Wyrd Painting Contest: Femme Fatale!

[Frustrated Father]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/southernphuk/banners/FemmeFatale.jpg

With the new year well on its way its time to start up another Wyrd Painting Contest. As with all the Wyrd contests this one is themed as well! Without further preamble, I'm happy to announce the 'Wyrd Painting Contest - Femme Fatale!'
For the seductive, irresistible and ultimately dangerous ladies. The only requirement here is that the ladies look good and are dangerous. Any weapon toting, spell wielding woman that can take your breath away, literally, will do just fine!
The contest will run from January 25th through March 5th and during that time competition entries can be submitted. At the close of the contest, voting will commence for one week where you will be allowed to vote anonymously through the Wyrd forum software as well as leave comments and critique which we have found our previous entrants have greatly enjoyed. After the voting, announcements will be made and prizes sent to the winners, along with the random prizes that we give away with every contest.

The specific rules for the contest can be found on the Wyrd Miniatures website on the forums under 'Wyrd Painting Contest: Rules and Information' (http://wyrd-games.net/showthread.php?t=450)

The categories for the contest are:
ALTERNATIVE: The lovely ladies that just don't seem to fit in to any other categories. This can be gun toting cowgirls, chainsaw wielding cheerleaders or any number of other miniatures that we haven't thought of.

DEADLY DUEL: A diorama with two or more combatants locked in combat or something equally disturbing. Atleast one miniature must be female.

FANTASY: Sword wielding barbarians, harem guards or lovely lasses ready to put a charm on you. If the miniature is pure fantasy, this is her category.

SCI-FI: Gun toting ladies of the deadly future or weapon wielding aliens dancing a song of death or perhaps a steampunk lady of the night. A wide range of miniatures will fit nicely into this category.

SIMPLY SCANDALOUS: Ladies that have for one reason or another forgone clothing and have decided to share their charms with us. Also, with the number of talented painters in the community, ladies who's clothing has been painted sheer so as to see through it will be placed within here. I expect this will be a large category!
We have been quite fortunate with the number of sponsors that have chosen to provide support packages for the contest. Thank you very much for your time and efforts and I encourage everyone to let them know your appreciation! The contest sponsors are, in no particular order:
Wyvern Games, Revelation Miniatures, Hasslefree Miniatures, Assassin Miniatures, Eastern Front Studios, Black Scorpion Miniatures, Corvus Belli (Infinity), Iron Wind Metals, Goodman Games, Reaper Miniatures, M.S.B. Toys, Spyglass Miniatures, Dragonblood Miniatures, Dark Age Games, Wyrd Miniatures AND we've had a generous donation by someone that wishes to stay anonymous who has donated the latest Reaper Dragon.
On top of the generous support packages that are being provided, several of our generous sponsors are sending along additional prize packages for those you entering their product, both for random participants as well as for 'Best of ..' paint jobs. I'll post specifics within the day.

Pass the word and I look forward to another great Wyrd Painting Contest!

[Celtic Lilly]

I was wondering when you were going to do another one! Great theme this time around, and it sort of goes with your hints at the worlds most deadly creature!!

Now that my social life is back in order I'm definitly going to get some paint put down for this.

[Frustrated Father]

And the list keeps growing.

:D

Two new sponsors as of today, Dark Age Games, Privateer Press, Magnificent Egos, Crunch Waffle and Mars Ultor. Thank you very much!

[Drake Farstrider]

I have a couple of minis that I am working on that would work for this contest.

[Frustrated Father]

As it has been asked at a couple of places other than here, I'll go ahead and clarify a couple of things.
1. Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder. No, the female that you choose does not have to be drop dead gorgeous, human or wielding a weapon. A hag standing over her pot or a female half orc petting a worg is just as good as the nude arabian princess. No animals though (badger, llamas, sheep .. what have you) and if you have to use your imagination to think of something as being female, then odds are its not the right type of miniature.

2. For the Deadly Duel, it can be combat, or it can be something as different and entertaining as Mark Craggs (Klute) entry for Total Testosterone. There was some discussion as to whether or not that was a battle of sorts and to me it more than made the cut. That being said though, no seriously sexual acts or anime tentacle scenes (you know what I mean, and if you don't, count yourself lucky). Marks entry for the TT contest is a perfect example of just about as far as you want to push something in that category if it doesn't involve actually battling it out.

3. DON'T talk about your entries, or make suggestions about the models you plan on entering for the contest. I'm not going to comb the internet looking for infractions on this, but seriously, if you enter something, and then someone sends in an e-mail about 'this has been made public' then I'll have no choice but to remove the miniature from competition. It's all supposed to be fun, just hold onto it for a bit longer and you have the chance at free swag and some honest comments and critique during the voting process.
That about covers it. If you do have questions though, feel free to ask them. I'll also post any that come up in conversation elsewhere.

[Jabberwocky]

Now that my social life is back in order I'm definitly going to get some paint put down for this.

Hmm. It is usually when my social life is in disarray that I get most of my painting done... :)

[Celtic Lilly]

!!

Same here usually, but I've been on a please me binge of late after some more upsetting stuff last year and thus I've been going out and having a good time and generally just letting out a bit. I'll get scarce again around summer when its nice, but usually I like to hibernate during the other months and do my crafts.

[Frustrated Father]

I have had several other questions of late. The biggest thing that I can stress is the read the RULES AND INFO (http://wyrd-games.net/showthread.php?t=450) section of the contest. Absolute best way to get the information you need to join the contest.


1. Q. What category would I place Sorcha in and how many times can I enter?

A. As far as I can tell, Fantasy, as that is the PP line unless I'm completely missing something. Now if you somehow manage to convert her, or paint her with sheer armor (heh - that would be almost worth the pain!) then she would go in the Scandalous category. If you have her bashing someones brains out, it would go in the Deadly Duel category.

2. Q. How many times can I enter the contest, or a specific category?
A. As many times as you would like. We generally have a few people that will enter five or six miniatures into the contest, one for each category, or several in the same. You can do this as many times as you want, only that each miniature (unique paint job) can only be entered once. For instance, if you have Sorcha battling someone on a display base, she cannot be entered in both Fantasy as well as Deadly Duel. Of course if you paint up another Sorcha on her own and it is noticably a different paint job, you're free to do so.

3. Q. Can we use display bases?
A. Yup! Some of our contestants go crazy with display bases, but its all good fun and it certainly makes for some interesting and fantastic pieces. Look at some of the past entries to get an idea on how big some of these have gotten (or small for that matter).

4. Q. I don't own any photo editing software and am likely to have trouble getting the pictures the proper size or to even look decent, can you help out, or offer some advice?
A. I and my moderators, within reason, will help anyone out that needs to have pictures resized or some minor editing, but this is done on our free time and to be honest, it can be a chore. The last contest I spent an entire day editing pictures because I said 'sure no problem'. This time around I can make no promises. That being said, there is a FREE photo editing software that is an alternative to Photoshop (its expensive) called GIMP. I personally have not used it, but I'm told it is quite good and several hobbiests that I know utilize it. You can find it at www.gimp.org (http://www.gimp.org/).

5. Q. Can I send you pictures to edit for me.
A. To be completely honest, yes, but at the same time, I would rather you didn't. I will happily help out as I am able, but with the last contest it took a LOT of my spare time to edit photographs and it was complained upon by more than a few that the contest is just as much about photography as it is painting and that I was giving people an extra 'boost'. I'll be happy to line up multiple shots, etc, but doing cutouts and background fades is likely going to get a 'sorry, I don't have the time' as it really does take a good bit of work, especially when you have thirty or more miniatures which aren't yours.

6. Q. Should I submit multiple pictures of different views?
A. Yes, but not in the way that some of you are thinking. I will not take five seperate pictures of the same miniature from different angles and allow it into the contest as it is. Use photo editing software to combine all the angles into one picture, under 250k in size (that's plenty big) and no larger than 800 pixels across. I don't care how long the photo is, just it can't be any wider than 800 pixels. That should allow for more than enough room to show off the miniature properly. Look at the previous contest for ideas if need be.

Hope that helps with any questions, feel free to ask publically or privately should you need any other clarification.

[Frustrated Father]

Well, it has been early October since I've picked up any of my modeling tools or paints and I decided to have a go at it today. Picked out four miniatures - odds are I'll only get one finished, possibly two, but I'm having fun going through them again and getting the feel for things, the wife has been a big help in helping me do the layouts of them.

Ah ... the jitters over painting again! Yay, can't wait to lay paint on them come tomorrow. Just doing cleaning, basing and priming tonight.

[Pr0fane]

Whoa. What a coincidence. Similar story here. It's been helluva lot longer than 4 months forme, more like 2 years, I think. But this morning I decided to hell with R/L concerns and spent the whole day watching all three LoTR movies back to back whilst prepping some minis. I managed to prep/assemble/prime 4 Dragyri Guardslaves, 1 Brood MJB, 1 Brood Helexa, 2 Brood Hound (proxies) and repaired my Brood Murtros. Happy-happy-joy-joy!

[LeadAsbestos]

So what are you using as Brood Hound proxies? I use my Wargs from 1999...

I've been doing only easy, fun paintjobs, right now a Chinese Street gang from the China Town range, 1 mini every night, and the ease of the work, and the quick build of the force, has been a real pleasure.

I've got these beautiful Greeks from Bronze Age that I'm just dreading to paint because they're so nice! :vb_tongue

[Celtic Lilly]

I started mine last night! First coat of paint on.

[Pr0fane]

So what are you using as Brood Hound proxies? I use my Wargs from 1999...

I'm using these. (http://catalog.chaosium.com/images/2933.jpg) <crummy pic, sorry>

Gotta pic of these wargs? I dinna remember them.

[LeadAsbestos]

They're both here:
http://displacedminiatures.com/LeadAsbestos/images.aspx?gallery_id=354&from=1999%20Demonics

I like 'em.

[Pr0fane]

Yeah, they look pretty good too. Hmm...may have to see if I can find some of those to fill out my Hound proxy pack.

Lead; I was checking out your gallery. I like how you've got the Desade Vixen in a thong. Very nice.

[gi6ers]

Started my first 2 entries yesterday, first one is 90% complete. I'm awaiting futher lead deliveries and expect to have 5 entries (going for quantity over quality again :bird: )

[Malebolgia]

Okay, my first entry is primed and I have built her custom base...I'll start with her tonight...and I am looking forward to it. I am doing some techniques that are relatively new to me and I hope the results will be cool :)

Good luck to everybody!

[Frustrated Father]

Ten days with two weekends left until the end of the Wyrd Painting Contest: Femme Fatale. Just a heads up, and best of luck to all of those entering!

[Art-de-Vivre]

Hi Nathan,

how is the participation so far ?
I'm planning on submitting my pix this weekend (sunday) since I'll be on holidays all of next week with my kids (Bali here I come !!)
I even took a day off tomorrow for the last finishing touches and photography..
I'm happy with one or two pieces but decided to reject one or two as well cause I'm not satisfied..

Cheers !

[Frustrated Father]

95% of the entries come in the last three days of the contest, always have and of course the whole time I usually chew nails going 'okay, anyone entering???'. Some nice ones sitting in the gallery now, but for the most part it'll fill up (hopefully, one can never be certain) at the end of the contest.

[Ritual]

I've been a good boy and finished and submitted one entry with plenty of time left until deadline! :D

[supervike]

I should probably start something soon...

[LeadAsbestos]

I've got one in! Now if I can only stop painting banditos long enough to get in another...

[tzor]

Well I'm starting to get going on a spring Reaper exchange. I just purchased a few reapers to consder for the exchange and ... wait one of them is a girl ... :thumb:

:creep: To the paint cave!

[Celtic Lilly]

To the paint cave! I have to remember that one Tzorman.

I had one mostly finished but I won't be entering it. I have another though that I think I can finish and is smaller.

[Jubilee]

I've got two entries finished for sure. Maybe a third.. Can't decide if I want to enter it, or put it up for auction on sunday. Meh!

/ali

[Frustrated Father]

Why enter it of course.

:vb_tongue

[Celtic Lilly]

Enter it. Win a category. Sell it on Ebay and become famous for winning this contest.

It could happen!

:tea: