Oh dear.
Everyone has voted for #1, probably because it 'looks the best'.
However, that's because everyone else has made theirs two tone, which is how it will appear on the barrels. Where as #1 is full of grey scales, and none of those will show up on the barrels. It'll just be a big ugly black splodge.
Murudai recommendations:
#1 (and #6 for that matter) should be disqualified since they are NOT representations of how they will appear on the barrels, where as the rest are. This gives a falsified view of the final product and design, and creates an uneven playing field.
The respective artists should resubmit their work in two tone (black and white) like the rest of the entries, and like how the final design will appear on the barrels. If they don't, the entries are void, because they do not confirm to the guidelines of this competition.
Also, the votes should be made hidden again like they were before. Eliminates bias.