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Hyatt Regency Crystal City
2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy Arlington, VA 22202
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July 15, 2018: Year 9; Edition 14
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Hi, All ~
45 DAYS: NOVA Open 2018 Looms Large!
In a little more than 6 weeks, the Con will actually kick off the weekend prior its usual Wednesday registration by hosting the first-ever Stateside presentation of Roman Lappat's amazing multi-day workshop,
JAR's Beginner Painting
(only 4 spots remain). Check it out and think about arriving early to take advantage of this exclusive opportunity.
This newsletter episode contains some pretty important information, including the addition of Games Workshop's new
Kill Team
events to the NOVA Open's suite of activities!
Among the many great news items this week, we are proud to announce that the Age of Sigmar Grand Tournament sold out, joining a growing list of events that are amassing wait lists. NOVA Open is working with leads to consider an expansion. This underscores the importance of putting yourself on the waitlist if anything is sold out.
Once again, I stress the value of NOVA Open volunteering ... it supports our ability to run a well-organized convention focused on charitable contributions. If you are in the VA-DC-MD area, we appeal to your sense of volunteerism and ask you to consider joining the staff Saturdays in August at our Lorton VA facility. Those days are earmarked for packing swag, raffle items, prize packages, and wrapping it all up for delivery to Hyatt. We also need help with move-in Tuesday and Wednesday, August 28-30, as well as move-out Sunday and Monday, September 2-3. Read below for info on convention staff needs and scheduling. Contact Marti today:
customerservice@novaopen.com.
Event packets are finalizing, as we polish our missions in advance of shipping them off for guidebook print. This year's guidebooks and tear-away score pads are coming together with beautiful cover art and vendor-sponsor ads once more, keeping with a collector's tradition I am particularly proud of.
I highly recommend that you make the time to read up on your events to ensure you have a good understanding of what to expect and plan for your best con experience ever. If you have any questions, ask
customerservice@novaopen.com. We want your final weeks of preparation to go well.
Finally, do not miss out on the incredible raffles being offered by the NOVA Open Charitable Foundation. We've seen RECORD funds generated for charity in just the opening two (2) weeks of the raffles, and you'll want to throw your own hat in the ring once you see how spectacular each army and mini looks. Can we really call the Warlord Titan a mini?
Thanks for everything you as attendees do which enables us to put on an amazing con while raising funds and awareness for key charitable causes worldwide. We can't wait to host you in just a few short weeks!
Very Best,
Mike Brandt
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The NOVA Open is a full 4-day convention with a move-in this year from Monday, August 27th to Wednesday, August 29th - and a move-out day on Sunday, September 2 to Monday, September 3rd.
Able bodied support staff is needed for move-in and move-out: SERIOUSLY! The NOVA Open moves out of eight storage units using two massive semi tractor trailers into 75,000 square feet of convention space at the Hyatt Regency. We run on volunteers - top to bottom. Every bit of help given is why NOVA Open has become the greatest US East Coast TTWG convention
Non-player staff (aka significant others, parents, family, children) are always needed to help cover any number of daily shifts at registration, badge station, store, raffle desks, gate receipts, SuperNOVA desk, halls, Hobby Haven, seminar rooms and more. Anyone willing to join the Photography crew is also a hot sought-after commodity!
Make Friends for Life: We'll keep you busy while you're having the Best Time of Your Life (feel free to insert music/lyrics into your head here)!
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KILL TEAMS ARRIVE AT NOVA OPEN 2018
FIRST MAJOR U.S. EVENT!
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Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team goes up for Preorder from Games Workshop in less than a week, and releases to the general public in 13 days. Due to this great news, the NOVA Open is proud to offer a series of Kill Team event offerings at the Con. Here's the skinny:
- Event Tickets for 8-man, 3-Round Kill Team Tournaments ARE AVAILABLE for Thursday AM/PM, Friday AM/PM, Saturday AM/PM, and Sunday AM - HERE.
- Spots are highly limited, with room for only 16 players / 2 Tournaments per AM and PM Time Slot . . . Sign Up Quickly - HERE.
- Finalists for each Pod on Thursday - Saturday will be also eligible to participate in Finals on Sunday AM.
- Due to the still-unreleased nature of the game, we will not be able to publish formal event packets until after it hits the shelves.
- NOVA Open's Event Staff includes members of the Kill Team Play Testing Group for Games Workshop. While they cannot tell the staff anything specific, their tournament packets are ready to go as soon as the game goes live. They are hard at work ensuring the missions and format are sanctioned by Games Workshop right from the get-go.
- The event primer is live at THIS LINK, and more information / details will be added to it as soon as NDA permits.
- To make things easier on players learning this brand new game, we've set round times to 1 hour and 15 minutes each, despite Warhammer Community previewing an estimated 30-40 minute game time. This is to allow for a casual pace and plenty of time for questions and rules look-up, plus careful strategy and maneuvering in-game.
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Additionally, we surveyed registrants for the 40K Narrative Recon Squad events already scheduled for this year (and more or less sold out). These events use home-brew Kill Team rules innovated before the official game existed. If you haven't responded to this survey yet, please check your inbox for email from our registrar, Marti Seraphin. Based on the results, we can safely say at least some amount of Recon Squad events will convert over to Kill Team for this year, so stay tuned for event packet updates on that front, as well.
The NOVA Open is very excited to bring Kill Team to the 40K Narrative and as Standalone events this year, adding one more layer of amazing fun to what promises to be our very best convention yet.
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2018 SUMMER RAFFLES ARE LIVE!
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This summer’s
TWENTY-TWO (22) SUMMER RAFFLES will focus on those three amazing charities.
8 INCREDIBLE ARMIES
2 BEAUTIFUL DETACHMENTS
12 MODELS YOU WILL TREASURE FOREVER
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RAFFLE NEWS UPDATES
&
RAFFLE RULES-INFORMATION
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2018 Summer Raffles are live - and the support for these amazing offers has been record-breaking! The NOCF mission is intended to represent tabletop wargamers around the world - and this year is proving to be no exception to that rule. To underscore that this hobby has no geographical boundaries, in just two weeks:
- Worldwide Reach: Tabletop wargamers in 29 different countries participating
- European Reach: 14/28 countries have players with tickets
- Canadian Reach: 6/13 Provinces & Territories represented
- US Reach: 45/50 states already active
You can help increase those numbers for NOCF, which has donated over $130,000 since 2013 on behalf of the compassionate and generous world-wide community of tabletop wargamers. How? Boost the signal and share the NOCF, its website, and the raffle pages with your friends, gaming buddies, on your blogs and in your social media outlets. If you are a podcaster and wish to interview an artist or member of NOCF, email
customerservice@novaopen.com.
These are RAFFLES, not auctions. Everyone with a ticket has a chance to win. Last year, the NOCF set a goal of raising $50K with the 2017 Summer Raffles, and you met it! This year - with what Dave Taylor describes as “arguably the best collection of offerings we’ve had so far” - we are hoping you will smash our $60K summer goal. Though the excitement is surely about owning any one or more of the 22 lots in this raffle, the actual result is in the world’s acknowledgment of this community through powerful and significant contributions.
Here are some important things to note about how the NOCF raffles work:
- Tickets can be purchased from ANYWHERE in the world via the website (novaopenfoundation.org). Sales will close at 12:00 noon on Sunday, September 2, 2018.
- The drawings will take place, and winners announced, at NOVA Open 2018 on September 2 – but you do not have to be present at NOVA Open to win. NOCF will ship anywhere in the world with a valid mailing address.
- Winners will be contacted directly, via the email associated with their PayPal receipt, no later than 9/5/2018. The email will arrive from novacharites@gmail.com.
- Tickets are either $2 or $5; they may or may not be limited. Checkout requires a minimum $10 sale. This minimum ensures that the maximum percentage of each ticket purchased will benefit the designated charitable cause.
- No members of the NOVA Open Charitable Foundation, Inc., Board of Directors, and no member of the NOVA Open Executive Committee, are eligible to win. NOCF artists are eligible to win any item other than those they worked on.
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TERRAIN REPORT
The NOVA Open is only weeks away and this year we will be more prepared than ever before. Hundreds of new pieces of terrain have been built for your enjoyment. Personally I think some of it is the most interesting we have created so far. 2018 has been the season with the most ups and downs I can remember.
The early terrain build sessions started off slow with cold and wet weather that caused low turnouts and even one cancelation due to snow. Initial projects focused on giving new life to some of our older terrain and coming up with new designs for 2018. We were able to do some really good work on this front and we think you will be pleased when you see it. There was one major setback that in retrospect turned into something great.
I designed some new terrain for 40K that turned out to
not work at all. It was a funky kind of building that was designed to put troops on top and had a lip on the side for more troops. As it turns out it doesn’t fly on several levels as its game effect was more like a hill with sheer sides. Mr. Brandt did not realize there was an issue until we had built 18 of them. He assumed that they were for a different system and once he figured it out we had to stop production and figure out what to do with the 18 works in progress. The solution came from one of our volunteers who figured that since the entire piece was made of pink foam why not just cut it up into a shape that does work. This took some doing but the pieces that we made are unique compared to anything we did before. They remind me of the descriptions of ancient cities in H.P Lovecraft stories. Keep an eye out for them.
The mid part of the season got a bit better as the weather warmed and a few more people thawed out and decided to get involved. We changed our focus to working on requested terrain from our wonderful tournament organizers. With 40K sales going crazy we decided that more terrain was needed. We also received requests for new terrain for Age of Sigmar and Malifaux just to name two. It was also at this time that we found out about Black Maria’s sponsorship and all the awesome terrain they would be sending us. The only real setback at this time was having to cancel one of the build sessions because I was unable to attend (anniversary) and none of the alternates were available ether. It sucked, but gave us just the break we needed to come back strong!
Final Phase. When we came back, after nearly a month off, we hit the ground with renewed effort. In fact the first terrain build after the break had the highest turnout in NOVA Open history with a whopping 40+ people showing up for a great day of terrain building, conversation, and a cookout. The amount of effort everyone put in that day was humbling. Pretty much everything we wanted to work on got built and much of it painted. In fact painting was all that was left for most projects. We finished that up in the last (as of this writing) session that was just a couple of weeks ago. By the time you see this the actual last (we hope) terrain build should be over. This one is called “Black Maria in the house” and we will be/were working on finishing up the MDF wood cut terrain supplied by this wonderful company.
There may be ONE more terrain day at the end of the month if it's determined to be needed. STAY TUNED! Email
customerservice@novaopen.com if you wish to be added to the staff list.If you don't receive you evite, check your spam folder and then write customer service - we want you on the team!
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Follow the progress of NOVA Open's terrain builds at
Blog managed by our Minister of Terrain, Bob Likins
TELEGRAPH SELF STORAGE
8935 TELEGRAPH RD, LORTON, VA 22079
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PLAN YOUR TIME at NOVA Open 2018
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The 2018 NOVA Open schedule is always current. Take time to review - fill in any gaps in your own plans for the convention.
Watch for new events and seminars and stay on the newsletter distribution for news, changes, additions and updates!
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2018 NOVA OPEN GAMING EVENTS
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EVENT PRIMERS FOR NOVA OPEN 2018
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What game and events are on your NOVA Open radar this year? Primers can change up until and even after registration. NOVA Open leads are highly responsive to questions, commentary and input. E-Mail
customerservice@novaopen.com
Click any event title to see the Primer. If your event primer is not linked here, visit novaopenstore.com - they will be available for viewing there first.
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GET READY FOR KIDSHAMMER!
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The NOVA Open is fast approaching, and we wanted to take a moment to help participants prepare for all the new stuff planned for this year’s
KidsHammer event.
Warhammer 40,000: First, good news for those who want to play in the grim darkness of the far future – there are still tickets available (although a limited number!) for the Warhammer 40,000 track at KidsHammer. Also, the game is fairly stable at this point.
Games Workshop released a big FAQ in the spring and almost all 8th edition codexes have been released. Any codex can be used for KidsHammer as long as it is released and publicly available (that is, not pre-release only) prior to August 13, 2018. So Orks and Space Wolves players still have a chance to use their announced – but not yet released – new codexes at KidsHammer!
All the information in the
KidsHammer primer remains unchanged: Warhammer 40,000 games will be played at the 75 power level using the Matched Play section of the 8th edition rulebook, no ForgeWorld models, and only Games Workshop FAQs and Errata will be used. To make it simpler for KidsHammer participants to practice and prepare, here are the three missions that will be used for the Sunday Friendly Tournament (not necessarily in this order): No Mercy, Secure and Control, and The Relic.
Age of Sigmar: The Age of Sigmar track of KidsHammer is almost sold out, with only a few tickets remaining! KidsHammer will use the just released 2nd edition rules and the General’s Handbook 2018, including FAQs and errata. Malign Sorcery will also be used (but not required!). We will have staff on hand Saturday to help everyone get comfortable with the new models, rules, FAQs, errata, and spells! We’ve also poured through all the new stuff and decided that no changes were needed to the KidsHammer primer. Games will still be played at the 1500-point level using the special “Youngblood” table provided in the primer. Because of the transition, however, KidsHammer will be lenient on base sizes and shape (try for round, but square is okay in a pinch). In order to ease transition to the new system, we will use the following mix of “old” and “new” missions for the Sunday Friendly Tournament (not necessarily in this order): Three Places of Power, Starstrike, and Total Commitment.
- We are looking forward to seeing returning players and new faces at this year’s KidsHammer! If you have questions, please contact the NOVA Open customer support team (customerservice@novaopen.com) and the KidsHammer team will get back to you as soon as possible. We’ve also put together a website to help kids play and prepare for KidsHammer, which can be found at www.kidshammer.org.
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BOARD GAMES AT NOVA OPEN 2018
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Board games are back at NOVA Open, and we have some exciting events planned. Once you have your Convention Access or Day Pass, entry into tournaments is free. Availability is on a first come/ first serve basis, so sign up at
www.novaopenstore.com to lock in your seat today.
Here is a short list of the fun you can expect at NOVA Open 2018:
- Board Game Library: Board Games at NOVA Open would not be possible without the help of our amazing sponsors. Join us in thanking ATLANTIS GAMES & COMICS for providing our Board Game Library again. Check out dozens of games, including favorites like Pandemic, Catan, Ticket to Ride and more – for kids of all ages!
- Tournaments: A full slate of board game tournaments for both casual and strategic games is planned. Review the comprehensive schedule of events on the following pages. Don’t forget to go online and sign up.
- Demos and Learn-to-Play: Learn how to play games you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t found the time to dive into.
Experienced staff from NOVA Open will be available to teach and answer any questions you might have. Register for scheduled games or stop by anytime to see what might be going on. Return to this link between now and August 15 to check for ongoing updates!
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NEW POLICY FOR SEMINAR ATTENDANCE
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For those who are familiar with NOVA Open, you have come to expect paper tickets for seminar attendance in your badge package when you arrive at registration. For 2018, the NOVA Open has automated the process by transferring the check-in process to our instructors or to NOVA Open staff. The one of these individuals will be taking attendance before each class. Be kind - this is new to them, as well.
At the convention - If you'd like to attend a seminar that you have not previously signed up for, you must register at the Badge & Ticket counter located next to Check-In on the Independence level.
EXCEPTION: There will be paper tickets for large scale events (specifically, the 9 listed below); take time to ensure those tickets are in your badge when you arrive at registration:
- Your Actions Determine Your Future - A Star Wars: Destiny Discussion
- Stay on Target - A Competitive X-Wing Discussion
- Games Workshop Preview Event
- Games Workshop Presents: Writing for Black Library
- Games Workshop: Developing the Community
- Games Workshop: Meet the Studio
- Games Workshop: Meet the Studio
- How to YouTube: Technical Details
- How to YouTube: Content, Branding, and Promotion
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DON'T MISS OUT! SIGN UP NOW!
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Seminar sales have picked up; make sure you
register now before the seminar you want is sold out. The NOVA Open is always a great opportunity to learn awesome new skills for all sorts of gamers and hobbyists.
The NOVA Open is bringing our attendees 85 seminars from some of the best painters and instructors from around the world. Seminars range from display to hobby seminars for all levels; including specialty seminars on topics like 3D printing, lighting, terrain, starting a YouTube channel, and unlocking your inner hero.
Take this opportunity to improve your paining, learn to paint faster, or learn a whole new technique!
Many of the seminars will provide you techniques to improve your hobby or display painting across numerous genres and categories (Star Wars, Infinity, Games Workshop, Internationally Renowned Instructors, Display focus, Terrain, and many more)
Star Wars Focused Seminars include:
- Your Actions Determine Your Future – A Star Wars Destiny Discussion featuring game designer, Jeremy Zwirn
- Stay on Target – A Competitive X-Wing Discussion featuring game designer, Luke Eddy
- Introduction to Painting X-Wing Miniatures taught by Madeline of LIghtCraft Miniature Studios
- Highlight and Shading Inorganic Miniatures taught by Madeline of LIghtCraft miniature Studios
Infinity Focused Seminar Includes:
- Corvus Belli Exclusive Q&A featuring Gutier Lusquinos
Internationally Renown and Limited Seminars include:
Display focused Seminars include:
- Building a Display Base with Matt DiPietro
- Dramatic Lighting taught by Roman Lappat
- Intro to Scenic Basing taught by Shoshie Bauer
- Mast of Reality taught by Sam Lenz
- Monster Flesh: Painting Non-human Skin with Matt DiPietro
- Understanding Textures with Matt DiPietro
Hobby Focused Seminars include:
- Designing Colors for Space Marine Armies with Alfonso ‘Banshee’ Giraldes (seminar includes 5 Primaris Space Marines
- Speed Painting to Above Tabletop with Stiff Neck Studio
- Games Workshop Hobby classes with Duncan Rhodes
- Layering for Smoothness taught by Sam Lenz
- Intro to Airbrushing with White Metal Games
Terrain Seminars include (EACH SEMINAR IS HANDS ON AND INCLUDE FREE TERRAIN):
- Prep & Assemble MDF Terrain taught by Death Ray Designs
- Painting MDF Terrain (Factory New) taught by Death Ray Designs
- Painting MDF Terrain (Rust and Ruin) taught by Death Ray Designs
- Modifying MDF Terrain (Destruction and Rubble) taught by Death Ray Designs
.
Specialty Seminars include:
- Introduction to 3D Modeling and Printing for Wargaming
- How to Youtube: Technical Details
- How to Youtube: Content, Branding, and Promotion
- Unlock your Inner Hero
Games Workshop Seminars:
- Games Workshop: Meet the Studio with Jervis Johnson and Pete Foley
- Games Workshop: Developing the Community
- Games Workshop Preview Event
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GAMES WORKSHOP PREVIEW EVENT
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Games Workshop's
Andy Smillie, Pete Foley, and members of the Warhammer Community team will host the latest Games Workshop Preview for 2018 at the NOVA Open this year. This event is fast become famous as the largest of sneak peaks and reveals of what's to come in the Worlds of Warhammer.
Less than 20 seats remaining!
Sign up today and be among the first to find out what's next: Could it be new rules, miniatures, or even games? Even we don't know! If you only attend one seminar this year at NOVA Open 2018, it should be this one.
The seminar is
free
, as long as you have a Convention Access Pass (CAP), and will take place, Wednesday, August 30, 2018 from 7:30-9:00 pm at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City (location of the convention).
Attendees
must
sign up for the seminar at:
NOVA Open's check-in desk will open no later than 4:00 pm on Wednesday, 8/30; arrive early to pick up your access pass and seminar ticket.
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PART TWO - IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A MASTER: NOVA OPEN INTERVIEWS ALFONSO "BANSHEE" GIRALDES
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In the world of art, many individuals may throw around labels naming one artist or another as forerunners in the craft. In the case of painter and sculptor Alfonso “Banshee” Giraldes, however, the title of “forerunner” is merited. As instructor to world famous artists such as Roman Lappat, Raffa Picca, and Ruben Martinez, Banshee emerged from the rich fabric of Madrid’s artistic heritage to become one of the first professional miniature painters in Europe before working at major studios like Knight Models and Forge World. Given his credentials, the NOVA Open is incredibly excited that he will be teaching several classes at NOVA Open 2018, including
Ambiance Class 75mm and
Designing Colors for Space Marine Armies.
In the second part of NOVA Open’s interview with Banshee, we discussed the artist’s greatest achievements in painting and sculpting, areas where artists need to push the boundaries of miniature painting, and the artistic and visionary qualities hobbyists need to improve their work as miniature painters and artists.
NO: How have you seen your career push your abilities as an artist and sculptor? What is the work that you're most famous for as you've worked along this journey?
Banshee: Well, it is difficult to say because I have been working professionally since 2004 and full time artist since 2006, with a brief experience out of it to try other disciplines like graphic design. I think that if you ask people that had followed my career they would probably choose different examples depending their tastes or in which period they knew my work.
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But if I have to choose I would have to say I have four milestones in my career. First, I would say my "Blood Pact " that won the Slayer Sword in France in 2006. It was the 10th anniversary and the first time that a non-French guy won this trophy that was the most important of the fantasy painting back at this time. That was also the first time that a 54mm full sculpted original model with a more historical style won a Best of Show award at a Golden Demon competition. And that meant a lot for me, receiving the trophy against the best painters in the world of that time, in the state of France. An unforgettable memory.
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Second, Anakin versus Obi Wan box art for Knight Models. I think this is probably my most complex box art ever, not because of the final result that was really impressive back at this time, instead of because of my own mental process while I was doing it and because it was the seed for the styles we are seeing nowadays somehow. We have to remember that nowadays, there are so many fantastic painters, companies, products, but back at this time Knight Models were the first who invested in these topics such as Star Wars and comics, and all the participants we came from the first fantasy line ever back in Andrea Miniatures. So, at this time, there were no other companies doing this.
About the painting itself, I would probably do it better now. But back at this time this kind of "illustration-style painting" was not common. The styles were more attached to a traditional way of painting and in Knight Models, Jose Manuel Palomares and I, we developed a "comic cover" style or illustration style, that nowadays is the main trend.
So, I think this piece was one of the fundamentals of what we are seeing right now. Obviously now everything has evolved and is even more complex, but you can see the roots on this piece and the people who are painting now, many of them had this piece as a main reference. I remember myself talking with Antonio Peña, a fantastic young painter with a very successful Patreon, that he was telling me about this piece, and how he was impressed when he saw the box art in the Knight Models releases. And I agree with his opinion, because I still receive comments from this piece that was done more than eight years ago.
It was the start of the full development of my technical skills and more than anything else, it was the first time I had to confront a real test to interpret a sculpture and create a unique vision that even if the kit was very successful in sales, no one has painted it again. So, I guess that the box art is very strong as an image and is difficult to think in different versions. that’s something to feel proud somehow.
Third, Anonymous Bust in 2014 it is one of the best sellers of the last years, and the mini I have painted more times. Also, it has been the canvas that allowed me to develop my philosophy and the fundamentals of my teachings based on freedom, based on my own sculpture, that makes it 100 percent my piece. With this simple but effective bust, I have had the chance to explore different styles, techniques, interpretations, and due to my multiple classes, I could spread variety of styles and influences, expression and message.
This is probably the work I am most proud of because this is 100 percent me. The previous ones, they were part of my "discovery path" but with the anonymous bust I have travelled to 20 countries, and 30 or 40 cities, teaching color theory, ambiance, techniques, and especially and most important: fearless attitude and love for the freedom of express yourself as you wish.
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There are more than 600 bust around the world and I had painted at least 30 versions. And I think it is the work that represents me the most accurately. Now I had sculpted the anonymous 2.0 and I am very sure that people will find it a very interesting canvas to create their own versions.
Finally, my upcoming book in 2018. Seriously, this has been a year of work. and no one will be indifferent. It will be A4 format, more than 300 pages, a fantastic design and really, this is like my own baby. I had the luck to be contacted by the editor of Scale 75 publications and they proposed to me to do a very personal book. And the most important, they let me total freedom to say anything. no censorship at all, and many, many different topics covered,
Well, I cannot say a lot, because they want to keep the mystery for a while as now they are doing the layout and the translation to English. But, believe me, the book it is amazing and I am so excited and happy. It is the most exciting project I have ever done and I cannot be prouder. I am not doing advertisement, it is certainly how I feel to this respect. It will be a very special book for collectors and something like this has never been done before in the miniature world. I am very sure of it. All my soul was involved.
NO: Where do you think the boundaries of painting miniatures needs to be pushed? How do you think artists should push these boundaries?
Banshee: It is all about mentality. Teaching the fans that a healthy art field should allow different styles and philosophies, that’s why people like Roman Lappat is one of these people that are pushing this to another level. To me he is the representation of a concept artist in our field. Someone that focus on the storytelling and the first impression, while they are other painters that are pushing in any other way, like Kirill Kanaev in a technical point of view or the study and development of different material and reflections.
Many others are pursuing indifferent directions. I think miniature world is still young and it has a long way to walk, but that this is the starting point of a mature era, where people will understand that there is NOT one way to do anything instead of many, many different styles and proposals that have to be accepted if they are good enough and strong enough.
And individually, well, the only way is to be free, to paint or sculpt or design as you feel. Study the previous masters, be respectful with them, recognize the work that has been already done by others and then try to do your own version and own style by being free, experiment and don’t be constrained by stupid and obsolete rules that don’t mean anything. And if you want references, go to a museum, and you will see how your brain starts to absorb other ways, other styles and other version to do something in one way or another.
The problem of the miniature world is that is still a bit static and controlled by some old minds with old mentalities, people that wants to keep this miniature world under their control, without understanding that the health of any art field depends directly on the diversity and variety. The more differences, the more styles, the more layouts and techniques, the healthier the miniature world will be.
NO: What are the qualities that artists need to have beyond pure technical skill? How do you think they can acquire these qualities through their artistic and non-artistic work?
Banshee: An artist is mainly a good observer. Someone who is able to absorb and get inspired by almost anything he feels, see, taste, experience. Anybody can be a good colorizer. but being a good artist is a matter of spirit, necessity to express himself, to understand the world or fight against it, but every feeling transmitted through the brush, the palette, the instrument or the tool finally.
My main inspiration is not even other artist, instead of many feelings I keep in my brain and heart almost as photographs of people, moments places or experiences. Technical skills can be developed by a monkey. Literally, it is only a matter of time, good learning resources and conviction. But if you want to be an artist you have to feel like an artist, and to live like an artist. it is funny how some people tell me how lucky I am because I live out of what I love.
Sometimes dismissing everything that was behind the real career of a professional artist. Me personally, I studied a university degree and then a master degree. And I can tell you that an artist career is 1,000 more complex, dense, and hard than many of the regular jobs. You need so much effort to distinguish yourself from the rest, to have your own vision or style, and to be so compromise with what you want to achieve and do not surrender. That is the hardest way.
Some people, they don’t consider how many years I have been studying practicing, travelling, meeting people, resolving problems, acquiring my own vision and style, defining my artistic personality and my philosophy and most importantly, showing my respect for what I love. Recognizing the previous masters and the young and new talents, and being committed with my philosophy and even taking risks, having the duty of being honest with my students and followers even if this means to be less commercial or earn less money.
Nowadays anybody invents a fake trend, or technique, because most of the followers or fans, they don't dig and don’t study the history of art, I see people selling fake products saying that this is this technique or the other, when these are basic techniques developed 500 years ago.
The main problem is that we live in a world where people want instant results without doing the effort and the research of what they love. This instant result makes them learn something without a real understanding and this is a very important issue. But also, this happens in every field so I guess that the intelligent people will finally discover who is fake or who is really bringing an honest content. If your concern is how to paint something smooth copying someone you like, the you don’t want to be an artist, you want to achieve a product. if you want to explore yourself because you feel is what will calm your soul. then we can have a longer conversation.
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FORGE WORLD STAFF ONLY EVENT AT NOVA OPEN 2018
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Forge World Event Exclusives (listed below) are a range of products which are only available at the events they attend - including NOVA Open 2018.
Forge World will host a
Staff Only Sale for those volunteers who participate in set up between
Monday and Wednesday (August 27-29) at Lorton or the Hyatt Regency. The sale will take place ahead of the Games Workshop Preview Event. Pick up your badge and Staff Ribbon at registration when it opens on Wednesday. Plan to attend the Staff Only Sale at Forge World's Vendor space -
EXCLUSIVELY FOR STAFF - from 5:30-6:30 pm that evening.
Forge World will host a SuperNOVA Only Sale on Thursday, August 30, 2018, from 8:00-9:30am. Wear your SuperNOVA badge to the Forge World booth!
- Retro Land Speeder
- Alpharius
- Cataphractii Praetor with Combi-Weapon & Hammer
- Traitor Cataphractii Librarian
- Beta Warlord Head
- WHW Chaos Dwarf
- Imperial Knight VIII
- Legio Custodes Tribune Ixion Hale
- Grak and Crumbleberry, The Right Stuff
- Alfrid Lickspittle
- The Heirs Or Erebor. Thorin Oakenshield, Fili the Dwarf and Kili the Dwarf
- The King's Companions: Balin the Dwarf, Dwalin the Dwarf, Gloin the Dwarfr and Oin the Dwarf
- The Three Brothers: Ori the Dwarf, Nori the Dwarf and Dori the Dwarf
- The Cousins: Bifur the Dwarf, Bofur the Dwarf and Bombur the Dwarf
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KR MULTICASE RETURNING TO NOVA OPEN 2018
PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE
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KR Multicase will be back at NOVA Open this year. If you’re planning to attend and are excited to add to your growing collection of the latest carrying solutions from KR Multicase, take some time and think about pre-ordering today!
It couldn't be easier: Visit www.krmulticase.com and load your cart with your customized wish list. Proceed to check out and select the “Click & Collect from a Show” option ~ then choose NOVA Open.
It gets better: You will then have the option of paying immediately for pick up at the convention – or you can place your order and pay when you get to NOVA Open 2018. KR Multicase wants you satisfied – there is no obligation to buy! In fact, if you would like specific trays at the show for testing and trying out with your models, just pre-order to pay at the show. You could also send them an email or place a call – (
https://www.krmulticase.com/contact-us)- ask them to bring along whatever you want to check out in person.
Pre-orders for custom colored foam will close on August 1; pre-orders for blue-colored foam will close on August 15. Order Today!
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JUDGES & UPDATES FOR 2018
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The NOVA Open is pleased to announce the judges for Capital Palette 2018:
These three world renowned miniature artists will take on the herculean task of judging hundreds of miniatures across three distinct divisions, potentially awarding six prizes in each division. The new divisions - Apprentice, Journeyman, Masterclass - are explained more fully in the
Capital Palette Primer It is expected that submitting artists will use this expanded format to better judge the progress of their work from show to show, without concerns about what other artists may create.
The Capital Palette's 3-judge panel will award gold, silver, and bronze accomplishment awards in each division's 6 (six) categories. In an open forum competition, there can be multiple gold, silver, or bronze winners in a category (or no winners), and each submitting artists’ work is individually evaluated and receives the level of award the judges feel their work merits, without regard to the awards given to other pieces in the competition. Division winners will also receive crystal awards. Please check out Section 2.0 of the primer for a list of additional award categories.
We hope you will consider participating in this miniature art competition. If you do, note the Capital Palette Medaling Ceremony will take place in the Foundation Lounge (rooftop venue) beginning at 2:00pm on Sunday, September 2. Podium Awards in the Masterclass division will take place Sunday evening at the Final Awards Ceremony (approximately 7:00pm). Capital Palette's Best in Show winner will receive entry into CMON's Crystal Brush (
http://www.crystalbrush.com/) with prize.
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HMGS ANNOUNCES SPONSORING AWARDS AT NOVA OPEN 2018 CAPITAL PALETTE COMPETITION
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NOVA OPEN 2018 TABLETOP OLYMPICS
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CHECK OUT THE SCORING CHART ~
LEARN HOW TO WIN
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The Tabletop Olympics (TTO), started in 2014, is a free personal achievement and group competition for anyone who attends the NOVA Open. Players accumulate personal "forever achievement points" and can also form groups of 3 to 20 people to compete against other groups. Points can be amassed individually and/or combined with other attendees if individuals band together for group points. In addition to tracking points for teams during NOVA Open 2018, we will also keep track of cumulative points for individuals that accumulate across NOVA Open conventions.
If individuals form groups, they need a Point of Contact (POC/Captain) and a group name. The POC must verify the name is not already taken by registering it with the NOVA Open. POC must also submit/verify list of NOVA Open registered members. We recommend that individuals form groups early; groups can consist of individuals participating in a range of point generating activities..
Groups must email customerservice@novaopen.com to register groups. This portal is open through August 15; it is reopened onsite at the NOVA Open when registration opens on Wednesday, August 29 .
In addition to earning points by participating in activities, teams can also earn points through team spirit and good sportsmanship. If a team is witnessed by the NOVA Open Staff supporting their fellow team members in a tournament through cheering or wearing team shirts, they will be awarded bonus points depending how strong their team spirit is. If the NOVA Open Staff witnesses a team member going out of their way to help individuals, they will also be awarded bonus points that is up to the discretion of the staff member.
Winners will have their names permanently emblazoned on the NOVA Open Olympic Torch Trophy. As a participant in the Tabletop Olympics, every individual point earned equals an additional chance of winning a prize in the Final Ceremony Raffles; Check-in required (which adds another entry in your name!) Must be present to win.
ALL THAT TO SAY THIS:
CHECK OUT THE SCORING CHART
HERE
TO LEARN HOW TO WIN!
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HELP CHECK-IN RUN SMOOTHLY
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Here are some helpful hints to make your check-in at NOVA Open 2018 faster and easier:
- Ensure your account at novaopenstore.com is set up with your first and last names entered in the correct sequence. To check this, log in to your account and click on your user name in the upper right corner of the screen. When your account info page opens, you can edit if necessary.
- Why? Your convention badge is printed with the name listed as "first." This is also a good time to insert a nickname if that is your preference.
- Does your account have a proper email address, one you currently use? If yes, we can contact you; if no, you will not be able to receive important newsletter and splash info.
Final Note: Passes are not mailed. They will waiting for you at registration check-in (or the SuperNOVA desk), when you arrive.
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Hyatt's NOVA Open room block is sold out. We recommend you use the Hyatt link:
https://aws.passkey.com/go/NOVA18
first "in case" there is a recent cancellation. If not:
The NOVA Open has contracted with the Marriott Courtyard next door at $99/night with half-price parking. When the Courtyard block is full, NOVA Open will consider contracting with the Marriott Renaissance, located just outside Hyatt's back doors. Marriott booking link:
https://bit.ly/2J9hzcO
If anyone runs into trouble booking rooms, let us know and we'll try to help:
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Arlington Crystal City/Reagan Airport
2899 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202
(just a hundred or so steps from Hyatt's front door)
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$99/night ~ 50% discount on parking
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Hyatt Regency Important Information
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Chesapeake View - Foundation Lounge:
We are pleased to announce that the NOCF Lounge has now been permanently moved to Chesapeake View
NOVA Open Room Block Rates:
- Single or Double occupancy: $97
- Three in a Room: $122
- Four in a Room: $147
Length of Block:
- The NOVA Open room block begins Saturday, 8/25 and ends Monday, 9/3 - keep in mind, it looks like NOVA Open will be underway late afternoon of Wednesday, 8/29
$50 Per Night INCIDENTAL HOLD FEE:
- The Washington DC area hotels have adopted policy (this includes Hyatt and surrounding properties) which will put a hold of $50 for incidentals at check-in ... FOR EACH NIGHT YOU BOOKED. This will typically impact only those using debit cards (as opposed to credit cards). Regardless, if you plan to be on site Wed-Mon (5 nights), a hold of $250 will be put on your card. No incidental charges to your room = full release upon check out.
Check In / Check Out:
- Check in is 3:00pm; Check out is 12:00pm. Early check in and late checkout requests, booking upgrades to rooms and suites, may receive additional charges.
Departure Fee:
- A one-night rate fee "can be" assessed if an attendee fails to give Hyatt a 24-hour notice of early departure.
Roll Away Bed Fee:
- One-time fee of $25 for a roll away bed; limited / request early.
When Hyatt is Sold Out:
- Contact NOVA Open (customerservice@novaopen.com) if you are unable to book at Hyatt; this will notify us of any issues and allow us to expand the block. NOVA Open is negotiating room rates and perks at surrounding hotels (like 2017) ahead of expected Hyatt sell out - which well could be BEFORE registration launches on March 1. Receiving and reading the NOVA Open bi-weekly newsletters is the best way to stay informed and prepared.
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Atlantis Games and Comics
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