Aspiring colorists are invited to demonstrate their talents by bringing to life a black and white 

illustrated sequential art (comic book) page from the upcoming comic book publication New Camelot with their unique application of color in a contest sponsored by publisher Forged Press and in conjunction with Nirut Chamsuwan Studios.

 

From U.S. writer Brian Fitzgerald and Thai artist Nirut Chamsuwan, New Camelot is an exciting re-imagining of the Arthurian legend that transports readers into a sprawling world of fantasy and intrigue featuring characters both familiar and new.

 

The contest is open to students currently enrolled in a college or university in Thailand and involves coloring one black and white page of line art panels from New Camelot chosen by its creative team and available to entrants as a digital file. Cash prizes will be awarded at this year’s annual BKK Comics Art Festival, to be held at the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre (BACC) on Saturday and Sunday October 14th & 15th 2023.

 

Interested artists can register beginning Friday, August 11th, 2023, through the final registration date of Friday, September 15th, 2023 and will be provided with details regarding how to download the black and white line art file to be colored. All entrants will be required to color the same provided page.

 

While it is expected that most entries will use modern digital coloring techniques, traditional hand coloring is also welcome but must be scanned and uploaded as a digital file.

 

Entrants are to apply color to only the line art file provided during online registration. Coloring of any other art page will not be accepted. All entries must retain the aspect ratio (height and width proportion) and resolution of the file provided, be in .jpg or .psd format (flattened) and no larger than 12 MB. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, September 17th, 2023.

 

Twelve finalists’ entries will be chosen by the New Camelot production team to be displayed at the BKK Comics Arts Festival Exhibition, running at BACC from Tuesday, October 10th through Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, as well as featured on media outlets associated with the New Camelot publication and its promotion. Prize winners will be announced at the BKK Comics Art Festival Convention on Saturday October 14th, 2023.

 

First, second and third place entries will be chosen by a judging panel comprised of the creative team of New Camelot and notable experts from the creative field.

 

The artist awarded first place will receive a prize of 10,000 THB.*

 

The artist awarded second place will receive a prize of 5,000 THB.*

 

The artist awarded third place will receive a prize of 3,000 THB.*

 

A People’s Choice Award will be given to one exhibited finalist chosen by visitors to the exhibit, determined through online voting (details will be provided during the event). 

 

The People’s Choice Award is a prize of 2,000 THB.*

 

* Winners of cash prizes are subject to taxation in the amount of 5% of the total value awarded, which will be deducted from the winning amount and submitted to the Revenue Department in accordance with the law.

 

 

Artists are encouraged to demonstrate their unique individual styles. The creative team of New Camelot is especially looking for coloring that matches the comic book’s moody and dramatic tone. Each judge will evaluate submissions based on set criteria totaling fifty (50) points. Judging criteria for first, second and third place are as follows:

 

Evaluation Criteria

 

1. Color Usage

-choices of colors, how they are applied and overall design of the page as a whole

(15 points)

 

2. Clarity

-how the coloring assists the storytelling and enhances the line work

(15 points)

 

3. Lighting

-attention to light and shadow in giving the artwork depth

(10 points)

 

4. Innovation / Originality**

– individual style and fresh approach

(10 points)

 

** Artists are encouraged to present their own unique interpretation in entries submitted to the contest. It is not required to adhere to styles seen in officially released New Camelot artwork already presented in color.

 

*** While the submitting artists shall retain ownership and copyright of their respective entries, The BKK Comics Art Festival, bkk UNZINE, SEA Junction, Forged Press LLC, Nirut Chamsuwan Studios Co., Ltd. and The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre reserves the right to feature submitted artwork for promotional and informational purposes.

 

 

About the judging panel:

 

Brian Fitzgerald 

Writer Brian Fitzgerald resides in Corona, California and is creator and writer of the original comic book series New Camelot. He is the founder of Forged Press LLC.

 

Nirut Chamsuwan 

An artist based in Bangkok, Nirut Chamsuwan nurtures a love for pop culture, comic books and sequential storytelling that has informed his artwork since youth. After completing his architecture degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design, he founded Nirut Chamsuwan Studios and spent years developing curricula and media to facilitate English language instruction in Thailand. Currently, Nirut is returning to sequential art with an artist stint on New Camelot.

 

Dr. Paramaporn Sirikulchayanont

Paramaporn Sirikulchayanont (PhD) is the Director of the Art Centre, Silpakorn University and a full-time lecturer in the Department of Art Theory, Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University. She has extensive experience managing an institutional art centre for more than ten years, shaping it into a contemporary art space filled with museum-based educational programs and activities. Her expertise also includes organizing national and international art exhibitions, national art competitions as well as on-site, off-site art and cultural educational projects. 

 

Paul Limgenco 

Paul Limgenco is a Canadian-Filipino comic painter and spent three years living in Thailand, during which he participated in the first BKK Comic Arts Festival. Paul got his start in comics while studying drawing and painting and continues to work in the field as a cover and featured artist. His most recent comic work is in Neon Black #3 and the variant cover for Dead Romans #1 and he has continued attending comic art events and conventions since returning to Canada.

 

Prolific Bangkok-based artist Maiimou is a lead-concept artist, illustrator, and comics creator. He is the writer and artist of the sequential art publication Wukong & Purple Orchid Prologue and co-founder of SMASHHH STUDIO.

 

 

About the sponsors:

 

Forged Press 

Founded by comics creator Brian Fitzgerald, United States based Forged Press LLC is publisher of the New Camelot comic book series and its related media.

 

Nirut Chamsuwan Studios 

Established in Thailand, Nirut Chamsuwan Studios Co., Ltd. has provided educational and creative services since 2004. These include development of the English: Step-By-Step Pre-K to Primary curriculum and language content for the acclaimed Channel 3 television program English on Tour, in addition to design direction for event organization and publishing initiatives both in education and sequential art.

 

 

Queries about The New Camelot Coloring Contest can be sent to: prime@chamsuwan.com