[P] VOTE for JAN challenge : MONSTERS

Harfoot · **Posted:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:18 pm

Wow, where to start, just loads and loads of brilliant entries. Going to have to think on it before voting

Gene Parmesan · **Posted:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:24 pm

Great month for entries. Liked almost all of them but I went for Meertal. The reason being that his paint job took a mediocre model to another level, and really brought it alive.

Bandobras Took · **Posted:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:38 pm

Such a fabulous standard! Amazing work everyone :yay:

I have to give a shout out to my favourites.

Coenus - a great mini painted beautifully - great skin tone

Mertaal - brilliantly painted mini with an excellent base and wonderful weathering techniques. Well done

DMS - one word - phenomenal! (Still didn't get my vote though)

Finally ukfreddybear - have loved the sculpt for a while and to see it painted so beautifully by its own sculptor is so cool! Also the hanging greenery is such a touch of class. Simply had to vote for you.

Again I'd like to reiterate what everyone else has been saying. An excellent job everyone. Definitely the best standard of Painting Challenge I've seen since first snooping around in 2012.

Fantastic work guys! :yay:

Sithious · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:13 am

Though I loved them all, I went with Mertaal as well. Because I know the sculpt so I know how much of what I see is good painting. Awesome contest, so much creative energy being pumped in.

Hyarion · **Joined:** Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:20 am **Posts:** 16

Sithious wrote:

Though I loved them all, I know how much of what I see is good painting. Awesome contest, so much creative energy being pumped in.

I agree with that part of your post only I went with Eurnion because he is my dad and all.

Lord of Winterfell · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:11 am

This is really hard to decide! All of them are fantastic monsters.

:boromir

Dr Grant · **Joined:** Fri Aug 03, 2012 1:50 pm **Posts:** 1339

As so many others have said, the competition this month is exceptional, I'm quite glad I didn't enter this month as there's no way I could've competed with these! They're all good but, for me, special mentions have to go to:

UKFreddyBear - Outstanding paint job on your gorgeous sculpt, absolutely love that Tree Giant and you've brought it to life wonderfully.

Mertaal - Brilliant paint and basing job, I love how 'alive' you've made the model, the snot and toadstools are wonderfully disgusting and the base looks like it's a soaking mud pool. Brilliant job.

JamesR - Brilliant idea and very well executed. When you first suggested this I wasn't convinced the model would work but you've done a brilliant job and transformed the mini into a realistic depiction of the film version - great work!

DMS - Incredible job as usual, wonderful sculpt from Dave and a incredible paint job from Kev. I don't particularly want/need a Balrog for my games and I've always been worried about how I'd paint it, looking it this doesn't help - the subtle blending of the fiery colours is so beautifully done - a genuinely jaw-dropping piece.

However, great as these all are, this month my vote had to go to Orc-Archer, I absoultey love the paint job you've given to the Goblin King - I've often seen this mini look very clean and smooth and not-at-all like the film version and you've managed to create a really grimy, filthy looking creature that oozes character - absolutely great job, hope to see more entries from you in the future :yay:

mertaal · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:49 pm

Dr Grant wrote:

I love how 'alive' you've made the model

Compliments don't come much better than that. Exactly what I was trying to do. Thank you, and thanks to everyone who's said such nice things about my entry.

To chime in with what others say, this really is a great field of competitors and a pleasure to look through. Sithious' entry could easily have won a conversion challenge if it had been entered, and I think on a different day just about every entry this month could have won on a different month.

I'm proud to be competing in such an awesome field, and very happy that I found the-one-ring.com. Support here for the creative side of the hobby is second to none. What a great community.

Knife in the Dark · **Posted:** Tue Feb 04, 2014 12:42 am

Fantastic job everyone I definately know I won't be getting into any of these contests with you great painters around good job everyone! :yay:

JamesR · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2014 12:17 am

I finally decided who to vote for. I went with Orc-Archer. That Goblin King's skin is phenomenal

Erunion · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2014 3:54 am

Wow, everyone. I delayed voting on this one because I knew it was going to take a while with all of the incredible entries. I know that my painting will never measure up to some of the sheer artistry displayed above, but at least I got my name on the same list.

I thought I would post my comments on each of the entries below:

@Coenus Scaldingus -- This sculpt just oozes character and you've done a bang-up job of bringing him to life. I really like the dirty/unhealthy pallor to the skin tone and the different furs add nice contrast. Your base looks very lush. Excellent work.

@Erunion -- You suck. Don't quit your day job. :roll:

@Sithious -- Love the conversion work on this fella. Looking at all the little details (the skin "cloak," the shin guard, white hands and paint splatters) is all a real treat. Even the pose seems to say, "Don't make me come over this rock." Wonderful!

@ukfreddybear -- The green vines and foliage form a nice contrast with the bark of this guy. The eyes are very well done, and recall the emphasis that Tolkien put on describing them in the books. I simply MUST have one of these to join my Entmoot.

@Cuchulain84 -- I love the skintone on this guy. I don't know what your recipe was, but his skin looks flushed and irritated, which matches the pose very well. Don't be afraid to give us more shots, especially on big models like this one!

@Bofur the Dwarf -- Treebeard is very nicely done. You've picked out the details with just enough contrast, and I really like the leaf litter on your base. It's just enough to stand out and draw the eye without being overpowering.

@Feanor the Mighty Elf -- I'm impressed with anyone who can sculpt whole minis from scratch, especially to this level. This pose really shows the character of the mini...imposing and ordering his minions around. Great job!

@mertaal -- You've done a fantastic job on this mini. From the runny nose to the broken tree bole, the mushrooms and the splashes of mud, you've worked hard at achieving a level of realism that is truly impressive.

@JamesR -- I really like the alternate paint scheme you've done here. It's very reminiscent of how the Necromancer is depicted in the new movies. You've done a good job of blending on the oranges and yellows.

@Scipio.au -- Given how quickly you assembled and painted this mini, He turned out wonderfully! The added vegetation really makes him appear ancient and truly a part of nature. I love it!

@Dead Marsh Spectre -- Between Dave's sculpt and your beautiful brushwork, this is a step above amazing and into the realm of awe-inspiring. My favorite part is the cracked, heated effect on the edge of the axe blade. Fantastic all around!

@Orc-Archer -- Wonderful work on the pustules/sores on this guy. They are truly disgusting!

In summary, I really had trouble picking a winner here, but went with Coenus's troll because of the nice paint job, great basing and good photos to show it all off.

Looking forward to next month's competition!

mertaal · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:40 am

Erunion wrote:

@Feanor the Mighty Elf -- I'm impressed with anyone who can sculpt whole minis from scratch, especially to this level. This pose really shows the character of the mini...imposing and ordering his minions around. Great job!

Hear hear. This was Feanor's first ever sculpt. I also really enjoy seeing something a bit closer to John Howe's original vision of the Great Goblin:

And to a lesser degree, Alan Lee's (which is the most amazing illustration, but I prefer Howe's concept).

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:50 pm

This could have been the best challenge to date. The entries have been fantastic and who would have thought that the mighty combination of Dave and Kev could have been pushed so close.

Ukfreddybear · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:31 pm

Close? I'm down in 4th place lol. But in this field that's quite the achievement

mertaal · **Posted:** Fri Feb 07, 2014 8:30 am

You sculpted the front runner, so surely that has to count for *something*!

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:30 pm

ukfreddybear wrote:

Close? I'm down in 4th place lol. But in this field that's quite the achievement

See what you mean Dave, I was referring to your joint effort and forgot you put the Ent in.
I'm guilty of rooting for Mertaal on this.
The positive is the standard from everyone and is going to show the lengths you will have to go to if you desire a winners badge.

hollowcrown · **Joined:** Mon Dec 30, 2013 3:52 pm **Posts:** 164

The Balrog painting and sculpt is amazing, but we've seen Balrogs before, the base and the mud effects on the troll is just another level so my vote goes to Mertaal.

Dead Marsh Spectre · **Posted:** Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:12 am

too close lol

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:18 am

Are you over the brink of madness yet?

Dead Marsh Spectre · **Posted:** Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:20 am

Dorthonion wrote:

Are you over the brink of madness yet?

faaar faaar over - this challenge has pushed me right over the edge lol.
better than a hockey game

[P] VOTE for JAN challenge : MONSTERS

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