New Year, New Contests

Welcome back everyone to a new year in the pursuit of dreams and aspirations. Thank you everyone that contributed to the blog, you made 2010 a great year and hopefully you can see the progress in your work that I have noticed. Let's get into it, I've gotten so behind in graduate school that it isn't funny, literally. Anyways, I got a sinus infection that forced me to slow down for a few moments so here I am and I'm ready to make 2011 a year that the ball starts rolling. Here's what I have for you:

A double contest. First I want to do a normal quick draw contest so do your best in the time you've got and send it in on time. This contest is to do a piece that shows relationship between two (or more) characters. You need to be able to convey relationship, emotion, in other words the two need to have eachother in the picture for it to work. Make it something that reads well. Do your best you have until February 6th at midnight. (Beware though, that only gives you little over a week so work quickly and just submit whatever you have done, this isn't going to be hung in a museum.)

Second, I want your feedback. We're going to put together a highlight of 2010 submissions. For every artist that has submitted at least 3 times last year, I want you to submit what you think/feel is their best piece from the whole year and also, what you think/feel is your best piece of the year. So send in the nominations to the blog's email and I'll tally them up and anounce the winners of each contributor. Best part is that everyone wins in the end and you'll find out a lot about your work hopefully through this contest. Remember that means for every contributor that has made at least 3 contributions through the year, you will nominate one piece that highlights their work (as well as one of your own). Email them to me at shoeboxofdreamsentries@gmail.com. Same deadline as the contest above, Feb. 6th.

Christmas Contest

Kristi G.

Instead of thinking of someplace you would not see yourself at Christmas, I made a quick picture of the perfect place to be during Christmas....At a party, in a beautiful dress, dancing the night away. OK, you might not get it, but ask Aubrey - she gets it.  (Forget Christmas Story - Meet me in St. Louis always gets me in the Christmas spirit).

Nate S.

For my picture I didn't have a lot of time to develop my idea but it was centered around Christmas in the desert, celebrated by a little owl that lives in a cactus and always wishes Santa will stop by and visit him. I haven't thought about the logistics of the story much but essentially what I was thinking was animals that wait for Santa's visit and what interesting things he brings for animals. A big, ugly final has been on my mind so that's all I have so far.

Christmas Illustration - Story Contest

Grab those pens and pencils because we've got our second to last contest of the year and this one's a quick draw contest. There will be little time for developing this entry completely but I'm more just challenging you to submit something in the small time frame, for an illustration it can be a quick sketch, some ink, or even throw some color on if you get the chance. A story could just consist of the beats of the story or the general idea and story arc. For this contest we will aim it towards the Christmas holiday.

Your mission is to come up with an illustration and/or story that centers around Christmas. The plausible idea I'm throwing out there to offer as a challenge if you want to push yourself further is Christmas in a place that you wouldn't normally picture as a Christmas setting. Submit a general storyline centered on the theme or a quick sketch on the same theme. If you're going to do an illustration I have a second additional challenge to throw into the challenge: your illustration needs to demonstrate a sense of depth. I think this will push us all a little further. I'm excited to see what comes out of it.

You can do it. Put a little thought into this one and then quickly sketch out your idea and submit it before you let your eyes burst from fretting over all the errors and details. Just get something in for this one. Have fun with it; I dare you.

Email me your submission by: Monday, December 13th, 2010 at 7 AM.

Tangled Review

Okay I had to take a moment from the normal flow of the blog to interrupt with a special message. I was totally broad-sided last week, somewhere from behind. I wanted to share my experience.


Last week my wife’s family went to see Disney’s new production Tangled in movie theaters the day following Thanksgiving. I was skeptical and in my opinion Disney pictures deserved it. They have put out quite a few feature films that had little heart and then to top it off 5 sequels for every Disney picture to date. Anyways I was skeptical, I think I mentioned that. Before we went to see the movie my mother texted me and said they just got out and she thought the movie was amazing (she shared my opinion from their pictures over the last few years). Hearing her say that sparked my interest, she’s very critical of movies, a difficult eye to please with art.

I must say that I loved the movie. I squirmed in my seat with laughter; I drooled over brilliant animation and visuals, and ended up shedding a tear or two. (I won’t ruin any scenes though and explain where.) The music was so fun. I grew up when Disney was the factory of animation gems like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Lion King. I drew those characters over and over again, wishing someday that I could be an artist for Disney and make movies like that golden age of feature films. That was my greatest dream.

Slowly as the story quality degraded so did my dream although it’s true, other companies were coming out with films that sparked my creativity and interest; as the third golden age of Disney animation declined so did my dream. Tangled surprised me in a way that left me smiling and dreaming again. While I’ve read that Disney isn’t going to go down the fairytale pathway anytime soon (not my favorite piece of news) I still have to say thank you to the artists that helped make the film. You’ve inspired my passion for films with heart, films that the whole family can gather around, laugh, cry, and dream. Fellow contributors to this blog: do something today and every day this year about your dream; believe in it with every fiber of your being and then get working and make it happen.

- Nate S.

(I had to draw a picture to celebrate how much I loved it. It didn’t turn out very well but it was based off one of their promotional posters/pictures. You really have to see the movie though, the art in the movie is beautiful sometimes and breathtaking at other times.)

Thanksgiving Story - Illustration Contest

Here's the final collection of entries for the Thanksgiving Contest. Thank you everyone for participating in this contest. Great work.

                                                                         Kristi G.


Yesterday I walked into the kitchen and noticed Liezl and Quincy working on a project together while Ava stood watching, hoping to join in. I asked what they were up to, and Liezl responded by saying they were planning a Thanksgiving play. She was the Indian princess and Quincy was the beautiful pilgrim girl. I asked them if they could include Ava in the play, and they both said she already had an important part. Ava was thrilled to be their turkey and did a terrific job. I am so thankful for my silly girls!!!!

                                                                Nate S.

For about a year now, really it began about when I began this blog, I heard a story that just made me laugh, it was so sweet. My niece heard about the wonderfully magical properties of turkey wishbones and began scheming how she could insure she was able to make the wish and also presure her younger sister to wish for the same thing in case. I wanted to make some story off that idea somehow, about a girl that wants to make a wish or that does and the zany things that follow. So far I've only had ideas on this story, no direct storyline but the girl would have to be a compeling character.

                                                                            Scott W.

I almost didn't have time, but I do have some quick sketches. I have been toying with the idea of vegan twins...my family liked the fat ones the best...the idea for thanksgiving would be that they don't want to eat the turkey, but I'm also toying with the idea of the same twins not wanting to be secret agents - as a short story. Could be fun.

(Sorry Scott, I have attempted to fix the squashing of the picture. I have attempted to repost this and add the image in various ways but it comes out squished horizontally everytime. Great picture though.)