Golden Demon is the best miniatures painting competition in the world. It’s a hard-fought contest with the highest standards, and walking away with the coveted Slayer Sword can feel like a truly herculean endeavour. No matter which painter clinches the top spot, however, they all began their painting journey as a novice.
To find out how Warhammer hobbyists of all stripes can get into the competition groove, we sat down with three Golden Demon champions: Albert Moreto Font, Slayer Sword winner in 2006; Richard Gray, Slayer Sword winner in 2014; and Andy Wardle, 1st Place Warhammer 40,000 Squad winner in 2014.
Warhammer Community: When did you first start painting and entering competitions?
Albert Moreto Font: I started painting back in 1997, after my older brother introduced me to Warhammer. In the late 90s through mid-2000s, Games Workshop stores in Spain ran a yearly painting contest which would later become the precursor of Golden Demon in Spain. I entered that for the first time in 2000, and Golden Demon in 2001, winning Youngbloods Gold in both!
Richard Gray: Space Hulk and Heroquest really started my painting journey, I wanted my figures to look like the painted models on the box art! White Dwarf was the catalyst for getting me into competition painting – the issues with the Golden Demon features were my absolute favourite, and I would dream of having my models at that standard.
Andy Wardle: When I was around 10 years old, my grandfather was in the war flying planes, so I started with aircraft kits of stuff he’d fly and eventually discovered Warhammer when looking for other models. After a long hiatus, I returned to painting in 2013, wanting to focus on single models. I always admired Golden Demon, but never had the guts to try, so this time round I wanted to keep improving and finally enter.
WarCom: What advice would you give to new painters?
Albert: Enjoy! It might sound like a hackneyed old saying, but if you enjoy the model, good results are much more likely to occur. Improvement will come naturally if you study and practice, but don’t make winning a competition the ultimate goal. For most of us this is a hobby, after all.
Richard: The best advice I can give to new painters is to not compare your painting to Golden Demon entries! Try and use them as aspirational, but be aware that those models have had maybe hundreds of hours poured into them, not to mention thousands of hours of practice to get to that standard.
Andy: Just pick the models you like the look of. All that matters is you like the figures you paint. Don’t pay attention to what other people are doing, and just think about how you want your models to look. This will create a style of your own eventually, and lead to happier painting.
WarCom: How should painters prepare for their first shot at competition-level painting?
Albert: I think it is all about the mental framework. An advanced understanding of light, colour, volumetry, atmosphere, composition, etc, is essential. Try to tell a story with your models, or make a conversion that makes your piece stand out from the others! At the end of the day, judges will have hundreds of models in front of them – so it is important to catch their eye.
Richard: Just go for it! It’s been a while since I first tried, but I remember it being very daunting. There are sometimes painting competitions at the various events that Games Workshop runs. They’re great for getting a taste of what Golden Demon is like, and you will find that a lot of the people entering are in the same position as you.
Andy: The nicest thing about painting competitions is the community that attends them. Just turn up, enter a model you’re proud of, and try to enjoy the day. The more competitions you join, the more people you will meet, and it just becomes more than a competition. I think with this focus, you’ll naturally get better anyway – just seeing other miniatures and talking to other painters is both motivating and educational.
WarCom: What is the one tip or trick you wish you knew when starting out?
Albert: Firstly, to thin down my paints. It is common knowledge today, but as a child I would paint straight from the pot! And secondly, to use a wet palette. The wet palette prevents the paint from drying quickly and makes working with acrylic paints easier. I used a ceramic tile for way too long.
Richard: I wish I’d known that different paints consistencies are useful for different things and that there is not just one perfect paint consistency! Glazing, texturing, wet blending, dry brushing, etc, all require different types of paint consistency, and there are even variations within each technique!
Andy: When I got the hang of blending, using layering and some glazing to fix mistakes, I felt like I could achieve whatever I wanted with the right amount of time. The most important thing for me is to apply the paint well, to get a good finish. Once you have this you can just focus on creation.
WarCom: Do you have any particular techniques that you enjoy or feel work well for competition models?
Albert: I enjoy a wide array of techniques, so it’s hard to pick just one. However one of my trademark techniques is what I call microglazes. I use them to perfect my transitions, consisting of a controlled stippling-like application of paint with glaze consistency. However I don’t think any particular technique is more suited than others for competitions.
Richard: I really enjoy freehand, non-metallic metal, and the use of light volumes in my highlights. I don’t see them as specifically for competition painting, but they are certainly techniques that you can push to show off with.
Andy: I don’t like to think about focusing on technique, as I don’t really feel I have more than one. I like to create a final vision in my head and just do what it takes to get that look. I just want to apply the paint well, I’m not sure if you can call that a specific technique! I guess I just use layers for everything, as best I can.
WarCom: Where do you find inspiration?
Albert: Mythopœia, swords and sorcery, high fantasy, Nordic mythology and Scandinavian folklore, and other genres in all their forms – art, literature, comics, films, RPGs, card and board games, heavy metal lyrics, etc. Any of these can spark an idea that matures into a specific project. Of course, other miniature painters are also a good source of motivation.
Richard: I find inspiration everywhere! Films, artwork, graphic novels. Even walking down the street and looking at how items reflect light, or how different objects are rusting and weathered.
Andy: My biggest inspiration is 2D art and animation. I love a lot of art with nature and creatures in, this makes me want to recreate them in miniature form. I love the woodland, so any basing with natural materials or creating scenes in the woods is my favourite thing. You can’t beat a mossy rock!
Huge thanks to Albert, Richard, and Andy for letting us pick their brains for morsels of painting mastery. With Golden Demon UK kicking off next week, we want to see your own painting journey in all its glory – share some tasty pictures with the hashtag #paintingwarhammer and tell us all about how you got started with Warhammer. And when you’re ready to get started on your painting journey, you can browse the entire Citadel Paint range right here.