Today we sum-up our coverage of Con on the Cob and the wonderful Iron Artist Competition all at once! I can't tell you how much we enjoyed our time in Akron hanging with Andy Hopp and all of our new friends! Thanks to one and all and we're already looking forward to next year!
Each Challenger and Iron Artist Larry Elmore sat back and looked over their individual pieces as if truly seeing their work for the first time. Each had fought a valiant battle and each had produced a masterpiece that would surely spark the imagination of a generation. All seemed pleased with the work they had done but alas the final
decision is not up to them.
A hush fell over the crowd as the Iron Artist Judges entered the room taking their seats. These artistic critiquing concourses are known far and wide for their ability to make or break an artist with a single vote.
First up we have the lovely Judith Northwood.
Judith was a self-taught artist whose work has been almost exclusively in small scale. Her attention to detail lead her to the world of miniatures early on where her painting has won her numerous awards from some of the most prestigious store competitions in the region. There is rumor that her work will be placed in the Guggenheim's New
York, Venice, and Bilbao Museums where through her efforts alone an entire gaming wing will be built to house the works we so love and cherish. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Judge Judith Northwood.
Next up we have Anthony Gallela.
Anthony has been involved in gaming in one way or another for some 30 years. He has written articles on many gaming publications and been the lead authority on brokering and designing board games and consulting games in general. Catch him at KublaCon and ask him about his Dwarven Digs! There are whispers, however, that Anthony may possibly be a vampire due to the fact that he looks like a strapping young lad of mere 25. Those rumors though have yet to be proven. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Judge Anthony Gallela.
Our third judge is none other than Tony "Buns of" Steele.
Tony is a mild mannered screen printer by day whose work can be found on many of the best gamers in the industry. By night his super ability is released as a professional illustrator. His talents cross the bounds of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Tony's attention to detail is so powerful that it is said he even spent a year as a loaf of whole grain bread so he would better understand how to draw a sandwich. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Judge Tony "Buns of" Steele
Our final Judge needs no introduction here at Artist Stadium. He is the one and only Marcel "Dad" Hopp
Dad as he is known around the Con is the man responsible for giving us Andy Hopp, his son. Though it takes a keen eye to see it, the resemblance is there. Dad sat his son down at a young age and taught him the finer points of gaming and encouraged little Andy to draw. It was through his teachings that Andy would later create the greatest
con in the world, Con on the Cob! Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Judge Marcel "Dad" Hopp
The judges are assembled. Bring it on!
First up we have Iron Artist Larry Elmore. The Iron Artist stepped to the stage and presented his master work "Sea of Blood" to the judges who were in awe of the amazing piece.
The Iron Artist described his piece as a great sea beast that had capsized a vessel and killed its inhabitants and was consuming them. We spoke with the Iron Artists about his work. Here is what he had to say.
Moderator HALL: "Iron Artist Larry Elmore, it is truly a pleasure. How did you go about creating this master piece and did you feel the themed ingredient hurt or helped you?"
Iron Artist Elmore: "Well, The ingredient has been one of my favorites for some time now. All though I do enjoy Pizza, especially when I can prop my feet up and eat it in my studio, Pasta is a good second. I believe my inspiration came from a series of drawings I did the night before. It seems this is the wife of the Octopus from those drawings. It's looking to be good battle though these guys are really talented. It's going to be close."
Moderator HALL: "Excellent. Thank you Iron Artist Larry Elmore."
Next up we have Challenger Charles Urbach. The challenger stepped up the stage with his masterpiece "Pastafaria" and presented it to the judges.
We spoke with Challenger Urbach and this is what he had to say.
Moderator HALL: "Challenger Charles Urbach it is a pleasure. How did you feel the themed ingredient affected you in this battle? And how do you think you did?"
Challenger Urbach: "I think I did very well. The level of competition and talent here today is amazing. When I saw the pasta it just spoke to me! I pulled all my talent and years of training together and I feel I produced a great piece. The usage of the pipe cleaners running through the pasta is actually an ancient little known usage of the two that I learned from a Tibetan monk. I think it was a bold move to use the two as such and hope the judges will take notice."
Moderator HALL: "Thank you Challenger Charles Urbach."
Next up we have Challenger Liz "Galindorf" Harper. The challenger stepped up to the judges table an presented her stunning work of art "Behold!" or "It Might Be Andy" (her law department is currently looking in to the usage of both terms.) to the judges.
We spoke with Challenger Galindorf and this is what she had to say.
Moderator HALL: "Challenger Galindorf it is an honor. What was going through your mind as you were building your masterpiece with the themed ingredient?"
Challenger Galindorf: "I had a great image that came to me as soon as the themed ingredient was reveled. I don't know where it came from but as Andy lifted the cover it just hit me. I looked around at some of the others and realized that I was going to have to pull something out of a hat that would cause me to stand out because the competition today was the best I've ever seen."
Moderator HALL: "Is that why you snagged the clear glass there at the end?"
Challenger Galindorf: "Yes it was a bold move to say the least. I thought the judges might like to see that."
Moderator HALL: "Excellent. Thank you Challenger Liz "Galindorf" Harper."
Next up we have Challenger Lydia Burris. The challenger stepped up the judges an presented her masterpiece " Pasta-Splosion".
We spoke with Challenger Burris and this is what she had to say.
Moderator HALL: "Challenger Burris it's an honor. Do you feel the themed ingredient has the ability to stand up to your amazing talents?"
Challenger Burris: "I feel the themed ingredient challenged us all today. As a culinary medium pasta draws from the sauces and flavors around it. As an artistic medium it is the star, and with versatility like that there is no doubt in my mind that it would stand up to just about anything. I think the layering method I employed in this piece will set it out in comparison to the others. Plus the articulate jaw that I added makes it a sure fire win."
Moderator HALL: "Thank you Challenger Lydia Burris."
Our final challenger is Challenger Sandra Garrity. The challenger placed the masterfully crafted "Angry Dragon Head" before the Judges.
We spoke with Challenger Garrity and this is what she had to say.
Moderator HALL: "Challenger Garrity, it is an honor. In your creation you utilized the smallest pasta at the table, the rare Coloro-Shell Pasta flown in fresh from the coastal shores of Colorado. Was that in part due to you familiarity with miniatures?"
Challenger Garrity: "Absolutely. The small pasta was by far easier to work with and it gave a special texture to the piece that I found very appealing. The judges seemed to have a lot of heavy pieces of art to take in and digest. I simply thought it would be nice to end them up with a lighter piece."
Moderator HALL: "Appealing to the judges, a bold move indeed. Challenger Sandra Garrity, Thank you."
The judges deliberated over the fine work that had been displayed before them for what seemed like hours...
They deliberated...
And deliberated...
Each Judge talked about the works before them...
The judging is so difficult that Judge Anthony almost passes out!
The gathered masses set perched on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the verdict.
Finally they reach an agreement.
Judges score each contestant based on 4 categories.
1) Appearance (of the art not the artist)
2) Originality
3) Creativity
4) And use of the themed ingredient.
Each category can receive up to 5 points for a total 20 points.
The Chairman stands amidst the gathered talent in Artist Stadium. His gaze moves from one to the next, and he said...
Translation:
"I have gathered you here today."
"The greatest talents of your trade."
"The Judges have deliberated long"
"Their decision has not been easy"
"But their decision is final"
"The winner of Iron Artist Akron is..."
"A TIE! Between Challenger Lydia Burris and Challenger Liz "Galindorf" Harper!"
The tie was only breakable by bringing out the Applos-0-meter 3000 and turning the judging over to the fans. Since we didn't have an Applause-o-meter 3000 Andy Hopp's sister stepped in with her acute hearing and extremely delicate since of balance to over hear the applause from the crowd.
The winner was...
Challenger Liz "Galindorf" Harper!" with her creation "Behold!" or "It Might Be Andy"
Liz plans on donating her sculpture to the Pasta sculpture wing for Gamers as part of the new exhibit in the Guggenheim's New York, Venice, and Bilbao Museums. Congratulations Liz!
The Wandering Men would like to thank Andy Hopp and Anthony Gallela for setting up this event. And a big thanks to our esteemed judges and the contestants whose talent made this event so much fun. The Iron Artist event was a pleasure for the Wandering Men to Sponsor and for me personally to attend. Not only because our host was gracious enough (or insane enough, depending on how ya look at it) to allow me to MC the event but in large part because it gave me the opportunity to meet up with the man responsible for sparking the passion of art (especially fantasy art) in a 9 year old boy who couldn't stop drawing the cover of the book "Return to Brookmere": Mr. Larry Elmore.
His art has and will continue to spark the imagination of artists of all ages for generations to come. I have met many artists of considerable fame in my life but Mr. Elmore is one of the VERY few that will pull up a chair and listen and talk with you as if you were the only person in the room. His mannerisms humbled me during our first meeting. He seems never to busy to answer a question, shake a hand, or give words of advice to budding artists. So Thank You Mr. Elmore for the time you spent with us during Con on the Cob, from the time at your booth to the whole Vampire that somehow got into the game of Werewolf. It was a pleasure and an honor.
The Wandering Men would like to thank Andy Hopp and Anthony Gallela for setting up this event. And a big thanks to our esteemed judges and the contestants whose talent made this event so much fun. The Iron Artist event was a pleasure for the Wandering Men to Sponsor and for me personally to attend. Not only because our host was gracious enough (or insane enough, depending on how ya look at it) to allow me to MC the event but in large part because it gave me the opportunity to meet up with the man responsible for sparking the passion of art (especially fantasy art) in a 9 year old boy who couldn't stop drawing the cover of the book "Return to Brookmere": Mr. Larry Elmore.
