Painting Contest: First Quarter Final Winners

Yes, that’s right. The First Quarter Final of our 2025 Painting Contest already has its winners. The level of the participants in the First Quarter Final has been amazing, and it has been a true challenge to pick the winners, but our jury has decided.

So, are you ready to find out who already has a place in the 2025 Grand Final, which will take place in December 2025 and January 2026? But not only that, the Quarter Final winners are also taking home amazing prizes from our great contest sponsors AMERALABS and THE ARMY PAINTER, and additionally, the first in each category will also get a brand new 3D printer.

Before announcing the winners, let's introduce the structure of the First Quarter Final. In each category, only the 3 finalists of this year's first three Monthly Rounds (January, February, and March) could participate. However, they could not enter with just any mini. Instead, they had to pick one among the minis we proposed for each category:

For the Monthly Category, of course, they were from April's collections, which were the following:

Monthly Category 1st Quarter Final minis - from April's Collections:

• Thanaeas - Tongue of Null - 100mm base  

• Nullborn Doomwalker - 75mm base - In any of its 4 poses 

• Harrowborn Nemesis - 75mm base

• Nomad Archimandrite - 170mm base on any modular configuration. 

And for the Classic Category, the selection was from various previous collections, as usual:

Classic Category 1st Quarter Final minis - from previous Collections:

• Ape Predator - 40mm base - Hellas Eternal - Artemis Rising - August 2024

• Panselinoi - 50mm base - Moondance - Gates of Argantos - November 2022

• Ordos'Nai - 50mm base - Speak of the Devil - Act.III - July 2023

• Grieving Brandmaven - 50mm base - Gravebound - Queen's Wail - November 2024

With no more delay, here are the winners in each category for the First Quarter Final:

In the Monthly Category of the First Quarter Final, All 9 participants did a great job. However, only three can win. So the winners of the Monthly Category of the First Quarter Final are:

• 1st place: Steven Rutherford for their painting work on Harrowborn Nemesis

  A brilliant work which balances rich textures and dramatic contrasts. Cold steel, bruised flesh, royal blue fabric, and bloodied terrain all contribute to a grim visual story. The multi-armed figure is bristling with cruel weapons and clad in jagged armor, its exposed sinews and pallid flesh painted in vivid, visceral reds.

• 2nd place: Carlos Federico Tewes for their painting work on Nullborn Doomwalker.

  This strikingly painted miniature is full of dynamic energy and gritty detail. The fierce warrior pose, combined with the vibrant red hair plume and expertly weathered armor, evokes a powerful barbaric aesthetic.

• 3rd place: Samantha Millar for their painting work on Thanaeas - Tongue of Null.

  This miniature is an impressive display of craftsmanship and painting detail. The rich color palette, especially the purples, golds, and sickly greens, evokes a powerful, arcane presence. The figure exudes dark majesty, and the glowing orb, along with the ominous blade, enhances the miniature’s mystique. A striking and well-painted piece.

Let's go now to the winners of the Classic Category of the First Quarter Final, where the 9 participants also made it very difficult for our jury with their excellent paintjobs!

• 1st place: Cedric Bernard for their painting work on Ordos'Nai.

  This paintwork is a brutal and visually arresting piece that exemplifies the dark fantasy aesthetic. Realistic flesh tones, rich metallics, and carefully weathered armor blend seamlessly with the base's earthy textures.

• 2nd place: Rafael Lodyga for their painting work on Apex Predator.

  This painted miniature commands attention for sure. The vivid teal armor, highlighted with glowing orange and gold elements, gives the model a striking, otherworldly appearance. The lighting, particularly the simulated glow from the shoulder-mounted orbs, is masterfully done and creates a dramatic and immersive effect.

• 3rd place: Dav Thomas for their painting work on Grieving Brandmaven.

  A regal and haunting figure, painted with a masterful blend of ethereal and noble tones. The character exudes a ghostly majesty emphasized by the flowing robes, elongated form, and the solemn crown. The muted purples, blues, and golds create a twilight palette that evokes both decay and royalty.

Congratulations to all winners, especially to the four who have won their place in the Grand Final (two per category). Here are the prizes they have earned:

• 1st place - Qualification for the Grand Final + a 3D printer + 1 bottle of resin by Ameralabs +  3 Months Free Archvillain Games Patreon or MMF Subscription for the Omniversal Tier.

• 2nd place - Qualification for the Grand Final + 2 bottles of resin by Ameralabs + The Army Painter Speedpaint Starter Set or Wet Palette + 3 Months Free Archvillain Games Patreon or MMF Subscription for the Omniversal Tier.

• 3rd place - 1 bottle of resin by Ameralabs + Qualification for next Quarter Final +  3 Months Free Archvillain Games Patreon or MMF Subscription for the Omniversal Tier.

And for all of you who have not secured a place in the 2025 Great Final, do not worry. You still have three more Quarter Finals and many monthly rounds to qualify.

 Finally, for those who still do not know about our 2025 painting contest, you can check the Rules and Guidelines of the contest, where you will find all you need to know about its structure, categories, prizes, how to participate, and much more. May Monthly Round has started, and you have until the last day of the month to submit your entries, so hurry up.

To say goodbye to this great First Quarter Final, let's congratulate the winners and all Quarter Final participants again for their splendid pieces. Thank you, we hope you enjoyed painting them as much as we did reviewing and selecting them.

Sponsored by: AMERALABS and THE ARMY PAINTER