I know, I know, this post is quite late considering that Games Day UK 2013 was more than a month ago. But, in my defense, I just got back home a week ago after being away for 6 weeks. So after cleaning up my stuff, dealing with various things, here is my article on the latest edition of GD UK.
First thing first, yes I know, I clearly remember saying a few years back that I was not intending to go back to GD UK. Did I became less cynical of Games Workshop? I don’t think I ever was. I was just always aware of the politics of this event and wasn’t sure I wanted to pay for a trip to England for it. So the main reason I went to Games Day UK this year is simple: I was heading to Euromilitaire and was to be spending several weeks in Europe so why not spend a weekend in Birmingham for GD?
Euromilitaire, it was my first time at this show. I always heard great things about it and I can confirm that it is the best show I have ever attended. Not saying it is the best, simply that it is the best of those I had the chance to assist to. I was originally planning to have 2 or 3 entries for it but it would appear that a certain dragon took most of the time I had allocated for that. I didn’t want to rush anything for the show. If I was to enter something, it was to be my best work. So I went to work on a GD entry instead…
I have seen some of the best work I have ever seen at Euromilitaire and for that, I am so glad I didn’t bring a rushed entry for it. My absolute favorite is, without a doubt, Chris Clayton’s bust: Hush:
Until I saw Chris’ piece, nothing really impressed me. There were beautiful pieces, a really high technical level but nothing was making me say WOW! Then… WOW! You rarely see such pieces. A piece of work, in this case you could say art, that redefine everything. One of those pieces that all of sudden raise the bar for everyone. The new level to be achieved. Basically a best of show.
Unfortunately, Euromilitaire, being a historical show, this piece was not to be the Best of Show. Instead they went for this:
It’s a beautiful piece but for me it does not work. It is the classic scene which doesn’t tell any story. It is an excuse to place three standards to showcase freehands but past that… this is not working. I am not getting any strong story element nor vibe from this piece. If you had to go historical I wish it would have been this piece from Mike Blank:
One quick view on this piece and you get the whole story right away. It is not an assemblage of miniatures for simply putting miniatures on a base. Every character has its role, the whole thing comes together effectively in order to tell a strong story which anyone, with a minimum of knowledge in French history, will automatically recognized. For me, on the historical side, this was the best of show.
Overall, Euromilitaire is a great show. It is highly inspiring and should be attended by all. I am definitely planning to be back next year.
The following weekend was Games Day UK. What a weird GD it was. I’ve stopped trying to understand GW’s new policies, but a GD without any playing table? Honestly, I have to admit that I love a GD with no Waaaagh! or staff trying to pull me into any type of demo game but I also agree that the only reason I go there are for the Golden Demons. I am literally the last type of customer GW care about for the their event. Well use to care about… Now who knows… Oh well, as long as the Golden Demons are there I am happy.
So the Demons, as to be expected in the UK, were great. A really high level in creativity and quality. Unfortunately, these two roads do not necessarily lead to a winning entry. Having a nice bike featuring a clear well known chapter with a decent paint job is the road to winning though. Well it has always been the case.
You want to win at a GD, follow the books and stick to the universe. If you want to create super nice highly converted terminators for which no one knows if they are loyalist or chaos marines well… be prepared to lose. Yes it is not encouraging the “best” entries to win but there’s nothing new there. No matter how much you want to complain.
It is like those complaining to no end that only the new kits end up on the podium… With the exception of the Fantasy Single Category, most winning entries were far from being the “latest” release. After that, if the other painters are like me, I just get motivated with the new kits out which is why I often have something among the new kits to present and would assume why the others do.
Overall, it is a subjective contest burdened with political imperatives. You need to be aware of that when entering. But yes it always sting when you do not win but it is sweet when you do not expect to get anything and walk away with the gold.
So here is my entry: Howling Griffon Captain on Bike:
As said, I was the first surprised to see it score the gold. Not complaining about it. Loving it.
The rest of the trip was great. A succession of various cities, churches, galleries, museums and alcohol. I will not “hinder” you with all the details. For those of you who are my friends on facebook, you’ve already seen all the pictures. For now, I still have a few things to settled from being away for such a long time but I should be back to my painting table in no time with a series of new projects.
So in the meantime, take care and keep painting!