Welcome to The Empire Monthly Challenge!

You are all welcome to stretch your artist legs. Get out of your comfort zone or artist block, and unleash your full potential!

There are no winners or prizes, it's all about challenging yourself. The deadline is purely to indicate the start of the next challenge, if you need more time to finish up that's okay.


Modifiers are optional rules for the challenge that allows you to push your skills even further!


Environment Challenge - Challenge Focus

Castle Tunnel

Upon entering the castle you go through this tunnel covered with intersecting doorways and defensive slits along its sides and top. Parts of it have been patched and repaired over the years but its key features are all still there, now interwoven with hints of modernization such as lights and wiring.

You are tasked with recreating this tunnel. Take extra note of the changes in the material throughout the different parts of the tunnel and how brickwork changes in some parts.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/079a18ad-f5d8-4aec-b8c2-634f41e8dd87/Castle_Tunnel.jpg


Prop Challenge - Age and Wear Focus

Medieval Chest

No one is quite sure how old this chest is, or even what it was used for. But one thing is certain, it is very old. With this age comes all kinds of wear, corrosion, damage, and aging. Study this chest in detail and recreate it to the best of your abilities.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/faf89716-7833-4f4d-b149-e01fdf71e851/Castle_Chest.jpg


Substance Challenge - Material Focus

Timber Framing & Brick Patterns

Great work and effort are often be used to make the most simple things look a bit extra nice. This building, originally from the 1500s has been renovated, restored, and cared for over the years. Sometime along its lifetime, this ornate detailing of bricks and timber framing was put into place. Just as the artisans who built this building once paid great attention to how they laid this brickwork, you are now tasked with studying and recreating this wall with the timber framing and the different brick patterns.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/dfeb40f6-2318-4d81-bd76-194b4dbae67b/Castle_Halftimber.jpg


Substance Challenge - Material Focus

Flaking Paint

A long time ago these shutters on an old castle window were painted. But little attention has been put towards renewing this layer of paint as time has passed. With constant exposure to weather, sunlight and what else nature has to offer, this paint doesn't stick around forever. You are tasked with recreating this flaking paint on a set of planks. Take notice of how it tends to curl once it detaches from the planks.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/a92566e8-190b-4e88-805d-844fc59e50ac/Castle_FlakingPaint.jpg