After the dazzling Award Ceremony for Path of the Worthy at Adepticon, we were privileged to catch up with the champions, Jason Gibeault and Johnathan Ho. Their journey from initial inspiration to their triumphant wins offers a wealth of insight into the world of miniature painting competitions.
Meet the Champions Johnathan Ho, with a rich background as an Art Director and Illustrator, now manages projects at a health technology company. His miniature gaming journey started in 2000, evolving from large-scale war games to more intimate skirmish style games, which led him to Marvel: Crisis Protocol.
Jason Gibeault transitioned from a church caretaker to a full-time miniature painter, honing his craft over a 30-year span. Post-pandemic, Jason shifted from running a commission business to focusing on personal growth and artistic expression within the miniature painting community.
Why Enter ‘Path of the Worthy’? Johnathan was drawn to the competition’s unique judging system, which appreciates the narrative and storytelling as much as technical painting skills. This approach allows more participants to feel recognized for their efforts, irrespective of minor imperfections.
Jason appreciates the open and creative competition format provided by AMG, especially the opportunity it presents for painters to expand their skills and bring unique, dynamic creations to life, all under the inspiring banner of Marvel.
Learning from Experience Returning for their second year, both painters took valuable lessons from their previous experiences. Jason humorously noted the surprising talent of competitors like Johnathan, which motivates everyone to elevate their skills. Johnathan highlighted the competitive spirit that encourages participants to enhance their storytelling and integrate complex elements into their entries.
Choosing and Planning Their Entries Jason’s choice was influenced by nostalgia; he recreated a classic scene from the 1997 X-Men animated series featuring Wolverine. His process involved extensive kitbashing and creativity, making the competition truly worthwhile.
Johnathan, inspired by the Earth’s Mightiest Core Set, decided to depict a powerful Ultron scene, fueled by last year’s encouragement to defend his title.
Execution and Adjustments Both artists adhered closely to their plans, with Jason incorporating feedback and adjusting his techniques due to his color blindness, which involves a unique process of converting images to black and white to check for issues. Johnathan faced the challenge of planning a complex multi-piece diorama, requiring meticulous preparation and adjustment.
Time Investment and Inspiration Jason invested about 120 hours, adapting his approach due to his visual condition, while Johnathan dedicated close to 300 hours over two months. Despite the daunting and sometimes grueling process, Jason finds inspiration in comic books, whereas Johnathan focuses on the belief in achieving a successful outcome, even through the toughest phases of creation.
Advice for Aspiring Competitors Jason encourages new painters to focus on self-improvement rather than comparison to others, emphasizing personal growth. Johnathan advises focusing on the learning aspect of competition, valuing personal and artistic development over mere accolades.
Their stories not only highlight the dedication and passion inherent in the world of miniature painting but also offer motivation and guidance for anyone considering their path in competitive artistic expressions.