Gencon painting competition complaints?

[squidders]

I\'ve read a lot of people complaining online about the painting competition at gencon and that only the pro\'s win anything and that there should be a split in the competition... one for the pro competitors and one for the rest.

I think it\'s a sad reflection of our time when people are complaining that someone better at something than they are beat them in a fair competition.

I strongly suspect that these pro painters, whoever they are, are pro\'s because they have won a lot of competitions and work hard at developing their art and not that they win competitions because they are a pro painter.

What\'s wrong with these people and what\'s the objection about someone being better than you at something? Shouldn\'t that be pushing you to strive for perfection yourself?

Why is it always someone elses fault?

 

[generulpoleaxe]

it\'s always easier to blame others and that\'s the problem with todays society.

it\'s a world full of children and not of adults.

i personaly started getting better when i accepted that i wasn\'t that good and had a lot of practice to do.

 

[uberdark]

after witnessing first hand the winners and losers at gencon.....let me just say....

someone needs to put on their bigboy pants.

i totally agree with you guys. i am in no way a \"pro\" but i tried and walked away feeling that i gave it the good ol\' college try.

seriously, people hsould just be happy they were able to go to this great convention.

i know ritual is still sniffing back in sweden.

 

[Hinton]

Some people will complain, no matter what. I do know that Marike Reimer (who is an incredibly nice person) took 1st AND 2nd place in the single figure category, so some people may feel that it\'s unfair since she is a professional painter for miniature companies. However, just like everyone else, she started out not knowing how to paint. She became a professional by practicing and pushing herself to be better.

I entered the GenCon comp myself and didn\'t even make first cut. I didn\'t complain that the comp wasn\'t fair. To be honest, I did get a bit discouraged, but it was directed at myself, not the other painters. I was upset with myself and decided to push myself even more.

I\'m planning on entering the GenCon comp next year, with my goal being to just make the first cut. I\'m going to practice, paint as many minis as I can, work on new techniques and try to sharpen the ones I know now.

But, as Uber said, people should just be happy to attend the convention. I had a great time and met some really great people and I hope others did as well.

 

[squidders]

My painting is so bad that I haven\'t bothered to post any of it lol

But, I certainly wouldn\'t expect someone to hand me victory on a plate by removing all competition if they have had ever taken a commission.

People should let great painting inspire... it\'s not like these people ever win with sub standard work, I\'ve seen very close races but never an obviously inferior mini win anything.

 

[Rodnik]

My feeling has always been this--

If all you want is a friggin\' trophy, go buy one.

If you want a competition, then you need to find the biggest, toughest bastards you can find and threaten to whip their asses.

I love that contest---because it\'s the biggest toughest bastards I can find....and they whip my ass regularly.

Cheers!
Kev

 

[Sukigod]

Competition at any level usually brings out the best, and sadly, the worst in people.

No one ever gets better or takes 1st place without losing once in a while and I don\'t believe anyone takes 1st place the first time they enter or compete (I know there\'ll be excpetions to this thought but they\'re exepctions).

Much like any game (which is just another word for contest), you only get better when you play against someone better than yourself. It gives you something to strive for, a point of reference, a goal. The problem with some people is they never take that point of view and use it as constructive criticism – instead they take it as a personal attack against thier own abilities. That, to me, is the lazy way out.

 

[Deadite]

Give everyone a participation award and call it good. They want to act like 4 year olds, treat them like 4 year olds. When they want to move up to the big-boy awards, they can start acting appropriately.

 

[MathewBaich]

If they want to be safe from the pros then why don\'t they just go to kublacon? that one is divided(I think). I look at painting competitions as a chance to study my favorite artists\' work in the flesh. It\'s a chance to study styles and gives you something to shoot for and ask questions to artists

 

[Roger Bunting]

Some of the people who do paint for miniatures companies have other jobs anyway. I believe Ritual is one of those. And some people who consider themselves \"pro\", whether it be on e-bay or whether they get some occasional commissions, are not good at all.

 

[Ritual]

I have a regular job, indeed. I only paint professionally to give friends favours, basically. But, then, I didn\'t enter the GenCon painting competition...

Of course, you can have separate Pro and Amateur competitions. But then people will start complaining that the Amateur competition is a \"loser\" competition and those who won it shouldn\'t think they are any good because they didn\'t win the \"real\" competition and yada yada...

I think the best option is to have competitions using the open system, like in most military and historical miniature shows. This way you don\'t have a set number of awards and you don\'t really compete against the other entrants. If you\'re good enough you will get a certain award, no matter how many others get the same award.

 

[matty1001]

People just need to step back and and realise they arn\'t as good as they think they are.

I was watching a pop idol, x factor thing at Laura\'s the other day and all these lasses are coming off crying thier eyes out saying that thier dream has been destroyed, then going \"what to do now?\"

I wish could be there to just say, go home, practice, get singing lessons etc try again next year but most of all SHUT UP.

But then its worth it just to see Dermot O\'Leary\'s face when people get in a fettle!

 

[uberdark]

Originally posted by matty1001
People just need to step back and and realise they arn\'t as good as they think they are.

I was watching a pop idol, x factor thing at Laura\'s the other day and all these lasses are coming off crying thier eyes out saying that thier dream has been destroyed, then going \"what to do now?\"

I wish could be there to just say, go home, practice, get singing lessons etc try again next year but most of all SHUT UP.

But then its worth it just to see Dermot O\'Leary\'s face when people get in a fettle!

ok i think i understood about a 1/4 of that. i gues i am not british enough to understand feetle or who dermot o\'leary is lol lol lol.....most likely simon cowell like.

 

[matty1001]

Fettle is a Geordie word for strop, upset. Like a pet lip.

Dermot O\'Leary is a presenter, on America\'s got talent Jerry Springer did all the backstage stuff, well Dermot does that but for X Factor here in Britain. Ant and Dec used to do it, but they most likely got frog marched out and shot (with any luck).
But I quite like Dermot, he has a great presenting style (IMO anyway)

 

[supervike]

But, the thing to remember is, for every one person complaining, there are probably 20 that have no problems with it.

Matty makes a great point....Whenever I\'ve watched those talent shows (especially the audition ones) I am AMAZED on how indignant the people get when they are told they are not that good. I think that is a result of the \'positive affirmation\' that seems so rampant. You are just simply not allowed to say something negative. These people go through life with everyone telling them positive things...never an honest critic in fears of hurting their self-esteem. When the truth finally gets to them, I am sure it is devastating.

I think there is also a lesson in there for parents or potential ones...encourage and give your children confidence, but also be honest with them. Having a dream is one thing, but you may have to come to terms with not having what it takes to attain that dream.

Not everyone can be a singer, a ball player, or even a competition class painter....

 

[Dragon Forge Design]

I really appreciate the direction of this thread as I half expected it to be a whine thread about how its so unfair that someone better than \"Me\" always wins..

We live in a pretty fucked up world right now where we are raiseing children to think that everyones a winner and everyone goes home at the end of the day with a trophy and a juice box..and its REALLY got to stop or the world we live in is screwed.. you may say yes but its just a painting contest but I hear it in everything..and when they get out in the real world and find out its a tough tough place they have no clue how to survive.

By the way where are these cry baby threads..I love to go and leave a \"constructive\" comment or two

 

[Rodnik]

Jeff,
You need to let me buy you a beer next Gen Con. :beer:
The whiners tend to bring out the best in me, too.

I know when I first started painting, I was fortunate to enough to meet what turned out to be my best friend. The first conversations went like this:

\"So, what do you think about my mini?\"
\"It\'s awesome, thanks for the gift, I really appreciate it, et al.\"
\"So, now that you got that out of the way, tell me how you really feel?\"

I got a four page critique on everything I had done incorrectly/could do better.
Sure, it woulda hurt if I let it---but I *wanted* to improve. That desire overshadowed any self-esteem issues.

So, I think it\'s a matter of priorities. If feeling warm and fuzzy is your goal---then stay away from the \"big boy\" contests.

 

[Malfoy]

I concur with everything Jeff said.

Speaking as one of the GenCon judges, I can tell you what I think the real issue is, in my opinion. Basically, for a long time, GenCon\'s painting competition was considered second tier. Most Games Days were significantly tougher to place at then GenCon and a lot of Golden Demon winners viewed it as a sort of testing ground.

However, that has changed dramatically. For the last few years, we\'ve seen a much higher degree in the quality of entries in almost every category. These days, the GenCon compeition brings out painters like Marike, Jen Haley, Matt Verzani, Victoria Lamb and I could go on. What people are really complaining about is the idea that GenCon has become a very competitive and international miniature painting venue.

So my advice, as a judge, to those painters who feel discouraged? Consider your entries. Maybe try doing a unit or squad entry, where the competition may not be as intense. Try for a particular manufacturer\'s award- companies like Crocodile Games give out specific accolades. And don\'t give up. But understand that if you\'re going to compete at GenCon, you have to be prepared to put hours into your piece because GenCon is now, for lack of a less cliche term, the big time.

Dave

 

[Rodnik]

I guess my mindset is way off kilter from some of the whiners---

I\'m a mediocre painter, at best----or at least that\'s my self-perception. I always see room for improvement. I also know the GDs, GenCon, the PP contest, etc see some pretty tough competition, especially in the single figure categories.

So, what do I do---
I compete in the single figure categories (like an idiot, I suppose).

I lose---and I lose a-damn-lot. But, I have *always* lost to better work (to date, anyway).

I can\'t ask for anything more fair. I get to see my model beside other work----and see, first hand, where I need to improve.

Gen Con this year brought me an epiphany about two weeks before the contest---a breakthrough I\'ve been wanting for a year or so now----and in the efforts of preparing/painting my models, I had it.
Not in time to \"kick it up\" prior to the contest, but next competition season will see me a step above where I was this year.

I can\'t ask for more than this.

 

[Dragon Forge Design]

Originally posted by Rodnik
Jeff,
You need to let me buy you a beer next Gen Con. :beer:

LOL the lat thing I need at Gen Con is another beer I think.. :drunk:

But yeah Ive been in this so long that to see a change like this in the perception as to what a competition really is blows my mind.