Mones

After many hours at the painting desk, I'm excited to share that Death by Nerikson is finally complete and officially entered into the GWCC painting contest. This project has been one of the most rewarding miniature painting experiences I've had. From the first coats of primer to the final highlights and weathering, every stage taught me something new, and seeing the finished piece makes every hour invested feel worthwhile.

The model itself is absolutely superb, with incredible sculpted detail that practically tells its own story. I wanted to lean heavily into a grimdark fantasy atmosphere—my favorite style—using a rich palette of cold purples, decaying flesh tones, oxidized turquoise fabrics, aged metallics, and deep crimson muscle textures to create a striking contrast between death, decay, and regal presence. The scenic base was painted to reinforce that narrative, with weathered stone, scattered skulls, chains, and muted earth tones that frame the mounted figure without stealing attention from the centerpiece.

This entire project was painted using Vallejo and Pro Acryl paints, while the airbrushing work was completed with my Gaahleri and Harder & Steenbeck airbrushes. Throughout the process I focused on improving one of the areas I've been intentionally practicing: stronger value contrast. While I can already see progress compared to previous projects, it's also an aspect I know I can continue pushing further, and this model became an excellent exercise in that direction.

Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better contest piece. I genuinely enjoyed every minute spent bringing this haunting rider to life, and the journey itself has been just as rewarding as the final result.

Best of luck to everyone participating in the GWCC—it's always inspiring to see the incredible talent within this community, and I'm already looking forward to the next project.