For those who might need the extra time, here are the basics for the 3 pen contests I am running this year. They are just as they are named, "preliminary" so some small changes might be made prior to the start of the Bash. I do not foresee any changes that would cause anyone any stress. That being said, if there is a NEED, changes will be a possibility.
Here are the rules:
1 - This is a contest to find the most beautiful kit pen made by a beginner. It is open to any member, who has made 25 pens or less, AND have less than 1 years worth of pen turning experience. This contest is being held on the "honor system". Since I can't actually check on how many pens you have made or when you started turning pens, I hope you will abide by this system. If you are a new member but have been making pens for awhile and surpass the 25 mark, there are still contests for you to enter and win so please let the real "Newbies" have a chance to show their work and maybe win something .
2 - It must be a ballpoint kit pen with no alterations beyond what the kit instructions call for. No roller ball, fountain, or "kitless" pens will be accepted in this contest. There is a contest for other types of kits, it is the Intermediate Kit Pen Contest. There is also a contest for your "kitless" creations, it is the Freestyle Contest. You can cast, dye, inlay, segment, or whatever with your blank in this contest. Just be sure you follow the KIT requirements.
No decal work please. This is a beautiful pen contest not a beautiful decal work contest.
In keeping with the idea to keep a level playing field in the Beginners and Intermediate contests, we have elected to use the "no laser work" rule. I would encourage you to go all out and put those skills to work in the Freestyle contest. We want the other (beginner and intermediate) contests to be more about the pen, the blank, and the workmanship of the "freehand" turner and less about the fancy CNC machines and the expensive laser equipment. While using this other equipment makes use of very special skills, those skills are allowed to be shown in other contests.
3 - Only one pen per person, so make it your best work. Take the best pictures you can because the quality of your pen will be based on what we can see. Keep your backgrounds and props simple so they do not distract the eye from your pen.
A maximum of 3 photos will be allowed.
As was done last year, we would like to keep the entries anonymous through the use of the entry form. Your photos need to be on a plain solid color background with no props other than a clear plastic pen stand.
4 - The pen must be made for the contest by the person entering the contest and not have been shown before Feb 1 2013 on IAP or any other site. If it is determined that it has been, it will be disqualified and any prize won will be forfeited. As a follow-up to clarify this, do NOT post a photo of your entry ANYWHERE until the contest is over and the winners have been announced.
5 - You are required to include the name of the kit, a brief description of the pen and/or materials, and a photo.
6 - Finalists will be chosen based on the fit, finish, and "wow" factor of your pen. A panel of judges will choose the top 10 pens and the winner will be chosen by an open poll.
Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places.
All entries will be posted at the same time following the contests deadline. This will give all entries the same time "in the spotlight".
1st place ---Prize TBA
2nd place---Prize TBA
3rd place---Prize TBA
Here are the rules:
1 - It must be a kit pen.
Minor alterations such as custom finials, swapped out "pimp stones", custom center bands will be allowed. I will allow the omission of the center band. "Closed end" and "hidden" clips are very much similar and fall more into the "modified" category, so they will be not be allowed. Do not go overboard on any alterations to the kit, this is not the modified contest. If you think it is possibly a questionable alteration, you had best not do it. Pens deemed "overly modified" by the judges will be disqualified. Please don't force this to happen, there are other contests to display those skills other than this one. It will be up to you to determine if you are at the "intermediate" skill level. As in the beginners contest, we will be using the "honor system" with one exception. If you were a previous winner of this contest, it is time to step up your game even more and enter the Modified or the Freestyle Contest and leave this contest to the next group as they advance their skills.
No "kitless" pens will be accepted in this category. There is a contest for your "kitless" creations, it is the Freestyle Contest.
You are required to include the name of the kit and a brief description of the pen and/or materials and a photo. Feel free to use wood, acrylic (any version) clay or whatever medium you like. You can cast, dye, inlay, segment, or whatever in this contest. Just be sure you follow the KIT requirements as stated previously.
No decal work please. This is a beautiful pen contest not a beautiful decal work contest.
In keeping with the idea to keep a level playing field in the Beginners and Intermediate contests, we have elected to use the "no laser work" rule. I would encourage you to go all out and put those skills to work in the Freestyle contest. We want the other (beginner and intermediate) contests to be more about the pen, the blank, and the workmanship of the "freehand" turner and less about the fancy CNC machines and the expensive laser equipment. While using this other equipment makes use of very special skills, those skills are allowed to be shown in other contests.
2 - Only one pen per person, so make it your best work. Take the best pictures you can because the quality of your pen will be based on what we can see. Keep your backgrounds and props simple so they do not distract the eye from your pen.
A maximum of 3 photos will be allowed.
As was done last year, we would like to keep the entries anonymous through the use of the entry form. Your photos need to be on a plain solid color background with no props other than a clear plastic pen stand.
3 - - The pen must be made for the contest by the person entering the contest and not have been shown before Feb 1 2013 on IAP or any other site. If it is determined that it has been, it will be disqualified and any prize won will be forfeited. As a follow-up to clarify this, do NOT post a photo of your entry ANYWHERE until the contest is over and the winners have been announced.
4 - Finalists will be chosen based on the fit, finish, and "wow" factor of your pen. A panel of judges will choose the top 10 pens and the winner will be chosen by an open poll.
Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places.
1st place ---Prize TBA
2nd place---Prize TBA
3rd place---Prize TBA
The objective is simply to make a functional pen. Only pens that are new to the site this month will be eligible. Not important when you started, it just has to be a pen that wasn't shown publicly prior to February 1st 2013.
As was done last year, we would like to keep the entries anonymous through the use of the entry form. Your photos need to be on a plain solid color background with no props other than a clear plastic pen stand.
The pen must be made for the contest by the person entering the contest and not have been shown before Feb 1 2013 on IAP or any other site. If it is determined that it has been, it will be disqualified and any prize won will be forfeited.
As a follow-up to clarify this, do NOT post a photo of your entry ANYWHERE until the contest is over and the winners have been announced.
This contest is open to anybody who wants to compete. Any and all styles of pen will work. While "Kit Pens" will be allowed, this is a freestyle contest so strive to think "outside the box" a bit. A nice kit pen might be better off in one of the othercontests. Qualities to be taken into consideration by the judges will be:
[FONT=&]Originality of concept and materials (uniqueness of each)[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Workmanship (how well the concept and materials were implemented)[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Functionality (it must be a usable, working pen), Fit, and Finish[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Overall "WOW factor" (how it gives you that jaw dropping feeling)[/FONT]
Each of these qualities will carry equal weight during the judging so keep that in mind as you plan, prepare and finish your entry.
Judging this year will again be a 2 part process. First a secret panel of judges will pick the top 50 % of entries, then we will post these to a poll to let users vote for the winners.
These places will be based on the user votes of the judges' Finalists:
1st place ---Prize TBA
2nd place---Prize TBA
3rd place---Prize TBA
4th place---Prize TBA
Another prize up for grabs in this contest is:
Random Voter - This one is simple, all you have to do is follow along with the voting thread and vote for your favorite pen. I will randomly pick one voters from the list, and give you a prize. Because the voting is kept secret, be sure to post that you have voted to get your name in the drawing.
Prize TBA
Basic Rules Recap
PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR ENTRY DIRECTLY TO ANY THREAD. As a follow-up to clarify this, do NOT post a photo of your entry ANYWHERE until the contest is over and the winners have been announced.
All 3 contests will follow the same schedule which has been extended to allow a bit more "weekend time".
All entries must be received by 9:00 PM EST* on Feb 24th.
*9:01 is too late.
Please do not wait until the last minute.
The poll will be posted on Feb 26th, and voting will end on March 5th and the voting results will become public at that time.
All places will be awarded in each contest regardless of the number of entries (as long as there is at least as many entries as winning places).
Preliminary Contest Announcements
2013 Beginners Kit Pen Contest
1 - This is a contest to find the most beautiful kit pen made by a beginner. It is open to any member, who has made 25 pens or less, AND have less than 1 years worth of pen turning experience. This contest is being held on the "honor system". Since I can't actually check on how many pens you have made or when you started turning pens, I hope you will abide by this system. If you are a new member but have been making pens for awhile and surpass the 25 mark, there are still contests for you to enter and win so please let the real "Newbies" have a chance to show their work and maybe win something .
2 - It must be a ballpoint kit pen with no alterations beyond what the kit instructions call for. No roller ball, fountain, or "kitless" pens will be accepted in this contest. There is a contest for other types of kits, it is the Intermediate Kit Pen Contest. There is also a contest for your "kitless" creations, it is the Freestyle Contest. You can cast, dye, inlay, segment, or whatever with your blank in this contest. Just be sure you follow the KIT requirements.
No decal work please. This is a beautiful pen contest not a beautiful decal work contest.
In keeping with the idea to keep a level playing field in the Beginners and Intermediate contests, we have elected to use the "no laser work" rule. I would encourage you to go all out and put those skills to work in the Freestyle contest. We want the other (beginner and intermediate) contests to be more about the pen, the blank, and the workmanship of the "freehand" turner and less about the fancy CNC machines and the expensive laser equipment. While using this other equipment makes use of very special skills, those skills are allowed to be shown in other contests.
3 - Only one pen per person, so make it your best work. Take the best pictures you can because the quality of your pen will be based on what we can see. Keep your backgrounds and props simple so they do not distract the eye from your pen.
A maximum of 3 photos will be allowed.
As was done last year, we would like to keep the entries anonymous through the use of the entry form. Your photos need to be on a plain solid color background with no props other than a clear plastic pen stand.
4 - The pen must be made for the contest by the person entering the contest and not have been shown before Feb 1 2013 on IAP or any other site. If it is determined that it has been, it will be disqualified and any prize won will be forfeited. As a follow-up to clarify this, do NOT post a photo of your entry ANYWHERE until the contest is over and the winners have been announced.
5 - You are required to include the name of the kit, a brief description of the pen and/or materials, and a photo.
6 - Finalists will be chosen based on the fit, finish, and "wow" factor of your pen. A panel of judges will choose the top 10 pens and the winner will be chosen by an open poll.
Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places.
All entries will be posted at the same time following the contests deadline. This will give all entries the same time "in the spotlight".
1st place ---Prize TBA
2nd place---Prize TBA
3rd place---Prize TBA
2013 Intermediate Kit Pen Contest
Here are the rules:
1 - It must be a kit pen.
Minor alterations such as custom finials, swapped out "pimp stones", custom center bands will be allowed. I will allow the omission of the center band. "Closed end" and "hidden" clips are very much similar and fall more into the "modified" category, so they will be not be allowed. Do not go overboard on any alterations to the kit, this is not the modified contest. If you think it is possibly a questionable alteration, you had best not do it. Pens deemed "overly modified" by the judges will be disqualified. Please don't force this to happen, there are other contests to display those skills other than this one. It will be up to you to determine if you are at the "intermediate" skill level. As in the beginners contest, we will be using the "honor system" with one exception. If you were a previous winner of this contest, it is time to step up your game even more and enter the Modified or the Freestyle Contest and leave this contest to the next group as they advance their skills.
No "kitless" pens will be accepted in this category. There is a contest for your "kitless" creations, it is the Freestyle Contest.
You are required to include the name of the kit and a brief description of the pen and/or materials and a photo. Feel free to use wood, acrylic (any version) clay or whatever medium you like. You can cast, dye, inlay, segment, or whatever in this contest. Just be sure you follow the KIT requirements as stated previously.
No decal work please. This is a beautiful pen contest not a beautiful decal work contest.
In keeping with the idea to keep a level playing field in the Beginners and Intermediate contests, we have elected to use the "no laser work" rule. I would encourage you to go all out and put those skills to work in the Freestyle contest. We want the other (beginner and intermediate) contests to be more about the pen, the blank, and the workmanship of the "freehand" turner and less about the fancy CNC machines and the expensive laser equipment. While using this other equipment makes use of very special skills, those skills are allowed to be shown in other contests.
2 - Only one pen per person, so make it your best work. Take the best pictures you can because the quality of your pen will be based on what we can see. Keep your backgrounds and props simple so they do not distract the eye from your pen.
A maximum of 3 photos will be allowed.
As was done last year, we would like to keep the entries anonymous through the use of the entry form. Your photos need to be on a plain solid color background with no props other than a clear plastic pen stand.
3 - - The pen must be made for the contest by the person entering the contest and not have been shown before Feb 1 2013 on IAP or any other site. If it is determined that it has been, it will be disqualified and any prize won will be forfeited. As a follow-up to clarify this, do NOT post a photo of your entry ANYWHERE until the contest is over and the winners have been announced.
4 - Finalists will be chosen based on the fit, finish, and "wow" factor of your pen. A panel of judges will choose the top 10 pens and the winner will be chosen by an open poll.
Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places.
1st place ---Prize TBA
2nd place---Prize TBA
3rd place---Prize TBA
All entries will be posted at the same time following the contests deadline. This will give all entries the same time "in the spotlight".
2013 Freestyle Pen Contest
2013 Freestyle Pen Contest
The objective is simply to make a functional pen. Only pens that are new to the site this month will be eligible. Not important when you started, it just has to be a pen that wasn't shown publicly prior to February 1st 2013.
As was done last year, we would like to keep the entries anonymous through the use of the entry form. Your photos need to be on a plain solid color background with no props other than a clear plastic pen stand.
The pen must be made for the contest by the person entering the contest and not have been shown before Feb 1 2013 on IAP or any other site. If it is determined that it has been, it will be disqualified and any prize won will be forfeited.
As a follow-up to clarify this, do NOT post a photo of your entry ANYWHERE until the contest is over and the winners have been announced.
This contest is open to anybody who wants to compete. Any and all styles of pen will work. While "Kit Pens" will be allowed, this is a freestyle contest so strive to think "outside the box" a bit. A nice kit pen might be better off in one of the othercontests. Qualities to be taken into consideration by the judges will be:
[FONT=&]Originality of concept and materials (uniqueness of each)[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Workmanship (how well the concept and materials were implemented)[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Functionality (it must be a usable, working pen), Fit, and Finish[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Overall "WOW factor" (how it gives you that jaw dropping feeling)[/FONT]
Each of these qualities will carry equal weight during the judging so keep that in mind as you plan, prepare and finish your entry.
Judging this year will again be a 2 part process. First a secret panel of judges will pick the top 50 % of entries, then we will post these to a poll to let users vote for the winners.
These places will be based on the user votes of the judges' Finalists:
1st place ---Prize TBA
2nd place---Prize TBA
3rd place---Prize TBA
4th place---Prize TBA
Another prize up for grabs in this contest is:
Random Voter - This one is simple, all you have to do is follow along with the voting thread and vote for your favorite pen. I will randomly pick one voters from the list, and give you a prize. Because the voting is kept secret, be sure to post that you have voted to get your name in the drawing.
Prize TBA
Basic Rules Recap
- Entry must be a working/usable pen.
- You can enter only once. You should try to take the best pictures possible (up to 3). While this is not a photo contest, judges will be using the photos to quantify the quality of the pen. (For example, if the pen appears out of round in the pictures the judges will have to assume it is out of round)
- In the event of a tie in the public poll, the winner will be decided by the judges.
- Entries MUST be submitted via the entry form link provided in the contest entry thread.
- Have Fun!!!!
PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR ENTRY DIRECTLY TO ANY THREAD. As a follow-up to clarify this, do NOT post a photo of your entry ANYWHERE until the contest is over and the winners have been announced.
All 3 contests will follow the same schedule which has been extended to allow a bit more "weekend time".
All entries must be received by 9:00 PM EST* on Feb 24th.
*9:01 is too late.
Please do not wait until the last minute.
The poll will be posted on Feb 26th, and voting will end on March 5th and the voting results will become public at that time.
All places will be awarded in each contest regardless of the number of entries (as long as there is at least as many entries as winning places).
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