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Challenge #112: Traveling Shepherd
This challenge is presented by Character Design Quarterly, the Official Partner of CDChallenge. Character Design Quarterly is a lively, creative magazine bringing inspiration, expert insights, and leading techniques to professional illustrators, artists, and art lovers worldwide. Subscriptions are available now!
OPEN SUBMISSION DAY AND DEADLINE
The submission period for the current challenge will commence on April 2nd, 2024, and will conclude on May 2nd, 2024 at 11:59 pm (GMT + 0:00), Dublin Time. Please keep in mind the additional +1 hour for Daylight Saving Time, observed in Europe from April to October. The Character Design References team will meticulously review all the artwork submitted for the challenge.
NOTE: The countdown meter above provides real-time information on the submission deadline. If you see a minus sign (-) preceding the number, it indicates that the deadline has passed, and the displayed time represents the duration since then.
“In the heart of a remote pastoral community, where once lush meadows swayed in gentle breezes, now lies desolation. A deadly blight, carried by mysterious storms, has ravaged their lands, leaving nothing but withered grass and barren soil. Families huddle together, their livelihoods hanging by a thread as their flocks dwindle. But amidst the despair, whispers of hope stir. Old Upra, the elder of the village and keeper of ancient tales, recounts the legend of Floranea, a hidden valley in the far, far east. It's a place blessed by fair weather, where the grass grows tall and strong, bathed in golden sunlight and gentle rains. Its meadows are lush and verdant, stretching as far as the eye can see, and life flourishes abundantly. A sanctuary, Old Upra tells with eyes glistening, that perhaps remains untouched by the blight that plagues their home. Inspired by the elder's words, a courageous shepherd steps forward, his heart aflame with determination. He vows to find the valley of Floranea and make it his new home, a haven where his community and animals can thrive once more. He knows the road ahead will not be easy, but guided by his courage and love for his community, he is ready to face the challenges head-on. Will the young shepherd be able to reach the new land and settle it? Only time will tell...”
We invite all artists to unleash their creativity and design their unique vision of a stedfast Traveling Shepherd!
Guidelines
Make sure to read ALL the main RULES of the CDChallenge.
Your character can be of any sex, race, and age.
Your character can be a hero, an anti-hero, or a villain.
You can base your design on a fictional or historical character/creature.
Focus on the design of only 1 main character (based on the theme).
Your character can be based on a real person or one from myth and folklore.
For variety's sake, your shepherd can rather be portrayed as a more generic herder attending different kinds of flocks other than sheep, such as goats, alpacas, llamas, camels, emus, reindeer, cows, chickens, etc. (and also more far-fetched creatures such as futuristic electric sheep, or genetically engineered moas).
If your character has a sidekick, please make sure we can see who is the main character and who is his/her sidekick, otherwise, your artwork will be considered as a lineup of characters based on the same archetype, which is against the rules. Due to the nature of this challenge though, we will be more lenient on this rule (see below for more details).
Avoid portraying multiple characters confronting each other in a (so to speak) fighting game-like fashion. As mentioned above, if it's unclear who is the main character of your design, your submission will not be approved. On the other hand, if your character (based on the theme) is clearly identifiable as the main character, it’s then okay if you portray it next to a sidekick (or even if it crashes one of his minions under its foot). Artists confused about this rule should stay away from these grey areas, and instead consider submitting a so-called 'Perfect Entry'. More detailed info can be found in the main RULES of the CDChallenge, which we highly recommend you read.
Again, despite the number of additional characters, the focus of your design must be a single character. If it's unclear who is the main character of your design, your submission will not be approved. Please also check the exceptions above.
Infants and children can be considered sidekicks only if your main character is an adult. If you are confused about this rule, please don't take any risk and include only 1 single character based on the theme in your work.
The theme offers many awesome ideas to explore. Your character can also be from an alternative time (a Shepherd from the future, from the Victorian Age, from the ’60s, etc.) but BE VERY CAREFUL! Make sure your design shows enough elements that connect to the theme, or your artwork will not be accepted. We want the key elements of this theme to be clear and recognizable, and not twisted in a way that makes it unintelligible.
Feel free to explore this fascinating genre. Make sure to do your research extensively, so don't forget to look online for references, info, and visual aids. Start by checking out the Wikipedia page for it HERE and HERE to look up ideas and get more familiar with the theme.
Your character can drive/ride a vehicle or mount a creature
Your design can be created in any style and for many hypothetical purposes. For example, your artwork could be a character study created for an animated 2D, 3D, stop-motion, live-action movie, or a mobile app and a video game (these are ''model sheet entries'', which are by definition, what is considered proper character design in the animation, game and movie industry). Your artwork can also be the illustration of a character for the cover page of a novel, a pen-and-paper role-playing game, a tabletop game, an art book, a comic book, or a children's book (these are ''illustrative entries'', which are welcomed in the group even if they are not proper character design), and it can also be a design for a t-shirt, a brand or a sports team (these are ''mascot entries'' which are also acceptable as submissions in the group). Whatever the type of artwork you decide to submit to the group (model sheet entry, illustrative entry, or mascot entry), please make sure avoid to drawing or painting any complicated, distracting, and overly detailed background.
The official brief for the Theme of the Month (the short story written above), is provided for inspirational purposes only. It’s therefore not mandatory to follow it, and your character can be based on your idea, as long as it stays true to the title of the Theme of the Month.
3D submission can be posted ONLY as additional entries in the comments, please make sure you READ THE RULES before posting, as this might cost you the membership.
AI generators cannot be used in your work.
Anthropomorphic animal versions of your character are more than welcome.
Character EXAMPLES
✔ GOOD An old Shepherd warrior with his dog sidekick ( 1 character + 1 sidekick).
✔ GOOD A young Shepherd riding a bike ( 1 character + vehicle/mount).
✔ GOOD A fearless Shepherd mom with her three children ( 1 character + 3 sidekicks).
✔ GOOD Giant battle-mecha Shepherd with two sheep pilots on his shoulders ( 1 character + 2 sidekicks).
✔ GOOD A Shepherd playing his Kaval musical instrument
✔ GOOD Any kind of anthropomorphic animal version of the theme that is still recognizable.
✘ NOT GOOD Two Shepherds confronting each other ( no focus on 1 main character).
✘ NOT GOOD Two Shepherds dancing ( 2 characters based on the theme/no main character).
✘ NOT GOOD A Shepherd/Herder that doesn't look like one at all ( theme unrecognizable).
✘ NOT GOOD Two Shepherds getting married (2 characters based on the theme).
Character IDEAS (Shepherds & Herders)
Taruca, the Andean (Present day, Peru)
Flocks: Alpacas and llamas
Taruca is a skilled shepherdess who tends to her alpacas and llamas high in the Andean mountains. She knows each of her animals by name and has a deep bond with them, inherited from generations of her ancestors who have lived off the land.
Hassan, the Nomadic Bedouin (Past, Middle East)
Flocks: Camels
Hassan roams the deserts with his herd of camels, navigating the shifting sands and finding oases for water and pasture. He is a master of survival in the harsh desert environment and shares a special connection with his camels, who are his companions and livelihood.
Isabel, the Australian (Present day, Australia)
Flocks: Emus
Isabel herds her flock of emus across the vast Australian Outback, navigating the arid landscape and keeping a keen eye out for predators. She is known for her expertise in handling these flightless birds and for her deep understanding of the land.
Kofi, the Savannah African (Present day, Kenya)
Flocks: Cows
Kofi tends to his herd of cattle on the sweeping savannah plains of Kenya, guiding them to fresh pastures and protecting them from predators. He is a respected member of his community, known for his knowledge of traditional herding techniques passed down through generations.
Andrea, the Martian Replicant (Imaginary future, Brazil)
Flocks: Electric sheep
Andrea tends to her unique flock of electric sheep deep within the Martian Colony. These creatures emit a soft glow and provide light for the surrounding area at night. Lydia is a guardian of the space colony, ensuring harmony between her flock and the alien world.
Mikhail, form the Siberian Tundra (Present day, Russia)
Flocks: Reindeer
Mikhail herds his reindeer across the vast expanses of the Siberian tundra, enduring harsh winters and navigating through thick snow. He follows ancient nomadic routes, passed down through generations, and relies on his deep connection with his reindeer to survive in this unforgiving environment.
Nadia, from the Swiss Alps (Present day, Switzerland)
Flocks: Sheep
Nadia tends to her flock of sheep high in the Swiss Alps, guiding them through rugged mountain terrain and lush alpine meadows. She is known for her skill in shepherding and for the quality of wool produced by her well-cared-for sheep.
Oscar, the Patagonian Gaucho (Present day, Argentina)
Flocks: Sheep and cattle
Oscar is a Patagonian gaucho who herds both sheep and cattle across the vast Patagonian landscape. He is a skilled horseman, adept at riding across the open plains and navigating the rugged terrain of the Andes Mountains.
Manaia, from New Zealand (Imaginary future, New Zealand)
Flocks: Moa
Penelope tends to her flock of moa in a future New Zealand where these extinct birds have been resurrected through advanced genetic engineering. She navigates the lush forests of the North Island, ensuring the well-being of her majestic and ancient flock.
Quentin, from the French Countryside (Present day, France)
Flocks: Chickens
Quentin tends to his flock of free-range chickens in the idyllic countryside of France. He believes in sustainable farming practices and takes pride in the quality of eggs produced by his happy and healthy hens.
The Challenge Rewards are the official prizes of the Character Design Challenge! Each reward contains some of the best resources for illustrators and visual development artists available online today, educational books and video tutorials, and also two of the most interesting, original and well crafted graphic novels crowd-funded in the last years!
Character Design Quarterly
This challenge is presented and brought to you by Character Design Quarterly, the Official Partner of CDChallenge!
Character Design Quarterly (CDQ) is an exciting new print magazine for illustrators, artists, animators, and character art enthusiasts. Releasing four times a year, the magazine will offer inspirational and educational articles, tutorials, and interviews from top industry professionals specifically geared to helping artists hone their character design skills. This unique, engaging magazine will provide a regular stream of insider knowledge and illuminating advice from experienced professionals and freelancers to help artists of all skill levels improve their workflow and designs. New issues will be released at regular three-month intervals in September, December, March, and June. Subscriptions are available now!
IDEA Academy
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IDEA Academy is a teaching centre for digital and traditional arts aimed at turning students into professionals in the creativity and entertainment fields. Courses cover a wide variety of topics such as video games, 3D graphics, concept design, cinema set design, storyboarding, 2D animation, 3D animation and illustration. Teachers are renowned professionals with extensive experience in all the major international studios, entertainment companies and publishing houses such as: Disney, Pixar, Lucas Arts, Delcourt, Penguin, The New York Times (just to mention a few).