May 30, 2026
Organized by North Bay Games and Hobbies
The first painting competition of it's kind in Northern Ontario.
The Northern Brush
Celebrate the artistry of the hobby community in our inaugural painting showdown! Whether you are a master of the brush or a rising Youngblood, show us your best work and earn your place among the North's finest artists.
Participants may enter up to three pieces per category.
This means that with the purchase of 1 entry a participant is eligible to submit a total of 15 pieces (3 for each of the 5 categories).
Early Submissions start May 11, 2026
Drop off your pieces in-store to be displayed.
Judging will take place May 30, 2026.
Event Sponsors
Categories
Standard &
Youngblood
(up to 14yrs)
Single Figure: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Historical up to 54mm
Diorama: Storytelling and scene-building
Large Figure / Bust: Any subject 54mm scale or larger
Vehicles / Constructs / Gundams: Mechanical and robotic subjects
Unit: Cohesive squads or groups of 3+ miniatures
The Hardware
PARTICIPANT PIN
YOUNGBLOOD DIVISION - MEDALLIONS
STANDARD DIVISION - MEDALLIONS
Events
Join in on challenges designed to test your skills and your sanity!
The Speed Painting Challenge: Race against the clock! Participants are given a mystery miniature and a limited palette. You have a set amount of time to finish. It’s fast and it’s frantic!
Pass the Model: The ultimate collaborative project. A single miniature will be passed around. You might be responsible for the base coats, the next person for the highlights, and another for the weathering. Watch a community masterpiece come to life in real-time!
Blindfold Painting: Think you know your way around a brush? Try doing it without your eyes! This hilarious and chaotic event challenges you to paint a simple miniature while completely blindfolded.
The Judges
Celebrating technical skill and creative vision through the Open Judging System.
David Cartagena: Events Coordinator for North Bay Games and Hobbies with over 20 years of experience in the hobby. He has a diverse background in professional commission work, including projects for private clients and industry names like MiniWarGaming.
Taylor Holloway: has been involved professionally in the hobby industry for the past 10 years, most notably as the Business Development Officer for Creature Caster and having run the Resin Beast Painting Competition at Adepticon for the past few years. He currently owns his own business - SAGA Creative Workshop - and also owns Zombie Kid Studios - a painting studio that focuses on teaching newcomers to the hobby advanced techniques.
Jennifer Allison: is the Director and Curator of the WKP Kennedy Gallery and a multidisciplinary artist and educator with over 15 years of experience in visual arts and design. She focuses on fostering creativity, accessibility, and artistic excellence across diverse mediums and platforms.
Competition Overview
