Kublacon 2011 is in less than two weeks! And we have an exciting array of
mini-painting events lined up for you!



This years painting events are brought to you by CoolminiOrNot, Game Kastle,
Zombiesmith Miniatures, Secret Weapon Miniatures, Dark Age Games, Hot Lead,
Games Workshop, and Wayne's Miniature Bases.



Activities include:



Paint&Take: Fri: 4-7; Sat & Sun: 10-7; Mon 10-1
SpeedPainting: Fri: 3 & 6; Sat & Sun: 12, 3 & 6;
Miniature-Sculpting Seminar; with Derek Schubert: Sat: 10am
Painting Difficult Colors; with Laszlo Jakusovszky: Sat: 1pm
Mini-Painting MasterClass; with Laszlo Jakusovszky: Sat: 4pm
Ask a Painter!; with Derek Schubert: Sun: 10am
Secrets of Weathering Vehicles; with Justin McCoy: Sun: 1pm
More Secrets of Weathering Vehicles; with Justin McCoy: Sun: 4pm
KublaAwards, Mini-Painting Competition award ceremony: Sun: 7:30pm



Now stay tuned for a BIG announcement with CoolMiniOrNot!

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Kublacon is pleased to once again partner up with CoolMiniOrNot to bring you a
fantastic Grand Prize for the KublaAwards Competition.



As many of you might know, Coolmini hosts the Crystal Brush competition in
Chicago at Adepticon. Coolmini has introduced the heretofore unheard-of Grand
Prize of $10,000, followed by a $2,000 and $1,000 second and third prize.

Coolmini has announced their plan for select conventions to be 'satellite'
programs for the Crystal Brush competition. Kublacon is honored to be part of
this program.



The winner of the Best Of Show in the KublaAwards shall receive a round-trip
flight to Chicago to participate in the Crystal Brush Competition 2012 at
Adepticon!



Kublacon wishes to thank CoolMiniOrNot.com on behalf of the west coast
miniature-painting community.




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We are pleased to continue the new "Open" style judging for the KublaAwards.
"What is 'Open judging', you might ask? Well, allow me to explain:



The old familiar style of judging was commonly known as "Podium" judging, and
has been a mainstay of competitions such as Games Workshop's "Golden Demon
Awards", where entries are divided up by many categories and genres, and in each
category there are three winners in the order of Gold, Silver, and Bronze. This
is a reputable and time-honored judging system, but is not the only one, and is
not without its drawbacks.



Common problems with Podium Judging involve under and over represented
categories. For example: Fantasy Single is often the most highly contested
category...dozens of entries may in fact be Gold-worthy, but the hard choices
must be made, and wonderful entries must be weeded out to just the top three.
Often, the same well-known high-end painters walk away with the trophies year
after year, discouraging new painters from entering. While in another category,
there may not be even enough entries to fill out the top three, thereby granting
automatic trophy status to whatever happens to have been entered. This tends to
cheapen the trophy.



Now, enter the Open Judging System! This style of competition is *merit-based*.
The panel of judges critique the entries based on quality of artistry and
technique. You are not judged against your neighbor, but against an artistic and
technical 'standard'. If your entry is Gold-worthy, then you will in fact win a
Gold trophy! This style of judging has been practiced for many years at
Historical conventions and European competitions. In recent years, many American
painting competitions adopted variations of the Open System, including
GenghisCon, ReaperCon, and our very own KublaCon!



Genres are eliminated. There are now two main categories: the Open Category is
the main amateur competition, and the Masterclass category is for high-end
prestige competition. Masterclass will be judged to a more stringent standard.
Those who place in Masterclass are indeed the 'Best of the Best'! Both
categories are judged according to Open rules.



Rules for entry:

Each competitor may enter a max total of 4 entries. For *entry purposes only*,
these will be restricted to 2 Singles, 1 Squad, and 1 Large. You may choose to
enter any entry into either the main Open, or the Masterclass category.

*Single is defined as any normal-sized mini under 3" in any dimension
(excluding extraneous features such as long weapons and banners). These
generally include cavalry and bikes.
*Squad is a themed grouping of at least 3 miniatures. This can include
dioramas, and 'duels' (even though they be two models).
*Large is any miniature larger than 3" in any dimension. This can include
dioramas that feature Large models.

There are additional awards that will be handed out for Best of Reaper, Best of
GW, Best of Privateer Press, Best Conversion....and the Best of Show
"KublaSword".



Attendees will vote on their favorite mini for the Peoples Choice Award.



We will also carry on our traditional KublaKids category for painters 15 years
old and under. This category will continue using the Podium System.



Members of the Judging panel ARE allowed to enter the competition, but of course
will not be judging their own entries.



Entries will be accepted anytime at the Paint-n-Take area in the main foyer on
Fri and Sat (when open), and Sun till noon. Every care will be taken by Kubla
staff to ensure the safety of competition entries, but Kublacon staff,
volunteers, and hotel cannot be held responsible for lost, damaged or unclaimed
entries. Please reclaim entries anytime after 5pm Sunday, or Monday morning
before noon. Entry implies consent for Kublacon to photograph and display
entries during convention, the awards show, and online. Previous KublaAwards
winning entries are ineligible for further entry. Judges decisions are
considered final.



Come to KublaCon 2011 and enjoy the KublaAwards Competition, the Paint-n-Take
tables, Speedpainting contests, and seminars.



See you at KublaCon! May 27-30, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency, Burlingame, next to
the SF airport.

http://www.kublacon.com/





Wayne Rogers,

Kublacon Mini-Painting Director