Win Painting Awards Even if You're a Noob?

Benjamin Kantor shipped me his list of tips for anyone to win a crystal brush award and I stole that crap and made a video out of it (he gave me permission put your pitch forks down).
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Benjamin Kantor
Facebook: / metal.af.miniatures
Blog: www.metal-af.com/
Sam Lenz
Facebook: / samlenzartwork
Twitch: / samsonarts
Blog: samsonminis.blogspot.com/
Instagram: / samsonosmas
Andy Wardle
Facebook: / andywardleartwork
Instagram: / andywardle_artwork
Rafael Garcia Marin
Blog: volomir.com/en/news/
Facebook: / volomir
Instagram: / volomir_com
To see a gallery of all the entrants, go to meatgrinder.miniac.co

[@Miniac]

If you'd like more specific feedback on your piece, feel free to message me on facebook! EDIT: On watching his video a 2nd time, I've noticed that maybe my feedback seemed terse or callous. I was just trying to get through all ~60 entrants in an efficient way. You should all be proud of your work, and I appreciate you for entering in the competition. I look forward to your stuff in future competitions!

[@JorenMathews]

I noticed many of the pieces had parts that stood out as pretty good that you would probably bring up as positives if you were to do a general review of them. Perhaps a follow up video calling out the good aspects in just as rapid-fire a fashion? For example it seems a shame to look at Scott Palmer's entry and not call out how cool that flowery cloak is. Great color combination and great freehand.

[@JorenMathews]

Lukas Jenis' entry also has a fantastic face and red cloak which are really let down by the aspects you criticized.

[@skullocrusher8717]

I knew I forgot to enter something! just kept forgetting to do it! Damn, when the next one?!

[@kevinalford]

In the future I'd like some feedback from you, but I'm not ready for that yet. I did, however, want to say that this is my favorite painting channel on KZbin. So! Thank you very much.

[@AnnyMouseyMouse]

I liked the no nonsense approach you gave. Your attitude didn't come across as terse to me, just a judge being clinical and matter of fact.

[@Lubuscus]

Me walking into a room with Miniac. Mini: Cleanliness. Me: I...I just changed this shirt? Mini: Basing. Me: I mean, this is where I live. Mini: Photography. Me: Fair...

[@2Infinit2]

lol this is a good comment

[@Xune2000]

That second place diorama is amazing! The contrast between the daylight side and the lamp light side are fantastic, definitely the winner for me.

[@soulcatcher521]

I agree, that piece was fantastic

[@MrPcharrison]

Same, for sure should of taken first in my opinion. All well done though.

[@MrTourette666]

I don't get it why 2nd place isn't 1...???

[@GrahamSlam]

I agree. Although that DKOK model blew me away as well. I think i would have had it second and the 1st place model as third.

[@PaperLungs1]

@@GrahamSlam agreed. I really didn't find the 1st place model all that inspiring? Like that do that even do all that much with the base in comparison to what 2nd and 3rd were. Real head scratcher.

[@OriginalDecurse]

agreed =[

[@Dar2Jee]

number 2 looked like so much more work than number 1 ... i dont get it either the first place looked a little boring scince its just a themeless bike with a girl... the base was like ... super empty

[@Z0mbie432]

agreed, I'd of put 2nd or 3rd in 1st place and 1st in 3rd

[@llerco]

i really hope there's a 2nd edition of this meat grinder, i'd love to participate in the next one!

[@dumbcow1]

same. I want a shot at it, not sure I can paint at this level...but what the hell!

[@meraduddcethin2812]

As wonderful as the winners are (and all of the finalists are worthy of being called a winner), the feedback you gave in the second half of the video is exceptionally helpful for those of us who are looking to up our game. Thank you for the great vid and congrats to the finalists.

[@Voknerech10Z]

Meradudd Cethin Sadly some of the feedback just straight useless.

[@trevorscroft]

As a participant, it was a great learning experience, thanks for taking the time to comment on all the submissions!

[@Miniac]

Thank you for participating!

[@KlukvaMiniatures]

Thank YOU, Miniac, that you made such competition for amateur painters. You can always count on my support!

[@x31omega]

Great feed back. To take the time to offer it was awesome. I learned quit a bit just from the feed back you gave to others.

[@scooby45247]

WIFE: what do you think of my new shoes? MINIAC: basing. also needs more contrast..

[@pianomanwithapianoplan504]

Needs to be cleaner

[@KujoPainting]

It's a step up from a dirty winecork. ;-)

[@Miniac]

Hahahaha

[@lennonpierce1607]

2 of my favorite channels... what is sorastro gonna comment here too!?

[@666lupine666]

haha, I thought that was you, Kujo!

[@KujoPainting]

*group hug

[@jpf338]

it was really a miniature from kujo?

[@bitzbox]

Really enjoyed watching you take the time to go through everyone's entries. I'm disappointed I couldn't find the time to enter myself but if you host another competition in the future I'll be sure to enter

[@justindangersmith]

I found your critiques of the models at the end IMMENSELY helpful! Thanks for the video

[@Voknerech10Z]

Justin Smith He's just saying something like "this is shit" or "basing", just one word. How is that helpful?

[@MarketResearchReading114]

Your comments on the following pieces that weren't perfect was very helpful and very varied while still rooted in an understandable foundation of language both things I found very interesting and helpful.

[@SavicPanylyk]

Scott this is great. I'd love to see you do more rapid fire critiques in the future!! Keep up the great work dude.

[@jedrzejwilinski8148]

Perfect video motivator to paint some stuff during the weekend. Congrats to the winners and all others who participated - you guys rock! I also liked the charging flag dude in the trenches, great mood on that piece. The photo feels blurry though.

[@cyagen9782]

Great how you went and gave feedback for everyone. They were some courageous entries and they deserve to get feedback.

[@SparksNZeros]

I found the critique section of this video significantly more helpful, the 'tips' at the start condensed to just 'git gud scrub' and don't teach anyone anything, or certainly don't teach me anything I've not heard before and not benefited from.

[@Miniac]

I think the most foundational thing at the heart of Ben's list is this: everyone knows when there's a problem with their piece if it's a blending issue, a cleanliness issue, something is a bit boring, etc. But what separates the guys who win from those who don't are the people that are willing to take as much time as they conceivably can to fix every single issue. That takes an enormous amount of time, but it's something that everyone should keep in mind when competing.

[@timfries7236]

Seeing you giving feedback on every piece really is amazing! I didn't enter this one but I will be sure to enter the next just for the honest feedback. I know I'm falling into ruts of what works and works quickly. I need to try something outside of my comfort.

[@TheMiniJunkie]

Great video as always. Now I’m more self-conscious about basing than ever!

[@falciferlmf148]

An icy shudder runs down my spine as I flash back to architecture studio crits... Hail and Kill!

[@Soldier4USA2005]

This video was really cool and extremely helpful, as I'm getting back into miniature painting after many years. I'm mostly doing terrain and such for a live stream D&D show, but I will be painting minis soon. Assuming a hoped for income change occurs. If I had the money, I totally would have entered this contest. I look forward to seeing more of these in the future!!!

[@54jb3r7]

I think the orc pirate is maybe an example where cleanliness doesn't have to be a goal. Certain style and technique choices can provide appeal without having cleanliness. Take oil painting as an example with Van Gogh, Monet and impasto technique. Anyway, really impressed with the quality and number of submissions. Just great.

[@spacehamsterZH]

I had kind of mixed feelings about this channel until I saw this video. The fact that you took the time to do this and actually managed to give some pretty useful feedback despite making it so quick is just really, really cool. Three thumbs up from me.

[@Domgaudet]

I love you videos. This one was especially helpful seeing and hearing the feedbacks on many different models and skill levels. Oh man I sure need to get better

[@SOHellKite]

Fantastic video. And seeing all the painters it’s very inspiring, good work to everyone 👍

[@soulcatcher521]

By the end of the video I found myself pausing before you gave your feedback to see if I could predict the feedback. Very helpful.

[@Drae-gk6dl]

You've earned yourself a subscriber. This video made me decide to enter a local painting competition happening next year. I've been painting for only about 4 months now, but I'm gonna go all out and make a daemon prince seated on a scratch-built skull throne. Thanks for the tips and the motivation to (fingers crossed!) see this project through.

[@VengerSatanis]

Funny cardinal rules. Loved the entries. Good job, everyone!

[@AttilaBoricza]

I hope we will see more like this. Thank you.

[@KouratDrhuii]

From the boy with the tragedie, Thank you for your feedback. Knowing that you love it make me really happy ! ^^ Thank you, also, for this awesome painting competition. It was really fun and really instructive.

[@stevenleonard6665]

Love the channel. Would love to see more painting competitions on a regular basis from it, even if it's Facebook page only. I've recently started entering competitions purely to receive feedback from professionals.

[@Monliego]

#2 is better than #1, imo :)

[@jonathancampbell7798]

Same. They're all fantastic and well beyond many painters' skill level. But the contrast is crazy in number 2 and the lighting is fantastic. Number 1 is nice, but the bike seems like its something even I could paint (which I know I couldn't, but you can see the highlighting lines)

[@jonathancampbell7798]

Same. They're all fantastic and well beyond many painters' skill level. But the contrast is crazy in number 2 and the lighting is fantastic. Number 1 is nice, but the bike seems like its something even I could paint (which I know I couldn't, but you can see the highlighting lines)

[@LueBangs]

That is awesome you did that for everyone!

[@James-lh4ht]

Best Video I have seen in a while - cheers for the notes

[@SKYYDenni]

i look at those miniatures and i start to cry because my painting skills look like i've just used my feet to paint.

[@karlsansom9781]

Just a big thank you for the feedback. Clear fair points. Next time will be basing gung-ho crazy. It's really great that you went through all the entries. I look forward to 400+ critiques after the next competition.

[@IJJusion]

Sad I didn't enter! so awesome of you to give feedback on all the submissions!

[@enderspark4289]

I really like your videos and your content their awesome and most importantly your personality thanks for the tips!

[@jlruss9777]

Great video overall! I have been following Sam Lenz's work for a while, his miniatures were the first i saw to make me go "Holy SHIT that is badass! MUST DO THAT!" That being said I'm not sure how the judges came to their conclusion (i also think that of the 3 second place should have been first) but definitely submit to their professional judgement. The best part of this video was also the toughest to watch. Even though I didn't enter this competition I saw in your critiques of the entries many things where i thought "Nothing wrong with that", and you would then proceeded to explain what exactly was wrong with it and why. It effectively highlighted my blind spots and misconceptions. So thanks for the gut check, seriously. We never get better if can't recognize and receive constructive criticism. Keep up the good work can't wait for the next one!

[@jameslainchbury6746]

sick as Hirax T Scott! serious old school props dude

[@Megahertznetworks]

I have to say that all of you did a great job!

[@13Robzilla]

Loved this video, thank you! I think it would be great if you just did the critique portion on a rotating basis. Every other week would be awesome but whatever you could do would be just great. I feel like that portion of the video (the critique) is unique and hands down more helpful for mid-range and higher painters than another video about technique nuance.

[@kindlyathena416]

This video is amazing! Thank you so much! :D

[@MartinWyatt]

Loved this and enjoyed seeing all the entrants and your thoughts on each one. Really wanted to enter but was just recovering from an illness at the time. Do you think you will do another?

[@Miniac]

Yeah I'll probably do another!

[@nebulon82]

That was a brutal watch.

[@83cable]

Your presentation of his tips was fucking hilarious 🤣. Much coffee was spat...

[@igoruberwald]

Shows Grandma the model Grandma: We fought in WW2, wtf are you on about?!

[@stephenfarey8745]

Love the quick fire explanations in this video explaining what you mean before you show the miniatures..... would be cool if you did an entire video like that explaining the painters lingo! All the terms and methods etc like layering, feathering, nmm, osl.... think it would be cool to have a video like that to explain all of the terms we hear regularly in painting tutorials. Uncool for the seasoned painter who knows it all but a good entry level video for sure :) Keep up the good work mate

[@Miniac]

I have lots of technique videos that go into a deep dive about that specific technique. Check them out!

[@TheCimbrianBull]

I'll be completely honest with you, Scott. I only clicked because Moose was in the thumbnail! 🐈Oh, BTW did you actually get around to mowing the lawn?! Seriously, though. It was inspirational and educational to watch the feedback you gave.

[@christian_daigle]

I can't paint for shit, but this was entertaining.

[@KostaaNoNice]

I was just thinking, hmmm when is Scott going to upload. And now here we are :)

[@Althos66]

I think the same thing, except its about masking tape and its every day I wait for it.

[@conradhillman1491]

This can become an exceptional resource for aspiring competitive painters. Rarely is helpful feedback available, other than oohs that looks nice. Thanks for the feedback and I would love to see more of this!

[@richardsmith4881]

Im good at undercoating.

[@gawayne1374]

I love the brush bleep XD

[@jyuuken00]

Does anyone know where the second model is from?

[@konigstiger3017]

Im a big fan of Klukva Miniatures and their stuff lol, they do some really great sculpts

[@Voknerech10Z]

beren They are russian pirates and really should be banned

[@RobertBayley666]

Heyyyooooo that's me watched every single one of your videos now. I usually watch one with my breakfast but I just boshed out the last 8 while painting Kill Team scenery. I watch it on the TV, so I owe you a tonne of likes its a pain in the arse to give with a PlayStation controller. It's nice to see a fellow metalhead who loves topics that make one feel uneasy as well. I recently listened to all the Butcher Babies albums and EPs in a row while paining Necron acanthrites but I am mostly about Swedish metal (Grand Magus, Sabaton), female fronted metal (Delain, Huntress RIP Jill Janus), Traditional Heavy Metal (Sabbath, Mustasch [Swedish again I think], traditional thrash (Megadeth, Kreator) and Crazy European Power Metal (Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray). What do you listen to most? Why don't you have the now ubiquitous GE painting handle? Love your style and humour, keep up the good work, thanks for challenging me to up my game and encouraging me to PAINT MORE MINIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!"!£"¬¬¬!!¬¬¬¬!!!!

[@snortingnesquik3470]

9:58, I honestly think this dude was pretty damn cool.

[@teegee87]

Second place was the winner for me, such a siiiick idea and well executed.

[@MrSuperflowus]

Coming back nearly half a year later - nah, still hurts.

[@Semeda83]

I’m sad we have not seen the 7 other finalists ! I think it would be interesting to have feedbacks on them too, because advice with concrete examples are so important ! Thank you though for the feedbacks on the others, it was really interesting !

[@santiagolozoya4940]

everyone talking about how #2 shoulda won but im still sticking with #3 for deserving the win

[@jrseitz21]

This makes me want to put my miniatures in a dark case to never be judged by anyone lol

[@jimmycumbest6877]

Scott: *compares Bones minis to ramen Me: *looks over at my five gallon bucket full of Bones and Bones Black minis that I got dirt cheap and gently weeps

[@MDL-780]

Thanks for posting all of the entries and giving feedback. I didn't enter, but I benefited from the feedback.

[@Raidynn]

All I’m hearing is Napoleon Dynamite judging people’s paint jobs and I’m dead

[@Thaxsar]

How did I miss information on this painting contest :/. I'll keep a better eye out for the next one.

[@morMICRO]

man... the font you use looks like the one in the HULKAMANIA logo and now I can't unsee it... (thanks for the vid)

[@stefkortchak3012]

Look at me combing through your video library! Avid mini painter (SwishPaintsMinis), up and coming, eyeing the nova open competition this summer. If you haven’t yet (still combing through), could you provide some tips or elaborate on basing more effectively?

[@CharlieO_]

What a great contest and tip list. Thank goodness for people who can be honest about the reality of self expression. If I read it right - that this was a fan based or otherwise public vote - then I could have called it that boobs would win out over the 2nd place fire light/moon light entry, but hey, we are what we are. Since your pal has a 'scary' list of tips, if you were going to add something to it, tell people who've never been, to go to a college art class finals crit. It doesn't matter what discipline (painting, sketching, industrial design), as long as the class ends with a crit. Nothing makes you feel more adventurous than watching people torn to shreds and brought to tears and then realizing that you can get the same level of.... help ....without dropping $20K a year. Thanks for the vid..... Edit: Rewatching this video, I realized that I completely missed your explanation of the JUDGES in the contest at 4 minutes in. Honestly, I think I just walked away to put out some minor fire, then came back and thought "Yeah, this is definitely where I left off" over a minute later. Won't offer anymore explanations except that this isn't the first time I've shot off my yap without checking. Awesome contest! Keep up the great work! Maybe next time I'll put in a submission AND keep my mouth shut (like... put up and shut up. see what I did there?) SORRAH!!

[@Miniac]

Finalists determined the final 10, and then a panel of 4 judges determined 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

[@CharlieO_]

@@Miniac Well, then I'm the guy that list is pointed at. XD

[@CharlieO_]

@@Miniac Sorry again. Edited my original post w/o getting rid of the original comment for purposes of transparency.

[@Miniac]

@@CharlieO_ no worries, my friend!

[@akadam90]

you didnt mention what meant by basing?

[@nbaker01]

Does anyone know what the model is at 1:20 please?

[@Tumla]

Was this a competition you arrenged? Will There be more? I just started to paint minis. Its a lot of fun! Its very very hard tho. Watching your videos had helped alot. It Would be fun to enter a competition one day and why not be one of yours (If there Will be one more) keep up the good work and I will PAINT MORE MINIS

[@brushlickerstudio28]

Please do moar of those competitions :D would be awesome

[@TheOfficialEpilogue]

Is there somehow we can send you pics of our minis for review outside of this comp? Sad I missed it :(

[@BarokaiRein]

Ok so here's the thing,I just got into the hobby last night and some of these entries,whilst not bad at all made me feel like few years from now I'm probably gonna be really fucking good at this. Like I can genuinely look at the first dryad I ever painted and say ''yeah that's pretty good'' and then I look at some of these and they kinda look like the paints weren't thinned and stuff like that.

[@tonytireiorn9708]

Can you make a video on how to bend\break the minis correctly

[@Z0mbie432]

Some of the bases here were cool imo, but what do I know I just painted one mini so far. Thanks for inspiring me to do so though bro!

[@Redgerman1]

Is there somewhere I could send a pic of my work and get advice from you?

[@opsimathics]

that Bonesinger base was neat

[@dddmmm21]

These are interesting to some extent but I miss more vids where you paint... As a noob painter I mostly struggle with highlighting techniques and with the sequence of actions in general (e.g. wash then highlight or go extra bright and then wash, etc).... And these are things a how-to video really helps, but above all watching it being done is how everything clicks... Thanks

[@mattcousins3]

This vid is so useful! Can you run another one? / even just for feedback - not even for competition

[@colinpessselato5206]

I'd love for you to judge one of my miniatures I just did. It was my first attempt of real basing that wasnt just a gw base paint. I also convert/kitbashed a model.

[@MnemonicGhost]

I'm not a Top Ramen fan either, but I like their metal sculpts!

[@Jonny_Wrigs]

Great video ! is this an annual competition? Maybe I can do one next year.

[@Miniac]

I'm scared to commit to an annual thing, but expect another one in the future.

[@knightzix_01]

I bet that was fun Making the comedy part of this one year ago Kinda

[@yougosquishnow]

This was timely. I have just decided to take my noob ass to a major competition next year and enter. First competition and I have only been doing this for 6 months but gonna do it. Got a year to not suck.

[@Soldier4USA2005]

Dude.....way to motivate and challenge yourself!! That's awesome!! Knowing your limitations and doing it anyways is the way to go about doing things. Good luck!!! :)

[@yougosquishnow]

@@Soldier4USA2005 thanks a lot. Yeah looking to push myself way out of the comfort zone.

[@maximem.ste-marie3578]

17 january 2021 (no joke) : listening back the commentaries on my model to avoid (or improve) for another near future painting contest (not Miniac's)

[@MrSteelface96]

And me just sitting here being proud of what i accomplished with the intercessors + paintset (6 paints) that i just bought. haha time to lay down this hobby xD

[@pudicio4895]

What does it mean when he says "basing"?

[@TheNoobPainter]

This title speaks to me. And it's not slanderous, for once.

[@ghostfaceknuts]

I like the feedback part

[@Mikey__R]

Hey Scott! For competition pieces, does metal always have to be painted NMM?

[@Miniac]

No, definitely not. There is some really impressive TMM out there.

[@Mikey__R]

@@Miniac now I think of it, Vincents amazing Knight Repentant had TMM parts. Thanks for the videos! Is it still cool to FB you for feedback?

[@TheTurbanatore]

The Space Wolves Box Set and codex are releasing, please do an eavy metal space Wolves video!

[@SchizzofraehnLP]

Das outro ist Boss!

[@elliotomorts2274]

When is the next Comp?? I am keen

[@g0dzilla_au]

That's the most ASMR censor I've ever heard

[@666lupine666]

crystal brush rule#33: remember to hit the wonderful display piece or diorama with a quick blast of florescent orange spray paint at the last minute, ruining your hard work and increasing your chances of victory by 50%. its what the judges want to see you poser/prep, the next thing I want to hear is that ping pong ball- inside a can shaking sound.

[@youhell2328]

*clearlyness*