Hey! I like to write critiques and I took upon me to write one for every art nominee of the last month. They're all below, in reverse win order, I hope you enjoy it!
The darkish colors and Clarise's nonchalant pose with blasé expression all bolster each other for an effect of emotional distance and mystery, the subtle animation also helping with it. The stark shadows and the well-defined forms of the giant screws, the ears and the gun/contraption all contribute to convey intensity and power. Overall an exhilarating piece teeming with intense emotions.
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The dark motifs in the hair and clothing call attention, however I find the shapes of the artwork meaningful, specifically in how their relative straightness and edginess accompany Layla's modest demeanor for an effect of "scarcity of expression" from her; the clothing's translucent fabric also contributing. Some of the shapes like the points of her ponytail and the demon-like figure on her hair veer toward the dramatic, however I don't think they detract too much from her overall style. In any case, this is a pleasant work full of personality.
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A great appeal here comes from the fantasy of meeting Dolly Dimpley and the "Haha, You Clowns" folks in the same situation, which is produced harmoniously by everyone's attitudes and dialogue. The contrast between Dolly's aesthetic (including intense effects of light and smooth lines) and the "Haha, You Clowns" folks' one (vast monocolored visual areas, rugged textures) also add to the fantasy, visually. Overall a fun piece, even if pretty simple.
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Some obvious value can be found in the majestic forms and represented vast space of the vista. However, I'd like to call attention to the falling snowflakes, which are subtle but contribute a lot to the style of the piece in their conveyance of an alien ambient (matching the astronaut), serenity (matching the stable/peaceful nature) and whimsical (matching the castle atop the mountain). Overall a very beautiful piece, I liked it.
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The peaceful activity and expression of Orla and the style devoid of hard, well-defined lines produce an initial effect of serenity. However, I'd argue the main punch comes from Orla's worm that jarringly exits her left ear (as is known), subverting the peacefulness. However-ever, the relaxed attitude of the worm with its smooth, unstressed forms and pose and activity subvert that subvertion, creating an effect of unexpected normality (though expected for Orla's fans). This is humor. Anyway, yeah, a fun piece.
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The veeeeery smooth forms and reflective surfaces provide an initial satisfying effect. However, I'd argue that much of Leena's essence is lost with so much regular clarity and so little slimy "mess" (only two subtle splashes present near her head). Indeed, in the original "Leena Shmovin'", expressive traces of slime are gushed with each movement. I'd argue that the style of the sculpture objectifies and minimizes her personality. Still, at the least provides some satisfying visual appeal, as I've said.
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The style full of effects of light and of light colors calls attention. However, again I'll call attention to a subtle effect in the piece: how smooth the shapes and lines are; including on the smiles of Charlie and Pim (unsurprisingly). The smoothness creates an effect of comfort and friendliness that supports the clarity of the light and light colors and prevent them from being cold and sterile. All in all a lightheartedly satisfying piece.
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The sparkles of light and the detailed textures and shadows provide some easily-seen value for this piece. However, the shredded cloth holds a subtle importance. The edged and torn shapes naturally match with the aggression and danger of the skull, but also its lengthy, embracing continuity creates an imposing effect and aura that intensifies the power of the skull's aggression. Very scary. Very good piece.
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The well-rendered forms, the dramatic use of lights and shadows, the view-angle and the composition all create an initial effect of intensity and weight. And upon further inspection, even the use of pixel art is contributing: the contrasting directions of the straight angles of the pixels match with the dramatic contrast and opposition ubiquitous in the whole combative theme of the piece. A very good piece.
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@BridgeofFaust always chooses his colors well (or maybe a filter over them). In any case, the expressive curves and elongations of the shapes are probably the most defining quality of this piece, they are giving character to the characters as well as clarity and contrast when nearing perpendicularity. The author-typical brownish/beige-ish colors and granulated light/shadows/textures effects are there as well. Not bad but nothing sublime and out of the ordinary for him.
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The well-defined shapes and clear colors typical of the anime style are here. However, I'd like to laud this piece for a more liberal use of shadows and more vaguely delimited ones than anime usually... coerces the artist to use, I'd say. Yeah, this piece has more personality. Good job.
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The style of clearly-rendered forms, clear colors and vast use of light has some appeal, but the sheer volume of visual information is obviously the heavy-hitter of this piece. The connection between that and the volume of Sonic's history is what makes it meaningful instead of chaotic (though I did not fact-check all of the references and I'm taking a leap of faith for the author here). Baring inaccuracies, is a good piece.
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The realism and simplicity of style strikes easily and immediately. However, as the author orchestrated with title and comment, the punch comes from the implications of baby Gromit near an open fridge. The center position of the fridge, the light inside it and the variety of colors and shapes of the foods help bring focus to the open door that invites inference/imagination of what's to happen (alongside Gromit's proximity). A good piece.
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The textures and light/shadows constitute some preliminary appeal, however the choice of colors and the effects of faded paint is what gives this piece its overarching style and the bulk of its personality. The simulacrum of realism from the light/shadows/textures are in fact supporting the metarealism that the faded paint and paint-like color tones suggest and conduct. It's about a historical/chronological appeal, I guess.
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Well look at that arm. You see it too, right? Extremely elongated forms coupled with a concentration of volume behind it for contrast (concentrated with help from rotund shapes). Needless to say, the thing is so freaking dramatic and dynamic it might just extrude out of the piece! And that's the definition of style (probably). Anyway, yeah, pretty exhilarating piece, oh and the extremely irregular lines are matching with the extremely irregular forms/style.
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The warm colors already feel pleasant, but such effect is following the lead of extremely curvy and smoothly irregular lines. Such lines are casual and consistent (in their inconsistency), producing a homely effect of comfort tied to safety. And of course, it all adds up to the girl unflatteringly eating ramen but thus in such way endearing. Very good.
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It's FNF! Fanboying aside, this is rich in what critics would call "formal qualities". There's an obvious pseudosymmetry between the left and right parts, in the composition, the sizes of characters and even some in their relations (regarding FNF lore). Besides that, most shapes have well-defined limits and there's a distinct lack of color gradients or blurry/messy visual transitions. If this focused on verisimilitude and had the golden mean somewhere, it would be a hit in ancient greece. Anyway, it is nice and satisfying, even if slightly dissonant from FNF a bit more irregular style (in the lines, for example).
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Look at that forms rendering. Just look at it. It's like we're being shown the next dimension right there, in art. You can feel the volume, and the volume can feel you too. The blacks and reds contrasts are helping with clarity too, obviously. But the 3D forms are lifting the world, right here. Wow. Well ok. The stark tint of red was also masterfully chosen for the intensity of the brutal scene. And the clear 2D shapes are also doing their part to magnify the brutality. Very, very very good art.
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I'm just gonna say it. Why is the hand/gun so different from the body? It's not even for contrast, they're just tied together nonchalantly, there's no surrounding effect, no deeper treatment. It's like the gun is just there to shock/confuse/distract from the actual style of the body's 2D shapes, which are notable for their (stylishly) clumsy irregularity. But the gun is just a weirdly placed lump of 3D rendering and shine from the gun barrel. I'd recommend dividing this piece into two with different styles, or harmonizing one style into the other, naturally (if so, evidently I favor the style of the body).
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Well this one is easy. You see the textures too, right? The wyrm's scales reflecting light, the details on the knight's armor, cloth and helmet? The shredded shapes of the cape match with that detailed style too, and the tiny embers don't hurt. The shades of red and use of light/shadows create a small dramatic effect but I still see the detailed textures as the main strength. And the edgy shapes also don't hurt (like the teeth's, the spikes', the horns'). Overall a good piece.
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Well, that's it, I hope you enjoyed my critiques. And for my personal favorite I choose: "Spider-Man" by BracedYeti. That arm, man.
