Small clarification updates added: Sept. 20, 2012: Prize update and new participation prize added. May 31 and other FAQ's may be added at the end. July 1s addition as well. New participation prize added August 18.

Here's an album with the current entries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/sets/72157630007526131/

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Announcing the 2012 contest so we can make a free, downloadable, Zelda Fan Calendar for all fans to use in 2013!
Last year's contest and calendar can be found here: http://historyofhyrule.com/fanworks/0_2012calendar.php
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the site, and Nintendo's release of Hyrule Historia:

This year's theme is: History of Hyrule!

• This is a Zelda-fanart only event. Your piece must depict a scene from, or involving, the history of the land of Hyrule. EDIT: Calrification about this below the next spoiler cut.)
• Past, present, or future.. grand or small: it doesn't matter what time it's from, or how big the event is, as long as it seems it might be an historic moment.
• Be creative: making it up is great! The event doesn't have to be canonical. At the very least, don't "screen-cap" something from a game: just use the series to give life to your ideas. Draw something the way you envisioned it happening or something you think would be neat if it had happened. It can be something mentioned in one of the games, or even things that never actually happened but seem to fit with the theme of the Zelda series.
• It needs to be a litteral scene: no abstract works.
• When you review your idea make sure the theme can be used to describe it or it can not be accepted.

Have more questions? Check under this spoiler cut for more detailed information:

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Types of Aceptable Art:

• This is a contest for Drawings and Paintings. They can be done with traditional media or on the computer.
• Some printmaking techniques or styles are acceptable: But please ask first and provide an example of the type of work you are considering.
• No sprite art, 3d models, or crafts. I love these other kinds of art but it's just not what this contest is for. (Some exceptions may apply: if it's flat, it might work. Just ask first)
• All work must seem suitable for children to view. Heavy themes are awesome, just keep it tasteful in a way that can work for a wide audience.

Formatting and Sizes:

• The dimensions of the piece must be at an 8:5 ratio
• For the art to fit in the calendar template, the final images must always be an 8:5 ratio and an horizontal, or "landscape," orientation. Below are simply some examples of the correct dimensions for this size ratio:
  
  • 1920x1200 pixels
  • 10x6.25 inches or 11x6.875 inches
  • 27.94x17.46 cm
  • (Larger is better: I would not suggest working smaller than any of those sizes.)
• Please try not to send in anything smaller than 300dpi.
• If you want to see actual examples of the right sizes/ratios, please view last year's entries
• If you would like some websites to help calculate aspect ratio go here, here, or here. OR: Measure the height, divide that by 5. Take that number and multiply it by 8 to find the width. (You can reverse this formula as well. Flip the use of the 5 and 8 if you do.)

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No-No's

• Legend of Zelda only. No crossovers with other series (Like Smash Brothers)
• Do not trace, copy, or directly "eyeball" official art or official art poses. If you do you will, at the very least, be asked to re-draw and patch those sections before your work can be accepted.
• Avoid using screenshots in your artwork besides as reference. Do not trace screenshots for this contest.
• Do not copy other artist's works for this contest, even that of famous artists.
• Besides game material, if you need to use reference for poses, try to use stock photography only.
• You can not use any piece that was completed before this contest started. (old ideas and sketches are fine though)
• No true collaborations please; it would potentially make some things (like prizes) too difficult.
• No half-asing it. Anyone of any skill level can enter but it would not be fair of me, or respectful to the other artists, to accept works where it is clear little effort went into them. Added July 1, 2012: Didn't think I'd have to say this but: ADD A BACKGROUND
• Do not watermark your submissions. Avoid signing them as well (see below)
• Text: Avoid using any text on the images. The images will often be re-sized and the text could be lost or muddy the image. Check behind this spoiler cut for more:

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Submissions:

• All entries MUST be sent as an attachment to historyofhyrule.contests@gmail.com
• jpg or png files only. Large files are fine.
• Do not watermark or sign the entries you submit.
  
  • Yes: you can use and upload your work where ever you like and you can sign/watermark it there. Your work is your own to do what-ever you want with.
  • I simply need an un-watermarked version for the contest. I add a uniformed watermark to all the pieces so: No, your piece will never be online without your name and url on it. It sucks when the uniformed watermark conflicts with signatures, in many cases it would look very sloppy.
• Even if you post, note, comment, or PM me about your work: it will still only be accepted if you email it to the above address as an attachment. I can't be expected to keep track of things otherwise. You have to do your part to help me.
• I can not accept any work as a valid entry until it is considered a finished piece. You can send me modified versions of the final up until the final deadline though. I can also talk to you about your piece before it is finished. Added July 1, 2012: You really need something for a background for it to look finished; not just a simple color
• An individual artist can have up to 5 entries, but they can only win one final prize. Keep in mind that the more care you put into a single piece, the better the chances are at it winning.
• Simply talk to me if you have any concerns or questions.
• All participants must understand, and agree to, these things:
  
  By sending an entry in you're alright with, and give me permission, to post your entries on History of Hyrule and its social media sites. (Like the site's facebook page.) You understand that your entry will be on the site (indefinitely) for people to download and print for their own personal calendar use. It's NOT okay for anyone to sell or mass-print the calender and, while I will try to help if it happens: I am not responsible for finding and stopping any thief that might try to use it for gain. The artists also still retain their rights to do what ever they want with their own pieces off this site. You also understand that I or my site is in no way affiliated with Nintendo. I am just a fan and this "contest" is just for fun.

• Include:
  
  • Your name: This is the name you would like me to list you under and place directly on the piece of art, I do not need your real name**
  • The url you would like me to place on the piece of art (optional)
  • A small descriptive summary of the work (optional. 250 words is great if you end up winning and want the description next to the piece on the calendar)
  • A direct link to the work online (optional)
  • You can include any other info you would like in your email.

Deadlines and Time Limits:

• The final day for all entries is midnight (PST: here is a timezone clock) November 30st, 2012. (Try to consider the deadline being midnight GMT. This is 8:00pm in NYC. If it's a few hours late, that will be fine. But: try.)

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Prizes:

• 12 entries will be picked to be featured in the main, final, 2013 calender.
• Each of these 12 finalist will receive a prize.
• The prizes awarded will be decided by lottery.
• The 12 finalists will have their number drawn at random and that will decide the order in which they can select from the remaining prizes. In other words: the first name drawn gets first pick, and the last name drawn gets what's left.
• More will be added to this list as we go. I like to wait for cool stuff to pop up.

Exact prizes are under this spoiler cut:


Participation Prizes & Their Deadlines:

• I will be giving away "participation prizes" randomly until the contest is over. They are prizes given away to people simply for participating. One will also be given away at the end.
• Everybody does not get one. You are simply eligible to win one if you participate.
• You will be eligible to win one as soon as you send in a valid entry.
• It will be done "lottery style." I will draw a number/name at random.
• This is so every artist who enters will have a chance at winning something: but a person can only win ONE participation prize total. Once someone wins one, their name will be removed from the participation prize lottery.
• Winning a participation prize DOES NOT exclude an artist from winning one of the final prizes.
• To reiterate: An artist will only have their name entered once into these drawings. The number of art pieces you submit will not dictate your chances of winning. But, if you submit before the first deadline below: the more chances you will have at winning one.
• The last participation prize drawing will be held after the finalists are decided.
• Participation prize giveaway deadlines:
  
  • Finish and send by midnight Saturday, June 30, 2012 for chance to win a copy of Hyrule Historia (It's in Japanese) More info here.
  • Finish and send by midnight, Sunday, September 16, 2012 for chance to win one of these 3 prizes. There will be only one person selected for this but they get to pick which they want: (a) A pre-order for a copy of the English language Hyrule Historia, a (b) 12 month DeviantART subscription, or (c) a Link plusie and Ocarina.
  • Finish and send by midnight, Wednesday, October 31, 2012 for chance to win one of these 3 prizes. There will be only one person selected for this but they get to pick which they want: (a) A pre-order for a copy of the English language Hyrule Historia, a (b) 12 month DeviantART subscription, or (c) a Link plusie and Ocarina.

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Important:

• I am willing to discuss your pieces with you BEFORE they are finished. At the thumbnail stage is good, especially if you are unsure. If you don't mind your questions being public, ask on the forum. Otherwise, email me.
  
• If you don't know what something means: just ask!
• Give me a few days to respond, sometimes my mail gets backed up. I'm also usually not online on weekends.
• Do not wait to ask. If you have not gotten a response in 2 weeks, write again. I can not be responsible for misunderstandings if you do not get your questions to me.
• Please be patient with me as a human being: understand that sometimes mail just does not go through, it might have wound up in the spam box, or I might have just missed it. If your email does not seem to be getting through, note me on the forums or DA with your email address so I can do a search in my mail for your letter and perhaps add your address to the safe list.
• Anyone can enter from any country but I can only communicate in English.
• I will ship to any country: unless custom's restrictions apply to the item. (Shouldn't be the case this time)
• **I will need your real name if you win a prize that needs to be shipped internationally. This is simply for the customs form! For items sent within the US: initials should be fine if you don't want to send your full name.

If you are under 18 years old, or are a parent or guardian of a participant, please check under this spoiler cut:

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FAQ's 'n stuff that I added later:
All the current entries can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/historyofh ... 007526131/

They can also be found on Facebook and the ones that provided a link to DeviantART can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/HistoryofHyrule
http://thehistoryofhyrule.deviantart.co ... y/37561737

1. Nothing really has to fit within a season or holiday, that's just something I wanted to bring up so people could consider it. The entries aren't really picked randomly for each month, I do try to find places for things. (Even if the reasons are vague: like a color scheme seems to fit for that time of year, or it's that game's anniversary that month.)

2. If you want to do an exact moment from the game, I encourage you to play with the angle's and such so it doesn't look like you drew over a screen cap

3. Yes, try to keep it about just the land of Hyrule. Not the other lands. Re-read the rules, under the spoiler cuts too, to get a fuller understanding.

4. It's nearly impossible to do something in the Zelda-universe and not hit on a theme or concept that someone else has touched. Just because someone is doing something that might include an idea you had: it doesn't mean you should abandon your choice. If you put your ideas into, and pour your inspirations over it, there is very little chance they will come out anything alike.

For an extreme example, I present: Dennis the Menace

Just made a post about this over at ZI

Now to come up with an idea for my own entry...

I really hope most entries are cannon, I'm going to do my best to make an entry in time.

btw you have the dealine marked as 2011

OMG, thank you for catching that! ...Not like the deadline date was important at all Holy crap

Thank you so incredibly much for posting about it, you are seriously amazing! It means so much to me! And I can't wait to see what you come up with yayzors!

ceemarcus~ Oh man, I hope there's enough that we get all kinds. I would kill to see the in game stuff accurately translated and fleshed out by artists, but I can't help but want to see all the things inspired by the series that people's imaginations play around with too.

What about a picture containing original characters, but still conveying something in Hyrule's history, such as a picture of the current Sages with the spirits of their ancestors depicted behind them?

I think it would be okay, it at least sounds really neat. It is more than fine to use original characters that look like they'd fit within the zelda-verse, and I really like your idea of using the old ones by the new ones so we know who has transferred to who. I can't tell 100% unless I can see what your thinking: so the thing about what you described that I would be more focused on is making sure you give them something to do that looks like it would make a cool contribution to Hyrule's history. Even if it's a made up event, as long as they and it seems to make sense for Hyrule and the average Zelda-fan viewer can tell what land it's from, it should (?) work for this You can always send a thumbnail my way once you get started too, sometimes that's the easiest

(Click for bigger size)

I think I'm going to go with the finding of the Master Sword, but not specific to any game. Instead I want to go with a scene that recreates that universal feel the player experiences every time they find the sword.

I drew up a quick thumbnail for composition (yeah I know the aspect ratio is wrong, it's just a tumbnail) where I have my Link coming across the sword in a snowy forest, but the sword is buried there, so he finds it in this underground oasis where there is no snow around the sword, but grass and plants growing over the pedestal of time. The snowy Hyrule vibe should work for November, December, or January.

Would this work even though it's not for a specific game?

Yeah that would work! I think that would be awesome, doo eet!
You kind of nailed what I'm hoping for too: the feel of the Zelda series.

(Sorry for the delay, my mom was here to help take care of things and once I started feeling better I felt guilty for being online and not spending time with her She left yesterday, so I'm officially back~ woo!)

A bunch of the prizes also arrived so I'm going to be taking better pictures soon!

I didn't see this until now! Oh man, OH MAN! I already have something sketched out I wanted to use for the other one but... I honestly cannot promise I will be able to participate. I'd be very happy if I can, though 8'>