Welcome to the Tilted Crown Award
The Tilted Crown Award
is a tribute to self-mastery through miniature art. It honors painters who've faced the quiet battles, staying motivated, pushing their skills, chasing inspiration, and kept showing up. This medal isn't just about talent. It's a recognition of the time, the growth, and the heart poured into the work. You didn't just paint something great.
You became something greater.
VICTORIA SUPRA OMNIA
"Victory Above All"
Guest Judge OrcButt - Josh Harris
With 15 years in the game industry, OrcButt has designed beasts for D&D and Hearthstone With a background at Blizzard and Hasbro, he's brought his love of orcs and gritty fantasy to mini painting, where he now runs a Patreon packed with deep dives on lighting, skin tones, and OSL. Patreon.com/orcbutt
Guest Judge Creature Crate - Robert Vesco
Rob's a rising star with Verko's Vault, painting less than two years but already stacking medals-3 golds and a silver at Nova, 2 Best in Shows, and Best in Category (apprentice). He moved up to Standard at the Miniature Painting Open, snagging 2 silvers and 2 bronzes, then pinned a Commended at Adepticon 2025. Hes all about bold storytelling through paint-and ready to see what chaos you bring to the table. @creature_crate_
1 on 1 Feedback
Our guest judges will be slinging feedback and custom critiques your way! The top 3 winners and 4 runner ups will have the opportunity to talk 1 on 1 to our judges via discord text messages.
Category 1: Tales in Texture
Use paint, basing, and kitbashing to spin a visual tale. Bring the story to life without a single word.
Category 2: Battle Damage Beauty
Weathering, gore, chipped armor, broken weapons. Make ‘em look like they barely survived the final boss.
Category 3: Bust em’ Up
Limit your entry to a SecretForge bust. Focus on the face, skin, and raw expression. Big brush moves. Tight detail. No hiding.
*Note No need to choose a category—just submit your painted model. Judges will award one winner per category based on how well your piece fits and excels within each theme.
ENTRIES MUST CONTAIN ALL 5 IMAGES:
1. Unpainted
2. Work in progress
3. Front
4. Perspective
5. Back
*DEADLINE July 1st
NO DIGITAL TOUCHUPS
Absolutely NO digital touchups of your model. Images should be well-lit! You dont want our judges squinting to peep those details!
ELIGIBLE MODELS
Must be a Secret Forge Model for this first edition of the Tilted Crown. Any model we have ever released is fair game! Most of our models can be purchased individually on our myminifactory store. If youre having trouble finding a model, you can visit our Luna: Raised by Dragons - late pledge manager on myminifactory, where all of our past campaigns can be purchased.
Most of our individual models can be purchased on our MyMiniFactory Store
If you're unable to find something specific, it may be that it is not yet available on our MMF store, but all of our past campaigns are currently available for instant download on our late pledge manager here
Top 3 winners and 4 runner-ups
will receive upon request 1-on-1 feedback from our judges via discord DM’s—real insight to level up your next piece!
Each Category Winner gets:
A $30 Amazon Gift Card—because maybe you don’t need paints. Maybe you want snacks. Maybe you want socks. We don’t judge. You do you. And a Tilted Crown Medal from Secret Forge. Cast in metal, Gold plated, and forged by your spirit!
Contest Timeline
Follow along our timeline as the tilted crown takes off!
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June 9th - Categories Announced!
Creative Challenge Categories have been selected:
Category 1: Tales in Texture - Use paint, basing, and kitbashing to spin a visual tale. Bring the story to life without a single word.
Category 2: Battle Damage Beauty - Weathering, gore, chipped armor, broken weapons. Make ‘em look like they barely survived the final boss.
Category 3: Bust em’ Up - Limit your entry to a SecretForge bust. Focus on the face, skin, and raw expression. Big brush moves. Tight detail. No hiding.
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July 1st 2025 - SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Submission DEADLINE
Rules:
Entries must contain all 5 images:
- Unpainted,
- Work in progress,
- Front,
- Perspective,
- Back,
- Absolutely NO digital touchups of your model
- Must be a Secret Forge Model for this first edition of the Tilted Crown.
- Any model we have ever released is fair game!
- Entries should be well-lit!
Prizes:
1 Winner from each Category will receive:
- A Tilted Crown Award Medal
- $30 Amazon Gift card
- Option to get 1 on 1 Feedback from our Verkos Vault Judges!
