So this is my entry for the nvidia contest. I worked on this right up to the last minute... literally. =_= Ran out of time, but I managed to get 'er lookin' alright.

This is my first attempt at a "hardcore" pixel drawing. I've done a few simple ones before, but nothing as time-consuming and detailed as this; it just about killed me! Don't know how pro pixel artists do it!

Speaking of which, I apologize to all you pixel artists who see all the millions of mistakes and broken pixels in this. I really wanted to refine it a LOT more, but time just ran out. *sigh* Ah well, hope you kids dig.

Photoshop
30+ Hours

--Essay--

What Does nVidia Say to You?

Looking at the nVidia "Claw" logo, one sees, well a logo. The logo itself says quite a bit. With it's curved lines and sharp corners, it carries with it several overtones including modernity, a feeling of aggressiveness, and a sense of technological advancement-- characteristics appropriate for a company that specializes in high-end graphic processing units.

However, the nVidia "claw" is a logo because that is the context in which one chooses to perceive it. One could choose to see the logo as an actual claw (hence its name) such as that of a robot or some mechanical alien hand. Or one could even take it a step further and interpret the "claw" as something entirely different, such as... oh, say a zen shrine, which brings me to my pixel drawing.

Browsing the nVidia galleries, I noticed many people interpreting the nVvidia "claw" logo as literally a logo and that's it. Now don't get me wrong, the logo's pretty sweet and all, but if you only listen to one thing it says, well you'll be missing out on quite a bit.

For this particular drawing, I wanted to incorporate the logo in a way that made the image unique to nVidia. I didn't want to make a random drawing that could be used or applied to anything else and then just slap the logo on there almost as an afterthought.

Also, I wanted to see how many different ways I could interpret the nVidia "claw." In my drawing I managed to make the "claw" logo say the following:

1. "Ooohhhmmm. I'm a zen-like structure built into a mountain!"
2. "I'm a rune-like carving on a plaque! Hexes not included!"
3. "Shhhh! I'm a ninja-like shadow on the side of a mountain!"
4. "Gimme your money! I'm a fountain!"
5. "I rock so hard, I'm a rock carving/formation!"
6. "I'm grass! Don't smoke me!"
7. "Surf's up, Bra! I'm waves on water!"
<strike>8. "Zomg, I'm high! I'm clouds!"</strike>
<strike>9. "I'm a sexy babe! Look at my huge... logo!"</strike>

[Bleh! 8 and 9 are supposed to be striked out! ]

Aw man, ran outta time to make 'em all. Oh well, Seven of Nine ain't bad-- actually, she's pretty hot, but that's beside the point.

Anyway, as you can see, the "claw" logo is a pretty cool guy. eh can say a whole lot more than what one initially hears and doesn't afraid of anything.* If you listen hard enough, you can hear it tell countless tales including one of a wondrous mystical world where islands float and water falls reeeally slowly.

*[reference]

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Click here to see the image with the nVidia claw logos highlighted.