HakuBaikou.com fan art


2006 RK Fan Art Contest Awards
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17.Aug.2006

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest this year. This year's voting was absolutely crazy. There were so many awesome entries that nominations were all over the place, and there were frequent ties (even a 4-way tie in a major category!) that required re-votes by the judges.

Honestly, the judging was extremely difficult this year. I think anyone who has looked at all the entries knows that they are very strong. As I've said many times in the past, and as I always state on the main page of the contest, this contest is not your typical art contest. The judging is based as much on concept and creativity as it is on the technical aspects of art alone. Considering we can't give awards to all the entries, I think it's (unfortunately) obvious to see that some absolutely gorgeous and stunning pictures may not necessarily receive any official award.

This is why the award announcements were delayed two days. There were simply too many great pictures to choose from. In the end though, the other judges and I finally managed to make our selections even though it was very difficult to do. I know that several personal favorites of individual judges may not have made it into the award list at all. The decisions were that hard. We judged as well as we were able to considering the high quality of all the entries.

As usual, please feel free to see the judging info page (link is listed below) for more details on how we made our choices. I truly wish I could give an award to everyone. Goodness knows, you all deserve them for the wonderful work you've put into your art. This year's entries were truly impressive! Congrats to ALL the artists who shared their creations with us!

-- HB



ATTENTION - ARTISTS WHO RECEIVED AWARDS:

To those who received monetary awards: Congrats! I will soon be contacting you regarding prizes. If you don't hear from me within a week, please e-mail me. And to everyone else who won an award, please feel free to post your award banners (yes, the ones listed on this page) anywhere you like. And yes, you can hotlink them from my site. If you're not sure of the code for posting them, e-mail me, and I'll let you know. :)

FINAL NOTE:

As always, if you have any questions, comments, complaints, or concerns about the award results, please feel free to e-mail me. Please DO NOT contact the artist who received the award. Thanks!


judging info ::: prize list ::: contest home


 



HONORABLE MENTIONS

dragonflywings


Trading Friends for Enemies




Judges' comments:

  • Beautiful, clean style. I like the subdued colors. And their expressions are so intense.
  • Kenshin and Aoshi are an excellent topic for the friends-turned-enemies spectrum, and this was a great piece of their final fight. The details are amazing - the lineart, the colouring; I can't find anything wrong with it. Beautiful piece of art.
  • I think the intensity of battle that emanates from both Kenshin's and Aoshi's eyes qualifies it [as] most dramatic. Just one look and you know it's a fight to the death (or Kenshin's non-killing equivalent).

 

whitehaizea


Friends for His Sake




Judges' comments:

  • I love how the focus was drawn away from Kenshin in this one, and instead given to Kaoru and Megumi. Personally I think they were friends for reasons other than Kenshin, but to each his or her own, ^^ It certainly doesn't make this picture any less beautiful. The line art is crisp and well-drawn, and the colouring is very sharp. It reminds me of a cel, actually. The expressions caught my attention as well - Kaoru smiling, Megumi downcast, but obviously not defeated. I think it really captured the characters and how they feel about their chances with Kenshin. Another excellent piece.
  • I was quite surprised at the very few number of Megumi-Kaoru entries considering the theme. Personally, I think it was a shame, as I think the dynamics of their relationship was very interesting.

 

X. Maria Miller


Between Hate & Love




Judges' comments:

  • Such pretty and vibrant colors, and lovely renders of all three characters. Its a neat scene with a timeless quality as all look appealingly out at you.
  • A very technically well done piece, and there's a real poignancy to it that I find touching. The backdrop of the bridge, the moonlight and the nightsky is also one of the better backgrounds in this contest.
  • Gorgeous, clean style. I really like the colors and the fine detailing and textures. It's also fascinating to see Battousai, Tomoe, and Enishi in such a happy, family portrait-like pose. There's so much going on under the surface of their smiles here.

 

Yahiko-chan & Paranoid-Duckkie


Blinded From the Truth




Judges' comments:

  • The concept is unique with Shishio blindfolding Soujiro before his encounter with Kenshin. I like the way this was done in all blues very moody.
  • This picture hit me emotionally. There's a certain simplicity AND complexity about it - the art and shading is excellent, and the lack of detailed background makes sure that the focus is on the characters; while I love pretty backgrounds, sometimes it detracts from the theme. This picture really captured it, in my mind.

 

Erika M. R.


For My Sister



Judges' comments:

  • This entry is not only beautifully done, but also manages to pack an emotional wallop the pain evident on the faces of Kenshin and Tomoe juxtaposed with the nearly supernatural amount of anger and hatred on the part of Enishi. It s an interesting idea to separate the two halves with Enishi s bloody sword. The fact that the figures of Kenshin and Tomoe are so much larger than Enishi only combine to reinforce what Enishi learned from his Jinchuu that love is larger (stronger) than hatred. Technically, this entry is excellent as well, with much subtlety in execution, especially in the figures of Kenshin and Tomoe.
  • This was, for me, one of the most aesthetically pleasing pictures. I really love the dark style here.

 





Cutest

NariSon


Source of Power




Judges' comments:

  • Wibble and Chobits ears.
  • It's the "wibbling" legs. They're too cute. They kill me. And his expression is hilarious too. This is so adorable!

 


Most Humorous

chirp chirp


Aku Soku Zan Party




Judges' comments:

  • Okita is awesome, and Kenshin's expression made me giggle. A very amusing and adorable rendition of what is usually a very dramatic scene.
  • Cheer leading Okita. Need I say more? I do? Then, just the title is a clincher.

 


Most Action-Packed

Alexandrea Zenne


Sanosuke vs. Saitou...maybe.




Judges' comments:

  • There's no denying the action in *this* entry! The explosive tension of the muscles to the expression on Sano's face all combine to give this entry a sense of unrestrained rage. Not only that, but the artist also manages to convey the intensity of the impact on Saito. The icing on the cake, however, is the little cartoon at the bottom left it's all in Sano's imagination. Wonderful idea!
  • Because everyone loves what goes on in Sanosuke's head, even if it is a hopeless dream, ^^ this was the only drawn piece that made me laugh out loud.
  • Love the action, the humor, and the style of this. One of my favorite entries in the contest.

 


Most Dramatic

paranoid-duckkie & Ashley Himura


Forgiveness




Judges' comments:

  • This seemed to be a crowd favourite! I really like the background for some reason - it matches well with the picture itself. Kenshin's expression is so fitting, and the colouring adds wonders to the overall effect... an excellent rendering of Kenshin's most heartbreaking moment.
  • I just really like the expression on Kenshin's face and the colours are fantastic. Great atmosphere.
  • I like the symbolism with the flowers.

 


Most Ambitious - TIED!

Sakkun


Those of my Past, Present, and Future




Judges' comments:

  • Group pictures are never easy, and this one was quite well-done. I really liked the expressions for the characters. Definitely not an easy thing to pull off.
  • The sheer number of characters here makes this entry impressive. I like the cute style and bouncy feel of this.

s-girl


Friends And Enemies




Judges' comments:

  • Ambitious because this artist has managed to give us six complex characters and done an excellent job with all of them. Plus the use of color is lovely.
  • The fully painted background and beautiful lighting really impressed me. I also like the emotions in this, and it's interesting how everyone in the picture is frowning except for Kenshin.

 


Most Creative & Unique

Jelley


The Loss of a Friend




Judges' comments:

  • Refreshing piece, nice work with the emotion.
  • What's not to love? Most people use the traditional pencil/paper and computer graphics for their medium. It's always refreshing to see someone step outside those invisible boundaries and try something different. Most poignant is the scarf - it really set the scene.
  • It never occurred to me that people would opt for figure-making - interpreting 2-D art into a 3-D form might not be new but is not often attempted.

 


Technical Excellence

paranoid-duckkie


We'll Fight Together




Judges' comments:

  • Really neat poses, motion and detail on each of the figures.
  • This felt a great deal like an official background piece. The details were well done, the colours were beautiful, and I adore the shading. So much about this piece made me stare at it. I also loved how the theme itself was unique - typically Kenshin fights side-by-side with his boys, while Kaoru is elsewhere or acting as an observer. It's not often you see them fighting together.
  • I like the use of color in this one-- the way the artist uses a ghosted image of Kenshin, the way the light seems to emanate from the central images of Kenshin and Kaoru, the framing with the thin red leaves. Very artistic.

 







People's Choice Award

Melissa


Always by My Side



Judges' comments:

  • I really like having a People's Choice Award in which visitors to hakubaikou.com can have a say in who gets an award. And it's pretty obvious why this picture was chosen. It's very beautiful, it's done in a really great unique style, and it chooses a moment in the RK time-line that is one of the most memorable, I think, for many people. Battousai summoned by Jinei, and then Kaoru bringing Kenshin back to himself. It's such a dramatic moment, and it's captured beautifully here.

 


 
 















5th PLACE OVERALL

Melissa


Always by My Side



Judges' comments:

  • This was a case of love at first sight. Between the colours, the detail, and the unique style, the art is absolutely gorgeous. I like the expressions, and the way the Kurogasa's face is hidden, giving Kenshin and Kaoru more focus. There is no centre to focus on, and the way the picture is drawn makes the eye wander to see everything.
  • I like the ethereal, dreamlike feeling of this piece.

 


 
 
4th PLACE OVERALL - TIED!

Author-chan


Voodoo




Siobhan


Two-Faced





Judges' comments for Author-chan:

  • Normally I discount entries that need words to explain what they re about, but the whole idea of a Kenshin voodoo doll what a riot! The doll itself is very well done (look at the excellent hemming of the hakama and the care with which the gi is made), and, of course, there is the very artful arrangement of those all-important pins, so that alone would count for something. But as you can all guess, it s the product description that really seals the deal. Very funny, very on-theme, very worthy of a top prize!
  • I seriously laughed out loud the first time I saw this. And I was very impressed with the originality of the entry, not only in the choice of medium, but in the advertisement as well. Unique in many ways, this entry was so much fun!


Judges' comments for Siobhan:

  • Now, here's a real piece of inspired thinking. Not only do we have Kenshin's enemy Saitou,who of course is also on occasion Kenshin's ally, but also Saitou's alter ego Fujita Goro, whose persona is the complete opposite of everything Saitou stands for, in other words, Saitou's own worst nightmare. It took a really in-depth appreciation of the whole Kenshin saga to come up with this novel concept. A winner on all levels.
  • One of the best drawn pieces in the contest. The expressions on the two faces are priceless so different but equally as wicked. And it's not just the faces, it's the hands too just look at Fujita Gorou s left hand! How sinister it seems (no pun intended); is it presenting or asking for something, and what is he hiding up his sleeve? I always thought it was funny how the more friendly-seeming Fujita Gorou is actually the one with the hidden agenda, and how the malicious Saitou Hajime turns out in fact as one of the Kenshin-gumi's most invaluable allies. Friend? Enemy? Choose your friends carefully, but your enemies more carefully still. Wasn't that a Churchill quote? One question though: which is the ura and which is the omote ?

 


 
 
3rd PLACE OVERALL

Eiko Makimachi


I've met you somewhere before


Judges' comments:

  • The emotion and symbolism in this piece really tugged at me. There is something simple, yet provocative about the body language, how close they walk to each other side by side, which seems to show an ease, and yet also a reserve between the two. The straightfoward style and color choices complement the scene. I feel like the subtelty of this piece with keeping the theme in mind is its strongpoint.
  • I just plain like this one.The storybook feel, the layout and design just plain appeal. The characters seem to be relating well to each other and I'm a sucker for an image with a nicely rendered background. If this was an illustration for a story, I'd want to read that particular story.
  • I really liked the "what if" scenario here. Just what if young Kenshin had been befriended by Okita? What a different story it all would've been!

 


 
 
2nd PLACE OVERALL

Ken-san's Angel


My Best Friends are Family


Judges' comments:

  • Wow, pretty scene and gorgeous sunrise colors, and what an ambitious piece with all of the nicely detailed characters. A very sweet bit of imagery.
  • I think more than anything, I love the details in this picture. Entries including the entire Kenshin family were predictable, but the inclusion of each of the favourite pairings (sans Aoshi/Misao, since this is more the Tokyo group) after the series is over, even though they split up, is wonderful to see. It's a pleasant change from the usual foursome - since often even Megumi is excluded.
  • While this picture is technically solid with the impressive details and coloring, it's the wonderful mood and warm emotional tone that speak to me the most. This is just beautifully done all around.

 


 
 
1st PLACE OVERALL - TIED!

Gretsky


l'Ennemie et l'Amant




heibai


The Master Puppeteer





Judges' comments for Gretsky:

  • Beautiful emotion and storytelling, I really wouldn't expect to see any less from this artist in that area. I guess Im a fan of the style too, I love the ghostlike and low saturated tones, as well the rough and raw line art.
  • This entry manages to convey not only the fact that Kenshin and Tomoe are in love, but also that they both are tormented by their own demons and therefore cling to each other for dear life. I also like the background that hints of green and autumnal leaves, combined with a sign-like device whose style reminds the original Paris metro signs.
  • I'm just too much of a Mucha fan to let this one go. Not to mention the fact that Tomoe and Kenshin are the most tragic of RK's antagonists/protagonists and that love story is the formative story of Kenshin's adult life. The Art Nouveau style is very novel (lettering plus leaf motif adornments are extremely well done), and the way Kenshin is holding Tomoe, it's very beautiful, simple and touching. It reminded me of Oscar Wilde's The Ballad of Reading Gaol: And all men kill the thing they love, By all let this be heard, Some do it with a look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword!


Judges' comments for heibai:

  • What a great picture! What a great idea! What a hoot! Not only do we have all the friends and enemies one would expect, but also the ultimate friend and enemy Watsuki himself! How does he count as friend and enemy? As we fanfic writers all know, it s such fun to torment our characters, and no one does it better than the original creator himself! But without his creative spark, none of these characters would even exist, which makes him the ultimate friend! So, for sheer originality alone, this entry deserves top prize. However, I also like the execution. The way the artist used the combination of coloring and marbleization, especially around Watsuki, lends a very interesting atmosphere to the picture. It invokes, in a way, that smoke-filled backroom where I, at least, from reading Watsuki s humorously tormented musings, imagine he spends all his time. You can almost feel those wicked ideas springing from his head! I love it!
  • Creative idea... lots of symbolism going on here with the puppeteering, the friends and enemies theme gives it a new twist I think... is our path laid before us in our chemistry or in fate, or can we escape our natures and what destiny has in store for us? Nicely done.
  • I felt that this image brilliantly and humorously illustrates a major Watsuki manipulation that by which the antagonists become protagonists. The thin lines between friendship and enmity in RK, are they actually the puppet strings that make the characters dance?! The crazy look on Watsuki s face clinched it for me and the artwork is adorable as well as unique. This entry just has so much character and deviousness!