One of the most misunderstood aspects of high-level miniature painting is that progress doesn’t come from talent alone. It comes from environment, education, and deliberate practice. As I move deeper into my long-term goal of competing at the Golden Demon level, I’ve been intentionally building a studio ecosystem that supports focus, consistency, and growth.

This post documents the tools, materials, and instructors I’m investing in, not as a shopping flex, but as a record of how I’m constructing a sustainable practice around miniature art. I plan to update this post as it evolves.

Learning From Masters: Ongoing Instruction & Mentorship

At the core of my growth is continuous learning. Rather than chasing random tutorials, I’ve committed to a small number of instructors whose philosophies align with how I want to paint.

Subscribed Instructors:

Juan Sanz, El Miniaturista

Juan’s work embodies precision, powerful color, and technical excellence. His teaching emphasizes method, planning, and intentional contrast. This is exactly the mindset required for competition-level pieces.

Duncan Rhodes, Painting Academy

Duncan’s academy is foundational. It reinforces fundamentals such as brush control, layering, and consistency. These are easy to overlook when chasing advanced techniques. It is always important to return to the basics.

Valbjorn, Shield Wall

Valbjorn specializes in kitbashing and customizing models that emphasize mood, narrative, and texture. His approach helps bridge the gap between technical execution and storytelling. This is critical for display pieces and honestly one of my favorite aspects of the hobby.

Together, these subscriptions form a balanced triangle of precision, fundamentals, and atmosphere.

Airbrush & Paint Infrastructure:

Rather than rushing into complex effects, I’m prioritizing consistency, longevity, and silence in my airbrush setup. I want something that allows for long sessions without fatigue or distraction.

Airbrush & Compressor System

Silentaire Super Silent DR-150 Air Compressor

A professional-grade, oil-less compressor chosen specifically for its near-silent operation and reliability. I want to be able to work for hours without noise becoming a mental tax. Not sure where it'll be stored. I considering a wheelable cart for additional storage and movability. 

Iwata Eclipse HP-CS Gravity Feed with 10-foot Braided Nylon Air Hose

A proven workhorse that is versatile enough for priming, basecoats, and controlled modulation.

Paasche HB-16-2F Hobby Spray Booth  Kit

Small and fits on my secretary desk. Not sure where it'll be stored but if I can a wheelable cart maybe stored with the compressor. 

DIY Spray booth bucket system

My partner nixed me cutting a hole in my house wall so Im going to make a bucket filter for my airbrush over spray. 
How To Use A Bucket To Vent A Spray Booth - Bucket Hack For Airbrushing by Barbatos Rex

Iwata Universal Airbrush Holder

Holds two airbrushes, allowing room to expand if I add a second brush later.

This setup prioritizes predictability over novelty. This is a theme you will see repeated throughout my studio choices.

Brushes:

El Miniaturista, Juan Sanz Signature Brush Set, five pieces

Kolinsky sable rounds and arrows paired with a goat-hair drybrush. This set reinforces discipline through sharp tips, paint control, and deliberate stroke placement. There are no shortcuts.

I chose to further support El Miniaturista and trust his brush line. I have several dozen older and well-used brushes, but none of comparable quality. I need tools for final execution, as well as brushes I can be rough on without concern.

Quality of Life, Lighting, Filming, and Documentation

Painting is only half the journey. Your comfort and documentation matter, both for longevity, reflection and for sharing progress with the community.

VISION AID Magnifying Glasses with LED Light, Headband, 5 Lenses

I'm getting old and I really appreciate all the comfort, various magnification levels, and additional lighting.

Camera & Mounting

NearStream VM20 4K Streaming Camera

– Not purchased yet

NearStream ST40 Adjustable Dual-Arm Desk Mount

– Not purchased yet

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.

Old studio, circa 2023

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 

The Maggot - Foetid Bloat-drone features a converted flesh mower crafted from toothpicks and wall-mount screws. I must admit, I find 'The Maggot' oddly endearing and cute—perhaps there's something wrong with me!