The adventures of John Storm and the Elizabeth Swann. John Storm is an ocean adventurer and conservationist. The Elizabeth Swann is a fast solar powered boat. During a race around the world, news of the sinking of a pirate whaling ship reaches John Storm and his mate Dan Hawk. They decide to abandon the race and try and save the whale. This is a modern Moby Dick, the twist being that there is a happy ending for everyone, even the whalers. Herman Melville would approve.

The Sussex based Cleaner Ocean Foundation sponsored the BIG OCEAN AWARENESS ART COMPETITION in the UK, in association with Jameson Hunter Ltd, as part of a campaign to make people aware about Plastic Pollution, Ghost Fishing Nets that are killing whales in large numbers, and Renewable Energy for marine transport, in place of heavy bunker oils, so tackling Global Warming and Acid Oceans in the long-term.

During August and September you could have helped us to build a team of artists to complete this ocean adventure for the planet.

Anyone with an artistic inclination could have helped us to make people aware of the plastic menace and the possibilities for solar and wind powered marine transport in tackling climate change.

The Competition was FREE to ENTER and was open to anyone in the UK geographical region with artistic aspirations, including (but not limited to) those attending local colleges or universities (in for example Sussex) who may be studying art, or former art students from such learning institutions. Sadly, Covid19 proved to be a major blocker.

It was suggested that entrants could work alone as an individual entrant, or in groups, as a group (or joint) entry. Such as story board imagineer, inker, colourist, captionist, etc. There was no interest from any groups, mainly because nobody was back in colleges or universities. It was kind of like one great big holiday, where the UK came to a grinding halt.

The CHALLENGE was to choose from the Scenes below, and to illustrate 1 or 2 pages (max) of a the scene you have chosen (no more than 1 page individual entry and 2 pages per group entry), in a popular graphic novel style. Please see the EXAMPLE of a scene: 'Whaling Chase.' Each scene has suggestions for the illustrations - but only as a guide brief.

Entrants were reminded not to illustrate the whole of their chosen Scene, just one page of what was suggested. The winners were expected to complete the Scene they had chosen, or a good part of it, in accepting their Scholarship prizes.

We needed to see artwork as a series of pictures on one page of what you would expect to see in a graphic novel, sufficient for us to be able to judge your talents and ability to help us to illustrate this Graphic Novel (GN). This is where there are around 70 pages in the proposed GN.

You do not have to enter the Competition to contribute. We also welcome volunteers generally who may not want to get involved in production, such as advisers on development of a version for schools and animation, or even scripting.

The present Graphic Novel is aimed at older children and young adults. If it was a film, it would be 12a rating, hence suitable for general distribution.

Artwork at pen and ink stage before colouring.

OPENING DATE

The competition opened officially on 1st August 2020, when you should have registered yourself or team via email before September 30th if you want your work to be included:

     growth@blue-growth.org

Applications should be marked: KULO LUNA COMPETITION 2020 for the attention of  Briggette (Managing trustee).

Please mark for the attention of Christina, for administrative issue, or Nelson (Project direction) on any art or literary issue.

Once registered, you or your group representative, should inform the organisers of your choice of scene(s), the object being not to duplicate scenes until all 24 possible titles are covered - if at all possible.

CLOSING DATE

The closing date for entry (registration) was 30th September 2020. No further entries will now be accepted. You need to get you artwork to us before 31st October 2020, to be included in the judging.

You will have been kept updated and supported on this website during the 12 weeks allowed for you to complete your entry - from 1st August to 31st October 2020.

MARKING

The final date for marking, is Saturday, October 31st 5:00pm GMT, after which the results will be announced - within 21 days of the competition closing.

These dates may be subject to revision if Covid19 seriously hampers the competition. For example, we had been unable to complete our Elizabeth Swann model in 1:20 scale due to staffing problems and social distancing in workshops. We have though shown what the vessel looks like from a 1:200 model, sufficient for artistic interpretation.

The Elizabeth Swann is a solar and wind powered trimaran with an advanced hull. This is based on a real boat design study, including folding wings and a wind turbine on a moveable mast to be tried in a water tank for efficiency in 2021. Tests so far include a rig on a Ford Transit van conversion in 2019 (for land trials), with help from a Belgian biology student.

SCHOLARSHIP PRIZES

There will be three main scholarship prizes:

1st Prize - £1,000

2nd Prize - £ 600

3rd Prize - £ 400

THE BRIEF - What we'd like you to do and how to go about it.

APPLICATION FORM - Fill in this form and email to:   'growth @ blue - growth . org'

GET YOUR ART ONLINE

All entrants and contributors will be credited and mentioned on this site, by way of a showcase for their talent, with links provided to their websites if requested.

FOLLOW ON JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Follow on opportunities will comprise employment in the completion of the the Kulo Luna graphic novel, or novels, that may include additional 'John Storm' environmental adventures.

This will be subject to crowd funding support, and applications to various grant making council's, philanthropic foundations, donations, and/or Lottery funding - or a mix of the above - to include appropriate corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Artwork from the competition will be used to support such applications and we reserve all such rights as the commissioners of such art.

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

You don't have to compete in this competition to help us help the ocean. If you fancy illustrating any of the scenes in this story, please send us your drawings. We will publish them and give credit to the artists contributing. Alternatively, you can help support ocean artists and this awareness campaign, with a small contribution. Only give what you can afford - and thank you for your generosity.

OTHER ART COMPETITIONS & CONTESTS

There are many similar events all around the world, some of which we list on this website. See the link above. You are in good company.

DATA PROTECTION

If needed for processing, the Foundation will treat your personal information in strict confidence and only for the purposes of administering this competition, after which all personal information will be deleted. Articles featuring your work, winning entries and those who want their work included as participants, will remain on this website as reference. Your permission to publish and use of your artwork is one of the conditions of entry.

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