Dark Sword Open Competition - Manfacturer Award
Dark Sword Best In Show and 1st place Single Mini in the Overall Gen Con Open Competition: Zach Lanier - VIF Dark Elf Warrior
Second Place: Alison Scheirman - VIF Female Ranger
Third Place: Dave Coulson - Elmore Masterworks Elmore Angel vs. Elmore Demoness
Dark Sword & George R.R. Martin Masterworks - Sub Category Competition
1st Place - Sonya Taulia - Melisandre with Source Lighting Effects
2nd Place - Erin Warfield - Danerys 54mm
3rd Place - Maya Morland - Cersei and her Ladies in Waiting.
Resident Painting Competition Photographer - Mengu Gungor
Gen Con Indy 2009 was an amazing time once again. We had tons of fun hanging out with old friends and meeting new friends. Our showing in the Gen Con painting competition was very strong as well. Check out the show pictures and painting competition pictures down below. Gen Con Indy 2010 is only nine short months away so get painting those Dark Sword pieces for the open competition folks!
Some booth shots right before the show opened up on Thursday morning. This is a really exciting time for me as the long trip there, the set-up and everything else is all done and we are about 30 minutes out from the doors opening up for almost 30,000 people to descend upon the hall for 4 days of good times and good company. I love meeting and talking to all the Dark Sword collectors that attend the show. It is really cool to see first timers hit the booth and their eyes light up when they see our miniatures in person.
Devin and Alison Scheirman in full pirate and pirate wench garb.
Jen Haley and Alison swung by in their very cool costumes.
Alison, Mr. Tom Meier and Kathy posing for a picture at the booth on Saturday. The ladies do love Tom...
The miniature legend himself Mr. Tom Meier (right) and myself hanging out on Saturday at the booth. Tom found some fun gifts for his two children at the show.
The legendary modeler and diorama builder Sheperd Paine, myself and Noel hanging out at the booth and chatting. Tom Meier took this picture actually. We were all hanging out and chatting miniatures and dioramas. Sheperd Paine is the man responsible for all those amazing diorama pictures on the monogram model kits (tanks, planes, etc.). His body of work is responsible for getting countless people into diorama/model building.
Our resident 1960's Spy Gal Marike Reimer hung out at the Dark Sword booth off and on between painting classes and running around the hall checking out all the goodies.
John, Jen, Tom, Marike, Dave and myself at St. Elmo Steakhouse in downtown Indy for a Dark Sword Dinner with people that were free on Saturday night. It is almost impossible with the 24 hour a day gaming events to round everyone up for dinner each night so we all get together with different folks at different times each night as schedules permit. By the way, this is one of the best steak houses in the entire country. Those spicy Shrimp Cocktails burn your nostrils big time! Oh, and their steak is just to die for...Christ, standing next to Dave it really calls out the fact I need to drop about 30-40 pounds. I'll just call myself Heroic 28mm scale next to Dave's true 28mm scale. It is a perfect example actually - bigger head, bigger hands - scale creep in action folks! Heck, if we were all miniatures, people would be screaming that we have no control over our scale and we look like we do not fit in together on the gaming table. Hey, what's the deal with the ladies flocking to Tom Meier once again?!?! He gets all the dames I tell ya... Some guys learn to play guitar and some guys learn to sculpt....
Painted by Mr. Zach Lanier
Sculpted by Jeff Grace
Gen Con Indy 2009 Painting Contest - 1st Place Single Mini and Dark Sword Mfr. Award Best In Show Winner
This amazing piece took 1st Place at Gen Con Indy 2009 and also took Dark Sword Best in Show. Zach was on a mission this year and he had an excellent showing to say the least. Be sure to check out Zach's Web Site for top-notch miniature carrying cases that painters can store their works in for transit to shows and such.
2nd Place - Dark Sword Open Category
Painted by Alison Scheirman.
Alison Scheirman
Sculpted by Jeff Grace
Alison once again took 2nd place with this amazaing piece. I really like this piece and the conversion work she did. But it seems like there is always someone who just nudges Ali out for Dark Sword Best in Show.
Painted by Alison Scheirman.
Alison Scheirman
Sculpted by Jeff Grace
3rd Place - Dark Sword Open Category
Painted by Dave Coulson
Sculpted by Jeff Grace
I love dioramas. And this one was really cool to check out in person.
Painted by Chuck Ocenasch
Sculpted by Jeff Grace
This miniature did not place, but I really liked it so I asked for a picture to be taken from Mr. Mengu.
1st Place - Dark Sword / GRRM Masterworks Sub-Category
Painted by Sonya Taulia
Sculpted by Tom Meier
This was a very impressive piece to see in person.
1st Place - Dark Sword / GRRM Masterworks Sub-Category
Painted by Sonya Taulia
Sculpted by Tom Meier
2nd Place - Dark Sword / GRRM Masterworks Sub-Category
Painted by Erin Warfield
Sculpted by Tom Meier
Something happened to the pictures of this piece as there appears to be some washout. The actual miniature itself was stunning in person. Erin, if you have better pics, send them over to me. Or lets hook up at The Source and I will bring this piece home and shoot it here and then return it to you.
3rd Place - Dark Sword / GRRM Masterworks Sub-Category
Painted by Maya Morland
Sculpted by Tom Meier
Maya used the Ltd Edition sorceress, the Lannister Lady and Waiting and of course Cersei herself in this very cool diorama.