Congratulations are in order for Song's "Year of the Ox" (very colorful ones) and Zeushadesposeidon's case really cute chickens ("Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"). And a double congratulations to Zeushadesposeidon for being the first repeat winner in 3 years of Wacom Community contests! We'll be asking him about his progress as an artist these past 2 years, so stay tuned!

Title: Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year
Winner: zeushadesposeidon
Country: Singapore
Website: zeushadesposeidon.deviantart.com/

see the winner's artwork

Q1. Tell us about your winning artwork. Where did the idea come from?

It is my habit to draw greeting cards featuring my mascot for every festival whenever I have the spare time. It begun about 2 years ago in my time in junior college, the card has since evolved from a mere 800x800 pixels to 4x6 or 8x12 inches with more colours, topics and not to forget chickens.

This year, I did two, one with an army theme and another one which is the chicken piece. I wanted iconic images inside that people can relate to. For example, the map of Alaska no doubt refers to the hype caused by the Republican VP-nominee, Governor Sarah Palin. The Pip boy refers to the release of Fallout 3. Dancing apples is an image in one of my peers' portfolio. The plane featuring a giraffe and mushroom refers to two of my good friends who have ventured overseas for further studies in London and San Francisco respectively. Then there are the usual Christmas icons such as the Christmas tree, Christmas Carol Singers and last but not the least the very personal icon: the chickens.

There is also a tribute to the NSmen out there doing duties or going for "chiong sua" (outfield) with the addition of a Company Orderly Sergeant as well as an infantry soldier in the drawing.

Throughout the process of drawing it, I don't really have a clear plan. I just draw whatever that comes through my mind. There was an aim though: to finish it by 25th December 2008, and send it out to my friends, relatives, juniors and teachers to share the joy.

Q2. Which software did you use?
I use Adobe Photoshop CS2 for this piece of work with the aid of a Wacom Intuos3 Tablet.

Q3. Which parts are hardest to draw?
I use Adobe Photoshop CS2 for this piece of work with the aid of a Wacom Intuos3 Tablet.The hardest part is getting started. That is the period when my mind is blank and there is a strong urge to just lie in bed and sleep. When the line work is done, one gets lazy to add in the colours, that's the 2nd obstacle. I find the mental obstacles more challenging than the technical ones.

Grand Prize Winner
Prize: Intuos3 9x12 tablet with Premium DICOTA Bag

Title: Happy 牛 (Ox) Year
Winner: song
Country: Singapore
Website: sswoss.blogspot.com/

see the winner's artwork

Q1. Tell us about your winning artwork. Where did the idea come from?

It is inspired by the Chinese dragon and lion dance that is often seen during Chinese New Year celebrations. This year marks the Chinese zodiac of the ox, which explains the additional horns on the heads. Traditionally, red and vibrant colors are considered auspicious during this festival so the artwork is rendered with that in mind.

Q2. Which software did you use?
I used Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop.

Q3. Which parts are hardest to draw?
The details on the face were a little bit tricky but it wasn't as tedious as arranging the scales on the dragon's body :D

Title: The Christmas Miracle
Winner: raindropmemory
Country: Thailand
Website: raindropmemory.deviantart.com/

see the winner's artwork

Q1: Tell us about your winning artwork. Where did the idea come from?

Christmas is always full of magical stories to me. So at first, I thought about how to create picture that depicts the magic & miracle of Christmas--Santa Claus' flying sleigh came into my mind. Christmas & Santa Claus often appear in the night, with his bag filled with present on the roof with chimney, but I wanted something different. So I decided to set the time in the picture in the evening, the moment Santa Claus just set off from his home with his modern reindeer sleigh.

I think the wish of most children is to meet the real Santa, and travel with him in his wonderful journey around the world, not just sleeping in their bedroom in Christmas night. That's why they're all over the reindeer sleigh in this picture.

Q2: Which software did you use?
I usually draw and paint with traditional watercolours as the base colour first, to get an overall idea of what the picture should look like. I also love the "handmade" feel it gives to the picture. Then I finalize the picture, edit the colour balance, and add lighting and shadow in Photoshop.

Q3. Which parts were hardest to draw?
The hardest part for me is the moment when you start to draw to first line onto paper. I often waste tons of time by just thinking aimlessly, in order to find the perfect concept for the picture, and found out that my picture still remain a blank white sheet of paper, nothing accomplished. So, my suggestion for everyone that read my interview is JUST DRAW. Your ideas will flow and you'll know what to do next eventually.

3rd Place Winner
Prize: Intuos3 4x6 tablet

Title: Presents for Everyone!
Winner: Vegarden
Country: Singapore
Website: vegarden.deviantart.com/

see the winner's artwork

Comment from Vegarden:
Q1. Tell us about your winning artwork. Where did the idea come from?

I would like to firstly thank the staff at Wacom for choosing this artwork! I really didn't expect to win. When I was young, I always wondered how Santa Claus would give up presents on the night of Christmas eve. You see, Singapore is a place where almost everywhere is built up with high rise buildings, and there isn't a chimney whereby he could have climbed in. So I imagined that Santa and his helpers would stop over on his sleigh and give out his presents from the sky, and each would float magically into our houses. Well, it's a bit silly now when I think back on it.

Q2. Which software did you use?
The preliminary sketches were done with pencil on paper, then taken to Photoshop to be outlined with a Wacom tablet and coloured.