Bloodbeard:
So I’ve decided to make a longer Golden Hat post after reading Herby and Torns comments.
Yar! Not again haven’t won! And this time I thought I win with this excellent modell. Damn!
And I tell you something. Not all entries were great and nice and beautiful like so many of you guys always declare. Again the skill level wasn’t that high.
I’m not just moaning here it is the truth.
Herby
I sure would have liked a bronze medal as well. 2 votes from it this time and 1 vote back in Golden Hat XX. But I’ll get them eventually.
And you are right about the truth. Not all entries show a super high skill level of painting. My own included - my painting is pretty average and I only have a few tricks.
But writing “great work everyone” does not necessarily refer to the skill level of peoples painting or conversion work. Anyone entering the competion has put work into their entries - possibly the best the could in the given situation. I’ve worked as hard as I could, sometimes only getting 5-10 brush strokes down a day.
It’s great that people take time to make an entry and send it in. No fun in only having 4 entries to look at, even if they were all Golden Demon standard. So I repeat my “great work everyone” statement. And it’s not just a “goodie goodie kindergarten participation medal” statement - I mean it.
Reasons and thought behind my voting
I always want to get better at what I do. Torn comment on the focus on my pictures is a great point. Looking at them again, I can see that (even though I tried to do it equally) the overseer is in focus. So here’s what I thought when looking a the entries - and I looked and thought a lot.
Abecedar: The insane amount of painting work you have done in a short time is insane. I guessed your entry, because the first post in your blog shows all that unpainted metal. And you got that giant recently.
The best thing about your entry was the troll pulling the juggernaught. Being pulled by a slaver. That’s a great little conversion! Had all attention been on that, you would have had my vote. But focus is lost, because there’s too much for 4 pictures. And it seems some more work could have gone into details - like the shields and spikes on the juggernaught.
But obviously the shock and awe of such a huge entry has made an impact. Also did on me at first.
Kamphre: Funny details, good for a Orcs and Goblins army. Good painting on the monster, especially on the mouth. I just don’t see any CD reference there and don’t like monster like that in a CD army. Desn’t fit my idea of CDs.
TheHoodedMan: Great giant. And it’s a good idea to have him pull a base coated model - because focus is not on the machine. But you have three shots from the front and I couldn’t make out his pose. I needed a shot of his back - because I couldn’t see what you had done with his arm. And that’s a real shame, your photos should show of all your work.
Zanko: I guessed your entry too! Because that cabinet shows in many of your pictures. I don’t know if it’s you painting in general, just your pictures or a combination. But all your miniatures seem very light. Guess it’s the camera (because I made the same comment in the last GH). I would darken up the pictures with some very simple photo magic. The dark skin looks cool and it’s a great contrast to the light fur. But the armor is also light and the cannon-clean-thing looks light brown too. I think there should be only one very light contrast.
Torn: The idea for this ogre is pretty good. And thumbs up for massive green stuff work. The arm plates and shoulder pad looks good. But the helmet I find to be way too big (and it’s the focal point on the miniature). Is the ogres head underneath? It’s of cause a matter of taste. But I would haave liked that helmet to be smaller, perhaps dont without a head on the inside. The green and red colour look good together.
MadHatter: Beautiful entry. Got one of my votes! I like the simplicity of it. the models, colours and techniques used are simple. But they work, they look clean. The arrangement of the miniatures is good too. But it was really the “fluff and story” that gave you a vote from me. This is exactly what our setting tells us about hobgoblins. A nicely dressed hobgoblin overseer, cracking a whip over some other green skins. Perfect!
Babis: You got a vote from me as well. Because that ogre is simply perfect. It’s a very small conversion, put that model is one of my favourites. All those old chaos ogres are. And the mustache completely change the feel of him. Great painting and good focus. Too bad about the last photo.
Herby: You got a vote. Your keep focus on your slaves despite the big warmachine. A lot of life goiing one with the miniatures there and you have some clever details. The chains, the use of the spear arms to act as chains and handles for pulling the cart. It’s both a model for gaming and a diorama. I like the nice dark colour and the detailing on the goblin clothing - not many people would do clothing details like that. Must remember it.
Fuggit Khan: I guessed your as well. Of cause. The minute I saw it, I thought “That gonna win. Again. I get’s a vote from everybody from shock, awe and over the topness.” Then I read the theme/rules for the competion and decided not to give you a vote. I simply can’t turn focus on the slaves with that giant massive rocket. And if I vote purely on slaves, they are too simple goblins for me. And there’s no focus shot on the overseer.
Great model no doubt, goblins should be crushed under the weight of that thing. I would like to suggest you do a bit more work on the golden parts. I find they are too clean, flat. Need either some rivet details or some highlighting washing. Without making them dirty, but the sense of “brand new missile” should remain. The best thing about the model is the large red, completely perfect rune of death. Best thing - despite the goblin hiding in the dumbest possible place.
Sticklander: Insanely wicked model! That must look amazing on a table. I instantly imangine ten of these mammuths pulling all kinds of Dawi Zharr artillery through snowy mountain passes - while legions of armoured dawi zharr march around them. It tells a story. But there’s no focus on the slaves. It’s a monster and a cannon. A single picture of the whole thing would have been nice. and then three close ups of the ogres riding, the ogre walking and the overseer. To show off your skill level of painting. Surely you would have had a vote by me then.
There you have it
Some advice, thought, ideas and what went through my head while looking at all the cool stuff that has been send in. Hope some off you can use some of it. I would love to win one day, so please share any advice you might have for me in my blog.
1st Place - Golden Hat Winner: Entry #10 - Fuggit Khan
2nd Place - Silver Hat Winner: Entry #7 - BABIS
3rd Place - Bronze Hat Winner: Entry #1 - Abecedar
