Because I can. c:<
Also to celebrate the birthday of Lady Gaga's album Born This Way. <3

So to enter, just this journal.

Ends on... June 6th 8D

The winner will be chosen using random.org

I've wanted to hold a design contest for a long time now, and finally I've gathered enough points to do it

Go here to browse entries: [link]

What I'm looking for:
Everything! Wolves, foxes, fennec foxes, ferrets, servals, bobcats, tigers, other big cats, small cats, deers, dragons, gryphons, dogs, birds, hybrids, original species.. bring it!

I'm leaving the details to your imagination, but here are some things I really like:
-White base color with black and red markings<33 (mostly on canines)
-Cute and fluffy things! No need to go all big eyes and oversized heads, but animals with fur. Creepy and slimy things just aren't my thing.. Still don't be afraid to make something dark/evil
-Anything tribal
-Native american stuff
-Feathers!
-Tawny, golden, brown, white, red, blue, cyan, gray, black (well, not all combined)
-I like more natural base colors, but with smaller markings in unnatural colors like blue or red
-Long tails, big/long ears, long bodies, short bodies, small paws, (be creative with the anatomy. I like pretty much everything, just make something special!)
-Accessories like jewels, bows, companions, swords, knives, scarfs, armors, anything!
-I like detailed and semi-detailed designs, but also more simple ones so I can animate them

Keep in mind that it doesn't have to be that complicated (I must be able to draw it), but each character needs something that makes it special! Just a rare pattern or a small marking in the face e.t.c

Here's a list of what I don't want:
-Scene or sparkle-dogs (I allow hair/ hair-tufts, just no scene-stuff)  
-Humans or anthro
-Anything sexual
-Characters with 2 or less different colors (C'mon guys!)


Prizes:
1st place:
4000
$20 USD (PayPal)
2 full body drawing by me (transparent bg)
1 custom design by me
1 chibi by me
1 animated portrait my me (with complete bg)
A lama and a watch from me

2nd place:
1700
$8 USD (PayPal)
1 full body drawing by me (transparent bg)
1 custom design by me
1 chibi by me
A lama and a watch from me

3rd place
700
$5 USD (PayPal)
1 full body drawing by me (transparent bg)
1 chibi by me
A lama and a watch from me

4th places
(These are only if there are other designs I really like. There might be more than one of them)
200
1 full body drawing by me (transparent bg)
A lama and a watch from me

I'll add more prizes (Points, cash and art) later. I'd really appreciate it if you want to donate prizes (please send me a note) <3


Rules:
-You can make as many entries as you wish (but please spend some time on each design)
-1 character each picture please!
-Please link back to this contest in the description of your entry
-Send me a note with the link to your entry or comment on this journal
-You can enter older characters of yours
-If you don't win anything you can do whatever you want with the character
-All the art must be yours
-I want original characters so the lineart must only be used for this contest (anatomy makes half the character!)
-You don't have to make a ref sheet, but I'd really appreciate it
-You may give it a name and a gender but if it wins I can change it if I want to c;

If you have any questions please don't be afraid to ask~

End date: 31. August (May be extended)

I'll give 10 free points to the first 10 people who advertises this in a journal e.t.c (5 to the rest), please send me a link!

The promise of the Internet was that unlimited information and experiences would draw us together. But instead it seems to have driven us apart.

For years I've observed this behavior but haven't been able to vocalize it correctly. Originally I called the behavior of collective opinions as "the hive mentality" of the Internet. But that wasn't exactly right and I often got called out on it. The most prominent example was when I made a comic about a guy disagreeing with opinions and being shouted at till he remained quiet, eventually fading into the background with everyone else. The consensus of that comic was that if you disagree with someone you aren't bullied into not speaking, but instead are free to go someplace else where people who do agree with you exist. And you know what? That wasn't what i was trying to convey, but is sadly true. The Internet is not a hive mind. It's many tiny pocket echo chambers of mutual agreements.

And this is becoming a growing problem, I think, because no one wants to ever compromise or try to come to an agreement on anything anymore. Want to bitch about a movie? Find a group of people who hate it and join in. Conversely did you enjoy something but see everyone hating it? Find others who enjoyed it and bask in their mutual appraisals for things you like.

I feel like this is where a lot of the internet's smugness and snarky attitude comes from. Because the only time "drama" appears is when these widely different groups butt heads with each other, usually to the point of completely ignoring the other side simply for being ON the other side.

I can't help but feel that when people cozy up to other like-minded individuals and use that as their justification of their actions, that we are taking a sever step backwards. I think it's very important for us to learn how to deal with and come to terms with issues without constantly flying off the handle.

Disagreeing doesn't mean there has to be a fight. You can disagree while also being respectful and inoffensive. And just because someone might disagree with you doesn't make them automatically wrong or their attempts to explain why they disagree as a personal attack upon you.

I've been ruminating about this for a while, but it wasn't until the reviews for Star Trek: Into Darkness and Iron Man 3 came out that I've been able to make sense of it. Both films have been widely polarizing and it seems like no one is trying to come to see from the other side. Rather its become opposing sides fighting back with one another, with no room for serious discussions.

I don't like this echo chamber the Internet has. I don't like that If you disagree with someone you can just hide behind others who agree with you. It's cowardly. It prevents us from having to deal with other people's opinions while heightening our own. It's a tremendous ego boost, but a terrible social hindrance.

And just so we are clear, I'm entirely guilty of this as well. We all are. And to be honest... I don't know how we fix it. It's reached a point where I don't know if its possible TO fix.

The world is not black and white. I really wish we could stop trying to compartmentalize everything into yay or nay categories. And the worse part is that I think a lot of it is done subconsciously.

What do you think? Have you experienced the irrational one sidedness I've spoken about? Agree disagree? If so, why and how? Lets discuss this openly as I feel it's a very important issue we need to address.