Incoming Golden Demon 2014 in Warhammer Fest

It's time to talk about one of the miniature painting events coming in the last part of the year.

I certainly didn't see it coming. Games Workshop, after a handful of years boicotting its premier painting competition, cancelling events all around the world, and killing their flagship event (Games Day), announced a new type of event. Warhammer Fest. A weekender, only in UK, and hosting their most famous painting party, the legendary Golden Demon. The only one in 2014, and it seems we have to be thankful because for quite some time it seemed like this one wasn't even going to happen.

So what should we expect from this? Well... I don't know, really. Warhammer Fest is brand new, unknown and quite mysterious. Seems like a Games Day divided in two days. But if the latest Games Days were so boring for just a single day, could they sustain this model for a whole weekend? I'm really curious to see what else they will bring into the equation. If it's just more and more shop space...

But the part that interests us the most is Golden Demon, of course. Being it the only one this year, seems to me like it will attract quite a good representation from many European countries. Painters haven't been so disconnected from the mother Workshop as they are nowadays, but there is still some Old School love and respect in some of our hearts, and I'm sure many will still be loyal to the call.

Despite the changes and novelties, seems like this year's Golden Demon will be very classic. Taking a look at the categories, I see nothing out of the ordinary this time:

• Warhammer 40,000 Single Miniature
• Warhammer 40,000 Squad
• Warhammer 40,000 Vehicle
• Warhammer 40,000 Large Model
• Warhammer Fantasy Single Miniature
• Warhammer Fantasy Regiment
• Warhammer Fantasy Large Model
• Duel
• Diorama
• The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit
• Youngbloods
• The Open Competition

More details on the categories and rules, here.

Being as I am a huge fan of Golden Demon, I will be there. As you know I haven't had a lot of time to dedicate to paint lately, so I'm a bit out of shape, and without big prospects for the competition. But I'm sure I will be able to bring something. The Ellyrian Reavers are quite ready, and I have a squad of Ultramarine Terminators on commission that would be good to have finished by then. Will I have time for something else? I doubt it, but who knows. I'm starting to feel the GD sting again...

And while this arrives, I have nearly completely prepared the last interview to a Slayersword winner in 2013. We will see it very soon! Next year there won't be that many Slayersword interviews in the blog... ;)

And once everything is settled back... let's hear the call... of... Monte San Savino... ;)

Do Not Miss: August 2014

I've been out for most of the month of August, but that doesn't mean I haven't been checking the painting network when I had the chance! Check out the Do Not Miss for August 2014:

• Demons in Venice by River: Interesting conversions and painting on these horrors of Tzeentch.


• Tutorial on Postapocalyptic Toad King: Roman converts and paints this wonderful sculpture by Allan Carrasco.


• Painting a meat cape in Fantasygames: The polish site explains how to paint a very interesting pattern of "meaty" results.


• Bismuth Coal Miner: I love the paint and the sculpt on this miner. Reminds me a lot of the old Rackham dwarf beauties!


• Dwarf Lord by Darren Latham: Using his heavy 'eavy Metal painting style, Darrem Latham excels on this Forgeworld dwarf.


• Hannibal in 75mm, Eurekaminiature: Zwo paints this Pegaso miniature and explains his thoughts and work throughout the process.


• Goblin captain by Flameon: It's wonderful what you can do in such a small and insignificant miniature when you spend some time on it.


• Palladins: Kirill is working on these grey knights, and judging by the look on them so far, I just can't wait to see them finished. This guy is not of this planet. What a taste for colour!!!


• Video tutorial on airbrush cleaning: Another tutorial in Eurekaminiature, this time about cleaning your airbrush.


• Robots: Diorama built for the Massive Voodoo contest Forged Hope. I found it very imaginative!


• Tutorial on how to paint with 5 colours and 2 hours: Roman shows again his great skills on speed painting which do not necessarily have to mean bad results.


• Infinity warband part 1: Zwo is starting an infinity warband, and it's turning out pretty nice.


• Picnic time by Piqui&Iguazzu: I love their idea for the Toad by Carrasco. I would have rather called it "Snack time"!

The wonderful joy of moving

It's been already two years since I last moved. It seems like it was yesterday, but quite some time has passed, and now it's time to move again!

But I don't remember having so much trouble last time... what do I do with so many minis out of their boxes?

Seriously I had all this stuff in cabinets? Wait to see what's awaiting inside all those boxes...

Damn... moving is a nightmare for modellers. How do you guys deal with it?

Stay tuned because in this new place where we will be living, not only will I still be roomate to Adrián Prado (fantasy and miniature concept artist), but now also to Borja García (Fenix, painter from The Figure Corner). Fantasy miniature art grows even stronger in Madrid!

Adrián Prado, the loyal one

Borja García, the new one

Can't wait for those painting gatherings! Did I say gatherings...? How about everyday life! :D

WIP: Ellyrian Reavers Part 7

Previously on... WIP: Ellyrian Reavers

Moving on to the higher parts of the minis, here we have the blue parts around the torso and face. They will be painted in the same way as all the turquoise-blue parts of the elves.

I am going to try a different way of blending, just for fun. First I mark the colour areas very roughly (Space Wolves Grey on top, Dark Sea Blue on the bottom).

In between the areas, I introduce middle tones (basically 50%-50% mixes of Space Wolves and Turquoise for the upper transition and 50%-50% mixes of Dark Sea Blue and Turquioise for the lower transition). Then I glaze over to blend it.

The result stands out when you outline properly. Heavy definition with Dark Sea Blue mixed with blue and green inks.

The stripes that come from the helmet will also follow the colour scheme. I will go from dark to light, so I start over a coat of Dark Sea Blue.

The upper triangles will be white.

The lower ones will be turquoise.

Outlining according to zenithal lighting will do the trick.

I will use the turquoise and blue colours on my palette to paint the feathers on the helmets. Again, a basecoat of Dark Sea Blue.

I will place the light on the middle of the feathers, so my brushstroke will go from the outside to the inside, leaving the final drop of paint where I want the lightspot to be. With this tecnique, I apply careful layers of Turquoise to progressively light them up. The trick here is to control the brushstroke properly and the thickness of the layer. Watch and control the dillution of paint (with water) and the quantity of the mix on the brush.

If you do it correctly, it should work with one single brushstroke. It's cleaner and faster. If the layer is too transparent, then wait for it to dry and then go over it again with the same colour, like I do in this case.

Final highlights with Space Wolves Grey, again, with single brushstrokes, very important to ensure a clean and smooth blending.

Something really similar will be done on the horsetails. This is how it looks before any painting on top (just the priming work still untouched).

And this is how it looks once finished.

There's very little paint work left! Stay tuned!