockwood decided to embark upon the Epilogue project almost five years ago, building a free home for artists, and a free service for publishers and art directors to find talent on a worldwide scale.
“The Butterfly Lovers” by Eric Chen
“One of the things that has helped Epilogue attract such a distinguished collection of artists and publishers is our selection process,” says Lockwood. “Our professional art editors volunteer time to screen submissions to Epilogue. Unlike some internet galleries, where it can become cumbersome to find the good images, all the art on Epilogue is of the highest caliber.” While this policy has caused tensions in the past when artists have had their worked turned down for display, it has also had some good results and encourages artists to strive to be their best.
The Epilogue Works In Progress (WIP) forum serves as an area where rejected artwork can receive constructive criticism from the online community, and assists artists in raising the level of their game. A popular item on Epilogue right now is a plain black t-shirt that says ‘Not Epilogue Quality’ in bold white letters across the front. People wear them as a sign of achievement when they have finally made it in! When I see folks wearing them at conventions and art shows, it really is pretty amazing.
“New Life” by Chris Iken
The entire Season of Renewal contest gallery can be found at http://www.epilogue.net/art/contest/february04.html.
