This small guide gives some pointers for newcomers to the competitive side of the miniature hobby. Disclaimers. I am not a very successful painter. Or accomplished one, or even astonishingly good.
But I have competed a little bit. I can give some advises for first timer. And this is a list of things I would have loved to know before competing.
I´ll be sectioning this to three parts things that are common in every event, the internet part and to in person events.
Commonalities with every painting competition
Try to paint the best of your abilities with the time constrictions you have. It will not be perfect for the first time.
Give yourself time to plan your pieces some what through with light and story in mind.
Bases (and backdrops) are a way to tell your miniatures story. Don´t neglect the base or do it as an after thought. You should use plinths if you paint display miniatures. The plinth elevates the piece, working as frames to a painting.
Remember to integrate your tufts, sands, flocks and static grasses. They should be painted to give a unified look!
Don´t you all and every technique and skill you have on your first pieces! Try to show that you can paint cleanly, scrape mould lines and build the miniature without gaps. Mastering the basics of craft are the key to victory.
Try to show that you understand light and how it behaves. This doesn’t mean OSL (Object Source Light)! Just basic light schemes at the start are enough. Don´t try to do all the complicated things. More complicated things are complicated because the effect is easier to dissolve when analysed.
If you want to paint texture try to do it coherently, neatly and small! It should fit to your scale, there is some leniency in that, however try to fit texture as best as possible to the scale.
Try to show as much of your scope as possible. Paint both smoothly and with texture if your style allows it. Show some colour even if you like to paint very mutedly.
You should dust your miniatures before photography or any display event. You don’t want hairs and dust to take away from your miniature.
Remember to unify your miniatures look with a coat of varnish.
Don´t assume any success! You should try to see the celebration of talent at display, rather than trying to find fame. You might win something along the way! Or you will pave more road to your future talent! By seeing many pieces of miniature art in a small space will help you improve. And it usually is very inspirational!
Try to have some fun and excitement!
Its a nice idea to tag the paint comp in the pictures of your miniatures that are in display there, in social media! Other painters might do the same so you should look for their work too to see other people! This hobby is really solitary and as such we should all do the little effort to make it at least a little bit more social.
Painting competitions on the internet.
Pictures, pictures, pictures! Take good pictures! Close to the camera, so you have less “fat” on the picture that will eat your pictures pixels. With good light so you can see the small detail. Good light control so you don’t have cast shadows that obscure the paint work. Try to colour check your photos so you don’t have to colour correct them in edit.
Remember to use your cameras “pro mode” or a good camera software that lets you control everything.
You are usually allowed to have three to five pictures of your miniatures. With these you have to sell your miniature in a good light! Use good eye catching photos with good quality and with a good matt background. White, black or grey are good colours for a background.
Take more photos than you think you need. Thinker with settings and after a good photo session, upload them to somewhere you can look at them from a bigger screen. Then choose the best ones and if there is need to take more pictures, take them! Don´t be lazy!
Upload as big of a file size as possible within software limits, your cameras limits or the rules limits!
Remember that the picture of your miniature is a different art piece from your miniature! Some pieces work better in photos rather than in live events.
Painting competitions on events
When in events remember to eat well and drink water!
Try to find other competitors and ask about their pieces. Show them yours too and speak about the hobby!
Most events have a set time for critique of your work. Its usually after all the judging is done. If you can, try to go get critiqued! Its the fastest way to improving! They will not bash your work but dissect it and tell you their thoughts about it.
Seeing pieces live is a different experience to seeing photographs. Try to look as many as possible.
Remember that pictures of miniatures don’t always tell the full story and are a different art piece in them self!
Try to circle back to have a look at miniatures often!
Try to have some paints, glue and tools with you as you go to events. Some times pieces brake and you have to fix them on the fly. You need to ask permission to take your piece back to you in the middle of the event, if you see it being broken in the middle of the event.
Remind your self that this is a celebration of art! Take pictures! Talk about miniatures, paints tools and painting too! Try to learn some tips and tricks to bring home with you.
Have photos of your miniature ready on your phone! If you want to show something about them you can just give them the photo as you might not be able to have your miniatures moved in the middle of the event.
Thats all for now! Remember to submit your pieces in the Lazy Paint Productions painting competition! The rules are in the discord! You should join our discord! Bye for now and paint something awesome!
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