The Awards for Challenge XI

Welcome back Challengeristas and loyal viewers! Finally, the awards of Challenge XI! 

As per tradition, every year we gather in late April to celebrate the efforts of the our intrepid participants, and to give special recognition to those who particularly impressed us with their skills with the brush. Today we have the picks for Challengers' Choice, Sarah's Choice and SnowLord's Choice.

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Challengers' Choice

A few weeks ago I posted our nominations for Challengers' Choice and created a voting poll for us to make our selections. Here are the results.

If anyone wants to see the full poll data just drop me a note.

For our honourable mentions we have:

Ray's Ottoman Collection

Jasper's Body of Work

and Curt's Body of Work

In Third, we have Ken's bellissimo Italian Legion Project

In Second, Christopher's favaloso 3rd Century Romans

Well done Ken and Christopher. The two of you provided viewers with a Roman extravaganza. Bravo, bello!

And finally, the Challengers' Choice for a second consecutive year is Sidney Roundwood with his spectacular body of work! Congratulations Sidney!!

Sarah's Choice

What a treat this AHPC has been.

The variety of painted muses, demons, witches, hags and crones, elves, fairies and adventuresses presented has been thrilling to watch.

Some of the femme fatales show questionable wardrobe choices while others are perfectly accessorized.

All are worthy of the challenge and if I could trophy’s to everyone, I would!

Honourable mentions to PeterD, PeterF and PaulSS for their ladies of the army: the cantinieres, camp followers and the women’s’ army of pilots, land girls etc. (Diana Quicks character in The Duellists is a fave of mine).

PeterD's Lumber Jill

PeteF's Napoleonic Camp Follower

PaulSS' Vivandière

Also, honourable mention to Sander for his whimsical mousling sorceress. So very cute and charming!

Sarah’s Sorceress 2021: The Baba Yaga, painted by SimonG.


The fantastic elements of the Baba Yaga in the Russian Fairytales are some of my favourite stories.

Simons’ painting is vibrant and bold, the figure & hut are dynamic and one really gets a sense of the Baba Yaga swirling through the landscape.

Thank you Simon, well done to all Challengers!

Keep safe, get the vaccine and be kind!

- Sarah


Snowlord's Choice

As per every Challenge, I was absolutely spoiled for candidates as we have so many talented people in the group. I often like to pick entries that have a personal, or interesting human interest aspect to them. Trouble was that there were so many to choose from this year! The 'Hall of Ancestors' location, in particular, really treated us to many wonderfully touching and personal stories. I was stymied for many days, mulling over dozens of entries, and in the end I decided to feature two submissions that especially resonated with me.

Martin's 'Mary Anning' I found to be absolutely fabulous. 

I really enjoyed the history of this early female geologist, and Martin's basework, featuring ammonite mudstone, a part of Mary's history, is truly inspired.

The other choice is from Benito. His grandfather, Abuelo Paco, silently fought for the Spanish Republic and later endured the rule of Franco and his victorious fascists. I found Benito's writing poignant, and his representative figure very fitting. A wonderful entry Benito.

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Challenge XI is a wrap folks! 

Thanks again to our Minions who were absolutely indispensable in helping me manage the Challenge. Finally a deep bow to you all for being such wonderful participants and great supporters of the event. 

I'm no great fan of Winter, but when the snow flies I will be very much looking forward to joining you for the next edition of the Painting Challenge.

Best wishes.

- Curt