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Veiled Realms Art Challenge

We invite both students and professionals to craft captivating environments. Create your environments within the concept of lost worlds in forgotten times. Showcase your artistic vision for a chance to win remarkable awards and industry recognition.
Total prize pool is worth $50,000
"Qheeva" from The Velvet Road series

by Max Bedulenko

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max bedulenko

Max Bedulenko

Max Bedulenko has over 10 years of experience in concept art for gaming and movie industries. As a freelance artist, he collaborates with numerous game studios, producing concept art for their projects. In his personal works, he opens doors to new worlds through dystopian and ethnic cyberpunk styles.ArtStation
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Participation Rules

Blog Post / Linkedin Post

Blog Post Creation:

  • Participants must create a blog post on Cosmos blog post and/or Artstation blog post (If they have Artstation Pro membership) explaining their project related to the "Veiled Realms" theme.
  • The blog post should describe the project in detail, according to the participant's category.
  • Promotional visuals must be included in the blog post.
  • Enter content that describes the project with some technical information in the blog post.
  • We expect you to update the blog post through the challenge with your project updates.

Tagging Leartes Studios and Including the Link:

Regular Updates:

  • The blog post must be updated regularly throughout the development process.

Publishing Platforms:

  • The blog post must be published on either Cosmos or ArtStation. It can be published on both platforms.

Sharing Rules:

  • Participants must share their project-related blog posts on their Cosmos blogs and Artstation blog posts if they have an Artstation Pro membership.
  • Participants must share linkedin posts.
  • Sharing on X (Twitter) is optional.
  • Participants must tag Leartes Studios, including the challenge website link (https://cosmos.leartesstudios.com/challenges/veiled-realms-art-challenge), and add the #learteschallenge hashtag in all their posts.

References

Participants have three options for references:

  • They can find their copyright-free references.
  • They can use Max Bedulenko's concept art as inspiration.
  • They can design entirely original concept art themselves.

List of Max Bedulenko's concept art allowed for use:

  • The Stone Teeth
  • Armenian District
  • Streets of Constantinople
  • Vienna
  • Ghent
  • Qheeva
  • The Sheegothai
  • Nogroth
  • Kheezwara
  • Baj-Qheeth
  • Baj-Grakh
  • Baj-Sheerh
  • Various stuff for Velvet Road series
  • Baj-Nhreez
  • Streets of Qheeva
  • Baj-Njeeth
  • Fishermen's District Vol.1
  • Fishermen's District Vol.2

Registration

  • To participate in the competition, participants must join our Discord channel, become members of the Cosmos platform and fill out the application platform
  • The blog post must be published on Cosmos and/or ArtStation. Participants are free to publish on both platforms if they wish.
  • The completed blog post must be shared on Linkedin.
  • Upon completing the membership process, participants will receive:
    • A 6-month standard membership
    • 1 premium credit as a gift

Categories and Participation Types

There are 4 Categories in Challenge:

3D

  • 3D Environment
  • 3D Prop

Concept Art

  • Concept Art / Environment
  • Concept Art / Prop
There are 2 Participation Types in Challenge:

Student Participation

  • Students must register using an edu domain email address.
  • Participants without an edu email or who are found not to be students will be disqualified and not considered in the student participation.

Standard Participation

  • This participation type is for participants who are not students.
There are different awards in each category depending on the type of participation.

Competition Rules

1. Environment RequirementsProjects must be created using real-time game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity, Godot, CryEngine, etc.). This rule applies only for 3D Environment category.
2. Application and Submission DeadlinesApplication and Submission Deadlines: If the application or submission is delayed, Leartes reserves the right to accept or reject the project.
3. Model and Asset UsageModels used in the environment must be either the artist's creations or sourced from the Cosmos platform. Asset packs available on Cosmos can be used, but 3rd party (third-party) assets are strictly prohibited. Participants can use self-created assets in their projects.
4. AI UsageAI usage is strictly prohibited in the production process. AI can only be used for reference creation or concept iteration. Projects incorporating AI in the production phase will be disqualified.
5. Rights and Sales ConditionsThe moral rights of the works produced during the competition belong to the artist. Sales rights also belong to the artists, but the artist needs Leartes`s written permission to sell the projects to 3rd parties.
6. Concept ComplianceProjects submitted to the competition must strictly adhere to the specified concept style (Veiled Realms). Forgotten / Fantastic worlds. If you need more spesific questions about the challenge concept please ask in challenge discord server. Any projects outside this concept style will not be accepted.
7. Application Usage and LicensingAll applications used during the competition must be licensed. Participants found using unlicensed applications will be disqualified. Participants who have used licensed applications but are also award recipients may have their awards revoked if any licensing issues are detected.
8. Contest Rules Updates During the EventLeartes Studios reserves the right to change or add to the contest rules during the event, especially in cases where omissions or gaps are identified. All participants are expected to stay informed of any updates. Any changes or additions will take effect immediately upon publication.

RoadMap

15th April 2025AnnouncementOn April 15, the theme of the competition and details about the competition will be announced on the social media accounts of Leartes Studios. Registration details and further information will also be shared.
01
15th Apil 2025Competition StartThe competition officially begins on April 15th, 2025. Participants will receive details and resources to begin their submissions. Updates will be shared via the competition's Discord server and social media accounts.
02
1st May 2025Application DeadlineThe deadline for applications is May 1, 2025. Only those who complete their registration by this date will be eligible to participate. Additional details will be available on the official social media channels.
03
1st November 2025Competition EndThe competition concludes on November 1, 2025. Submissions must be finalized and submitted by this date. Late submissions will not be accepted.
04
15th December 2025Jury Evaluation to be CompletedThe jury will complete their evaluation of all submissions on December 15, 2025.
05
31st December 2025Winners to be AnnouncedThe winners of the competition will be announced on December 31, 2025, coinciding with New Year celebrations. Results will be shared on all official channels.
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Environment Art Submission Guidelines

Project Submission

  • Project submissions will be made with one zip file in Cosmos platform. More info will be shared later.
  • Projects will be released in Artstation with Challenge Art Blast. Artstation post guidelines will be shared soon.

Collage Video

  • A collage video must be created with a minimum duration of 10 seconds.
  • The video should feature a forward-flying motion, simulating dynamic movement through the environment.
  • Whether a character is shown in the video is left to the participant’s discretion.
  • The camera angle must be in first-person perspective.

Showcase Video

  • A separate showcase video, with a minimum duration of 30 seconds, must be prepared to highlight the project details.
  • This video should provide an in-depth look at the environment, demonstrating its design, features, and real-time functionality.

3D Prop and Concept Art Categories Submission Guidelines

Project Submission

  • Projects will be released in Artstation with Challenge Art Blast. Artstation post guidelines will be shared soon.

Evaluation

Evaluation Criteria

  • The evaluation will be conducted using 9 criteria. Each jury member will assess the participants and score them out of 100 points
  • The competition has seven jury members, and the participant's final score will be calculated out of 700 points based on the sum of all jury members' scores.
  • Participants with the highest scores will be eligible to win awards.

3D Environment Evaluation Metrics

  • Concept Selection and Implementation 10 Points
  • Level Blockout 10 Points
  • 3D Modelling, UV, Texturing 10 Points
  • Shaders ve Materials 10 Points
  • Level Art 10 Points
  • Lighting 10 Points
  • FPS And Optimization 20 Points
  • Rendering and Presentation 10 Points
  • Visual Quality 10 Points

Awards

Winners

Separate awards will be given to winners in both the Student and Standard . In the Student Category, only 1st place prizes will be awarded. In the Standard Category, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be awarded. These prize structures apply to each of the following competition categories: Environment Art, 3D Prop Art, Concept Art / Environment, and Concept Art / Prop.

Community Awards

Our team will select outstanding works as finalists in both the Student and Standard Categories. These finalists will be featured on our Instagram page, where the community can vote by liking their favorite. The finalists who receives the most likes will be awarded the prize! In the Student Category, only 1st place prizes will be awarded. In the Standard Category, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be awarded.

Juries

Oğuzhan Kar
Oğuzhan Kar
Leartes StudiosFounder | Creative Director
Tolga İlhan
Tolga İlhan
Leartes StudiosArt Director
Billy Deloe
Billy Deloe
Marvelous Designer3D Designer Specialist
Otto Ostera
Otto Ostera
Romero GamesArt Director
Mark Ranson
Mark Ranson
VOID InteractiveArt Director
Sergei Panin
Sergei Panin
SonyLevel Artist
Stefan Van Der Sandt
Stefan Van Der Sandt
Aaron Sims CreativeSenior Environment Artist

Juries

Oğuzhan Kar
Oğuzhan Kar
Leartes StudiosFounder | Creative Director
Tolga İlhan
Tolga İlhan
Leartes StudiosArt Director
Billy Deloe
Billy Deloe
Marvelous Designer3D Designer Specialist
Otto Ostera
Otto Ostera
Romero GamesArt Director
Mark Ranson
Mark Ranson
VOID InteractiveArt Director
Sergei Panin
Sergei Panin
SonyLevel Artist
Stefan Van Der Sandt
Stefan Van Der Sandt
Aaron Sims CreativeSenior Environment Artist

Awards

Environment Art Awards

The total value of awards is approximately $18,000.
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Dell Precision 3680 Tower
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Marvelous Designer 1-Year License
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Dash 2-Year Subscription
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1-Year Adobe Substance 3D Collection Subscription
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The Gnomon Workshop 1-Year Subscription
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InstaMat 1-Year Seat License
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InstaLOD 1-Year Seat License
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Article Interview Opportunity
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Cosmos 1-Year Premium Subscription
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$3000 USD Buyout Option for Your Winning Environment
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Opportunity to Collaborate on a New Project with Leartes Studios
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Razer Mamba Elite Mouse
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Razer Ornata V3 Full-Size Keybord
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Razer BlackShark V2 Headset
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Leartes Gift Box
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Amazon 250 USD Gift Card
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Spotify 12-Month Gift Card

Environment Concept Art

The total value of awards is approximately $4,500.
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Marvelous Designer 1-Year License
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Dash 2-Year Subscription
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1-Year Adobe Substance 3D Collection Subscription
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The Gnomon Workshop 1-Year Subscription
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InstaMat 1-Year Seat License
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InstaLOD 1-Year Seat License
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Cosmos 1-Year Premium Subscription
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GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4060 EAGLE OC GRAPHİC CARD
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Razer Mamba Elite Mouse
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Razer Ornata V3 Full-Size Keybord
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Razer BlackShark V2 Headset
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Leartes Gift Box
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Amazon 250 USD Gift Card
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Spotify 12-Month Gift Card

3D Prop Art

The total value of awards is approximately $3,400.
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Marvelous Designer 1-Year License
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Dash 2-Year Subscription
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1-Year Adobe Substance 3D Collection Subscription
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InstaMat 1-Year Seat License
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InstaLOD 1-Year Seat License
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Cosmos 1-Year Premium Subscription
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ASUS TUF Gaming 27” 1080P Curved Monitor
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HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
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Razer Ornata V3 X Keybord
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Razer Gigantus V2 Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad
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SteelSeries Rival 3 Gaming Mouse
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Amazon 200 USD Gift Card
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Steam 50 USD Gift Card
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Spotify 12-Month Gift Card

3D Prop Concept Art

The total value of awards is approximately $3,200.
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Marvelous Designer 1-Year License
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Dash 2-Year Subscription
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1-Year Adobe Substance 3D Collection Subscription
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InstaMat 1-Year Seat License
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InstaLOD 1-Year Seat License
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Cosmos 1-Year Premium Subscription
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Wacom Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet
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HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
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PERLESMITH Dual Monitor Stand
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Amazon 50 USD Gift Card
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Steam 50 USD Gift Card
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Spotify 12-Month Gift Card

Community Awards

The total value of awards is approximately $1,110.
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Marvelous Designer 1-Year License
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1-Year Adobe Substance 3D Collection Subscription
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Cosmos 1-Year Premium Subscription

Special Awards

The total value of awards in this category amounts to approximately $580.
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300 USD Cash Prize
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Marvelous Designer 1-Year License
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Artist Feature on Marvelous Designer Website/Community
Note: The winner of the special awards will be chosen from among those using marvelous designer.

Participation Awards

The total value of awards is approximately $150.
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Cosmos 6-Month Standard Subscription
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Cosmos 1 Premium Credit
Note: Participation awards are presented to all participants who entered the challenge.

Free Trials

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Marvelous Designer 1-Month License
Marvelous Designer is The industry standard for realistic 3D cloth modeling and simulation. Unleash creativity with our Academy Award-winning 3D clothing design software! Learn more at: https://marvelousdesigner.com
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Dash 6-Month Subscription
Dash is a plugin for UE5 that helps you create 3D worlds by removing the complexity of Unreal Engine. It includes tools for procedural scattering, asset management, procedural meshes, physics, and much more! For more information, check their website: https://www.polygonflow.io/features
Note: Free Trial are presented to all participants who entered the challenge.
Award Notes:
  • Adobe products may not be available in some countries due to economic sanctions laws. For more details: Visit Adobe
  • Dell products are subject to export control and economic sanctions laws and are restricted from shipping to certain countries. For more details: Visit Dell
  • The recipient is responsible for any customs duties or taxes that may arise from the shipped products. We are not responsible for any issues that may occur during customs clearance, including delays or non-delivery due to customs issues.