Update: I'm going to be shortening this to 150 pieces. It's been almost 7 years at this point and I'm done with what I was trying to do with this challenge and do some other things! Between burn out, mental health challenges and a complete life upheaval, it's been a hell of a ride...

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I figure I'd just make a journal to link to people who ask about it! I should also make a note that this is just my take on it. I did not start this idea, I'm just propagating it.

My Iron Artist starts here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4233108
My Steel Artist starts here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7530667/

So what is this Steel Artist thing?
The steel artist challenge (by my reckoning) is the next stage up of the iron artist challenge, at 200 images. The iron artist challenge is where you draw 100 images to a specific set of criteria. This could be completing everything in a specific amount of time, working on your anatomy, etc. For me the iron artist were full cell shaded pictures, and thus a bit harder than what some people took on, but on the flip side I had no time limit on myself, and was fairly flexible in my goals throughout the project. My main goals were colour usage and speed of completing the actual drawing.

What are your goals for this then?
The steel artist challenge for me is going to be speed paints focusing on working to a time limit, getting the piece looking good in a certain amount of time, and as a consequence, reducing my tendency to over work my pictures. Also I'm hoping it will increase my ability to work on the fly, and become more accurate with anatomy and proportions, as I have to get it right quickly to keep to the time limit.
I'm also hoping to again work on colour, and to work on adding more texture into my work without having to always resorting to textures (as in, use more custom and interesting brushes). I'm also going to experiment with different levels of zoom and cropping depending on what the piece calls for as at the moment, and playing with various different compositions when the piece calls for it.

What are the tiers?
The tiers are the payment scale I'm using for these commissions. One being the cheapest and three being the most expensive. The higher the tier, the more time will be spent on that piece, thus the more detailed it will end up looking. Mostly this is expressed in the characters, sometimes it might have a decent background with it. I tend to rough everything in then do the important things first (face, torso/body, and leave the extremities till last).

How can I get one?
Check on my profile to see if I'm still accepting them!

What's next!?
I guess it'll be titanium and then tungsten carbide or something! I'll figure that out when I get there xD

Character references/pictures, because they are sad and neglected, and maybe this will remind me to draw them more. Also as a resource for anyone who wants to get art with my characters.

Fursonas
♂ Zambuka | German Shepherd | Adult Ref | Clean ref | Available for any rating |
♀ Zambuka | German Shepherd | Adult Ref | Clean ref | Fursuit | Available for general ratings |
♀ Spark | Raichu | Clean Pic | Available for general ratings |


Active Characters
♂ Zombie | German Shepherd | Adult Ref | Clean Ref | notazombie | Owned by fritzie as for Mar 2014, ask him for commission availability |
♂ Everic | Anthro/Feral Gryphon | Clean Ref | Available for general ratings |
♂ Emrys | Feral Gryphon | Co-owned by Sazerac | Adult Ref | Not available for commission |
♂ Merlin | African Painted Dog | Clean Pic [should be anthro] | Designed by snowaro | Not available for commission |
♂ Kamikaze | Hellhound | Mature Pic | Designed by theblackvixen | Not available for commission |
♀ Chardonnay | Heavenhound | Mature Pic | Not available for commission |
♀ Ricky | Hellhound | Adult Pic | Not available for commission |
○ F.E.L.I.X | Sythetic Goop Gryphon | Adult Ref | Available for any rating |
☿ Shouki | Kitsune | Adult Ref | M-herm/gender shifter | Not available for commission |


Inactive Characters
♂ Bronx | German Shepherd | Mature Ref | Available for any rating |
♀ Caipirinha | Gryphon | Mature Pic | Available for any rating |
♀ Merlot | Border Collie | Mature Pic | Available for any rating |
♀ Lady Monarch | Silver Fox | Adult Pic [on the right] | Available for any rating |
♀ Abbey | Swift Fox | Adult Pic [bottom] | Available for any rating |
♂ Macuá | Gryphon | Adult Pic | Available for any rating |
♂ Bailey | Border Collie | Adult Pic | Available for any rating |
♂ JD | River Otter | Adult Pic | Available for any rating |
♂ Ceasar | Rabbit | Adult Pic | Available for any rating |