Regulations of the Competition in the framework of the Figure Modeling Festival "Kontrast"

 

Figurative Painting Festival Kontrast is organized by the Ursynów District Office of the City of Warsaw, Ursynów Cultural Center "Alternatives" and Miniature Night Painting. 

Introduction

The aim of the "Kontrast" competition is to promote figure and gaming painting by creating a periodic event aimed at the entire painting community from home and abroad. Its addressees are also people intending to take up this hobby actively, or who simply want to interact with this form of art.

The main idea behind the Competition, which is the main event of the Festival, is to encourage figure painters of varying experience and level of painting technique to present their works to a wide audience. The second important aspect of the Festival and the Competition is to provide a platform for meetings and events to inspire, spark imagination, showcase new techniques and present innovations in the field of figure painting. However, the greatest value is the opportunity for direct contact with our art and the creation of interaction between its creators. We hope that this will result in building an integrated community among figure painters. Therefore, we encourage you to participate in the Contrast regardless of your own skills. This is because it is an opportunity to gain creative inspiration through meetings with excellent artists and fantastic people.
An important task of our festival is also to prepare its participants to compete in foreign competitions. Different types of categories at the Standard and Master levels serve this purpose. In the Master category we have included a structure similar to the solutions used in the best international competitions, but with our Polish accent. We believe that Polish figure painters have the potential to take part in other competitions, including abroad. It is therefore worth preparing them for this.

The works submitted to the Figure Painting Contest "Kontrast", are judged in an open system. The main principle of the Competition is that the works of participants are judged on the basis of the skills presented and the artistic value of the works submitted, and not in comparison with the works of other participants. This means that each work is judged individually and the Jury awards prizes for the value of the work, skill, imagination, concept and creative potential.

Simply put, participants have to convince the judges with their work, but they do not compete directly with other participants. Such a system gives a chance to both those who already paint and those who are competing for the first time, even with one work.

We believe that figure painting is an art form and therefore the rule of awarding 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and the system of comparative evaluation does not work here. We also recognize the rule that submitted works (as long as a participant submits more than one work in a given category) are judged as a "display" (all works submitted in a given category) of a given participant, that is:

1. in a situation where a participant submits more than one entry in a given category, the jury treats this entry as a "display", which means that a participant can only receive one award in this category for one best model or for the entire "display" (if all entries are of a uniform level),
2. 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 award Kontrast.

The system of awarding prizes at the Competition "Kontrast" is carried out in an open medal classification. This means that we award more than one/one bronze, silver or gold statue/medal in each category. The point is that more than one person in a given category can receive, for example, gold, which is a direct result of the assumptions of judging in the open system. In the event that there are no models in a given category that qualify for an award, the judging panel may not award an award.

Participants, by submitting works to the Contest, 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 situations, the delivery of figures by another person. However, such fact must be reported by the participant to the organizers before the end of the electronic registration to kontakt@kontrastfest.pl. In the subject line of the email, the registration number from the Emperor system and the name of the user must be included. In this situation, delivery and receipt of the work(s) is the sole responsibility of the applicant.

Submitted works must be assembled and connected/placed on stands/bases in such a way that they can be safely moved and visually evaluated without exposing the models to damage. The organizers take no responsibility for damage to "moving" works. 

The organizers are not responsible for damage to works during the exhibition. In order to avoid damage, we make every effort with cleaning services and the spacer system, as well as careful handling of the works. However, we cannot guarantee or assure that the works are 100% safe.

The exhibition of works is at the applicant's own risk.

Touching or moving other participants' works that are already on display is not allowed. Any violation of this rule may result in immediate exclusion from the competition. Only organizational services may make such changes.

 

Awards and prizes presented at Kontrast 2024:

• Grand Kontrast - The best entry of the competition according to the convention of judges,
• Chief Judge's Award - best work according to the chief judge,
• Best of Standard - The best work among all Standard categories,
• Best of Gaming - The best work among the Gaming category,
• Best of History - Best work in the Historical category,
• Standard level: awards and medals,

• Master level: awards and statuettes,
• Gaming category: honorable mentions and medals (bronze, silver) and statuettes (gold),

• Industry awards - awarded individually by clubs or companies. Information about such an award will be directly next to the model. In specific cases, the award will be available for pickup at the information desk or directly at the booth of the company that awarded it. Works awarded in this category will be presented at the final ceremony,
• Audience Award - awarded as a result of electronic voting by visitors to the exhibition of competition works,
• Special thematic category - the organizers reserve the right to designate a special thematic category. The works in this category will be evaluated by a special Jury and awarded with separate prizes,
• Distinctions (highly commended)-participants pick up at the reception of the festival. The list of distinguished works is posted at the reception desk. Distinguished authors will also receive an e-mail notification, if possible.

Participants who received a gold medal in the Standard category in previous editions of the Competition "Kontrast" can only submit their work at the Master level.

A participant can only exhibit his works in one level, that is, it is not allowed to submit/exhibit works simultaneously in the Master and Standard categories.

The winner of the award "Grand Kontrast" in the next edition of the festival receives an invitation to the judging panel.

Judges do not compete in the contest, their works can be viewed in a special section of the exhibition. We allow Speed Painting judges to participate in the competition because this category is judged by a separate panel, which does not participate in judging the works of the main competition categories, nor does it have any influence on the selection of Best Of and Grand awards Kontrast.

1) Levels

Standard: is a level for beginners as well as intermediate figure painters.

Master: level for experienced painters, winners of gold medals in the Standard category in previous editions of the Festival "Kontrast" and professional 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 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 prize money in the Master category. Remember that it is YOU who decides which category you compete in, and it depends solely on your assessment of the level and quality of your work. Remember that "Kontrast" is a recurring event, and this gives you the opportunity to plan your own path. The most important thing is to submit your work and be a participant in the festival.

The categories have strict parameters, but also if a work is submitted in the wrong category, the panel of judges has the right to move the work to another category. It is also possible to move a work to a higher level, if the work is clearly superior and has a chance to compete in a higher level.

Works are submitted at your own risk. It is not allowed to exhibit in the competition works that have already won awards in previous editions of the Competition "Kontrast". We kindly ask that those who have won a gold medal at the Standard level in previous editions of the competition submit their works to the Master level. The jury always has the right to move the works from Standard to Master level.

2) Works can be submitted in the following categories:

List of competition categories:

STANDARD

1. Standard Single figure up to 54mm - Single models less than 54mm in size, 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, only the height of the figure itself,
2. Standard Single figure from 54mm - Single models larger than 54mm. Figure size does not include the height of the base, only the height of the figure itself,
3. Standard Historical Figurine - Historical models in various scales. They can be busts, as well as single models, depicting figures or historical situations/scenes
4. Standard Bust - All SF, Fantasy and contemporary busts,
5. Standard Squad - A group of figures of 3 to 5 pieces, for example: gangs from KillTeam, Underworlds, BloodBowl, Zombicide, Marvell United, Infinity, Aristea or just a set of figures that look nice together. Figurines must be so firmly attached to the stand that they can be safely carried and judged by judges
6. Standard Story/The Story - This category includes models that have a specific message or show a story or emotion. Judging will be primarily on composition, interpretation and the "readability" of the story the work depicts. The painting technique, sculpture, as well as the overall execution should serve to deepen the story being told or create a specific effect that makes up the artistic value of the work
7. Standard Large Figure /Model - All kinds of vehicles and machines regardless of historical realities and all kinds of monsters in larger scale and size.

MASTER

1.Master Painting - This category includes single models, busts, war machine/vehicle models, dueles, dioramas and larger models in SF and Fantasy themes. Works will be judged primarily on applied painting skills, accuracy, color composition, interpretation and presentation of the work. In this category there is no division in terms of model size. The finishing of the models' bases will also be judged, but we encourage you to exhibit your work in the Story category in case the base and model are integrated to tell a specific story,

2. master story/The story - This category includes models that have a specific message or show a story or emotion. Judging will be primarily on composition, interpretation and the "readability" of the story the work depicts. The painting technique, sculpture, as well as the overall execution should serve to deepen the story being told or to create a specific effect that contributes to the artistic value of the work,

3. master Historical Figurine - Historical models in various scales. These can be busts, as well as single models depicting historical figures or scenes

4th Master Troop - A group of figures of 3 to 5 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 evaluated by the judges,

5. master 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 condition for submitting a work in this category is that the work is made independently by the author or a team. The work must be physically exhibited (sculpture/ 3D print). Judges have the right to ask for documentation or certification authenticating the authorship of the work.

GAMING

Gaming - Regiment / Army - a 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. Works will be accepted in two subcategories:

1. "Regiment" - a squad that is a self-contained element of a battle game, with a minimum of 6 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 base from BW: Lee. This can also be a stand-alone "army" for single figure (skirmish) games, as long as it is within a certain framework as to numbers (e.g. a large squad for BloodBowl, a band for Frostgrave, etc.),
2. "Army"-a minimum of 3 troops (the size is arbitrary, dictated by the system for which the army is made)-can include different models, such as 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. The size of the army stand must not exceed 40 cm by 40 cm. 

In the Gaming category, we use two levels: Gaming Standard and Gaming Master. 

SPECIAL-THEME CATEGORY

• Special "category" themed "Cyberpunk" at the festival Kontrast 2024 - here will be judged models with the theme of Cyberpunk. Single models, busts, dioramas, etc. are allowed here. The criterion for qualification in this category is the widely understood Cyberpunk theme of the submitted work. Models in this category will be judged by Deathburger's special guest Piotr Czajka of Neko Galaxy and the chief judge of "Contrast".

JUNIORS

A category in which young figure painters up to the age of 15 can submit their works. No medals are awarded in this category, but honorable mentions and special prizes. When submitting a Junior, a separate account must be created for him in the system that registers works for the competition.

OUT OF COMPETITION

A category for participants who do not wish to participate in the competition, but would like to present their works at the exhibition. Such participants, are also subject to electronic registration, and all rules related to the delivery, exhibition and security of works. There are also no levels in this category. 

 

3) Evaluation 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, care, finishing of the model, construction of the base/plinth/scene,
2. Artistic value - Color composition, use of light, eye-catching points, textures, etc...,
3. Message - The idea, the atmosphere, the story contained in the model,

The works are submitted anonymously, and the judging panels do 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 part of the evaluation.

The most important criteria for judging the works in the Story/The Story category are: readability of the message, attractiveness of the story (idea/creativity), quality of the artwork, aesthetics of the whole work.

 

4) Display

1. All works by the same author in one category/class are Display.
2. Display does not have to, but can be indicated in the application form.
3. Display is marked with markers that delineate the boundaries of a particular exhibition that gathers the works of one author.
4. Within the display, we do not combine works from different categories.

5) Jury

The judging panel of the Festival "Kontrast" is a group of recognized figure painters with extensive experience, winning awards at international, renowned competitions around the world. Every effort is made to ensure that it is a group of people representing different styles, as well as with 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 2024", will be judged by 5 panels of judges, consisting of three people: 4 - in Standard and Master, and 1 - in Gaming.

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 in accordance with the instructions,
• The best entries from among the gold medals from each Master competition category (except Gaming and Speed Painting) are eligible for selection of the Grand Kontrast award. The selection of 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 is allowed to vote for two entries. In the final round, only two works will remain, and each judge has the right to vote only once.
• The selection of the Best of Gaming award is made by the panel of judges in charge of this category from among the works that received a gold medal in the Master category. 
• The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the regulations up to 2 weeks before the start of the competition.

Alcohol and other stimulants are not allowed in the competition area.