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Emoti-Art Feature #1

Sat May 18, 2013, 5:32 AM

What is Emoticon Art?


What is Emoticon Art?  As founder of #Emoti-Art, that's a question I get asked a lot. What criteria is used that sets one piece apart from another? 

First, it should be noted that I am of the belief that all emoticons are art. I feel a level of skill is needed to make them, and even a simple static emote is creative. Sure, it may not be high-art, such as a child's sketch is not a Mona Lisa. But there is still effort behind it and that's important. For more thoughts on this issue from the emoticon community, check out this article.

When we use the term "Emoticon Art," it's a classification, much like Chat-Friendly. Traditionally, Emoticon Art pieces are larger and more detailed. Because of their size and theme, they are often not useful for chats or comments. They are pieces that are simply lovely to sit and look at, admiring the details and pixelling, or marvelling at the high-level of skill and complexity of the animation.

Of course, the question often arises, can "chat-friendly" emoticons be emoticon-art? That's tricky and there are different schools of thought on the issue. Personally, I feel they can, but it's more of an exception to the rule. For the mostpart, chat-friendly are functional and not meant to simply be admired.  Chat-friendly emotes that fall into the "art" category usually include additional pixel art, props, disguises, or other features which make the piece stand apart from regular emoticons. While I have seen some amazing chat-friendly emotes, the bottom line is that even if you have an out-of-this world emoticon smile (or wave or wink), chances are you're not gonna sit there for several minutes admiring it. That's not its purpose. 

Visual Purpose is the phrase that is used to describe most Emoticon-Art. It's to be admired, and perhaps used as decoration. But, again, not all visual purpose emotes are emoticon art. 

Whatever the case, Emoticon Art is a valuable part of the emoticon community. It is a cross between standard emoticons and general pixel art. It gives emoticonists a chance to spread their pixelling wings and create something special. This article showcases a collection of some emoticon art favorites. This is just a small collection of what you can find around deviantART.  Be sure to check out the Visual Purpose gallery and #Emoti-Art to see even more great pieces.

Emoti-Art Feature


All of these pieces are part of #Emoti-Art




Synfull's Picks


When creating this article, I asked `Synfull if she would be so kind and give me a list of some of her favorite emoticon art pieces. Here's her collection:

 


Ravenswd's Picks


Since I love to spread the Emoticon Art love, I also asked `Ravenswd to give me a group of his favorites. Here are his picks:



Mid-month Artisan Crafts News and Features #4

Journal Entry: Sat May 18, 2013, 4:00 AM

Got Artisan Crafts related news or a contest to share? 

Send me a note or leave a message below.

News

Contests

Daily Deviations

  • Don't forget to send your DD Suggestions for Artisan Crafts to ^Talty and myself. You can find our individual guidelines linked on our profiles.
  • My March round-up is here, & ^Talty's is here.


Features

                       



A Question

Journal Entry: Fri May 17, 2013, 11:25 PM



Out of the three starter pokemon of HeartGold or SoulSliver
Should I pick?

1. The grass type Chikorita

2. The fire type Cyndaquil

3. The water type Totodile

Please comment with your pick.
Thank you this will help me a lot.



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  • Mood: Tired
  • Listening to: Tally Hall
Let the Feast Begin!
This time it is all about the food. Anything from picnic to roman feast, from stuffing a turkey in the oven to shrimp on the barby. Preparing, cooking, serving, eating.

Each week on Saturday, there will be a new challenge to the stock artists and a folder created for the theme of that challenge. This will go on for 8 - 10 weeks. Instructions for each challenge will be in the folder for that week. And as always, our core requirements and stock guidelines must be followed. Each folder will have two sub folders, one will be for any nude submissions. Please make sure you put your  submission the correct folder. Thank you.

We have decided as a way to encourage more submissions and involvement to make each challenge last for the entire circus, so you can continue to submit for any of the challenges as you have inspiration, opportunity and possibly the right props :) We know how hard it can be to do a specific theme. Do please try to put them in the correct folders though. Much appreciated.

Guidelines for submissions.

They must meet all DA stock and resource rules. If they are not in the stock and resource category, then you may not submit them.

Costuming if any, should be tight fitting, and minimal. Dancers tights, plain swimsuits, underwear, tight shorts, armless tee shirts, or nude are quite acceptable. If you are wearing anything, please choose colors that do not obscure the line of the body. These are after all poses, not stock in the usual sense. Nothing brightly colored or with a strong pattern, no black or very dark colors.

Hair, if long enough to obscure the face, ears, shoulders, should be up or pulled back, such as into a pony tail. Even then try to not have the hair obscuring the details of the body. If you are showing your back in the pose and have your hair in a pony tail for instance, then the hair should be over the far shoulder so as to not obsure the back. The artist should be able to see your form, body line, pose and details in good clarity.

Nudes should be natural to the pose, please do not try to use our group for sexual themes, we will just reject them and probably remove you from our group. Natural nudity that fits the situation is fine. Naturally all nudes should be marked mature.

Action poses are naturally going to be more difficult than a static pose in most cases, so good lighting is essential. Overly dark or dramatic lighting is great for light studies, but not here. The body and line should be clearly and easily visible. Props are wonderful, but do try to not have the prop obscuring the pose too much.

Da WishingWell

Sat May 18, 2013, 1:56 AM
Hi all, I was wondering if you would be able to help some people out with getting their wishes granted over at :icondawishingwell: ? :heart:


*flamewarflipsides wishes for more exposure on on her fanfiction novella, Pretense in the Mirror  [link] ; You can do this by helping suggest it to groups or featuring it yourself! :hug:

=AquaQueen27 wishes for more exposure on her story "The Professor's Log" [link] ; You can do this by helping suggest it to groups or featuring it yourself! :heart:


=CelticStrm-Stock wishes for more exposure of :iconthe-stock-directory: 's donation account :iconthe--stock-directory: ; You can do this by featuring or donating!! :hug:

A BIG thank-you to anyone who does this, it helps make people's wishes come true and makes you feel like you have done something to help out the Deviantart community!!! :heart: :hug: :love:

Equestria Girls Movie Thoughts

Journal Entry: Fri May 17, 2013, 11:09 PM
As the brony fandom has heard, a new My Little Pony movie is releasing on June 16 called My Little Pony: Equestria Girls. At first, we all thought this was gonna be a new TV show on The Hub once we saw the concept art containing the humanized Mane 6. One of these pictures had the six's cutie marks on their cheeks, which was just... yeah. Another picture was Spike as a dog. Lots of bronies, including me, didn't think that Spike being a dog was that great of an idea. I didn't really mind soon after. After watching the trailer of the movie, I was glad there was no cutie marks on their cheeks at least. The animation was similar to the actual MLP: FiM animation style, of course. Basically, according to the trailer and some info from movieinsider.com, a crown is taken from the Crystal Empire and the Mane 6 are told to go into a portal leading to the humanized pony world. The 6's ages are sent back a few years to where they're in high school (they're adults in FiM, around 20-22 from what I know). Their objective is to ,of course, retrieve the crown. In this trailer, it seems that there is a bullying antagonist and some random dude that is... um, I think it's a love interest for Twilight. But I don't think that would be in a TV-Y rated show related (-ated!) movie. Let's just say this guy's a "friend". A couple things I find weird is that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Snips, and Snails are in high school as well. Aren't they in elementary in the pony world or something? I think this movie will be successful in ticket sales, depending on where it is going to be released, since many bronies are probably going to see it. I know I'm gonna buy the movie on Blu-Ray once it comes in stores. I also think this movie will be well-made and have many good scores in reviews, because this is DHX we're talking about here. This has been my thoughts on the new Equestria Girls movie.

                                                        Peace.  /)*(\


  • Mood: Lonely
  • Listening to: noting
  • Reading: nothng
  • Watching: pirates of the caribbean main theme
  • Playing: nothing
  • Eating: nothing
  • Drinking: nothing
well ppl Iam bord plz some one talk to me plz Iam doing some I can do things at the same time I know it late 2:09 where I am and I need some to talk to when Iam done so plz talk to me in my peg thx. :kitty:
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