The 2017 Kentucky Oaks

NOTE: For these races we did something a little different, and we hope you like it. Multiple judges looked at each entry and gave their take on the effort scores for characters and settings, as well as writing a little comment about each entry - what they loved and maybe a little constructive critique for the artist. All of the effort scores for each entry are then averaged to arrive at the final effort scores for those categories. So under each score in the "Judges' Comments" box is a judge's name followed by two numbers in parentheses : (character score / setting score) and a comment.

 Imperatrice (ridden by Evan J. Bell for Wayward Wood Racing)
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Horse: 15 // Rider: 10 // Character Effort: 19.5 // Setting Effort: 16.5
RNG: 3 // Story: 3 // Features: 2 + 0 // Extra: 0 // Training: 7
---> TOTAL SCORE: 76

Judge's Comments:
~ MistyofSunrise  (20 / 16)
   First off, the work on the horse and jockey was simply incredible! That dapple grey... *drools* such a tricky colour but well done. Very nice dynamics in the shading - the characters really pop off the image. Nice details on the tack and rider. The flying dirt and the horse's expression help to really create that sense of urgency. The setting has nice depth, with the twin spires in the back. With everything perfectly straight, it lacks an organic feel and I would love to have seen a bit more of the other structures that should be visible from this distance. The sky is also rather dark for an afternoon race, which appears to contradict the bright lighting on the horse and jockey.

~ oTapirus ( 19 / 17 )
   This is definitely one of your best pieces to date, the shading is gorgeous and the attention to detail on the spires and roofing is fantastic. I would have liked to see the same level of detailing given to the front of the grandstands and infield, as I feel it is a bit lacking and unfinished. It's also important to pay attention to your light source, as the background feels a bit too dark and gloomy for "mostly cloudy" while the horse's shading is consistent with that of a sunny day.

 Starlight Express (ridden by Gabriella Destler for Maple Ridge Stables)
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Horse: 15 // Rider: 10 // Character Effort: 17.5 // Setting Effort: 16
RNG: 1 // Story: 3 // Features: 4 + 4 // Extra: 5 // Training: 7
---> TOTAL SCORE: 82.5

Judges' Comments:
~ MistyofSunrise (18 / 15)
   I can really see the care and detail you put into this - even the little logo on the saddlepads, and the iconic twin spires in the background complete with packed stands! Your extras also have wonderful depth and the story makes me feel the pride and excitement of Starlight's team.  On the setting I would liked to have seen a little lighter cloudy sky which would help it to look less dark (almost night). A little suggestion when colouring with your pencils: using even strokes and one direction will give you a more smooth, even colour. 

~ oTapirus ( 17 / 17 )
   I too really enjoy the details of the saddle blanket, and I would have loved to see a bit more added to the rest of the image as well. I am impressed by the variation of horse's facial expressions, Imperatrice looks really unhappy to be running in the muck! One thing to start working towards is shading your horses and paying attention to where the highlights and shadows fall. This would really help push your art to the next level. AsMistyofSunrise mentioned, the background seems a bit dark for the weather setting.

 Last Queen (ridden by Pierre Dupond for Lucky Horse Ranch)
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Horse: 15 // Rider: 10 // Character Effort: 18.5 // Setting Effort: 19
RNG: 5 // Story: 0 // Features: 4 + 4 // Extra: 6 // Training: 8
---> TOTAL SCORE: 89.5 (+5 : tie-breaker roll for 1st)

Judges' Comments:
~ MistyofSunrise ( 19 / 18 )
   The framing of this image is very eye catching - I love the how this is very vertical which draws your eye from the horses near the bottom up to the twin spires and back. The only thing I'd love to see on the characters is a little more contrast to make the details stand out more - don't be afraid to up your shadow/highlight intensity.  The background is very nice with lots of subtle colour in the stands. A little more spots than strokes might help make more of a peopled look. Your rain is absolutely perfect and I want your secret!

~ oTapirus ( 18 / 20 )

   This is by far one of your best backgrounds! I really love the composition of this piece. You've included a nice shot of the grandstands but also maintained good focus on the horses. I like how the movement of the horses matches the curve of the grandstands, it adds a really nice sense of motion. Adding some deeper shadows to the grandstand roofing can help further accent your light source, and blending in the race posts to the dirt can help the piece feel a little more finished.

 Silver Order (ridden by Cora Greyson for Silver Creek Equestrian)
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Horse: 15 // Rider: 10 // Character Effort: 17 // Setting Effort: 18
RNG: 2 // Story: 3 // Features: 4 + 4 // Extra: 6 // Training: 8
---> TOTAL SCORE: 87

Judges' Comments:
~ MistyofSunrise ( 19 / 19 )
   Wowzers!! This is an epic piece of art! So much effort in this - the scope of the image gives this sense of magnificence, and yet I get a sense of quiet as we are on the backstretch far from the cheering crowds. Really not much to pick at here - my only overall critique is that the image is so dark, I'm sure there are more lovely details that I'm missing that I'd love to be able to see.

~ oTapirus ( 15 / 17 )
   I really love the incredible detail in the grandstands, definitely some of the best I've seen from you. It really gives a sense to the might and awe one might experience at Churchill.  Overall, the image feels very dark and it's hard to see everything. Feels more night-time than a mostly cloudy day. I'd love to see the same incredible detail you put into the background into focus of the image, the horses. They feel really under drawn in comparison. Some of the lines in the background look a bit messy compared to your usual stuff - using the line tool or shift can help straighten those.

 Masquerade (ridden by Daniel Sorrenson for Obsidian Farm)
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Horse: 15 // Rider: 10 // Character Effort: 17 // Setting Effort: 18.5
RNG: 4 // Story: 3 // Features: 4 + 4 // Extra: 6 // Training: 8
---> TOTAL SCORE: 89.5 (+1 : tie-breaker roll for 1st)

Judges' Comments:
~ MistyofSunrise ( 18 / 19 )
   I really love the angle here, and you captured the atmosphere well - overcast with a little rain, but still just the right amount of daylight filtering through. Masquerade even looks a little darker here than normal, like her red coat is wet with the rain. The way you portray the architecture of the stands is perfect, and I really love the colorful, cheering crowds!  Keep pushing your shading. A little more noticeable shadows and highlights would help bring more dimension to the image, especially with the main characters.

~ oTapirus ( 16 / 18 )
   I really like the attention to detail with the grandstands and crowd, I'm a huge sucker for the fun composition as well. The shading feels a bit messier than your usual stuff, but I like how the color palette of a dull and dreary day is consistent throughout the entire piece. I'd love to see a bit more definition of the muscles to the shading, it can really push your art over the edge.

 FHF Make Her Mark (ridden by Harley Givens for Fox Harbor Farms)
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Horse: 15 // Rider: 10 // Character Effort: 16.5 // Setting Effort: 16
RNG: 4 // Story: 2 // Features: 4 + 4 // Extra: 6 // Training: 7
---> TOTAL SCORE: 84.5

Judges' Comments:
~ MistyofSunrise ( 17 / 16 )
   Your conformation and ability to create a sense of action is stunning as always! You can really feel the speed and sense of urgency as these two battle for the wire. There isn't much fine texture, so we don't see the dirt flying, but do get a sense that these horses are playing in the mud here by the dirty grey tones on Meme here (Masquerade looks pretty clean though, so maybe she's been running in front?) Your line art tends to do most of the contouring in your images, but I would love to see you up your shading to give more precise and detailed shaping and really make this pop to it's full potential. Love all the pink colours in the stands , although having it more randomly sprinkled rather than in rows of colour would have been nice here.

~ oTapirus ( 16 / 16 )
   You always pick some of the best compositions in terms of angles and posing, and you have yet to disappoint me! I really love all the mud splattered across the horses and the jockey's goggles. I'd love to see you push your shading a bit more, and wean off the use of lines for the muscle definition as MistyofSunrise mentioned. Some darker shading in the depths of the grandstands and a little more shading on the spires would really push this over the edge. 

 TLEC Private Sonata (ridden by Whitney Spell for Timberlake Lane EC)
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Horse: 15 // Rider: 10 // Character Effort: 17.5 // Setting Effort: 19
RNG: 1 // Story: 3 // Features: 4 + 4 // Extra: 6 // Training: 7
---> TOTAL SCORE: 86.5

Judges' Comments:
~ MistyofSunrise ( 18 / 20)
   Great angle and sense of motion! Sonata really looks like she's reaching with that stride.  You did a great job capturing the sense of crowding in the field - Whitney appears to be holding back a little and looking for that perfect hole here. The shading on Sonata looks absolutely beautiful, and with that flying mud on the camera, I keep feeling the urge to clean my glasses off.  The setting has nice little details all over. Only things I would have liked to see here would be a little more mud on everyone, and the extra horses having the quality of lines and shading as Sonata.

~ oTapirus ( 17 / 18 )
   I really like the angle and motion to this piece. The mud splashing up on the camera lens is a clever approach. I appreicate the detail in the grandstands by drawing out all the little people, it must have taken forever! I would have liked to see a bit more shading on the other horses, and parts of the background cleaned up a little (like the lights) as they look a bit unfinished compared to the rest of the piece. Just be careful in losing foreground detail when using the blur. Blurred sections will usually need more contrast in order to still appear shaded when blurred.

--- SCRATCHED ---
 Bubble of Fire (for AutOre Farms)