The Army Painter Challenge at LVO
The first-ever cross-system army painting competition debuted in spectacular fashion at the 2025 Las Vegas Open (LVO), the largest wargaming tournament in the world. We proudly introduced The Army Painter Challenge to a global audience, uniting painters and hobbyists from all corners of the miniature painting community.
At its core, The Army Painter Challenge is a celebration of the artistry and passion behind army painting. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a hobby newcomer, painting armies brings together creativity, storytelling, and dedication—qualities that deserve recognition. With our high-performance ranges like Warpaints Air, Fanatic, and Speedpaint already fueling the creations of elite miniature painters, we saw an opportunity to bridge the competitive and artistic sides of the hobby in a spirit of friendly competition and camaraderie.
Army painting deserves the spotlight, at every level, and this competition aims to elevate the art form to new heights of creativity and inspiration.
Our very own Caleb and Tim from our Event Team, and Sam Lenz of our Factory Team, were on hand to judge the armies and they were in for a treat with all of the beautiful submissions. For full rules and guidelines, check out our announcement article here.
Fantasy Skirmish
Adam: “It would be impossible to talk about this category without mentioning Mat, a dear friend of The Army Painter. As the Director of Steamforged Games—now the proud owner of the Warmachine system—it brought us immense joy to see him enter this incredible piece into our inaugural event. Well done, Mat!”
Fantasy Army
Adam: “This was, without question, one of the most competitive categories of the entire event. While Warhammer 40,000 may dominate in scale, the painters behind Old World, Age of Sigmar, and other fantasy systems gave their sci-fi counterparts a serious run for their money. The sheer artistry and skill on display were nothing short of breathtaking.”
Tim: "It was very difficult to pick a winner, as the entries all had so much character and amazing paint work. The tartan pattern on every single Lumineth in Jessica's army was stunning. I loved Ryan's subtle(and not so subtle) daemonic conversions- I kept finding new things with every look. Tim Travers' army looked ominous with the lights on the skull pillars casting demonic shadows onto the stone walls."
Sci-Fi Skirmish
Tim: "Vespid converted into bees is a fantastic idea, and Orion sold it further with little details like pollen scattered around the hive!"
Caleb: "The release of the John Blanche Masterclass Paint Sets has really piqued my interest in the Grimdark style and man did Tyler Russo nail it! I loved the old school models, the conversions, and the baby-head-death-machine display just took it over the top. For me that was an easy choice."
Sci-Fi Army
Sam: "Aliens, Demons, and Super Humans! Each artist in this category had levels of modeling and narrative built into them from the ground up. It's important to remember the combined impact an army of painted models can have. An emotion in tandem with technical skills makes a memorable army. Unchained!"
Tim: "Strong, well executed themed entries across the board. Words cannot express how eye-squintingly bright Ian's pink Harlequin display is in person."
Best in Show
Adam: "There was theme, there was story, there was everything blood, skull, and gore related with this entry. The impressive, vibrant reds and molten iconography executed throughout the army drew the viewer in. Once you were close you couldn't stop picking out details and techniques that really showcased Alex's army painting talent and knack for narrative."
Tim: "How do you make a raging army of berserkers look cold? Alex solved it with his cold shadows, and warriors sunk in the icy depths!"
Sam: "Rising to the top, Khorne smiled upon his victorious disciples. This army showed boldly from a distance and when examined closer, many pleasing details and creative choices came out. My personal favorite touch was the inclusion of some opposing forces (and spell effects) in front of the red tide. This was no small effort and Chaos smiles upon those who dedicate themselves."
Caleb: "I absolutely loved the composition of this piece. The rich vibrant red armour contrasting with the cold ice of the display board really drew my eye. Once my attention was captured I was drawn in by the display board. The frozen bodies poured into the resin gave great moments of discovery and really helped sell the narrative. All in all, this piece really captured the ethos of what The Army Painter Challenge invited."
Thank You For Making It Happen
The success of The Army Painter Challenge wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our community and partners. A heartfelt thank you goes out to:
- The army painters who submitted their stunning creations and shared their talents.
- The team at Frontline Gaming (LVO) for giving us the platform to host this amazing event.
- Our friends at Best Coast Pairings, who developed a custom app for scoring and judging entries.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
The Future of The Army Painter Challenge
While the details of the next event are still taking shape, one thing is certain: The Army Painter Challenge will return—bigger, better, and more inspiring than ever before. We’re exploring opportunities to host additional events, expand categories, and reach even more army painters around the world.
Until then, keep those brushes moving and share your masterpieces using #TheArmyPainterChallenge. Your work could be the inspiration for the next generation of army painters!
See All The Amazing Entries at the Links Below
