F.A.Qs

The Crimson Brush is a dedicated Display Painting Competition held at CanCon on the Australia Day long weekend in January of every year.

For more information, see our 'What Is The Crimson Brush?' page.

The Crimson Brush follows the Open System format.

There are three standards of painting the judges will be basing their decisions on: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
There is no limit to the number of awards that can be given out. As an example, if there are 25 entries in a category, and 15 are of a Gold standard, then all 15 will be awarded Gold.

We will also be awarding Highly Commended for entrants that did not quite make the medals, but the judges felt deserve recognition.
We continue to look for ways to improve the Crimson Brush.

As per last year, there will be both a Standard and Masters category. However, to provide more structure for the Standard category we will be introducing additional categories for Standard entrants (see more on this below).

The biggest risk in separating into these categories is dividing the community and creating the feeling of cliques, or a cool kids club. We have such a small (but growing) scene, and it is more important for us to continue to try to bring artists together.

We believe we have reached a point with the Australian scene where the level of painting that inspires, may also be intimidating for newer painters.

We want to encourage ALL painters to participate and get involved. Without entrants of all skill levels, competition loses meaning.

Each entrant will decide for themselves whether to enter Standard or Masters. An entrant must submit all of their entries to only one category.

The organisers can provide a recommendation for a painter if they are uncertain where to place their work, however the final choice will remain with the individual painter.

If you’ve never submitted your work to a painting event before. If you have entered an event, but not won a Gold medal.

If you mostly do “army painting”.

For the majority of entrants to the Crimson Brush, this is the category to enter.

When this category is judged, our focus will be on celebrating improvement, rewarding creativity, and supporting painters. This has been our approach towards judging in previous years.

Previous Gold Medal winners at this event, or any other.

Painters who want to compete against the best in the world.

Choosing to enter Masters is an achievement, and one to be celebrated.
All entrants in Masters will receive a Masters pin, and may be asked to assist in judging some of the other awards listed below.

However, this category will be more ruthlessly judged than any event prior.

This year, the Standard entrants will have separate categories.

Those categories will be:

Single Figure: Wargaming scale figures, but not including Monster models etc

Unit: 3 or more models from a unit

Large Figure & Bust: 54mm and larger, busts and monsters

Open: Anything that doesn’t fit into the other categories