Master Digital Color Talent Search 2010: The Results!

It’s almost here. This time next week geeks and nerds from around the world will be descending on SanDiego, California  in order to attend the worlds largest Comic book and pop culture convention in the world!!  The  San Diego Comic-Con International takes place at the San Diego Convention Center July 21-25. More than 125,000 people will be in attendance to see the hugest stars in the world of comic books, art, gaming, films, animation, toys and geekery!! And this year, for the second time…HueDoo.com and MasterDigitalColor.com gave you the chance to have your artwork be showcased at the show!!  The art has been submitted. The votes have been tallied…and now it’s time to present the winners!!  But first…the details!!
We posted 4 images in the forums on HueDoo.com for anyone to download, color and then repost back to the challenge threads. The art was broken down into 4 categories (Science Fiction, Pin Up, Animation and Superhero) that correspond to chapters in Brian Miller’s second book (and the name sake for this here website) Master Digital Color.  The images were:

By Tommy Patterson

By Bruce McCorkindale

By the creative team behind the upcoming comic, EPIC!: Writer Tyler Jame, Penicler/Inker  Matt Zolman, and regular series colorist Tyner

By the cerative team behind the new webcomic FIGHT!: Writer Kevin Church and Artist Tracie Mauk

Before I continue you..I want EVERYONE to know that we got so many absolutely amazing entries in each category.  The talent level is off the charts.  Everyone who took the time to sit down and place colors on any or all of these images should be tremendously proud of themselves. I didn’t get one single submissions that I looked at and couldn’t envision the in print on a store shelf somewhere. Lastly, thank you so much for stick with us through some horrible forum issues. There were some technical difficulties that were beyond out control be everyone was very cooperative and worked with us to make this year’s talent search a break out success.  Now, without further ado…I present to you the winners!!

In the Science Fiction section…your winner is: Ryan Lord!

His submission is just just bursts with atmosphere and drama.  The textures he created on every surface are completely believable and the depth he created is just…perfect.  I love this piece!!  Congratulations Ryan!!

I also want to give honorable mentions to the submissions by Sapphire77 and Franco Reisco.  These two entries tied for second place in the voting.  Fantastic job!

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In the Pin Up section…your winner is: Frank M. Cuonzo

Frank really captured the sexy pose in this image by making me believe that the green goddess is really standing there in the sunset posing just for me.  His shadows and highlights are perfectly placed and the tone he created across the whole piece makes me just not want to look away. Congratulations Frank!!

We also want to give an honorable mention to the entry by Jasen Smith.  Jasen’s painterly approach to this image is SO unique that we all just love it.  Great work!

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In the Animation section your winner is: Alex Sollazzo!!

Alex nailed this image!! The colors are bright and fun…but not so intense that it’s hard to look at.  The colors and holds fit exactly to the characters.  Awesome work!! Congratulations Frank!!

We’d also like to extend an Honorable Mention to the submission by Vanessa Beckmann.  Her rendition makes me feel like the art is actually going to start moving on my screen.  Almost like I could imagine this as an actual animation cell.  I really enjoy this. Thanks Vanessa and congratulations!!

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Your winner in the Superhero section: Ross Hughes!!

Ross flexed his coloring muscles here and just blew us away with his rendition of this cool piece.  That fur and lizard skin are just perfect.  The texture on those i-beams is very believable.  What a great piece.  Congratulations Ross!!

And in the Superhero section our honorable mentions go to Hectar Rubilar and Jonathan Towry.  Both of these entries are phenomenal.  Both are a lot of fun.  Congratulations to both of you!

So what to these winners get??

• The winning colored pieces are being featured on Comic-Con EXCLUSIVE trading cards. Your name will be prominently featured in the credits along with the other creators. The trading cards available at the Impact Books Booth, World Famous Comics Booth and anywhere else Hi-Fi makes appearances at SDCC. The cards will be available each day of the show while supplies last.  A complete set of the promo cards will also be mailed to each of our winners.

Also, if you’re at the show be sure to hunt down a couple of exclusive cards also being given away by HiFi Design. Friday we’ll be giving away a SDCC Exclusive ECHO card featuring artwork by Terry Moore… white supplies last.  The card has a signature area on the front so fans can visit the Abstract Studio booth and get their card autographed. Saturday we’ll be giving away a SDCC Exclusive SHI card featuring artwork by William Tucci… white supplies last.   The card has a signature area on the front so fans can visit the Crusade Fine Arts booth and get their card autographed.

• The winning artwork will be featured on HueDoo.com, and in a feature story on MasterDigitalColor.com and HiFiDesign.com (this part is happening right now!)

• The winning artwork will be featured on the big screen at Hi-Fi’s how-to color panels at the San Diego Comic-Con Iternational.

• A HiFi swag bag.

• A coloring portfolio review by Hi-Fi creative director Brian Miller. (be sure to take advantage of this one winners.  Brian is a really great guy and his colors are arguably the best in the business.  He’ll be able to tell you what you’re doing good and where you might need to improve your work to move yourself closer to that comic book coloring career that we’re ALL dreaming of.

Thank you SO much to all the people that helped to make this talent search a reality! Like I said before…the art that we got was just amazing.   It was a HUGE success and I can’t wait to do it again!!!