Celebrating Army Painting Excellence!

Where dedication meets artistry in miniature painting

About Display of Might

Display of Might was born out of the desire to properly showcase not only painting skills but also the dedication required to paint a full army of miniatures rather than a squad or individual model. We wanted to create an environment where attendees could fully admire each other’s armies without the stress of racing to their next round or hunting for food.

We wanted to bring the painting and gaming community together – admiring models, sharing techniques, and celebrating miniature art in a fun social setting.

Army Focus

Celebrate the dedication of painting full armies

Community

Connect with fellow painters in a relaxed atmosphere

All Levels Welcome

From beginners to experts, everyone has a place

Event Details

Date

June 15-16, 2025

Location

Chicago Convention Center, Chicago, IL

Hours

Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

Entry Fee

$25 per entry

Entry Deadline

May 31, 2025

General Rules & Guidelines

  • All levels of painters from beginner to expert are encouraged to participate
  • Each entry must include a minimum of 6 units/squads (or models for more large scale armies ie. Knights, Ogres, etc.)
  • Display boards have specific size requirements based on category (see Categories section)
  • Entries will be judged on multiple criteria including technical skill, creativity, and overall presentation

Awards System

There will be first, second, and third place prizes for each of the two competition categories. We are working with a number of sponsors to bring amazing prizes to this year's competition in addition to awards.

1st Place: $500 + Trophy + Sponsor Prize Pack
2nd Place: $300 + Trophy + Sponsor Prize Pack
3rd Place: $150 + Trophy + Sponsor Prize Pack

Competition Categories

Army Showcase

While huge display boards always drive incredible immersion, traveling with one cannot always be the easiest endeavor. That's why this category will focus heavily on painting quality of the miniatures along with a modest display board to aid in the framing of the army.

Requirements

  • Display board cannot exceed 20" x 30" in size
  • Minimum 6 units/squads required
  • Focus on painting quality and army cohesion

Themed Diorama

This category is for those who want to create the ultimate thematic experience and immersion for their army. Go all out with storytelling, scenery, and atmosphere!

Requirements

  • Minimum 6 units/squads required
  • Emphasis on narrative and immersive presentation
  • Display board size flexible for creative vision

Judging Criteria

Each entry will be evaluated on the following criteria (10 points each):

1. Technical Skill

Smoothness, control, precision, layering, blending quality

2. Color Choice & Harmony

Palette appropriateness, contrast, shading, tonal balance

3. Creativity & Artistic Expression

Originality, freehand work, conversions, unique decisions

4. Composition & Presentation

Balance, base elements, visual flow, storytelling

5. Realism / Stylization

Texture believability, style consistency

6. Difficulty / Ambition

Complexity, techniques used, risk-taking

7. Overall Impression

The "wow" factor and lasting impact

8. Consistency

Unit matching in quality, color, cohesiveness

9. Display Board

Unity and context for the army

10. Diorama Impact

(Diorama category only) Immersion and narrative strength

Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone passionate about miniature painting! We welcome all skill levels from beginners to expert painters. Our judging criteria and categories are designed to celebrate painters at every stage of their journey.
A unit is typically a squad of models that would function together on the tabletop. For larger models like Knights or Ogres, individual models may count as units. When in doubt, reach out to us for clarification!
Yes! If you have multiple armies or want to showcase different aspects of your work, you're welcome to enter both the Army Showcase and Themed Diorama categories.
We're exploring options for remote entries and will update this section with more information as our plans develop.
Yes, there is a $25 entry fee per submission. We're committed to keeping the event accessible to all members of the community.
All miniature game systems are welcome! Warhammer, historical miniatures, sci-fi, fantasy – if you've painted an army, we want to see it.

Stay Updated

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Questions?

For inquiries about the event, sponsorship opportunities, or general questions, please reach out to us at info@displayofmight.com