Round 16 - Challenge 06 - Results
ROUND 16 - CHALLENGE 6 - RESULTS
1ST PLACE [5 points]:
Zelda Fitzgerald with +7 votes (and more first place votes).
2ND PLACE [4 points]:
Charles Bukowski with +7 votes.
3RD PLACE [3 points]:
C.S. Lewis with +6 votes.
BEST INTERPRETATION [2 points]:
&
C.S. Lewis & Zelda Fitzgerald with +3 votes.
MOD'S CHOICE [1 point]:
H.P. Lovecraft
[I am absolutely smitten with what you've done in the background of this icon. The red moodiness is perfection, and the stormy nature of the textures is perfect symbolism for the character. I also really love the muted tones that avoid outright black and opt for a more dusty, war-torn look. The ornate font is also gorgeous, and it adds a nice mystical touch to the icon as well as hitting the theme on the head with how it wars with the grungy text hidden in the background.]
TABLE KEY:
+++ = 1st Place Vote
++ = 2nd Place Vote
+ = 3rd Place Vote | Beginning of a new comment.
Note: Votes are not weighted in this round. Meaning a 1st, 2nd or 3rd vote will only give you 1 point when tallying the votes. [Tiebreaker procedure:]Except in the case of a tie - then the icon with the most 1st place votes will be given first. This is upheld in all cases unless 1) the amount of votes is equal in all cases (i.e. 3 first place, 2 second place, and 1 third place) or 2) breaking the tie would result in an icon with enough first place votes to place being knocked out of a placing spot (i.e a third place tie between two icons). In these cases, ties will stand as is in order to maintain a sense of fairness for all participants.
ICON VOTES
Mary ShelleyPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ This icon looks really over saturated on my screen, and the subject is really lost in the extreme negative space. The font also seems to blend in with the background a little too much. I think using a darker shade of green for the text would have been helpful.
+ The coloring used here is very beautiful but the icon is so blurred. Looking at the original cap, it doesn't surprise me. I'd look for a similar screencap instead, but that one is almost impossible to save. Perhaps using the sharpening tool mostly on her face would look better.
+ The greens area really overwhelming, maybe toning down the vibrants a bit could help. The icon, as the cap, looks really blurry and lq on my monitor.
+ The text is hard to read. Maybe if it was set to normal mode, it wouldn't blend in like that. The greens in the icon are also a bit overwhelming. Toning it down or adding some other colors could help soften the look a bit.
+ The vibrant coloring is great but the subject gets lost within so perhaps not such a far off shot when you have such vibrant coloring taking over the icon.
+ Nice use of text. However, the trees appear oversaturated, which in return makes Emma look quite understated and difficult to see. You could reverse the pattern, lowering the saturation for the trees and making Emma appear brighter, or use a different crop, so that we can concentrate more on her (and on the text) and less on her background.
+ I feel that the subject really gets lost in the icon, partly because her coloring is so dull/understated compared to the bright colors used in the rest of the icon, and also because the textures from the cap are so intense that the eye is drawn away from the subject. Softening up the background, maybe taking a closer crop, and making her coloring pop a bit more would really go a long way.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ This icon has some gorgeous deep colors in it, but it is rather blurry on my monitor and the text is hard to read. Perhaps duplicating the text and setting both to hard light, or one to soft light/screen at a low opacity, would help it pop more so people could read it.
+ While the rich greens in this icon are beautiful, there's too much of them, and they overwhelm the icon. The screencap you used is predominantly green, but I think it should be possible to draw out other colors from it, like some brown on the tree trunks and ground, cyan where bits of sky are visible through the leaves, yellow on the leaves that are in direct sunlight. If you're using Photoshop, I recommend using Color Balance and setting the layer mode to color or hue, so that it doesn't mess with the brightness of the icon.
C.S. LewisPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ The use of text is gorgeous. The colors are also beautiful.
+++ Stunning coloring and beautiful composition and texture work! The text is really amazing as well.
+++ Love the color scheme, the composition and text placement! This icon completely subverts the grim nature of Supernatural, with its vibrant and warm colours. Great job!
++ I love the composition here and your texture + text use is very detailed! It's a really fun icon.
++ I love the bright colors in your icon, they are very eye-catching. I do think the text at the top could be moved down a bit so it wasn't cut off at the top, and maybe could use one less font or color because right now it's rather busy.
+ the text use and placement is great, love the color scheme. The fire texture is also a nice touch, it fits the character well.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Really nice composition!
+ The bright Halloween colors, playful use of the flame texture, and wandering typography makes for a fun atmosphere that does lull the viewer into a false sense of security despite the grim warning. My only crit would be that the subject's expression from the cap is so priceless, it would be great if we could see his face better in the icon to carry that emotion even further.
+ If I could vote for 4 icons, this would be my fourth. I adore the color scheme here, purple/pink/orange sounds like a recipe for disaster, but somehow, you pulled it off. The typography is rather cluttered though - four fonts in three different colors is too many for so little text; I'd suggest limiting it two, maybe three varieties and arranging it so that the style doesn't change with every word.
Alexandra BrakcenPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ I like the unusual composition with the red circles. To use text as a pattern like this is very creative. The coloring is great, too.
+ Very complex composition with beautiful colors.
+ I really love the text and colors here! And despite how busy the icon is, it doesn't feel like the subject is overwhelmed by it at all.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I think you had some really good ideas here - the composition is cute, the text does a great job of filling the negative space without taking the focus away from the subject, and the color scheme makes the icon pop. However, the way the subject is cut off looks rather awkward, and the white line only emphasizes the cut off, instead of hiding it. Since the composition is based around circles, it might have been a good idea to have the subject coming out of the circle placed behind her. Also, compared to the rest of the icon, the subject appears dark and undercontrasted - I'd suggest using a Curves or Levels layer to brighten her up and raise the contrast.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ The subject of this icon appears to be floating in a really awkward manner - the line under her torso is rather small and disappears into the loud textures that you've used with this icon. Perhaps the red bubbles could be replaced with another geometric sort of texture that worked with or replaced the line under her so she had something to "disappear" behind that explains why she was cut off like she was.
+ The way the circles get smaller toward the top creates a lot of visual depth, and I like that you used typography as a texture. I do think your icon would be stronger if instead of cutting off the character and leaving a white line, you had that bigger circle overlap onto her torso.
Stephen KingPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ I really like the colouring. However, I think the icon is missing something. Maybe text or a texture?
+ I really like the coloring and the contrast and the sharpness. It's a really cool thing to do with one of the most popular photos of him.
+ Great cropping, and I like the red-orange coloring you've got on the left. I think erasing that greenish portion in his hair or painting over it with the orangey color, or maybe even transitioning to a yellow in the top right corner would have been a better option to keep the eye focused on his face and add a little lighting into the icon.
+ While I'm generally a fan of sharp icons, I think the sharpness in this icon clashes with its other aspects, especially the coloring. The warm, summery ones, combined with light textures and a subject that also has a certain 'summer sunset' look to him, would probably look better with less sharpening, as crisp lines work against the dreamy atmosphere in this icon.
Cornelia FunkePOSITIVE VOTES
+ I love the simple negative space. The fading texture in the background and the white texture makes the icon look like it's under the the water, wich is perfect for the subject. Good work erasing all those bubbles out from the original cap! Though, I feel like it needs a little bit more sharpening in her face, but it's an amazing icon! Also, love your text use! The fonts and colors used compliments the whole icon.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ The colors here are really beautiful, but the text doesn't quite fit. I think their colors need to fit Ursula or the background more. I also think the text is a bit oversharpened.
+ I'm really fond of your use of texture and you handled the background quite well, and the text works too. The only problem with this icon is that Ursula's face appears a bit washed out, you can't see her features well on my monitor, it looks like her eyes disappeared. I find that sharpening the screencap before reducing it can be useful in these cases.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ This icon is really cool, but to me, Ursula looks rather blurry while the text is pretty sharp. I think the text's sharpness could be excused if the cap was that sharp too, so I would focus on that part. I really like the bubble texture you've added, though.
+ I really like the colouring and the idea behind the icon. However, I think the text could have been placed elsewhere, like above or below the subject. I like the text and font choice too, but right now, its competing too much with the texture and the subject herself.
+ The composition of this icon is quite charming and I like the simplicity, but I think the color you chose for the background is too bright - it doesn't provide enough contrast for Ursula's skin. A darker purple, like the background in the original screencap, would make her stand out more.
Charles DickensPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ The composition is beautiful. I really like the floral texture surrounding the tardis.
+++ Your icon has lovely textures, coloring, and text work. It is a bit busy for my tastes but it works nonetheless. Good job!
+++ The composition is so pretty! The two portions really compliment each other, and I love the springtime mood the textures and colors create.
+++ At first I didn't really notice this icon, because it's surrounded by brighter and more vibrant ones, but then I looked closer and WOW. The coloring here is absolutely amazing, I love the deep muted tones with just a hint of vibrance. The composition is simple, but elegant, and the typography doesn't overwhelm the subject despite being placed over his face. Great job!
+ Really pretty composition with the extra screencap and the text. It's a bit too dark imo, though.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Very nice and complex composition.
+ Love the composition of the icon. The flowers(?) and the tiny serif font give the icon a very charming, whimsical feel.
Miss ReadPOSITIVE VOTES
++ The pale greens are really beautiful and work so well in this icon. The texture use here is amazing and the lightning just puts everything together and completes the icon. Good work!
+ Lovely use of colour, the green on the texture complements Amélie's background very well. Good composition overall, and the frame was a nice addition.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ This is such a pretty icon. I love the use of the frame texture paired with the negative space and soft greens. I do feel that her face seems a little bit on the yellowish side, and the top of her head seems slightly oversharpened but you did a lovely job.
+ You have some really lovely composition work in this icon! It's simple, but gorgeous. It could use a bit of coloring work, though, as her face is rather greenish and the darks are so dark that they lose definition. I would mask, at least partially, the green coloring layers where they're over the subject and make different coloring layers for that part (masking them out in the rest of the icon) so her skin could be a more natural hue and the darks weren't overwhelmingly green. I also might stick a layer mask that goes from a dark grey to a light grey (or maybe dark brown to light brown) on screen or soft light over the subject to help dial down the contrast so the lights weren't almost washed out and the darks had some more definition.
+ I think the simple composition works really well with the atmosphere in this icon, its soft coloring and the screencap choice. The green coloring looks lovely as well, and I like how the coloring on the subject's face has a greenish undertone too, but manages not to make her look unnatural. I'd suggest making the frame brighter though, maybe even pure white - it would provide nice contrast for the character's black hair and clothes.
Douglas AdamsPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ The way the texture cuts through "lady" is really strong and impactful. I love the way the typography looks overall, and the depth of the foreground/background. My only crit is that the transition from blue to red makes the overall background feel really gray.
+ I love the way you used text in the background of the icon. It looks great paired with the texture that you chose. However, I think the coloring of the cap doesn't quite match the texture - it's very yellow, and the texture has no yellow elements and blueish tones in the colors. A color balance layer or even just some tweaks to the levels might help; assuming you're using Photoshop, I also find the photo filters are an easy quick fix when colors won't quite land. Having more blues in the cap would really pull the icon together, in my opinion.
+ The typography in this icon is amazing, the font choice, placement and arrangement all work together beautifully. I'm not sure what's going in the background though - the wave (?) with a shadow (?) looks out of place and it distorts the smooth lines of the text. Unless it serves a deeper purpose that I just don't see, I recommend removing it, or at least removing the shadow.
Sarah KayPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I like your composition here, but the colors of the icon don't go together super well - the cap is full of pastels, while the background is a very dark and saturated purple. I think having a background color that complemented the colors in the cap more would help the icon look more cohesive.
+ I feel like this icon would be a lot better without the bright light blobs because not only does it wash out Oikawa's face, it also makes the top of the frame look blurry and LQ, and looks really distracting on the right side of the icon. The deep purples match really well with the "grand king" theme, but I feel like Oikawa should definitely have some darker coloring on him. I don't know what the original texture is like, but the icon would also be improved by having the entire frame in the icon, instead of cut off awkwardly on the side.
+ I really like this idea - putting him in a frame like that is very creative, and you chose a very fitting background texture in royal purple. The text is perfect, too. The only thing is that the white highlights seem to distance the viewer from him. The text is much sharper than his face. I think it would work better to try and put him into the focus of the icon by leaving out that white highlight, and/or increasing the contrast on his face. My favorite technique is to use gradient maps on soft light, but if you're not using PS, a simple contrast adjustment or curves will do it.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ + Separately, I like all the elements in this icon - the frame, the text, the rich purple background - but they don't seem to go together well, and there's little connection between them, so the icon looks rather disjointed. I'd suggest making both the frame and the picture inside it darker, and adding some purple tones (Color Balance work work well for this purpose) in order to create a link between the foreground and the background.
+ The frame, typography, and light blob all seem to be battling for attention here. Perhaps putting the frame in a more central-bottom position would be better, since the top of the frame has a crown-like appearance that really suits the text and royal color scheme.
Colleen HooverPOSITIVE VOTES
++ I love the dark coloring and the emotional crop.
+ The coloring here Is amazing!
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ the icon is really interesting, but it's too dark on my screen and it's hard to see what's going on. Maybe a layer of curves would really help and make the character stand out more. Love the text, however the blue color doesn't really fit the overall warm feel of the icon, I'd recommend picking a ligher color from the icon or just use some light orange for the text.
+ I like the monochrome coloring, but the text is too unreadable to be placed right into her face like that. It distracts from the composition. Choosing a bolder font and not letting the background shine through it would make it stand out and justify the obscure placement.
+ I actually find this icon to be hauntingly beautiful, but I feel that the colors around her face get a little bit too muddled and ultimately her features begin to look like a really beautiful texture instead of a person.
+ I like the idea behind the composition of the icon, however, I think the texture became too overwhelming. I cannot make out the subject's face properly. Okay, on second glance I realise you have overlaid the same cap and shifted it up. I think masking away the bits that obscure the character's face would have made the icon look more cohesive.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ I like the idea behind your icon, but it's also rather hard to make out the subject because her face is so dark and lacking contrast. I also think the text would fit better if it weren't so purple-blue, as the color looks kind of strange next to the orange background.
+ The icon appears quite dark on my monitor, especially your subject's face. The monochrome look is an interesting choice but you might want to play a bit more with the levels so that we can see what is going on, especially since it looks like you blended several caps together.
+ The idea you had here is very interesting, and I think the execution of it is almost perfect. The dark coloring fits the desperate expression on the subject's face, and the blending emphasizes the frantic scene (or at least I'm guessing that it is, judging by her expression and the fire in the background). The second screencap could be darker though - before checking the source images, I had no idea there even was a second screencap.
Emily BrontëPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I really like the idea of this icon, but I think the Lizzie on top is too small. I think her head should be the same size as Lizzie on the bottom.
+ The white line used to obscure the subject at the top is a bit distracting, and the duplication of her face doesn't really blend all that well with her neck; it looks a bit too transparent and pale.
+ All the elements on this composition look really discordant with each other, the blending on this icon doesn't mix well, those 2 caps could fit better in a levels composition,. The texture above is really distracting, and the edges around her silhouette are really blurry and washed out.
+ Even though I appreciate the idea of the icon, the image within image looks a bit like she's got a face growing from her neck. I suggest making the the silhouette completely one color, that way it looks more like "artistic" (in the lack of better words). The white stripes at the top also seems a bit randomly added and takes the attention from the subject.
+ The profile crop is very nice but I think I would have left the blended face out as it looks a bit odd. Perhaps you could have close cropped one of the faces and put it as the entire background and had the other face in the forefront.
+ I like the composition in this icon - the texture covering the subject's eyes adds a touch of mystery and works well with the profile view of the subject, overall, it looks elegant and understated. The blending, however, looks rather awkward, and doesn't fit with the rest of the icon, both in terms of coloring (the blended cap is pinkish, while the main one is more yellowish) and atmosphere - the cap of subject looking straight ahead sabotages the mysterious effect created by the main cap and the texture. Removing the second cap altogether seems to be the best option here, as the icon doesn't benefit from it in any way.
+ I like the idea behind this icon but I think it would be a bit better if you remove the Keira cap you blended into her neck entirely. The larger crop is already very nice and the faceless component is very well done on top of the lovely blue coloring. The extra face makes it look quite awkward. I think if you had wanted to blend an extra cap in, it would've been better to have a darker cap as a base (like the Keira icon in the example post).
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ I like the crop and eyeless technique you used, but I feel that the use of the double exposure within the profile is out of place and only makes it look like the subject has two heads. It probably would have been more effective if the double exposure was on a blank silhouette instead.
Philip K. DickPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ Wow, such a creative icon! Amazing use of animation, especially with the rest of it remaining still. All the colours complement each other very well, the frame is well done, the textures look great. Brilliant work, I'm sooo impressed!
++ Very complex, nice complementary coloring. The animated scene is easy to see even through the peephole-like silhouette.
++ Great composition and the animation is nicely done and its very cool being within the silhouette.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ Great composition.
+ The use of animation is a great way to convey this theme, especially in conjonction with a frame.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ This icon has plenty of potential, but I find it a little overwhelming. It's happening a lot of things in there and don't really know where to focus on. The colors in the background look too bright on my monitor, it could be improved by making a new vibrance layer and lowering the vibrance a bit. But the colors and textures used are gorgeous. The animation has a lot of quality wich is a great thing, but the colors used don't match with bg colors, maybe using black and white instead would look better. Good work cutting your subject! I can see all the details, that is gorgeous!
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Love the composition. It's a really neat idea and you executed it well. Also love the colouring!
+ The animated insert was a really clever idea, but I think it would be a lot stronger as a whole if the colors in the rest of the icon matched the tones of the animated clip. The highly saturated colors feel a bit too vibrant in comparison.
+ The composition of your icon is very cool, but I'm not sure the texture you used matches the gif part of the icon - it's full of bright greens/yellows, while your cap is all deep reds and purples. I think the texture would work a lot better if it were a purple-blue because then it would complement the colors in the icon without overshadowing them.
Charles BukowskiPOSITIVE VOTES
++ Good composition, the use of blocking is very well done and allows us to see Oliver from different angles. Nice colouring work as well, I like the contrast between the deep yellow and Oliver's outfit.
++ The orange coloring is very eye-catching and pretty. I do however think there are bit too many duplicates of the screencap, it looks a bit cluttered.
+ I like the composition of this icon and the way it fits the theme in a very straightforward manner. It looks a tad too sharp on my monitor, so taking a blur brush or masking out some of your sharpening layer over the brighter and higher-contrast parts may help.
+ The blocking makes the icon look a bit busy, but I think you pulled it off. I love the coloring too - the brilliant yellows and oranges are just the right amount of saturated, and it's impressive how you managed to brighten the screencap without making the icon look grainy or LQ.
+ I love the coloring, and the duplication - like puzzle pieces. His face is easily recognizable even with the hood, and it has just the right amount of contrast. The text is concise and well placed and I like the font choice.
+ A few areas around the hood seem a little over-sharpened, but I absolutely love the blocking in your icon, and the use of typography is a really nice touch as well.
+ Beautiful vibrant coloring and nice blocking and text use.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ I love the composition! And the coloring is just amazing, but some parts look a little oversharpened in my monitor.
Franz KafkaPOSITIVE VOTES
++ great coloring and composition, the symbols on the right part really fit the character and describe him better than any text would have.
++ Love, love the composition, especially the use of symbols which tie in with the subject and the show. Also, love the colouring!
++ This icon won me over with the cute symbols and bright coloring. I don't know this fandom so I can't say how well the symbols represent the subject of the icon, but in any case, using them was a very creative idea that makes this icon stand out.
++ The bright colors and use of the web icons is really eyecatching, and such a cool concept. I also like that you treated the web icons with some textures and lighting so that they intigrate with the design. Great attention to detail!
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ This icon is very clever in the way you put it together with the cutout and the icons that symbolise the character. Right now, though, it looks kind of flat because there isn't a lot of contrast or lighting. Using some lighting textures or gradients to add some shape and contrast would help it really stand out.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Awwww, Chuck! Great composition, and in yellow, too. I like yellow... :) I love this icon. I would maybe add more contrast to Chuck, he looks a little washed out, but otherwise, it's perfect.
Adrienne RichPOSITIVE VOTES
+ I really like the light greens with the dark block on the middle, the overlapping text fix well on the icon and with the character.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I like how the subject is somewhat framed, and the cold coloring is great. However I find the text placement too distracting, because it's all over the icon and I couldn't read a word.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Love the composition. The noisy texture gives the icon a very cluttered and distressed feel which ties into the subject's storyline very well!
+ I really like the typography here - the visual side is a perfect match for what the text says, it looks like graffiti jumping off the walls and has a very strong 'obsessed' feel to it. The sharpness of the text contrasts with the softness of the image though, so I suggest sharpening it, especially the subject's face and hair.
+ I really like the squiggly lines, which create a layered and confused atmosphere that really draws me in. I think the subject has picked up too much of the green from the background though, which causes her to blend in instead of becoming a focal point. I can also see that the darker areas have some grainy and blobby effects that look low-res.
Zelda FitzgeraldPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ Gorgeous composition and I love the vintage coloring.
+++ the composition is great, the muted color scheme works really well with the frame and I love how the text is used as decorative element
+++ Great muted coloring on this icon and the composition is great. It is a very busy icon, from the text and all the textures but it all flows together very well.
+++ The composition here is very original and unique! I love how you played with the greyscale + gold. Stunning.
+++ I love the vintage coloring and composition! The monochrome is really eyecatching and well done and I love your attention to detail here - from the arrowheads to the trees surrounding Allison. The lace frame + the hearts on her sweater is a nice juxtaposition with the arrowheads and trees too, which perfectly depicts the conflict Allison feels in the earlier seasons.
++ The composition of this icon is really amazing. I love the use of the frame to keep the focus on the subject while still allowing the excellent text work and textures in the background be noticed; it's a busier composition, but nothing really gets lost in it!
+ I adore the composition and I applaud your decision to go monochrome with the only pops of colour being sepia. Both the colouring and the composition serve to give the icon a very vintage feel!
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Lovely composition and I adore your use of colour, it's a very creative icon, definitely in my top 4
+ I like the limited palette and use of the frame texture here. It has a charming, shabby-chic feel to it. I do wish that the color pops were slightly more saturated so that it were more of a dark gold instead of the muted yellowish-tan.
+ The composition and coloring of this icon are very lovely! The only critique I have to offer is that it looks very very sharp on my monitor, especially around her hairline. I also wish I could read the text - I think this piece would also work very well on a tumblr graphic, where you'd have more canvas space to do all that you're doing.
+ The composition in this icon is very good, I like how the subject was placed in the center and separated from the busy background with a frame, I think it does a great job of keeping the subject from getting lost among the other elements of the icon. Also, I think the typography works well here; the text is unreadable, but the font choice is fancy enough for it to work as a purely decorative element. My only suggestion here is to be careful with sharpening - the thin bright border that appears around oversharpened lines can be seen in a few places, especially her nose, ear and the edge of her clothes; duplicating the image before sharpening and then erasing the problematic areas could help with this issue.
H.P. LovecraftPOSITIVE VOTES
++ I love the dark tones on this icon, the deep reds around the silhouette and the gold/orange text really add up with the cap.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ Your font choice was a good pairing with the use of text, the wispy effect and movement it gives to the overall icon is the perfect compliment. I also love the mottled, dusty effect behind the text. It gives a sense of confusion which suits the message.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I like the text and colouring of the icon. The red and yellow/gold combo is really great and helps the cursive text stand out. However, I think that the grunge texture/text(?) underneath the text is a little distracting. It gives the colouring a muddy look. Maybe masking away bits of it, especially from the subject's face would have help. Or alternately, maybe a noisy grunge texture would have given you a harsh texture look without making the colouring seem a little muddy.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Great coloring, using red for the background gave the icon a dangerous look that fits the subject and the text. I like the layered typography too, though the bottom layer could be more visible - I can make out 'monster' under 'god', but that's it. And it's a shame, because the concept is very creative and fits the character so well!
+ I love the bright red background you chose to pair with this cap, but the coloring in the rest of it looks rather muddy. I think part of that is due to the text/texture that's a dark brown that's over the subject's face - I can't quite read all the brown text (I can make out "monster"), but I don't know that the icon needs it to have meaning. If you wanted it to have both the brown text and the orange text, perhaps put one above the subject's head and one lower (like where "calamity" is right now?) I think for the bright orange text, I might have picked a different font because the script you're using doesn't really seem to embody calamity (though the color is wonderful for it).
Spreadsheet will be linked in the overall results post in just a moment.
1ST PLACE [5 points]:
Zelda Fitzgerald with +7 votes (and more first place votes).
2ND PLACE [4 points]:
Charles Bukowski with +7 votes.
3RD PLACE [3 points]:
C.S. Lewis with +6 votes.
BEST INTERPRETATION [2 points]:
&
C.S. Lewis & Zelda Fitzgerald with +3 votes.
MOD'S CHOICE [1 point]:
H.P. Lovecraft
[I am absolutely smitten with what you've done in the background of this icon. The red moodiness is perfection, and the stormy nature of the textures is perfect symbolism for the character. I also really love the muted tones that avoid outright black and opt for a more dusty, war-torn look. The ornate font is also gorgeous, and it adds a nice mystical touch to the icon as well as hitting the theme on the head with how it wars with the grungy text hidden in the background.]
TABLE KEY:
+++ = 1st Place Vote
++ = 2nd Place Vote
+ = 3rd Place Vote | Beginning of a new comment.
Note: Votes are not weighted in this round. Meaning a 1st, 2nd or 3rd vote will only give you 1 point when tallying the votes. [Tiebreaker procedure:]Except in the case of a tie - then the icon with the most 1st place votes will be given first. This is upheld in all cases unless 1) the amount of votes is equal in all cases (i.e. 3 first place, 2 second place, and 1 third place) or 2) breaking the tie would result in an icon with enough first place votes to place being knocked out of a placing spot (i.e a third place tie between two icons). In these cases, ties will stand as is in order to maintain a sense of fairness for all participants.
ICON VOTES
Mary ShelleyPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ This icon looks really over saturated on my screen, and the subject is really lost in the extreme negative space. The font also seems to blend in with the background a little too much. I think using a darker shade of green for the text would have been helpful.
+ The coloring used here is very beautiful but the icon is so blurred. Looking at the original cap, it doesn't surprise me. I'd look for a similar screencap instead, but that one is almost impossible to save. Perhaps using the sharpening tool mostly on her face would look better.
+ The greens area really overwhelming, maybe toning down the vibrants a bit could help. The icon, as the cap, looks really blurry and lq on my monitor.
+ The text is hard to read. Maybe if it was set to normal mode, it wouldn't blend in like that. The greens in the icon are also a bit overwhelming. Toning it down or adding some other colors could help soften the look a bit.
+ The vibrant coloring is great but the subject gets lost within so perhaps not such a far off shot when you have such vibrant coloring taking over the icon.
+ Nice use of text. However, the trees appear oversaturated, which in return makes Emma look quite understated and difficult to see. You could reverse the pattern, lowering the saturation for the trees and making Emma appear brighter, or use a different crop, so that we can concentrate more on her (and on the text) and less on her background.
+ I feel that the subject really gets lost in the icon, partly because her coloring is so dull/understated compared to the bright colors used in the rest of the icon, and also because the textures from the cap are so intense that the eye is drawn away from the subject. Softening up the background, maybe taking a closer crop, and making her coloring pop a bit more would really go a long way.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ This icon has some gorgeous deep colors in it, but it is rather blurry on my monitor and the text is hard to read. Perhaps duplicating the text and setting both to hard light, or one to soft light/screen at a low opacity, would help it pop more so people could read it.
+ While the rich greens in this icon are beautiful, there's too much of them, and they overwhelm the icon. The screencap you used is predominantly green, but I think it should be possible to draw out other colors from it, like some brown on the tree trunks and ground, cyan where bits of sky are visible through the leaves, yellow on the leaves that are in direct sunlight. If you're using Photoshop, I recommend using Color Balance and setting the layer mode to color or hue, so that it doesn't mess with the brightness of the icon.
C.S. LewisPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ The use of text is gorgeous. The colors are also beautiful.
+++ Stunning coloring and beautiful composition and texture work! The text is really amazing as well.
+++ Love the color scheme, the composition and text placement! This icon completely subverts the grim nature of Supernatural, with its vibrant and warm colours. Great job!
++ I love the composition here and your texture + text use is very detailed! It's a really fun icon.
++ I love the bright colors in your icon, they are very eye-catching. I do think the text at the top could be moved down a bit so it wasn't cut off at the top, and maybe could use one less font or color because right now it's rather busy.
+ the text use and placement is great, love the color scheme. The fire texture is also a nice touch, it fits the character well.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Really nice composition!
+ The bright Halloween colors, playful use of the flame texture, and wandering typography makes for a fun atmosphere that does lull the viewer into a false sense of security despite the grim warning. My only crit would be that the subject's expression from the cap is so priceless, it would be great if we could see his face better in the icon to carry that emotion even further.
+ If I could vote for 4 icons, this would be my fourth. I adore the color scheme here, purple/pink/orange sounds like a recipe for disaster, but somehow, you pulled it off. The typography is rather cluttered though - four fonts in three different colors is too many for so little text; I'd suggest limiting it two, maybe three varieties and arranging it so that the style doesn't change with every word.
Alexandra BrakcenPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ I like the unusual composition with the red circles. To use text as a pattern like this is very creative. The coloring is great, too.
+ Very complex composition with beautiful colors.
+ I really love the text and colors here! And despite how busy the icon is, it doesn't feel like the subject is overwhelmed by it at all.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I think you had some really good ideas here - the composition is cute, the text does a great job of filling the negative space without taking the focus away from the subject, and the color scheme makes the icon pop. However, the way the subject is cut off looks rather awkward, and the white line only emphasizes the cut off, instead of hiding it. Since the composition is based around circles, it might have been a good idea to have the subject coming out of the circle placed behind her. Also, compared to the rest of the icon, the subject appears dark and undercontrasted - I'd suggest using a Curves or Levels layer to brighten her up and raise the contrast.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ The subject of this icon appears to be floating in a really awkward manner - the line under her torso is rather small and disappears into the loud textures that you've used with this icon. Perhaps the red bubbles could be replaced with another geometric sort of texture that worked with or replaced the line under her so she had something to "disappear" behind that explains why she was cut off like she was.
+ The way the circles get smaller toward the top creates a lot of visual depth, and I like that you used typography as a texture. I do think your icon would be stronger if instead of cutting off the character and leaving a white line, you had that bigger circle overlap onto her torso.
Stephen KingPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ I really like the colouring. However, I think the icon is missing something. Maybe text or a texture?
+ I really like the coloring and the contrast and the sharpness. It's a really cool thing to do with one of the most popular photos of him.
+ Great cropping, and I like the red-orange coloring you've got on the left. I think erasing that greenish portion in his hair or painting over it with the orangey color, or maybe even transitioning to a yellow in the top right corner would have been a better option to keep the eye focused on his face and add a little lighting into the icon.
+ While I'm generally a fan of sharp icons, I think the sharpness in this icon clashes with its other aspects, especially the coloring. The warm, summery ones, combined with light textures and a subject that also has a certain 'summer sunset' look to him, would probably look better with less sharpening, as crisp lines work against the dreamy atmosphere in this icon.
Cornelia FunkePOSITIVE VOTES
+ I love the simple negative space. The fading texture in the background and the white texture makes the icon look like it's under the the water, wich is perfect for the subject. Good work erasing all those bubbles out from the original cap! Though, I feel like it needs a little bit more sharpening in her face, but it's an amazing icon! Also, love your text use! The fonts and colors used compliments the whole icon.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ The colors here are really beautiful, but the text doesn't quite fit. I think their colors need to fit Ursula or the background more. I also think the text is a bit oversharpened.
+ I'm really fond of your use of texture and you handled the background quite well, and the text works too. The only problem with this icon is that Ursula's face appears a bit washed out, you can't see her features well on my monitor, it looks like her eyes disappeared. I find that sharpening the screencap before reducing it can be useful in these cases.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ This icon is really cool, but to me, Ursula looks rather blurry while the text is pretty sharp. I think the text's sharpness could be excused if the cap was that sharp too, so I would focus on that part. I really like the bubble texture you've added, though.
+ I really like the colouring and the idea behind the icon. However, I think the text could have been placed elsewhere, like above or below the subject. I like the text and font choice too, but right now, its competing too much with the texture and the subject herself.
+ The composition of this icon is quite charming and I like the simplicity, but I think the color you chose for the background is too bright - it doesn't provide enough contrast for Ursula's skin. A darker purple, like the background in the original screencap, would make her stand out more.
Charles DickensPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ The composition is beautiful. I really like the floral texture surrounding the tardis.
+++ Your icon has lovely textures, coloring, and text work. It is a bit busy for my tastes but it works nonetheless. Good job!
+++ The composition is so pretty! The two portions really compliment each other, and I love the springtime mood the textures and colors create.
+++ At first I didn't really notice this icon, because it's surrounded by brighter and more vibrant ones, but then I looked closer and WOW. The coloring here is absolutely amazing, I love the deep muted tones with just a hint of vibrance. The composition is simple, but elegant, and the typography doesn't overwhelm the subject despite being placed over his face. Great job!
+ Really pretty composition with the extra screencap and the text. It's a bit too dark imo, though.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Very nice and complex composition.
+ Love the composition of the icon. The flowers(?) and the tiny serif font give the icon a very charming, whimsical feel.
Miss ReadPOSITIVE VOTES
++ The pale greens are really beautiful and work so well in this icon. The texture use here is amazing and the lightning just puts everything together and completes the icon. Good work!
+ Lovely use of colour, the green on the texture complements Amélie's background very well. Good composition overall, and the frame was a nice addition.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ This is such a pretty icon. I love the use of the frame texture paired with the negative space and soft greens. I do feel that her face seems a little bit on the yellowish side, and the top of her head seems slightly oversharpened but you did a lovely job.
+ You have some really lovely composition work in this icon! It's simple, but gorgeous. It could use a bit of coloring work, though, as her face is rather greenish and the darks are so dark that they lose definition. I would mask, at least partially, the green coloring layers where they're over the subject and make different coloring layers for that part (masking them out in the rest of the icon) so her skin could be a more natural hue and the darks weren't overwhelmingly green. I also might stick a layer mask that goes from a dark grey to a light grey (or maybe dark brown to light brown) on screen or soft light over the subject to help dial down the contrast so the lights weren't almost washed out and the darks had some more definition.
+ I think the simple composition works really well with the atmosphere in this icon, its soft coloring and the screencap choice. The green coloring looks lovely as well, and I like how the coloring on the subject's face has a greenish undertone too, but manages not to make her look unnatural. I'd suggest making the frame brighter though, maybe even pure white - it would provide nice contrast for the character's black hair and clothes.
Douglas AdamsPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ The way the texture cuts through "lady" is really strong and impactful. I love the way the typography looks overall, and the depth of the foreground/background. My only crit is that the transition from blue to red makes the overall background feel really gray.
+ I love the way you used text in the background of the icon. It looks great paired with the texture that you chose. However, I think the coloring of the cap doesn't quite match the texture - it's very yellow, and the texture has no yellow elements and blueish tones in the colors. A color balance layer or even just some tweaks to the levels might help; assuming you're using Photoshop, I also find the photo filters are an easy quick fix when colors won't quite land. Having more blues in the cap would really pull the icon together, in my opinion.
+ The typography in this icon is amazing, the font choice, placement and arrangement all work together beautifully. I'm not sure what's going in the background though - the wave (?) with a shadow (?) looks out of place and it distorts the smooth lines of the text. Unless it serves a deeper purpose that I just don't see, I recommend removing it, or at least removing the shadow.
Sarah KayPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I like your composition here, but the colors of the icon don't go together super well - the cap is full of pastels, while the background is a very dark and saturated purple. I think having a background color that complemented the colors in the cap more would help the icon look more cohesive.
+ I feel like this icon would be a lot better without the bright light blobs because not only does it wash out Oikawa's face, it also makes the top of the frame look blurry and LQ, and looks really distracting on the right side of the icon. The deep purples match really well with the "grand king" theme, but I feel like Oikawa should definitely have some darker coloring on him. I don't know what the original texture is like, but the icon would also be improved by having the entire frame in the icon, instead of cut off awkwardly on the side.
+ I really like this idea - putting him in a frame like that is very creative, and you chose a very fitting background texture in royal purple. The text is perfect, too. The only thing is that the white highlights seem to distance the viewer from him. The text is much sharper than his face. I think it would work better to try and put him into the focus of the icon by leaving out that white highlight, and/or increasing the contrast on his face. My favorite technique is to use gradient maps on soft light, but if you're not using PS, a simple contrast adjustment or curves will do it.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ + Separately, I like all the elements in this icon - the frame, the text, the rich purple background - but they don't seem to go together well, and there's little connection between them, so the icon looks rather disjointed. I'd suggest making both the frame and the picture inside it darker, and adding some purple tones (Color Balance work work well for this purpose) in order to create a link between the foreground and the background.
+ The frame, typography, and light blob all seem to be battling for attention here. Perhaps putting the frame in a more central-bottom position would be better, since the top of the frame has a crown-like appearance that really suits the text and royal color scheme.
Colleen HooverPOSITIVE VOTES
++ I love the dark coloring and the emotional crop.
+ The coloring here Is amazing!
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ the icon is really interesting, but it's too dark on my screen and it's hard to see what's going on. Maybe a layer of curves would really help and make the character stand out more. Love the text, however the blue color doesn't really fit the overall warm feel of the icon, I'd recommend picking a ligher color from the icon or just use some light orange for the text.
+ I like the monochrome coloring, but the text is too unreadable to be placed right into her face like that. It distracts from the composition. Choosing a bolder font and not letting the background shine through it would make it stand out and justify the obscure placement.
+ I actually find this icon to be hauntingly beautiful, but I feel that the colors around her face get a little bit too muddled and ultimately her features begin to look like a really beautiful texture instead of a person.
+ I like the idea behind the composition of the icon, however, I think the texture became too overwhelming. I cannot make out the subject's face properly. Okay, on second glance I realise you have overlaid the same cap and shifted it up. I think masking away the bits that obscure the character's face would have made the icon look more cohesive.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ I like the idea behind your icon, but it's also rather hard to make out the subject because her face is so dark and lacking contrast. I also think the text would fit better if it weren't so purple-blue, as the color looks kind of strange next to the orange background.
+ The icon appears quite dark on my monitor, especially your subject's face. The monochrome look is an interesting choice but you might want to play a bit more with the levels so that we can see what is going on, especially since it looks like you blended several caps together.
+ The idea you had here is very interesting, and I think the execution of it is almost perfect. The dark coloring fits the desperate expression on the subject's face, and the blending emphasizes the frantic scene (or at least I'm guessing that it is, judging by her expression and the fire in the background). The second screencap could be darker though - before checking the source images, I had no idea there even was a second screencap.
Emily BrontëPOSITIVE VOTES
None.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I really like the idea of this icon, but I think the Lizzie on top is too small. I think her head should be the same size as Lizzie on the bottom.
+ The white line used to obscure the subject at the top is a bit distracting, and the duplication of her face doesn't really blend all that well with her neck; it looks a bit too transparent and pale.
+ All the elements on this composition look really discordant with each other, the blending on this icon doesn't mix well, those 2 caps could fit better in a levels composition,. The texture above is really distracting, and the edges around her silhouette are really blurry and washed out.
+ Even though I appreciate the idea of the icon, the image within image looks a bit like she's got a face growing from her neck. I suggest making the the silhouette completely one color, that way it looks more like "artistic" (in the lack of better words). The white stripes at the top also seems a bit randomly added and takes the attention from the subject.
+ The profile crop is very nice but I think I would have left the blended face out as it looks a bit odd. Perhaps you could have close cropped one of the faces and put it as the entire background and had the other face in the forefront.
+ I like the composition in this icon - the texture covering the subject's eyes adds a touch of mystery and works well with the profile view of the subject, overall, it looks elegant and understated. The blending, however, looks rather awkward, and doesn't fit with the rest of the icon, both in terms of coloring (the blended cap is pinkish, while the main one is more yellowish) and atmosphere - the cap of subject looking straight ahead sabotages the mysterious effect created by the main cap and the texture. Removing the second cap altogether seems to be the best option here, as the icon doesn't benefit from it in any way.
+ I like the idea behind this icon but I think it would be a bit better if you remove the Keira cap you blended into her neck entirely. The larger crop is already very nice and the faceless component is very well done on top of the lovely blue coloring. The extra face makes it look quite awkward. I think if you had wanted to blend an extra cap in, it would've been better to have a darker cap as a base (like the Keira icon in the example post).
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ I like the crop and eyeless technique you used, but I feel that the use of the double exposure within the profile is out of place and only makes it look like the subject has two heads. It probably would have been more effective if the double exposure was on a blank silhouette instead.
Philip K. DickPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ Wow, such a creative icon! Amazing use of animation, especially with the rest of it remaining still. All the colours complement each other very well, the frame is well done, the textures look great. Brilliant work, I'm sooo impressed!
++ Very complex, nice complementary coloring. The animated scene is easy to see even through the peephole-like silhouette.
++ Great composition and the animation is nicely done and its very cool being within the silhouette.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ Great composition.
+ The use of animation is a great way to convey this theme, especially in conjonction with a frame.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ This icon has plenty of potential, but I find it a little overwhelming. It's happening a lot of things in there and don't really know where to focus on. The colors in the background look too bright on my monitor, it could be improved by making a new vibrance layer and lowering the vibrance a bit. But the colors and textures used are gorgeous. The animation has a lot of quality wich is a great thing, but the colors used don't match with bg colors, maybe using black and white instead would look better. Good work cutting your subject! I can see all the details, that is gorgeous!
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Love the composition. It's a really neat idea and you executed it well. Also love the colouring!
+ The animated insert was a really clever idea, but I think it would be a lot stronger as a whole if the colors in the rest of the icon matched the tones of the animated clip. The highly saturated colors feel a bit too vibrant in comparison.
+ The composition of your icon is very cool, but I'm not sure the texture you used matches the gif part of the icon - it's full of bright greens/yellows, while your cap is all deep reds and purples. I think the texture would work a lot better if it were a purple-blue because then it would complement the colors in the icon without overshadowing them.
Charles BukowskiPOSITIVE VOTES
++ Good composition, the use of blocking is very well done and allows us to see Oliver from different angles. Nice colouring work as well, I like the contrast between the deep yellow and Oliver's outfit.
++ The orange coloring is very eye-catching and pretty. I do however think there are bit too many duplicates of the screencap, it looks a bit cluttered.
+ I like the composition of this icon and the way it fits the theme in a very straightforward manner. It looks a tad too sharp on my monitor, so taking a blur brush or masking out some of your sharpening layer over the brighter and higher-contrast parts may help.
+ The blocking makes the icon look a bit busy, but I think you pulled it off. I love the coloring too - the brilliant yellows and oranges are just the right amount of saturated, and it's impressive how you managed to brighten the screencap without making the icon look grainy or LQ.
+ I love the coloring, and the duplication - like puzzle pieces. His face is easily recognizable even with the hood, and it has just the right amount of contrast. The text is concise and well placed and I like the font choice.
+ A few areas around the hood seem a little over-sharpened, but I absolutely love the blocking in your icon, and the use of typography is a really nice touch as well.
+ Beautiful vibrant coloring and nice blocking and text use.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ I love the composition! And the coloring is just amazing, but some parts look a little oversharpened in my monitor.
Franz KafkaPOSITIVE VOTES
++ great coloring and composition, the symbols on the right part really fit the character and describe him better than any text would have.
++ Love, love the composition, especially the use of symbols which tie in with the subject and the show. Also, love the colouring!
++ This icon won me over with the cute symbols and bright coloring. I don't know this fandom so I can't say how well the symbols represent the subject of the icon, but in any case, using them was a very creative idea that makes this icon stand out.
++ The bright colors and use of the web icons is really eyecatching, and such a cool concept. I also like that you treated the web icons with some textures and lighting so that they intigrate with the design. Great attention to detail!
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ This icon is very clever in the way you put it together with the cutout and the icons that symbolise the character. Right now, though, it looks kind of flat because there isn't a lot of contrast or lighting. Using some lighting textures or gradients to add some shape and contrast would help it really stand out.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Awwww, Chuck! Great composition, and in yellow, too. I like yellow... :) I love this icon. I would maybe add more contrast to Chuck, he looks a little washed out, but otherwise, it's perfect.
Adrienne RichPOSITIVE VOTES
+ I really like the light greens with the dark block on the middle, the overlapping text fix well on the icon and with the character.
BEST INTERPRETATION
None.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I like how the subject is somewhat framed, and the cold coloring is great. However I find the text placement too distracting, because it's all over the icon and I couldn't read a word.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Love the composition. The noisy texture gives the icon a very cluttered and distressed feel which ties into the subject's storyline very well!
+ I really like the typography here - the visual side is a perfect match for what the text says, it looks like graffiti jumping off the walls and has a very strong 'obsessed' feel to it. The sharpness of the text contrasts with the softness of the image though, so I suggest sharpening it, especially the subject's face and hair.
+ I really like the squiggly lines, which create a layered and confused atmosphere that really draws me in. I think the subject has picked up too much of the green from the background though, which causes her to blend in instead of becoming a focal point. I can also see that the darker areas have some grainy and blobby effects that look low-res.
Zelda FitzgeraldPOSITIVE VOTES
+++ Gorgeous composition and I love the vintage coloring.
+++ the composition is great, the muted color scheme works really well with the frame and I love how the text is used as decorative element
+++ Great muted coloring on this icon and the composition is great. It is a very busy icon, from the text and all the textures but it all flows together very well.
+++ The composition here is very original and unique! I love how you played with the greyscale + gold. Stunning.
+++ I love the vintage coloring and composition! The monochrome is really eyecatching and well done and I love your attention to detail here - from the arrowheads to the trees surrounding Allison. The lace frame + the hearts on her sweater is a nice juxtaposition with the arrowheads and trees too, which perfectly depicts the conflict Allison feels in the earlier seasons.
++ The composition of this icon is really amazing. I love the use of the frame to keep the focus on the subject while still allowing the excellent text work and textures in the background be noticed; it's a busier composition, but nothing really gets lost in it!
+ I adore the composition and I applaud your decision to go monochrome with the only pops of colour being sepia. Both the colouring and the composition serve to give the icon a very vintage feel!
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
+ No reason given.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
None.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Lovely composition and I adore your use of colour, it's a very creative icon, definitely in my top 4
+ I like the limited palette and use of the frame texture here. It has a charming, shabby-chic feel to it. I do wish that the color pops were slightly more saturated so that it were more of a dark gold instead of the muted yellowish-tan.
+ The composition and coloring of this icon are very lovely! The only critique I have to offer is that it looks very very sharp on my monitor, especially around her hairline. I also wish I could read the text - I think this piece would also work very well on a tumblr graphic, where you'd have more canvas space to do all that you're doing.
+ The composition in this icon is very good, I like how the subject was placed in the center and separated from the busy background with a frame, I think it does a great job of keeping the subject from getting lost among the other elements of the icon. Also, I think the typography works well here; the text is unreadable, but the font choice is fancy enough for it to work as a purely decorative element. My only suggestion here is to be careful with sharpening - the thin bright border that appears around oversharpened lines can be seen in a few places, especially her nose, ear and the edge of her clothes; duplicating the image before sharpening and then erasing the problematic areas could help with this issue.
H.P. LovecraftPOSITIVE VOTES
++ I love the dark tones on this icon, the deep reds around the silhouette and the gold/orange text really add up with the cap.
BEST INTERPRETATION
+ Your font choice was a good pairing with the use of text, the wispy effect and movement it gives to the overall icon is the perfect compliment. I also love the mottled, dusty effect behind the text. It gives a sense of confusion which suits the message.
CONSTRUCTIVE VOTES
+ I like the text and colouring of the icon. The red and yellow/gold combo is really great and helps the cursive text stand out. However, I think that the grunge texture/text(?) underneath the text is a little distracting. It gives the colouring a muddy look. Maybe masking away bits of it, especially from the subject's face would have help. Or alternately, maybe a noisy grunge texture would have given you a harsh texture look without making the colouring seem a little muddy.
ADDITIONAL VOTES
+ Great coloring, using red for the background gave the icon a dangerous look that fits the subject and the text. I like the layered typography too, though the bottom layer could be more visible - I can make out 'monster' under 'god', but that's it. And it's a shame, because the concept is very creative and fits the character so well!
+ I love the bright red background you chose to pair with this cap, but the coloring in the rest of it looks rather muddy. I think part of that is due to the text/texture that's a dark brown that's over the subject's face - I can't quite read all the brown text (I can make out "monster"), but I don't know that the icon needs it to have meaning. If you wanted it to have both the brown text and the orange text, perhaps put one above the subject's head and one lower (like where "calamity" is right now?) I think for the bright orange text, I might have picked a different font because the script you're using doesn't really seem to embody calamity (though the color is wonderful for it).
Spreadsheet will be linked in the overall results post in just a moment.