galathea: (j2_hug)
galathea ([personal profile] galathea) wrote2008-02-24 01:03 pm

AFA Awards '08

So, yesterday was the first official shindig of the Academy of Fanart Artists where the fanart community votes for the best artists and wallpapers of the past year and I have to say it was quite possibly the highpoint of my existence as a fanartist! I am still quite overwhelmed with the resonance to my art. ♥ Serious glowing ahead …..

Side Note: I will be delayed with my episode review to 'Jus In Bello', just didn't find the time and clear head to do it yet, but it's in progress!



I won 15 (!) incredible awards last night, 6 of which alone were 1st placements, plus I was awarded as 2nd best artist of the year and also won the award for the 2nd best wallpaper of the year. Out of over 400 nominated fanart pieces 4 of mine made it into the Top Ten pieces! *is awed* I mean, I expected some awards, but this just blew me away. It’s humbling and extremely gratifying to receive such an acknowledgement for your art from the community itself.

The thing is, I know I am a decent artist, but I make Supernatural art exclusively, so I figured that my art is mostly appealing for people who are SN fans. I was not always sure that I managed to get my points across in my art for someone who doesn’t know the show. Most other artists have a wide range of different fandoms and appeal to different viewers, cause let’s face it, the approach to art is just different if you’re emotionally connected to the depicted scene/characters. So, that I won 1st placements outside of the SN categories, not to mention 2nd best artist of the year, right after [livejournal.com profile] uglybusiness, was just immensely overwhelming for me.

The year 2007 was an incredibly inspiring year for me (thanks to our awesome show!) and I have to thank especially [livejournal.com profile] ehlwyen for her constant feedback, her input how to improve my pieces and her just generally being an awesome friend. My art last year wouldn’t have been the same without her. Also, [livejournal.com profile] nikkimisplaced whose support for my art (not to mention hosting my website) and whose friendship always pulled me along when I had a lowpoint last year. Plus all my affis and friends who were inspiring me constantly with their own wonderful art and enthusiastic feedback.

I am in awe over every single award I got, considering the huge amount of awesome artists we have in the community, but some of the placements are special to me (click on the links to see the award and the piece):

1st Place for Best SN Character Piece - The Mask is hands down the favourite piece of art that I have ever created and winning first place for this made me very happy.

1st Place for Best SN Episode Piece - In Between From perceiving the concept of this piece to the final result this wallpaper was by far the most time consuming art that I have ever made. I spent over 16 hours on this wall and am extremely proud of the execution, so to receive this award was very gratifying for me.

1st Place for Best Comedic Piece - (Un)Lucky This one really surprised me, since I think I am a total failure when it comes to funny pieces, which is one reason why I really don’t make them often. So I was floored by the fact that the humour from Bad Day At Black Rock translated so well into this wallpaper. Thanks Jared! *g*

1st Place for Use of Colour/Light - To Hell Okay, this outright shocked me. I think artists like Olga or Lyn are just exceptional with light and colouring and I always thought this category is actually my weakest point in art and I have to vastly improve it. Not to mention that ‘To Hell’ got literally no feedback when I posted it, despite it being one of my favourite pieces, so I was hesitant to even enter it. I am at a loss for words at this …

1st Place for Use of Stocks - Tempation Stocks are my complete and utter obsession in art and I rarely make anything without them, either as metaphor in the piece or as source of lighting or as texture. It’s really one of my main goals in art to achieve a deeper level of meaning in art via stocks, so this category holds great importance for me.

1st Place for a Dramatic Scene - Bloodstained Emotions are my very reason to do art in the first place. I want my art to be as emotional as possible and move the viewer beyond the knowledge of the scene. That 'Bloodstained' achieved that made me very proud!

Of course being voted 2nd in the main categories is just beyond comprehension – so honestly THANK YOU to everyone who voted for me. It means more to me than I can ever express! ♥

A special thanks goes to [livejournal.com profile] slaycandy who put an immense amount of time and preparation into this event and I think every artist who partook in the ceremony yesterday was in awe about how well organised and flawless the whole process was. Everybody had a blast and I hope next year will be as exhilarating than this year!

Over and out ...





[identity profile] nikkimisplaced.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 12:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations honey *hugs* I'm so glad you did so well, you totally deserve it, your art is amazing :)

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, hon! ♥ I am still totally jazzed about it. It means so much to me! /sigh
ext_53694: Signature Cakehole_Cat (wonderful life by <lj user=galathea_snb>)

[identity profile] bardicvoice.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Excellent, EXCELLENT, and totally deserved! I am dancing on my keyboard for you!!

I love your things, as you well know. Every time I see something new from you, it joins my collection of favorite art.

Congratulations, and bask in the glow!

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks soo much! ♥ The knowledge that I reach non-fanartists with my art as well is a huge motivation factor for me! So thank you for being happy for me!

[identity profile] amantine-ari.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, hun, congratulations! You earned each and every one of those awards! *hugs tightly*

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
AWW thanks, hon! ♥ Too bad that you weren't at the ceremony yesterday! And congrats for the award on your 'Panther' piece! I voted for it too, it's a great concept and wonderfully done! *hugs*

[identity profile] amantine-ari.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
*blushes* Thanks for the vote!

I'm sorry I missed the ceremony too. It was already 3 am when it started and I can't afford to mess up my sleeping patterns or else I risk mucking up in school :(

*hugs back*

Congrats again on all the awards.

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
You're welcome! :) Man, tell me about it. The ceremony went 'til 6am in the morning for me and I am dead today. I hope I'll get out of bed tomorrow for work! LOL

[identity profile] marilyne-22.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I know I told you this a thousand times yesterday, but congratulations !!!! ahh aren't those awards teh gorgeousness ? I kept dreaming of them last night !*shiny awards dancing with me*

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, hon! *hugs* I am still completely overwhelmed! The awards are AWE-SOME-NESS! The artists oudid themselves witht he awards. Wonderful!

And congrats to your own awards! You became one of my fav artists over the last couple of months, your use of colour is seriously inspiring for me! ♥

[identity profile] marilyne-22.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:34 pm (UTC)(link)
wow thanks sweetie, that means a lot ! you've been a real inspiration since I first came to the net, and your art is actually the reason why I started watching supernatural so THANK YOU !!! *throwing lollipops and grabbing you with the Impala to go party with the winchester babes !* :D *hugs*

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh really? My art made you watch SN?! AWESOME! ♥ That's like the biggest compliment you can make me!

*goes into party mode with Marilyne!*

[personal profile] impalalove 2008-02-24 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Congts! ♥!

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks Kallie! *hugs*

[identity profile] llywela13.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Wahey - that's absolutely fantabulous, honey. I'm so happy for you!

*dances around Chris's journal*

Of course you absolutely deserve every scrap of praise you get - your work is always stunning, even the pieces you aren't happy with!

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-24 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
AWWW thank you so much, hon! *hugs* I am so very proud of this recognition, I have to admit, I really didn't expect that many awards! *is happy*

[identity profile] rosely.livejournal.com 2008-02-25 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"In Between" is definately the best piece I've ever seen of you, and maybe even of everyone. Must admit that I haven't seen who won first place ;)
But I have loved "In Between" since the first moment I laid eyes on it. It's absolutely gorgeous, but you knew that I loved it already ;)

[identity profile] rosely.livejournal.com 2008-02-25 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
ooo and congrats on all wins ;) lol... got carried away about your amazing piece there ;)

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2008-02-26 08:27 am (UTC)(link)
AWW thank you, hon! That means so much to me, I love that piece of mine as well! ♥ And thanks, I was quite overwhelmed with all the awards! First place won Zugma's Tru&Jack piece and quite deservedly so I have to say, that piece is possibly the most brilliant piece of fanart I have ever seen!

[identity profile] rosely.livejournal.com 2008-02-26 08:50 am (UTC)(link)
Hmmm I should have a look at that then. I usually love Olga's work, so no surprise there indeed.. hihi :)