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Hey guys, 90% of this hobby for me is painting and modeling as opposed to playing. (One of the reasons I love this hobby so much is that there are so many aspects). I would really like to get into GW competitions, anyone have any ideas how? I'm in the US so obviously as opposed to the UK we don't have as many GW sponsored events and such

The only GW event in the US is Game's Day, but the support for the event is in a decline in most places. Last year, the US Game's Day was held in Tennessee (where their US headquarters is located) and from everything I read, it was much more low key than previous years. Your best bet is to go to other cons and enter painting competitions there. One thing to keep an eye out for is any kind of Crystal Brush qualifier. AdeptiCon, which is held in Chicago, just finished up a week or so ago and is probably the most popular gaming cons in the US and is also where the Crystal Brush finals are held. Lots of other cons that run painting competitions offer Crystal Brush qualifiers, such as the Las Vegas Open and TempleCon.

You location says you live in Virginia, so you are also in luck because Virginia hosts the NOVA Open in Arlington and it has been growing pretty quickly. It's held at the end of August and they run a painting competition called the Capital Palette.

You can also check any local shops, but GW and independent, to see if they are running any competitions. If not, talk to the owner(s) and see if they can start one up. It's usually a pretty good way to get your feet wet.

Yep, while there are probably still some who are after their Golden Demon or whatever...the days of GW caring have long since past. I would not be surprised if GD US were canceled entirely as well in the near future.

Almost every convention will have a competition though - that includes wargaming focused as well as those with a broader range of interests like GenCon and Origins.

Wamp is a pretty good place to keep up with competitions and they track a lot of the online ones too.

If you enjoy painting and modeling - consider also other painting and modeling stuff. IPMS has shows and contests and depending on where you are at in Virginia - Wonderfest may be just a short drive away (over in Louisville). Both offer different areas beyond GWs take on things.

Larger local stores hold competitions as well.

when I still lived in milwaukee I went to quite a few local conventions and they held painting comps.

Thanks guys! It depresses me to know that there isn't that much considering how much of this hobby is painting/modeling. I get tired of slapping down my army on a board and my opponents army is still grey plastic... Sort of takes away the glimmer of it all

shauni55 wrote:
It depresses me to know that there isn't that much considering how much of this hobby is painting/modeling.

It might just be me...but, what part of the previous posts says that there isn't that much. GW has pretty well given up on it, but there are more competitions now than ever before. From online only, to one of dozens of conventions, to local stores holding periodic contests - you have many different chances to test your painting skill against others.

GW is not the be all, end all of anything when it comes to painting, modeling and gaming in general.