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Once again the French Golden Daemon make the US and UK ones look like an event held at the Android Dungeon and comics store.

http://haekel.free.fr/spip.php?article119

Yep. I don't know where it comes from (though Rackham seems to be emblematic of this) but the French do a fantastic job with characterful, realistic faces and colors--especially skin tones and muting what were once bright colors (c.f. the earlier Sigmarite priest mini). Splendid.

Love the conversions and ideas myself, some excellent pics in there for the Inspiration Folder(s) :S

- Salvage

Banned in Red China.

What amazes me with some of that painting is you cannot tell on a couple of mini's whether or not it is a 28mm or a 54mm model. I do feel however, that scratch built models have no place in a GD competition - not that I am saying they are not awesome works of art, it just isn't a sculpting competition.

With Rackham painting comps they have two categories, unaltered models and converted models. It separates the painting v's sculpting issue.

Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Banned in Red China.

Certainly because of all those banners featuring "Free Tibet" slogans...

Unfortunately, many of the best of the UK's miniature artists are employed by GW, and therefore inelligable for the event, apart from the open category. If people like Perbett, Lathem etc etc could enter the other categories, I'm sure we'd have a better competition.

Having said that, almost all of those pictures are master works, great showing once again.

I agree with Syr. The muted colors and realism is the main difference between US/UK and French GD works.

fullheadofhair wrote:What amazes me with some of that painting is you cannot tell on a couple of mini's whether or not it is a 28mm or a 54mm model. I do feel however, that scratch built models have no place in a GD competition - not that I am saying they are not awesome works of art, it just isn't a sculpting competition.

With Rackham painting comps they have two categories, unaltered models and converted models. It separates the painting v's sculpting issue.

But it doesn't matter anyway since the sculptors also paint just as well as the other painters.

i agree that the scratch-builds should be in a seperate catagory, but that's just 'cause i loathe havin' to develop my sculptin' so i can finally bring home a sword...

the french are always an inspiration...

cheers
jah

I agree with the scratch builds. either that or they need their own "scratch build" category. while I think the sculpting is excellent, it's a painting competition and when the sculpting obviously overturns the painting, the measure of the painter is lost..

I'll have to check it out at home. This monitor BLOWS and all the images look too dark.

I could see a couple things well, though.

The Blood Angels near the bottom... Did anyone else picture the one on the far left screaming "Hiya!"
Ninja Marines FTW.

Also, the Daemonette with the whip... I'd totally hit that!
LOL
(That really was a joke...sorta).


Eric

Banned in Red China.

Also banned at the Orange Middle School.

The bret knight and the defiler...painted....so...wow.

Well, now I know what the French do with all their free time when they're on strike!

When the minis are this good, it's disheartening.

That Daemon Prince looked amazing. And the recently converted Nurgle Terminator looked great.

Golden Daemons (especially French ones) make me shake my head... simply too good.

Greets
Schepp himself

At least they got to be good at something . What is the HT doing there? Reciting a poem?

Wow. Even their youngblood would be serious GD competition in the US. Fantastique!

This is what comes of 2 months of vacation time per year. My guess is that's really what everyone taking cheap shots at our frankish cousins is really jealous of...

My $.02 on the converting tangent: Sculpting and converting are part of the whole shebang. There should be a percentage rule, like the GW parts rule, to keep it relatively close to the orgiginal. Say, at least half the exposed parts must be GW, unaltered. Then convert the rest, as that's what makes all of this interesting. A competition (or even just a category) free of converting would be BOOOOORIIIING.

conversions shouldn't be factored into the painting competition is all I am saying. just like the model shouldn't be the focus, but rather the painting ability.

unfortunately it always devolves into conversions and diorama's becoming the focus .

If that is the intent, then have some conversion and diorama building competitions.

GD is an imagery contest, and has been for years. These guys are world class painters, so they sculpt for impact. US painters have been doing this as well (Chris Borer - Fulgrim?).

When two (or many) paintjobs are flawless, the next marker will be sculpting for an overall image.

And for all the Americans hating on American painters, feel free to show up at GD and show us all how it is done.

engine

Jazz is for Losers wrote:Unfortunately, many of the best of the UK's miniature artists are employed by GW, and therefore inelligable for the event, apart from the open category. If people like Perbett, Lathem etc etc could enter the other categories, I'm sure we'd have a better competition.

Having said that, almost all of those pictures are master works, great showing once again.

Oh, I don't know that they're better per se. I mean, if they were being judged on IPMS standards, then absolutely. UK/US style is a little more comic booky/cartoonish--a little more 'bang-ZOW!', brighter colors/technicolor etc. Most of those artists who (used to) compete in GDs are perfectly capable of doing the IPMS thing (Jen Haley is a perfect example, having won a few slayer...weapons [I think her first was the axe from Chicago GD] and statues, but also competes in more traditional model/miniatures competitions).

The French stuff is fantastic and of a particular 'beautiful-ugly', hyperrealistic aesthetic (the fact that you can't tell what scale the figures are is a testament to that), whereas US/UK is much more 'toy soldier-y'. Different strokes for different folks.

Oooo. I especially like that wizard duel. Nicely composed, light source painted, and excecuted.

And for all the Americans hating on American painters, feel free to show up at GD and show us all how it is done.

So I take it you're one of those guys who generally say "You don't have the right to judge unless you're as good as them." I hope you don't criticize hollywood movies unless you're a director or politicians unless you're one yourself.

stonefox wrote:

And for all the Americans hating on American painters, feel free to show up at GD and show us all how it is done.

So I take it you're one of those guys who generally say "You don't have the right to judge unless you're as good as them." I hope you don't criticize hollywood movies unless you're a director or politicians unless you're one yourself.

No. Those people are professionals. They do what they do for money. The great majority of the GD winning American painters are nothing more than passionate amateurs who happen to be the best that showed up on that day. It isn't like some pro "Team Golden Demon America" exists, and they totally choked in the Golden Demon playoffs. Cut those that at least have the balls to compete some slack. With three GDs, it is hard to get the concentration of painters needed to raise the bar to "French levels". Don't get me wrong, the French are freakin amazing, but they get people form other countires winning there too (lke Joe Hill and Yellow One). Also, one of the top French painters took second to an American in Chicago just last year.

I guess I am saying that if you think the "Americans" suck, and you are an American, maybe you should paint some minis and improve the scene instead of using that time posting on the internet about how pants we are.

engine wrote:

I guess I am saying that if you think the "Americans" suck, and you are an American, maybe you should paint some minis and improve the scene instead of using that time posting on the internet about how pants we are.

Or, said people who are pants could invest a bit more time in looking at natural colors and skin tones and spend a few hours perfecting blending instead of using highlights that are so harsh, thick, to big a leap from color to color bla bla bla amusing comment, insightful joke and snide put down.

I remember watching a painting competition in a US store where the judges philosphy was to stand back 6 to 8 ft to see what mini grabbed him first. Idiot. He always gave it to some garrish piece often poorly composed and missed the almost natural model with 4 or 5 subtley blended colors that flowed into the next painted surface. I had a 10 minute argument with him and even pointed out at least 4 things he totally missed on the mini - and no, it wasn't mine.

fullheadofhair wrote:

engine wrote:

I guess I am saying that if you think the "Americans" suck, and you are an American, maybe you should paint some minis and improve the scene instead of using that time posting on the internet about how pants we are.

Or, said people who are pants could invest a bit more time in looking at natural colors and skin tones and spend a few hours perfecting blending instead of using highlights that are so harsh, thick, to big a leap from color to color bla bla bla amusing comment, insightful joke and snide put down.

But what is thick highlight guy's incentive? If thick highlights wins Gold, then who cares? Anything more than that sees diminishing returns. But if you come along and deny thick highlight guy with your perfect blending, then next year he has to adapt/improve or go home emptyhanded. French GD is so good because the artists that show up know there is a lot of competition. Thick highlight guy doesn't stand a chance. BUt here, the GDs are spread thin. The elimination of Atlanta this year will help.

The US really needs to have one "Varsity GD", and it appears that GD Chicago has been the strongest for the last few years. It is going to take some time, and more dedicated hobbyists to raise the level of competition. And really, those hobbyists could be anyone reading this thread.

engine wrote:
And for all the Americans hating on American painters, feel free to show up at GD and show us all how it is done.

engine

I always thought it would be fun to dip a mini in two colors and enter it in the Atlanta Games Day to see how high it would place.

Dice Monkey wrote:

engine wrote:
And for all the Americans hating on American painters, feel free to show up at GD and show us all how it is done.

engine

I always thought it would be fun to dip a mini in two colors and enter it in the Atlanta Games Day to see how high it would place.

i think you need at least 3 colors, but if it's based you might be good.

Dice Monkey wrote:

engine wrote:
And for all the Americans hating on American painters, feel free to show up at GD and show us all how it is done.

engine

I always thought it would be fun to dip a mini in two colors and enter it in the Atlanta Games Day to see how high it would place.

Make it three colors and you might get third. Second in canada if you can get the dip to stay in the right places.