Why You Need to Compete this year

We all want to be better painters. No matter how good we become, there is an ever-present desire to improve. Also present are the obstacles that can derail progress, be they time, technique, or otherwise. Here's one secret to guaranteed improvement:

Compete.

I just finished painting an Assault on Black Reach Captain for competition; ten inspired and focused hours spent on a single miniature. Even as I finished, I was invigorated and eager to see what my fellow painters had come up with.

Here's why.

Fuel your creativity

So often we find ourselves painting miniatures just to "get them done". We get into a rhythm and lose the drive to innovate; to seek new solutions to old problems. We just spam that one solution until there are no minis left to paint. Just 7 more marines and I'll be done.

Competition brings a cascade of ideas that flips this attitude on its head.

Resignation has turned to joyous panic; suddenly you only have 7 more marines to paint. With far more ideas than you can fit, you have the envious task of choosing the best among them. Compare this with coming up with one idea on the spot and hoping it all works out.

I had painted the Assault on Black Reach Captain twice already, but this time was different. Every detail that had previously caused me grief was now an opportunity...

Get deeply involved with the community

Competition can bring out the best in us. If you channel your competitive energy into a positive effort, you will surprise yourself.

This applies doubly to your fellow painters.

Sharing a goal can be a unifying experience, and is a great way make new friends. It helps tremendously to think of them as partners, not competitors. We're all in this together, so we may as well enjoy the company. If you see an awesome entry, let it inspire you to new heights. You will find yourself browsing websites that sell custom bases, looking at how other painters handled the project, testing color schemes, investigating new techniques...

I wrote a blog post about 3 Ways to Improve Your Technique, but if you're truly inspired, the improvements will happen naturally.

The Golden Rule

This is all assuming that the other competitors are supportive. The only way to ensure this reality is to be one of those people. Even if the match is hopelessly uneven, either way, try your best to leave supportive comments and encouraging critique.

Remember, the person on the other side of the monitor needs your support just as much as you do theirs.

The Howling Griffons logo is very complex; requiring even more detail at a larger scale. I didn't mind putting in the extra effort, because I wanted this marine to be an inspiration to the other painters.

Get stuff done

Peer pressure is a powerful motivator, use it to your advantage.

In an age rife with distractions, it's hard to put down the shiny and concentrate on the lump of grey plastic that's been gathering dust on your paint table. Use your natural competitive spirit to get motivated. Knowing that there are others watching will keep you honest.

Even if you don't have the time to properly finish the model(s) for competition, consider working along as a sideline participant. That way you can accomplish your goals guilt free.

Otherwise, you owe it to yourself to throw your hat in the ring. Having others out there working alongside you, even in spirit, will get you through the hours much easier than just toughing it out. If you perceive your effort as part of a unified whole, painting can be a joy instead of a slog.

Keep painting in competition and let the results bring you encouragement, win or loss. There's inspiration to be found no matter where you finish. The process of improvement can be engaging and celebratory, and you don't have to do it alone.