Hello Krita Artists 
It’s time for a new art challenge!
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the September challenge by submitting wonderful art, and also to our members who took the time to vote.
@Marius_Galaj won the most votes and has created the theme for this month’s challenge.
Monthly Art Challenge - October 2025 - The Burden of Power
Imagine having absolute power over every government, institution, and company in the world to get into character. You decide to teach humanity that with power comes responsibility. To send a clear message to every subject/voter, that those who are set above them to create and execute the laws, feel the daily burden of that power. Thus, you are issuing a special decree regarding the visible burden of power.
This October, your task will be to draw/paint an object that will pose a physical or mental burden to any position of authority you choose: parliamentarians, senators, judges, directors, bishops, or anything else you can think of as position of power.
Ideally, your inventions shouldn’t float in the air, but should be on a pillow/pedestal or hang on a coat rack (e.g., as if a newly elected senators were to enter their new office and first thing to see is the special uniform they’ll have to wear for their entire term).
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Remember that all people in a given category will be required to wear this object (regardless of, for example, political affiliation; right or left). It is intended to clearly distinguish those in power from ordinary people. They must wear it at all times during their work. If you elect parliamentarians, it will apply equally to those you like and those you dislike. So don’t take it too far even if you know that some deserve very heavy burden. It is not meant to be a punishment for those who are in power now, but a warning for those who can be in the future.
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The physical burden can be a special chain, so uncomfortable that it’s hard to forget, yet so light that no one can avoid it due to poor health or old age. It can be uncomfortable because of its weight or the need to move in a certain way (e.g., a metal helmet, a tiara, a heavy cloak, broad shoulderpads, large shoes).
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A psychological burden is something you don’t particularly feel physically, but which no normal person would voluntarily wear on a daily basis (e.g., a hat with bells, a large plume, or a funny mask).
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You may be familiar with the fairy tale of the Princess and the Pea. She was so delicate that, despite sleeping on many mattresses, she would wake up in a very bad mood because of a single pea under them. Imagine someone with an ego as sensitive as the princess’s body; a vain, stingy, greedy, and proud person would be incredibly offended by your decree and might even refrain from seeking power because of your demands. However, a humble, polite, warm-hearted person with a somewhat playful attitude would accept this burden without protest, and even with a sense of humor. That’s the point; it won’t deter every bad person, but at least it will deter the worst ones; the self-absorbed ones, who are deadly serious about their own importance.
All artistic styles are allowed. You’ll have to use your imagination a bit, but you can always draw or paint from reference and just spice things up (Moderator note: Bear in mind the rule requiring an original composition).
Please post only artworks and discussion related to submitted artwork in this thread. There is a WIP thread for each monthly art challenge in which you can ask questions and post your works in progress (WIPs).
Monthly Art Challenge WIPs and Discussion Thread – October 2025
Rules
- The composition should be your own and not an exact copy from someone or somewhere else. If you are using a reference photo taken by anyone other than yourself, please ensure the license allows for its use and include a credit to the photographer with your submission.
- Artwork should be done in Krita. Submissions must be done from scratch in Krita, no paint-over or tracing allowed. Photobashing is allowed only when explicitly specified in the topic.
- The topic changes every month. Your submission should be somehow related to the topic. If possible, please add a few lines explaining your idea and image.
- No AI-generated images are allowed, not even partial use of AI and paint over. It is unfair for those who are drawing from scratch.
- You can post a maximum of 3 entries and also edit the entries until the deadline. All your entries will be clubbed during the vote and you only get one vote. Reply with your entries to this post in this thread. All entries must appear in a single post. Please do not post your submissions in any other category on Krita-Artists until voting has closed and the winner is declared.
- In order to have the image featured, the entries need to be safe for work so please avoid any NSFW or controversial content. The moderators can use their discretion to disqualify the image from the contest with prior notice. Of course, the artist will be given the chance to submit an alternate image or change it.
- Submissions will be accepted until 2025-10-26T18:00:00Z, at which time the topic will automatically close. You can check how much time is left at the bottom of the thread.
We will hold a poll at the end of the challenge period. The artwork with the most votes will be the winner.
Prize
- The winner will be featured on this website in the featured artwork row.
- The winner will have the privilege to set the next topic of their liking. If the winner is not available or reachable, then the 1st runner up will be asked to provide the topic and challenge.
- The winner will also be awarded the Monthly Art Contest Winner badge.
Please spread the word about this art challenge by posting your artwork on various social media websites with the hashtag – #KritaChallenge. If possible, include a link to the forum post.
I hope we will enjoy this exercise so let us begin.
P.S. Note we can change the rules based on the feedback on this contest and modify the format. Any suggestions are welcome. To submit feedback, please create a new topic in the Site Feedback category.
This one was inspired to me by a French song by Gérard Lenorman, 
Anyway, in the end I didn’t really invent anything here, simply connected some dots, but I felt like it was funny enough to deserve an illustration.
