I’m excited, and honestly very humbled, to share that I’ve been accepted into the Washington State Arts Commission’s Wellness, Arts, and Military (WAM) Self-Directed Art Practice (SAP) grant program. This support will directly aid my journey toward competing in Golden Demon in 2027. A huge shoutout to Reama Bubblez for encouraging me to apply.
This isn’t just an announcement; it’s my goal and guiding star.
For the past couple of years, ever since my mother passed, I have taken up miniature painting as both therapy and escape. It is a place where I have a sense of control, where I can tell my stories, and something I can focus on to help me breathe emotionally during these difficult times. Like many artists, I have balanced this practice alongside full-time work, family life, and the constant pressure to be “productive” in ways that are easy to measure.
This grant changes that equation. It creates space, specifically a new studio space, to support my pursuit of something I have only dreamed about.
Why Golden Demon?
The Golden Demon is the pinnacle of miniature painting competitions, drawing thousands of entries each year from painters around the world. Artists of all skill levels are invited to submit their finest work in pursuit of glory, bragging rights, coveted trophies, and a hard-earned sense of accomplishment at the highest level of the hobby.
At each event, the very best is named the overall winner and awarded the legendary Slayer Sword, an icon of mastery few will ever hold. For me, though, Golden Demon isn’t about winning. It’s about pushing myself and discovering where I truly stand.
The competition represents a benchmark of craftsmanship that rewards clarity of vision, technical excellence, storytelling, and restraint. Every brushstroke must earn its place. Every material choice carries consequences. There are no shortcuts, only work, patience, and focus.
Committing to Golden Demon means committing to:
Slowing down
Planning before execution
Failing early and often
Letting critique sharpen the work instead of protecting my ego
What the Grant Makes Possible:
The support from this grant allows me to:
Invest in higher-quality materials and tools
Allocate dedicated, protected time for experimentation and study
Learn directly from artists whose work I deeply respect
Push beyond “good enough” into deliberate, uncomfortable growth
More importantly, it allows me to treat this project as a professional-level endeavor, not a personal hobby.
What Comes Next
Over the coming months, I will be documenting the process openly:
Concept development and narrative planning
Technical studies, material testing, and sourced references
Failures, revisions, and dead ends
Lessons learned along the way
This will not be a highlight reel. It will be the real work, with the messy middle included.
I see this as stewardship of an opportunity. The grant is an investment, and my responsibility is to honor it with rigor, transparency, and care. Whether or not the final piece earns a trophy, the goal is growth that is visible, earned, and lasting.
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me, challenged me, or quietly followed my work over the years. This is just the beginning, and it is a beginning I am stepping into with intention.
— Gavin