The idea of the contest was to draw, photograph, photomanipulate or write your idea of a fun holiday or vacation.


* FIRST PLACE - free 800x800 portrait/bust

* SECOND PLACE - free 500x500 portrait/bust

* THIRD PLACE - free 300x300 portrait/bust


I received a larger number of entries than I expected, and am faced with the very difficult challenge now of picking the winners :S All the entries were wonderful in their own ways, and I appreciate everyone who took the time and effort to enter :) Each one was in its own way meaningful, reflecting some part of a person we might never know, and it was really neat getting a personal glimpse of their lives and dreams. Thanks so much! Be sure to check out all the great entries I received!


FINALISTS (in order of submission)


I haven't yet decided on the three winners, but I have managed to at least pick ten finalists that stood out to me the most for their artistry, creativity, skill, cuteness, and/or meaningful content. I think I will hold a vote to help me decide, although it should be noted that the poll likely will NOT be the final word on who the winners are. Please check out all the finalists' work before voting!

If you have a membership, please vote here --> http://jocarra.deviantart.com/journal/poll/748572/
If you can't vote but would like a say, feel free to leave a comment.


starlight90183 for "A soft salt-scented breeze..."
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2493916/ (prose)
- A wonderfully sensual descriptive piece that really indulges the senses in the experience that is scuba diving. I've never actually tried it myself, but this makes me want to. Very lovely.


fiannaValkyrie for "Lake Osoyoose"
http://fiannavalkyrie.deviantart.co.....oose-129318124 (art)
- This piece stands out to me for a few reasons - for one, it was the first place I went camping with ~Theglavwen, and where I first met ~fiannaValkyrie herself, but the really impressive part to me is that it was drawn entirely from memory, attesting to both her skill and the enormous store of memories this place holds for all the campers that have devotedly returned to it every year. A testament to just how special this place is to so many people.


Nagi_Wolf for "Happy Trails"
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2547186 (prose)
- Besides being wonderfully written, it helps that I personally know how much work Nagi put into this piece in attempts to make it personally meaningful to me, both as a story, and as a special gift from him.


AnuOjat for "Dolphin Riding"
http://anuojat.deviantart.com/art/J.....-Pic-131641021 (art)
- *AnuOjat almost didn't enter the contest, but then managed to produce this, a delightful, adorable idea inspired by his shower curtains XD Full of energy and cute in art form.


JLGJedi for "Wolves, Springs, and Fate"
http://jlgjedi.deviantart.com/art/W.....Fate-132094969 (prose)
- Simply an amazing piece of writing that totally deserved a special mention. I think I'd demean it by trying to summarize it here, so check it out :)


queenkalani for "Vacations to Dreams"
http://queenkalani.deviantart.com/a.....eams-132093822 (photomanip)
- A lovely and lush dreamscape very much worthy of being called the vacation of your dreams. Vivid and surreal.


nutamu for "My Dream Vacation" http://nutamu.deviantart.com/art/My.....tion-132433829 (prose) - A beautiful and shockingly moving take on the original contest idea. Again, I think I'd demean the piece by trying to summarize it - please read it for yourself.


wolfmedia for "Summer Fun"
http://wolfmedia.deviantart.com/art.....-fun-134492864 (art)
- Another super-cute piece, this time featuring cartoon-me tormenting cartoon-=wolfmedia at the beach 8D... apparently being watched by a sentient and shifty-looking boombox?? o______o


genjihl for "Valley Refuge"
http://genjihl.deviantart.com/art/V.....fuge-136253638 (art)
- This piece completely blew me away with its stunning artistry and beautiful colour. Very skillfully executed: check out all the details, from the waterfall to the distant village to the cluster of flowers in the lower right-hand corner. A thoroughly impressive work of art.


kurouingu for "Gazing at the Summer Night Sky"
http://kurouingu.deviantart.com/art.....-Sky-137195302 (art)
- Definitely winning bonus points from me for featuring my two most beloved characters, this piece naturally makes me enormously happy. My personal bias aside, ~kurouingu did a wonderful job artistically, creating a lovely contrast between the warm, fire-lit figures and the cool, subtly detailed background.


ALL ENTRIES


* starlight90183 - "A soft salt-scented breeze..." (prose) - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2493916/

* RaikouWolf - "Home by the Sea" (photomanip) - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2475469/

* Lysette - "Lounging in the Sun" (art) - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2498976/

* Stevegreen - "Beach" (art) - http://stevegreen.deviantart.com/ar.....each-129144890

* fiannaValkyrie - "Lake Osoyoose" (art) - http://fiannavalkyrie.deviantart.co.....oose-129318124

* Kuroi-kisin - "Chess" (art) - http://kuroi-kisin.deviantart.com/a.....hess-129350981

* this-silent-scream - "Ideally vacationing" (prose) - http://this-silent-scream.deviantar.....ning-129533683

* Nagi_Wolf - "Happy Trails" (prose) - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2547186

* AnuOjat - "Dolphin Riding" (art) - http://anuojat.deviantart.com/art/J.....-Pic-131641021

* AxelWolf04 - "The Perfect Trip" (prose) - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2603611/

* JLGJedi - "Wolves, Springs, and Fate" (prose) - http://jlgjedi.deviantart.com/art/W.....Fate-132094969

* queenkalani - "Vacation to Dreams" (photomanip) - http://queenkalani.deviantart.com/a.....eams-132093822

* nutamu - "My Dream Vacation" (prose) - http://nutamu.deviantart.com/art/My.....tion-132433829

* DarkLove16 - "Tennessee Mountainscape" (photography) - http://darklove16.deviantart.com/ar.....ry-2-132523082

* texasshepard - "The Beautiful Beach" (photography) - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2522898

* SilverNightPhoenix - "Moon Walk" (photography) - http://silvernightphoenix.deviantar.....walk-131883626

* Maryyas-Darkness - "Time to Play" (photography) - http://maryyas-darkness.deviantart......Play-133924349

* WolfMedia - "Summer Fun" (art) - http://wolfmedia.deviantart.com/art.....-fun-134492864

* TheDeathRealm - "Bourton on the Water" (art) - http://thedeathrealm.deviantart.com.....ater-134746633

* Rebelshade - "Eren and I" (photography) - http://rebelshade.deviantart.com/ar.....ntry-135354564

* white-spirit-whisper - "Pool Fight" (photography) - http://white-spirit-whisper.deviant.....ight-135452801

* genjihl - "Valley Refuge" (art) - http://genjihl.deviantart.com/art/V.....fuge-136253638

* kurouingu - "Gazing at the Summer Night Sky" (art) - http://kurouingu.deviantart.com/art.....-Sky-137195302