Your light placement is incredible on this. It absolutely looks like a photorealistic render, I think more so than any other model I've seen. Thanks for uploading a 360, it's wonderful to be able to take in all the details. Inspired to paint now!

It's kinda funny to listen to you be so critical of your model, because to me it looks absolutely amazing. But that was all really interesting. Especially the parts about how your prior decisions created problems. I feel like there is a desire among beginners to just give up and strip and reprime when they get frustrated at how their paint job is going, but I encourage myself and others to push through and keep adding layers and futzing until it's decent. Because that results in a painted model, whereas continuously stripping and re-priming can be an infinite loop that ends with an abandoned WIP. But it sounds like the considerations are totally different at the high level your painting at, and starting from a blank slate with a very strong idea of what you want to achieve is the best method.

There were a few incredible loonbosses that were entered that made me want to pick up one of these and take a crack... I think I've painted a few things that you've painted on video just because I want to try and replicate some of the paint jobs that you've done. Trophy or not, this is a big inspiration for me, and thank you for making this video!

I could watch you bash your amazing model all day lol, its a real confidence booster

I bet the judges had such a hard time with it this year. The standard was insane! Was so high this year I doubt I’ll ever enter now out of embarrassment 😂

It’s interesting to here such a talented and accomplished painter critique their own piece. The decision making process you go through is fascinating. Thank you for posting this. It was very educational.

Thanks for your thoughts on the competition and your whole process. I personally loved this model and felt gutted for you when it didn't get a trophy. Having said that I can't take anything away from those that did win one, they were fantastic pieces in their own right. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you in person and again thank you for the videos. They really have helped me progress as a painter. I'm very eager for next year and definitely look forward to seeing you there. Cheers Rich, see you soon. Kieran

This is one of the most beautiful pieces I've seen this year hands down. Definitely should have been a gold. Golden Demon competitions are kind of weird you never know what the judges are going to like.

Thank you for taking the time to give us your thoughts about your entry and the competition. For all the challenges you endured it's still a fantastic piece for sure. Oh to be a fly on wall when they're doing the judging! I'm very sorry to hear you got sick too - hope you feel better soon!

It still looks 1000000 times better than anything I will ever be able to achieve

Great vid, really interesting to hear the stories behind the model, cya in April

This is a beautiful example of the artistry of miniature painting. I love your videos, please keep them coming. I enjoy your videos because you actually speak like you are talking to a buddy. Some people at your level are so arrogant, almost sounding unfriendly in their videos, but never you. Thanks for sharing!

It's so far beyond anything I could do, but I do understand where you are coming from. You persevered though, when you could have just given up at any moment, and that's probably the most important thing. Have you ever considered doing a full video on all of your GD entries you've made and talking about them? The way you talk about painting is really interesting to me!

Learned a lot from this most-mortem of the submission, thank you sir!

What a beautiful piece! And thanks for all the great insight into the pitfalls👍😁 always looking forward to your pieces:) i loved this piece!:D

This was great and good luck with your next entry

Great to hear your thoughts. The paintjob is beyond awesome!

If this didn’t place I’ll never enter because this is fire I could only dream of this well done bud

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with us!

Loved seeing this up close, really enjoyable piece. Would never have guessed you had such a mare with the resin pour, looks great.

Seldom comment on YT (but swear like a trooper IRL), but by the Power of GreySkull, that is an amazing paint job. SubbeD for sure!

Your piece is absolutely stunning!

Thanks for your insight, and this is an awesome model which you should be proud of.

Thankyou so much for posting this; I'm planning to enter for March's Golden Demon, and hearing that pro painters also struggle is heartening

I am no judge and I have done my own fair assessments of pieces from top quality painters (without any of my own skills to back it) but I do have to say, this is my favorite mini I have ever seen. This even tops the wow factor when I saw the green knight back in the day.

It's great to hear your thoughts on what you learned about this project. Also for an at best intermediate painter it's great to understand that even a painter of your caliber doesn't get everything perfect the first time. And thanks for the resin warning ;) That miniature is absolutely bonkers awesome!! The paintjob is so smooth and the colour gradients leave me stunned.

Awesome as always Richard Gray! This is a winner for me... much like all of your work. Be well! Super fan here... but my first time to comment here though. 💙🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎨🎨🎨

Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this.

Thanks for sharing. I am thinking of trying Golden Daemon next year and is great to hear about the experience, the competition and your entry. I am nowhere near a level I consider close to getting anywhere yet. The thought of accelerating and trying new techniques interest me.

This was a nice format for a video. Talking heads type videos can sometime be a bit dull but to be able to spend 25 minutes looking at your model from every angle while listening to your thoughts was really nice.

I love this style so I’m looking forward to seeing you merge this style with your preferred style which I also love 👌💜

its beautiful wow very good job

I think it looks brilliant :)

I’m a new painter and would love to get to this level of painting and enter some competitions. Sad to hear you didn’t win trophy, I love this piece. So clean, the NMM is excellent and the colour really pops. It’s a solid entry.

Thank you for your self criticism! It’s helpful for me. I love your channel and have so much gratitude for how you have helped me. I will keep watching.

Damn, thats so clean, You're my miniature painting hero

Great vid 👌

I have to say, this is one of my favorites of the pieces of yours I've seen. Not just because I'm a Gloomspite gitz fan, but a squig fan in general.

Looks fantastic! The competition must have been extremely fierce for that not to place.

I mean, it is beautiful work. Even submitting something to Golden Demon - It looks amazing man, job well done.

I loved your entry, matey! It was great to meet you too.

Holy crap that is a awesome!

Sorry to hear you came away with a virus instead of a trophy, hope you're feeling much better soon!

Mate, I feel that last section about workspace so much, I have a real problem with the pots everywhere and halfway projects being so distracting. I too shall be having a clear up after hearing you talk it through like this. Thanks!

Even though you would have done differently, I still am in love with the model! I do agree with you that the base is not at the same level als the miniature. I like most of the painted elements, but the tufts look not that well integrated. Would love to see you focus on basing more, because you are already such a great painter that focusing on improving your basing game will have an bigger impact on your pieces as a whole.

Hello Richards, Thanks for the video. The level was crazy on that event. I got two finalist pins and considered myself so lucky…I will be at the next one and hope to say hello to you.

You're still our favourite

Too good, too clean ...

It was very nice in person! The base sounded like an absolute nightmare! I'm curious which miniature you thought would win gold but didn't place.

These competitions should have a category without thinning any paint.

Smoove

You'll always be my winner.

Defini definition of precursor

Hey a commended entry is a goal for some people like myself included. Idk your background, its my first video of yours, but it should encourage you. This was a remarkable piece, you definitely should think highly of it . This video is very important info. It seems to me the more entries you have the higher your chances which makes it even harder for those who entered single pieces to win.

What brand of paints do you use for this piece?

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of trying entering painting competitions? Presumably you'd suggest trying other events before Golden Demon, but which ones?

Did you get feedback from the judges at all? I would be interesting to see what areas were holding it back from placing.

Well done on your entry. Your loon boss looks amazing. Curious question, are you able to enter the same model again? For example next year's Golden Demon 2023.

Hey Richard, have you been asked to judge at iron skull 2023? I bought a ticket back in 2021 it's obviously been postponed twice but they've not announced a date for 2023 and aren't responding to my messages. Wondered if you could help me out with getting the organisers to reply to me. They have read my messages and not replied.

resin por on a round base on patron coming ? yes 🙏

This should’ve been slayer sword winner.

I can see it, but I can’t understand how you can paint red, blue and yellow like that!

let's face it man, this thing should've won, if not at least the top 3

I prefer the difficulty of the Golden Demon competitions. It gives the awards a feeling of prestige and accomplishment; including the Commended awards. The merit-based judging systems don't do it for me. Those feel like everyone who shows up gets something. At Gen Con this year, for example, they gave away 46 bronzes in the Single Miniature category... That is absurd! That is no longer a competition, but a protect-everyone's-sense-of-entitlement participation award. This piece by Richard is stunning, as were many other entries. The judges had a very difficult task.

I cant understand how this didn’t get a trophy mate, heres one from me anyways 🏆

What is that thing

your Mortarion is the best painted mini in history imo, but this goblin seems dull. the squig is excellent, and i like the little details like the pink foot pads (and the blending and highlighting looks perfect. unfortunately the metal armor on the goblin all blends together (might be because of the video or angle). the weapon being the same as the armor looks like it also blends in. the goblin skin is too dark i think too, if it were a lighter green it would stand out better. on the whole, i think this might not have been a great choice of mini. i would have loved to see what you would have done with the lance and pennant. still a great mini, and you are among the finest painters to ever live. as ive told my friends when i saw your Mortarion, i cant say that it was a good idea to sell your soul for painting skill, since there is no other way anyone could have painted that mini.

Is that Godly or not

That model is incredible. I can see a couple flaws though that I think could be the reason you weren't picked for a trophy. That reflection on the sickle blade, pretty much right in the middle looks a bit wrong. It looks like maybe a spotlight is reflecting off it, but it doesn't suit the rest of the blade. Top of the tail, under the goblin looks very plain. Like you ran out of time and didn't bother paint it to the same standard. The left ankle, right behind the leg collar looks weird, it's not blended well. That's all the nitpicks I can see. All my criticisms are in relation to the rest of the models unbelievable standard, not in general.

You win or you lose, simple. You lost. Time to put the hammer into Warhammer...