Now that my design is officially out of the running, I have a long tl;dr rant directed at the other artists, Tea and Blues and RockoTheTaco, in particular. Everybody else can skip this wall of text if you're not interested in hearing me bitch about those two. But, I hope the Smogon artists that participate in the Create-A-Pokemon art polls will read this through.
I try to make a point not to comment in the art polls while my designs are still up for consideration. I think it's bad form to politic for my design, or in any way politic against the other designs while voting on my art is in play. Personally, I think other artists -- Tea and Blues and RockoTheTaco, in particular -- would do well to do the same. It's hard enough having art judged by a general public click-poll. When I see the artists themselves out there lobbying for and against pieces, while their own art is in the running -- it's low-class behavior, IMO. And I mean that to be every bit the insult that it is.
I also think that artists around here should be held to a higher standard of courtesy when posting opinions in the actual art poll threads. I think it's somewhat like "Honor among thieves".
Over in the art thread, we can tear each other's heads off, for all I care. That is the thread for artists to work with each other and hash out designs. It's a work thread for artists and other interested parties. It's over in Smeargle's Studio, away from the normal stuff going on here in Stark Mountain.
But, once the art poll starts, I think the artists themselves should be careful about what they say. Since all the artists' names are up on the designs posted in the poll and the OP, the artists have a certain temporary "celebrity status" for the duration of the poll. For many of the lurkers that drive by and vote, they think like most people when they see a good drawing, "Wow! That's great. I wish I could draw like that." In fact, they think that people who can draw like that, must know more about art than other people. As such, when artists post opinions, they have more weight and effect than the opinions of the non-artists in the poll. I think the art poll is really where the artists say, "We're done with our own private discussions and art workshop, we now leave it in the hands of the general public". The artists themselves should be "above the fray", so to speak. Personally, if I post at all in an in-progress art voting poll -- I prefer to only post compliments of the art that I like, and I don't mention the art that I dislike. For fellow artists to criticize in the art polls, is unseemly.
I really did not appreciate TaB and Rocko's incessant, multiple-posted bashing against designs by other artists, including mine. I don't mind it from everybody else. In fact, I really don't have much of a care about lay opinions of my art, in general. I take the compliments and take the criticisms and try to channel it into my future artworks. I really don't care if my designs win or not. Sure, it's always nice to win any competition, not just art competitions. But, I like doing art and showing it to people. This forum is a really nice way to do that. If my art makes it to the poll, I'm happy. Lot's of people get to see and comment on my stuff. That's a win for me right there. Whether it actually wins the most votes?-- eh, I can't control that. And opinions are so fickle and personal, that I can't really predict or otherwise reason why people like certain things over others. What's most important to me, is if I like my stuff. After that, if some other people like my stuff, I'm usually pretty darn elated. The people that don't like my stuff, I try to evaluate the criticisms, and not take it personally.
But, with TaB and Rocko -- you two really got under my skin, which is hard to do. I had no problems with the multiple criticisms you posted in the art thread. Like I said, that's what the art thread is for. But, you took those exact same arguments and criticisms, and brought them over to the art polls. And you repeated them over, and over, and over. On several occasions, someone would post a compliment to my design, and TaB and/or Rocko would immediately post a rebuttal to their compliment and repeat their criticisms that had already been posted ad nauseum. It's almost like you couldn't stand the idea that someone would like a design other than yours and you just had post a little negativity, to make sure that none of the designs you disliked could generate any positive sentiment. Rocko went so far as to post that he was quitting Smogon entirely, because my art was getting votes. And my design wasn't even winning! What the fuck is that all about?
Hey, it was bad enough me having to listen to the two of you acting like you are God's gift to pokemon art. Constantly dictating some pokemon style guidebook that obviously the rest of us never received. You repeatedly put yourself up on some high-horse, and vociferously bashed and complained when anything that didn't fit your "rules" would get a modicum of support. Tea and Blues had the audacity to suggest that he might redo my design himself, since I wouldn't make the changes he wanted. To even suggest such a thing to a fellow artist is so blatantly insulting, it is just incomprehensible to me.
Who the fuck do you think you are? Do you honestly believe that your artskills and design aesthetic are so superior to mine that you can not only criticize my work, but take it out of my hands and "do it yourself"? What a fucking ego you have there. And, by the way, for someone who generated ten billion designs -- none of which made it past the first round, I think you are seriously deluded as to how "good" you are in the eyes of everyone else. Maybe you are too accustomed to people saying "Ooooh. Ahhhh! TaB can draw clean curves and color shade properly. Wow. He's a fucking genius!" Well, you're not. You're a good competent artist. I like your stuff. I voted for your fencer. But, I didn't just pick up a pencil yesterday. I've been doing art for a long time. And I put a lot of time and effort into that piece of art I submitted here. For you to even insinuate that you could take my design and do it better than me, and then tell everyone on every poll that my art did not deserve any votes -- that is insulting beyond words. I find your brand of unfettered arrogance to be inexcusable. Shame on you.
As for RockoTheTaco, if you're still lurking around looking at this, I'll say it to you directly. For you to up and quit Smogon because my design was getting too many votes? I don't know whether to be insulted or to simply laugh at your childish behavior. "People don't agree with me, so I'll leave. Boo hoo." And you did so in a public forum, while basically saying "Not only is Doug's design not getting my vote, but it should not get any votes from anyone!" If you want to leave, that's just fine with me. Good riddance. Take your sorry ass back to DeviantArt where you came from.
And just to be clear, this rant is in no way influenced by the outcome of the polls. I actually liked all the designs, and would have been happy with any of them. I consider KoA to be a talented artist and personal friend. His mummy design is top-notch. I think it will be a great design for this new pokemon. I can't wait to see his sprite. If anyone thinks I am projecting bitterness over losing, that is not the case. I would feel the exact same way if I would have won by a landslide. And I also hold no ill feelings toward all the non-artists who hated my stuff and posted multiple criticisms. Yes, some of them were quite vocal in their dislike for my design. But there were also a lot of people who lauded me with compliments and argued strongly for my design to win. It was immensely rewarding to see my design in the running, and to hear the feedback. But, I hold the other artists in this project to a higher standard. I have different expectations of courtesy from them, and they offended my expectations completely.
There, I've gotten this off my chest. I won't bitch about this any more in the future. But, I will not forget it. For both TaB and Rocko, I wanted to be absolutely clear about how I feel on this matter. In the future, expect no kindnesses or well-wishes from me. I thought your behavior in this competition was despicable. I think both of you are very talented artists and you will likely do very well in future competitions, if you choose to participate. But, I will not be cheering you on ever again. I will not afford you any courtesies as fellow artists, because I do not consider you such. You are just a couple of arrogant jerks who can draw. Your attitude and manners are nowhere near as good as your art.