'The Agony and the Ecstasy' - The 2nd Annual Analogue Painting Challenge Awards

'I don't know what it is, but I always seem to make a hash of the drybrushing...'

Well the votes are all in and I'm delighted to be able to announce the awards for the 2nd Annual Analogue Painting Challenge.
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The Points Race:

Those who followed the Challenge will know that in the final days there was a tight race for the overall points-standing, with Ray unexpectedly surging forward to challenge Kent's seemingly unassailable first place postion. Those last few days saw the two of them painting like men possessed with Ray craftily pipping into first place right at the finish-line.

Ray's dynamic 28mm Anglo-Zulu War Vignette

Kent's meticulous 28mm Hanoverians

Just behind these two acrylic-wielding combatants was Tim with his very impressive and diverse collection that ranged from ancient Egyptians and Anglo-Saxons to a modern-day security contrator.  

Tim's 28mm Anglo-Saxons (all hand-painted shields!)

Tim's 28mm Dark Age Scots (check out the fabulous plaids on these guys)

On a brief aside, here is an impressive statistic: If we averaged the output of Ray, Kent and Tim to 5 points per figure then the three of them combined completed 2600 miniatures in three months and all of it of excellent quality. Absolutely staggering. Bravo to the three of you!!

As the Challenge progressed I quickly realized that very few could hope to compete with painting dervishes like Ray, Kent and Tim so I created four other categories which are not dependent on point accumulation in order to spread the fun. These are People's Choice, Challenger's Choice, Sarah's Choice and the Judge's Choice. 

The People's Choice: 

First I have to say that I was completely blown away by the number of responses that came in for this category, I believe it was little over 100 all told, and so I'd like thank all those who took the time to review the entries and cast a vote. I believe virtually every participant received votes for their entries. As you can imagine there were many favourites identified but there was one submission that proved to be distinctly popular. This was Christopher's gorgeous 15mm Mamelukes. Well done Christopher!

The Challenger's Choice:

The Challenger's Choice was was very hard fought as well, with several challengers in the running. Work from Michael, Juan and Christopher were some of the favourites but it was DaveD's fabulously converted and painted Bavarian Chevaulegers 'Konig' that ultimately took the brass ring. Beautiful work Dave!

Sarah's Choice:
From Sarah:


'Of She-Bears and Strumpets!'
Back in December, after the first entrants to Curt's Painting Challenge arrived thru the In box, I plaintively asked Curt, "These fellows are all very fine, but where are the women?"

In typical Curt fashion, he replied "What are you suggesting?" The result of this conversation  was the additional category of "Sarah's Choice" to the Annual Painting Challenge.

The amount and quality of Napoleonics being showcased through the main painting competition  made me secretly hope that one of the many talented painters might do a "Josephine, in Rose Garden at Malmaison". However, Curt has just informed me that he knows of NO Josephine figure being available (I could be wrong and probably am! - ed). Shameful! Josephine led such a fascinating life and possessed a  fantastic wardrobe! And Hellooo! She was the Empress! 

Moving on ..... The entrants to Sarah's Choice have been remarkable in the diversity of character and eras of women depicted. Some highlights have been Dave's poor Pauline;  ALL of Juan's masterfully painted figures, so full of character and sense of era/history; the animation of the gaggle of Strumpets has made me laugh (especially Scotts winking Prashanthi)! ; Chris's Sarah on Safari, because a Victorian Lady wielding a pistol always deserves the utmost respect and admiration! And my final honorable mention will be Ian's Camp Followers, mother with two children. There is something really poignant about the composition and the subdued/restrained painting.  Well done!

And, so sorry Ray, the wonderful 'Frances the She Bear', though powerfully fearsome and hirsute she may be, doesn't quite spark my romantic sensibilities.

The winner of Sarah's Choice, 2012 edition is ........ the combined entries from Phil, his Femme Fatale from the Societe Archeolgique (bravely fending off the pink-arsed baboons) and the 1930s Gun Moll. I really liked the subject matter, the clean style and the almost impressionistic approach to the Femme's plaid skirt. Well done!

Bravo Everyone and I look forward to what next year's entrants will be ....

Sarah

Judges Choice:

I must admit that I spent a lot of time wringing my hands and pacing regarding this award. I even ran the entire catalogue of photos (all 1500 of them) from the Challenge through our home theatre so I could see them all on our big screen, and anyone who has followed the Challenge from its beginning will know that I was spoiled for choice (as you can plainly see from the above).

The Challenge featured many excellent entries that impressed me. A brief list is Kent's Roman Camp, Michael's Viking Warlord, Christopher's ACW Signal Station, Dave's Cuirassier Band, JohnM's Prussians, JohnB's Old School Poles, Paul's gorgeous 18mm Napoleonics and I could list many, many others. Nonetheless I finally decided to bend my own rules and select a Challenger based on the quality of his overall submissions.  With this in mind I think all can see why I have decided to give the Judge's Choice to Juan for his superb collection of figures to which he worked at his own pace. For what he did not accrue in the points roster he more than made up in the sustained wow factor.

There you have it! For all of the award winners I will be in touch to arrange for your prizes. Thanks again to all of the Challengers for making this such an excellent event and thanks to all the visitors for providing encouragement and kudos to the lads. I hope to see some of you in a few weeks at SALUTE! 

Best,

Curt