Contest Regulations for the Miniature Painting Festival “Kontrast”.

The Contrast Figurative Painting Festival is organized by the Ursynów District Office of M.St. Warsaw, Ursynów Cultural Center “Alternatives” and Miniature Night Painting.


Introduction


The works submitted to the figure painting contest “Kontrast”, are judged in an open system. The main principle of the competition is the stipulation that the works of participants are judged on the basis of the presented skills and artistic value of the submitted works, and not in comparison with the works of other participants. This means that each work is judged individually. The jury awards prizes for the value of the work, skill, imagination, concept and creative potential (even the unpolished one). Simply put, participants must convince the judges with their work, not compete with other participants. We believe that figure painting is an art form and the standard of 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and the system of comparative evaluation does not work here.


We also recognize the principle that submitted works (as long as a participant submits more than one work in one or more categories) can be judged as a “display” (set of submitted works) of a given participant, viz: in a situation when a participant submits more than one work in a given category, the jury treats this submission as a “display”, which means that a participant can receive only one award in this category, for one best model or for the entire “display” (if all works are at a uniform level)
in a situation where a participant submits at the Master level several works in one or different categories, his works collectively may be nominated for the Grand Kontrast award.

The system of awarding prizes at the “Kontrast” competition is carried out in an open medal classification, which means that we provide for the award of more than one/one bronze, silver or gold statue/medal in each category. In the event that in a given category there are no models qualifying for an award, the panel of judges may not award a medal to any of the works.


Participants, by submitting works to the competition, declare that they are their own work/works. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification and withdrawal of the prizes won.
The organizers allow, in exceptional life situations, the delivery of figurines by another person, such fact must be reported by the participant to the organizers.


Submitted works must be so assembled, connected/placed on stands/bases so that they can be safely carried and visually evaluated without exposing the models to damage. The organizers take no responsibility for damage to “moving” works.


Registration of works for Kontrast 2023 is done electronically using a dedicated computer system. As a result of registration, the participant receives an entry list, where his works and the categories in which he submitted them are listed, as well as entry stickers.
The participant himself glues stickers with entry codes on the submitted models, the codes should be placed on the side of the model. We suggest gentle gluing, as the glue on the stickers, on some surfaces, may leave marks.
Awards and prizes given at Kontrast 2023:

  • Standard level: awards and medals
  • Master level: honors and statues, Grand Kontrast for the best work or display of the entire competition.
  • Standard and masters level: industry awards
  • Gaming categories: honors and medals (bronze, silver) and statuettes (gold), Best of Gaming
    All in-kind prizes obtained from sponsors, will be given to participants in the competition in the formula of a raffle.
    Participants who in previous editions of the Kontrast competition received a gold medal or gold statue in the Standard category, can only submit their entries at the Master level . This applies only to the category in which they received a gold medal or statuette in previous editions of Contrast.
    The winner of the “Grand Kontrast” award in the next edition receives an invitation to the judging panel in the next edition.
    Judges do not compete in the competition, their works can be viewed in a special section of the exhibition.
  1. Levels
    Standard: is a level for beginners as well as intermediate figure painters.
    Master: a level for very experienced painters.
    The division into Standard and Master levels draws a line between those who are just starting out or painting as a hobby and those who are engaged in professional or high-level painting. We don’t want to discourage participants from taking part in the competition, but we also want to make it possible to compete among the best and raise the status of the awards in the Master category. Remember that it is YOU who decides in which category you compete, and it depends solely on your assessment of the level and quality of your work.


The categories have strictly defined parameters, but also in the case of an entry in the wrong category, the panel of judges will have the right to move the work to another category. It will also be possible to move the work to a higher level if the work is clearly better and has a chance to compete in a higher level (we are talking about the Master level).


Works are submitted at your own risk. It is not allowed to exhibit works in the competition that have already won awards in previous editions of the “Kontrast” competition. We kindly ask that those who have won a gold medal/statuette at the Standard level in previous editions of the competition submit their works to the Master level, but only in the category in which they won this award. The jury always has the right to move the works from Standard to Master level.


2) Works can be submitted are in the following categories:


List of competition categories:


Single miniature up to 54mm – models smaller than 54mm excluding models of dragons, trolls, giants, larger machines or monsters (e.g. Dreadnought or Wright Lord, Demon Prince, etc.). Figure size does not include the height of the base, it is about the height of the figure itself.
Single miniature from 54mm – the size of the figurine does not include the height of the base, it is about the height of the figurine itself.
Historical miniatures – historical models in different scales. These can be busts as well as single models depicting historical figures.
Busts – all SF, Fantasy and modern busts.
Squad – a group of figures up to a maximum of 9 pieces, for example: gangs from KillTeam, Underworlds, BloodBowl, Zombicide, Marvell United, Infinity, Aristea or just a set of figures that look nice together. The figurines must be so firmly attached to the stand that they can be safely carried and judged by the judges.
Diorama – in this category we place great importance on story, composition as well as character interaction throughout the scene.
Sculpture (SCULPT) – bust, full figure, scene (whole silhouettes). Scale does not matter. Traditional sculptures as well as 3D (digital sculpture) are eligible for this category. The mandatory condition for submitting a work in this category is that the work is made independently by the author or the team submitting the project. The work must be physically exhibited sculpture/ 3D print. Judges have the right in this category to ask for documentation authenticating authorship. Works in this category can only be submitted at the master level.
XXL – all types of vehicles and machines regardless of historical realities and all kinds of monsters in a larger scale and size,
Speed Painting,
Junior – all works from the above categories submitted by participants up to the age of 15 are automatically eligible for this category.
Gaming (without division into Standard and Master levels) – Regiment / Army – category for figures painted for use in battle games, regardless of the universe (sci-fi / fantasy / historical). All scales actually used in games are allowed. Submitted works do not have to meet the requirements of a particular game (they do not have to have “legal spreads”) or even be assigned to a specific title. (13) Entries will be accepted in two subcategories:
(a) “Regiment” – a squad that is a self-contained element of a battle game, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 48 models. Examples: a squad of Space Marianas, one troop of cavalry for Hail Caesar, a squad for Bolt Action, a regiment from Fire and Sword, one coaster from BW: Lee. This can also be a stand-alone “army” for single figure (skirmish) games, provided it is within a certain numerical framework (e.g., a large squad for BloodBowl, a band for Frostgrave, etc.).
b) “Army”: a minimum of 3 troops (the size is arbitrary, dictated by the system for which the army is made) – can include different models, e.g. a fantasy army with infantry, cavalry, a dragon and a troop of trolls, or an army for Flames of War with infantry, artillery, tanks and motorcycles.
Pimp My Miniature Box – (PMB) – figure carriers (crates, boxes, etc.), any system for carrying figures can be submitted. (14) The jury evaluates such elements as sticker composition, conversion / construction, color scheme / pimp factor

2) Judging criteria
In order to ensure the greatest possible objectivity and systematize the work of the judging panels, they will be guided by the following criteria:

  1. technique (workmanship, neatness, finishing of the model, construction of the stand/plinth/scene),
  2. artistic value (color composition, use of light, eye-catching points, textures, etc.),
  3. message (idea, atmosphere, story contained in the model).
    Submissions are made anonymously and the judging panel does not have information about the authors of the works.
    These are only general rules, because we are aware that all manifestations of artistic activity are subject to a very subjective interpretation of each observer and it is impossible to judge here in point scales. We define universal principles away from personal preferences, styles as well as trends. Each of the above-mentioned characteristics will be an equal component of the evaluation.
    If a work has been awarded, a corresponding business card will be placed next to it or below it with information on the next steps to be taken by the author of the work.

3) Display

All works of the same author in one category can be treated as Display, that is, all works of a given author in a given category as long as there are more than 1, can be evaluated as Display.

Display does not have to, but may be indicated in the application form.

Grouping the works of the same author is better for the judges, but also for the audience. We mark Displays with markers that delineate the boundaries of a given display that gathers works by one author.


Within the Display we do not combine works from different categories.

4) Jury
The composition of the judging panel consists of renowned figure painters with extensive experience, who have won awards at international renowned competitions around the world. We make every effort to ensure that it is a group of people representing different styles, as well as different approaches to figure painting, which allows a more objective evaluation of the works. The work of the panel of judges will be supervised by the Chief Judge.


The works at the Contest 2023, will be judged by 4 judging panels consisting of three people. 2 in Standard and Master, 1 in Gaming and 1 in Speedpainting.


The Jury’s evaluation is final and not subject to appeal.

Judging Guidelines:
The evaluation of each work will be carried out independently by each judge in the computer system according to the instructions.
Works from the 2023 edition awarded gold from each competition category at the Master level (except Gaming and Speed Painting) are eligible for selection for the Grand Kontrast award. Selection of the work for the Grand Kontrast award will be done by voting of all judges from the Master competition (except Gaming and Speed Painting). Voting will take the form of elimination rounds in which each judge has the right to vote for two works. The final round will leave only two entries and each judge will be allowed to vote only once.

The selection of the Best of Gaming award will be made by the panel of judges responsible for this category and the chief judge from among the works that have received a gold medal in the Gaming category. Voting will take place in the form of elimination rounds in which each judge has the right to vote for two works. In the final round, only two works will remain and each judge will be allowed to vote only once.

The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the rules up to 2 weeks before the start of the contest.


Covid19 restrictions may be in effect during the contest, and participants are required to abide by them. Alcohol and other stimulants are not allowed on the competition site.

Contact to the organizer: michal(@)miniaturenightpainting.com

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