Modelling & Painting Critically with Noé at Under the Dice Fest 2026

   

    The lecture portion of Noé's excellent workshop from this year's UTD. For the full experience, you'll want to have some hobby supplies (foam, wire, sprue, glue, modeling putty, etc.) at the ready. If you can surround yourself with people playing Flames of Orion while you watch, even better.

    From the event's listing...

It starts with a presentation combining art history, and image analysis, with the aim of priming participants for the second part. We'll touch on classical paintings and minis both, and work together on a series of "how would we paint that ?" Slides. The bulk of the class consists of working collectively from a single prompt and each create a model keeping in mind the questions we've asked in part 1. The prompt I have started planning for is "tree", expanding on the video I've done on the same topic a couple years back. I'll have a tub of supplies to share more or less related to the prompt but people are more than welcome to bring their own junk. I'll be guiding the participants throughout but the method will emphasize the collaborative aspect of this phase of the workshop. At the end of the event, each participant will talk through their creation in front of the rest. This won't be an invite for criticism but just a way for everyone to go over their thinking process once again. Obviously the small timeframe means we won't all end up with the same level of finish but that's not the main goal.

       Grateful to Noé for his insights and friendship. I'm taking a little hiatus from hobby stuff for the remainder of the year as I finish Trellis, but I'll find here and there for a little bit of modeling and painting (critically) when I need breaks from staring at the game.

    Be well.