Git Good (pt1)

Down in the Beautiful South of England, we in the Kings of Herts recently had a painting competition and a lengthy discussion on how it should be judged and how different aspects and criteria would affect different people, models and painting styles.

Obviously with any competition we wanted it to be fair but one thing that got mentioned that stuck with me, was that some guys might put off from entering painting competitions because they think they aren’t good enough. Knowing some high skill painters are entered means there ‘wont be much point’. Plus should the results be actually ranked like a tournament? Would being low on that list put people off further?

When I was younger I achieved my first Black Belt in Aikido. It was 4-5 years of pain and getting slammed into the floor repeatedly and as I trained on an RAF base it was against military police and personnel a lot older. As a wargaming 16 year old who had only done fencing before I was in way over my head but every time I passed a grading I got a little more confident until I reached that pinnacle and got my Black Belt. It gave me that self assurance that I needed and I knew I could achieve things. But I had to get the shit kicked out of me to get it. 

And so it is with painting. You have to practice. And practice. And then practice some more. And you’ll cock up plenty. Time and again you’ll feel like you’re getting metaphorically smashed into the mat and you feel pathetic next to the black belts. But one day you’ll get a new brand of paint brush that changes the way you paint, or someone will recommend you a new ink or a way of highlighting that revolutionises the way you paint and you’ll get better. Then one day you’ll look at your model and think it’s pretty good. And someone else will compliment you. And you build your confidence and try harder because you know you’re getting better and who knows, maybe even get a bronze? 

I’m a fairly good painter, I’ve won 2 Gold Awards at Games Workshops armies on parade, got Best Army at several smaller tournaments and several painting wins or runner ups at tournaments and smaller competitions. The win I’m proudest of however was getting Best Model for my coral giant last year at Clash of Kings. Just before it was announced that I’d won it was mentioned that it was ‘hotly contested’ so although I’d just scraped through, I’d done it by the skin of my teeth! Don’t get me wrong, I deserved the win-I’d put a huge amount of work into it, sculpting, painting and the ideas and composition shone through. Had it not been mine I’d have looked at it and definitely gone wow! BUT I don’t think it was painted as well as it could have been. There were other models there that were easily as good and one or two that were ‘technically’ better than mine and because of that I had a slight feeling that I didn’t deserve it. For the win, I felt it should have been out and out better than the others. It was almost like I’d rolled a stupidly low nerve test at a critical moment in the battle! I knew that I could have painted it better and that I should have painted it better. So next time I’ll try harder. I’ll put in a little more time and effort and hopefully I’ll get another win. 

But I see the pictures Dan Read and Chris Walsh post up of the King of War fanatics page and I see the competition and the level of skill I need to beat and it’s disheartening. Why should I even bother? At this point we’re back to painting rankings. Where do I want to be on that list and at the end of the day, why should it matter to me? For some painting is a chore and needs to be done just so they’re not punished for being ‘that guy’ with a grey plastic army. Other people just enjoy it and enjoy the pleasure of having a nice painted army to game with. Others love the competition of being the best. I think for me it’s a quest to better myself. To have something that I can look at and be truly proud of doing-the best I can craft. Having a trophy or award to say that it is the best that other people think it is best as well…. that just makes it extra special.

So take pride in your painting. And try to make your next model better than this one. Learn new things, new techniques. It just takes time, patience and practice. And you’ll get disheartened, and you’ll cock it up sometimes but slowly and surely you’ll get better. So should we have painting rankings? Honestly….. who cares! Painting is fun! Do it for fun. If you’re not happy with your place in the rankings, try harder and get higher. And as always, practice, practice, practice.