What are these UF challenges?
How do challenges work and how can I participate?
Can I help promoting the challenges in some way?
What if I have an idea for a future challenge?

You can find all this information and more in the Ultra Fractal challenges FAQ, which is also part of our very first UF challenge, the one for February 2011.
If you already know the rules, then you're good to go - read on for this month's challenge!



Previous editions:

You can find all of the previous challenges in this journal. Please keep in mind that the challenge rules changed after the 26th edition!

Links to ALL UF challenges (updated periodically!)Since the UF challenges are growing in number, instead of linking them all in each new one, I thought I'd make a collection journal for all of them. This will contain all challenges held so far, from the newest (top) to the oldest (bottom), all conveniently thumbed for you! It will also be updated each month so that ALL challenges are reachable from here, even the newer ones. And this journal will of course be linked in every challenge, to keep them all connected
Sadly, challenge #11 is apparently a broken link. It's the only inaccessible one so far, though, so I may be able to restore it someday, if you guys wish me to.
Let's go!
:thumb245770291

Now we can go on with the last challenge's results, and then I will introduce this month's challenge to you all.

Here is the May 2012 challenge, themed "Colour Me Not", and the deviations I've picked as the winners!
(Please note: do not feel offended if you're not in the top three. Winners are chosen basing on their way of representing the challenge theme, and I always try to be as impartial as possible while judging.)


First place goes to =davebold370 with:



A piece of artwork that inspires harmony and serenity much like Frank Lloyd Wright's constructions, this fractal fully expresses a deep balance between manmade structures (represented by the geometric black lines) and the forces of nature. Unique and fascinating.


Second place goes to ~dabluetouch with:



Fossil-like in structure, colour and lighting, this beautifully crafted fractal truly makes the viewer feel its consistency. Structured, wisely composed and evocative beyond imagination - a real treat for everyone's eyes.


Third place goes to ~Elegene with:



Unusual focal points can really do wonders at times: the rhythmic alternance of warm and cold tones in this artwork, joined with the dynamic and ever-changing shape, make up for a very well blended and characteristic fractal.


This month's entries were all absolutely exceptional. Not only we had many new participants: each of them also showed, with his or her own personal style, just how many wonders formulas and mappings can do, without a single colouring algorithm being used. Please take your time looking at their artistic efforts: they're definitely worth the trouble!



We're done for May. On to June!

Ultra Fractal monthly challenges Redux

Challenge #17: June 2012

June's challenge will be a Theme challenge - its title being Sumi-e!

Also known as ink-wash painting, sumi-e is a type of Oriental art that focuses on black ink brush painting, without any other colours being used. The same concept lies behind East-Asian calligraphy. Originally born in China, this artistic current focuses on capturing the soul of the object presented, rather than its outward appearance.
Our goal this month is to recreate the same feeling of this beautifully inspiring artistic philosophy. The way to implement it in fractal art is entirely up to you. Please note that, while original sumi-e artworks are generally monochromatic in nature, you are not prevented from using colours at all - you may do so if you wish! There are no real limitations, so give it your best shot!

Should you need a head start, you may look at this UF tutorial I made earlier on: the style featured resembles sumi-e somehow, as I originally intended to recreate that one feeling when I first established that kind of style.
Here are a few examples of ink-wash fractals, both mine and not:



And even more artworks coming from all kinds of categories:



Remember: to enter the challenge, post your deviation's link and thumb in a comment of this journal. ALSO: PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU LINK THIS NEWS ARTICLE IN THE DEVIATION. (Sorry for stating it so strongly, but I've had lots of people saying they'd enter the challenge without even stating it in their deviation comments, so I figured I'd better add this specification somewhere!)

Please spread the word by advertising this news article - we definitely want more participants. The more, the merrier!

This challenge's deadline is June 30th, 2012. Ready, set, GO!!!