JUNE - JULY 2026
5th Anniversary Painting Challenge
Here we are again, celebrating our fifth year of existence with a Painting Challenge.
Let's explore a gallery with all the entries and then the winners!
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The Judge
Our judge for this challenge is SleepySlang. In his own words:
I got into miniature painting during the COVID pandemic after leaving my job at a kindergarten. I guess I just swapped finger painting for painting tiny toy soldiers instead. What started as a hobby somehow turned into my full-time job. These days I run a 3D printing store, paint miniatures on commission, and have been a long-term collaborator with Flesh of Gods. I also run a Patreon where I share painting guides, tutorials, and the techniques I've picked up along the way.
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Evaluation Criteria
Artistic Technique
Execution of painting techniques, including texture, shading, skin and advanced methods like Non-Metallic Metal (NMM) and Object Source Lighting (OSL).
Visual Representation
The use of color harmony, contrast, and material representation to create a visually appealing miniature with depth and dimension.
Presentation Quality
Last but not least, the quality of the photographs, effectively showcasing the miniature's details and aiding in the overall evaluation.
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Contest Gallery
Organized alphabetically according to the artists' names
Runner-ups
Before we get to the winners, we wanted to highlight the exceptional work on these pieces that came very close to securing a top spot in our latest miniature painting competition!
In order: Griffin Cordell, Hunter Kearney, Iker Lizeaga, Mike Schmidtman, Paul Blachford
Friendly reminder
SleepySlang is available on his Instagram account for anyone who wants specific feedback for their entry. Just reach up to him and ask 🙌
Sleepy's review:
Clean NMM Execution
The paint job is clean and carefully controlled, with particularly strong NMM across the armor. The metallic effect on the weapon head is especially successful.
Atmospheric Color Scheme
The combination of purple, green, and bone tones creates a distinctive and appealing atmosphere. The clear presentation also makes the miniature’s details easy to appreciate.
General Improvement
The green OSL is effective in some areas but becomes too heavy in others, reducing definition. Using it more selectively—and slightly toning down the bright red cloth—would help keep the viewer’s attention on the face.
Sleepy's review:
Outstanding Skin Rendering
The skin is painted exceptionally well, with smooth transitions and convincing volumes. Its cold, fleshy, and wrinkled appearance gives the creature a strong sense of texture and character.
Strong Details and Atmosphere
The cool palette suits the miniature perfectly, while details such as the face, hands, and scar add personality. The clear photography also allows these smaller elements to be fully appreciated.
General Improvement
The wings feel slightly too saturated compared with the rest of the miniature, pulling attention away from the face. Bringing them closer to the colder, more muted body tones would create a more cohesive composition.
Sleepy's review:
Excellent NMM Armor
The textures in this piece were handled exceptionally well, with tonal variation adding depth to almost all areas.
Cohesive Color Palette
The warm red-browns, cool steel tones, and green accents complement one another beautifully. Colored recess shading adds depth and gives the entire piece a strong atmosphere.
General Improvement
The flame and its green reflections do not feel quite as polished as the armor. Refining the flame transitions and using more natural, controlled OSL would bring the effect up to the standard of the rest of the miniature.
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To our amazing subscribers, artists and fans: THANK YOU!
You folks are the heart and soul of our community. Thanks for your support, passion, talent and overall awesomeness. We wouldn't be here without you. Here's to many more epic adventures and beautifully painted miniatures together!
As for the winners, we'll be in touch to talk about your prize! 🥇
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