Muted rustling of leaves under heavy boots, damp smell of dirt and moss. Ever-present, distant sound keeps pounding in your head. Dum-dum-dum. Drums. The echoing vibration from behind the trees grows louder with each step taken. What awaits once you reach the treeline? Well, that depends on you…

It seems you have stumbled over the roots and brooks, through twigs and shrubs, only to find yourself in this man-forsaken place. You may still be able to turn back. Probably. Or you could persevere and look for the source of the sound. If you do, tell me what you saw, would you?

Greetings weary soul. Welcome to the renewed Grimdark challenge! As you have probably guessed by now, this challenge’s theme is all about the woods and creatures that dwell within it. Bring out your best twisted creations that challenge the core of human sanity! Or choose something more akin to a man with your own terrible twist to it. The choice is yours!

how to submit an entry – read carefully

Submission deadline is November the 3rd 2024
EMAIL ENTRY: well-lit, high resolution photo/s need to be emailed to community@grimdarkcompendium.com with Forest Freaks in subject, and preferably mentioning a name we can find you under on Facebook or Instagram if possible. If you do not email your entry we cannot guarantee it will be judged
SOCIAL MEDIA ENTRY: This step is not necessary, but encouraged. Post your entry on Instagram, using #grimdarkfreaks and tagging @grimdark_compendium and @fokin_skaven. You can also post your entry on the Grimdark Community Facebook group
Entries must be created specifically for this challenge. Use of old works or works that have been used in other painting competitions will not be considered
Only one entry per person is permitted

eligibility

Accepted Media will consist of wargaming miniatures of any scale or brand, busts, 3d printed figures, taxidermy etc etc
Entries must be relevant to the current challenge theme
Entries must be modelled and painted in the grimdark style. Show us your vision of it and don’t be afraid to experiment!
Grimdark style focuses on trying to capture a dark, dystopian worlds with suffocating mood. This includes techniques such as surface finish variations, grimdark modelling aesthetics, battle damage, chipping, rust, grime, blood, skulls, muted colour palettes, high contrast lighting, OSL, decay effects etc.

Learn About The Grimdark Style!

rules summary

Submission deadline is November the 3rd 2024
EMAIL ENTRY: well-lit, high resolution photo/s need to be emailed to community@grimdarkcompendium.com with Forest Freaks in subject, and preferably mentioning a name we can find you under on Facebook or Instagram. If you do not email your entry we cannot guarantee it will be judged
SOCIAL MEDIA ENTRY: This step is not necessary, but encouraged. Post your entry on Instagram, using #grimdarkfreaks and tagging @grimdark_compendium and @fokin_skaven. You can also post your entry on the Grimdark Community Facebook group
Entries must be created specifically for this challenge. Use of old works or works that have been used in other painting competitions will not be considered
Accepted Media will consist of wargaming miniatures of any scale or brand, busts, 3d printed figures, taxidermy etc etc
Entries must be modelled and painted in the grimdark style. Show us your vision of it and don’t be afraid to experiment!

judging criteria – point values may change in future challenges

Modelling – 25 points

In this judging category, we assess the quality of building, cleaning, kit-bashing, and sculpting. While focusing on the added or modified elements and how they integrate into the overall entry, we also allocate substantial points for the skill of building and cleaning alone.

Painting – 40 points

This is the highest-valued category! We focus on the quality of the paint job and the use of the grimdark techniques mentioned above. We’re looking for realistic, moody paint jobs that capture the essence of dystopian worlds and the characters within them. Show us your best interpretation of a grimdark reality! Please note, entries painted in the ‘Eavy Metal’ style or similar will be completely disregarded.

Basing – 25 points

Basing is a crucial element of the grimdark style. In this category, we evaluate the technical skill in base-building, the complexity of the base, and how seamlessly the model integrates with the depicted environment, as this greatly influences the weathering effects.

Photography – 10 points

We are looking for a well-lit, in-focus, and well-composed photograph set against a black or white background.