The 2026 Great Pirate Paint Off contest is up and running and off to a great start! We’ve got 16 entries so far in the first 4 days of the year. Let’s take a look at some of these early entries and check out the two prizes that will be given away in the middle of January.
Categories for January
Each month of the contest focuses on one or two categories for our contest. The two categories for January are Commanders and Characters for Blood & Plunder. These are very similar but we keep them seperate so we can give out more prizes! We run these categories in January because they are the easiest to get finished! You can submit entries in all the other categories right now as well, but the Commanders and the Characters categories will resolve and get judged and winners awarded at the end of January.
Prizes for Mid January
On January 16th we will be randomly selecting a couple winners from among all those who have participated in the contest in January so far. Each person who has made a on the given category will get one chance in the drawing for the prize.
At the end of January, we will be narrowing the category to the top entries, then letting you all vote for your favorite to receive the prize medals!
Winsor & Newton Brushes
For the Commander category, we will be giving away a set of 2 of the finest miniature painting paint brushes out there: the size 0 and size 1 Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable Brushes. These are amazing brushes and they will change your life if you aren’t already using them.
You can learn a bit about these fine brushes here:
Blood & Pigment is providing this prize because with think it’s a great product!
Redgrass Games Everlasting Wet Palette
For the Commander category, we will be giving away a Redgrass Games Everlasting Wet Palette. The wet palette can really up your mini-painting game by letting your mix and preserve colors for use in multiple painting sessions.
I’ve used several wet palettes and this is my current favorite. This is their “Painter Lite” palette which is small enough to fit on your desk with your huge pile of minis you need to paint, but you can easily work with 10+ colors are once with this size of palette.
It comes with some extra papers and sponges and an elastic band to help keep it airtight shut when you aren’t using it. You can watch a review from Gerry at OnTableTop here, you can watch some dude identify it as his very favorite wet palette here, or you can watch a video from Redgrass on how to use a wet palette below:
Blood & Pigment is providing this prize because with think it’s a great product!
First Entries to the Contest
Right out of the gate we have 3 painters submitting some great work. We’re seeing a lot of submissions of the new Characters models for Blood & Plunder that Firelock Games put out last year. Let’s take a look.
Entries from Greg P
Check out these great minis from Greg P. He’s entered multiple commanders and characters already!
Entries from Lliam B
Lliam was one of the most prolific painters in last year’s contest and he’s back!
Entries from Brendan K
Holding the French standard high, Brendan has submitted a fantastic looking French Officer and a bunch of Character models.
You can keep an eye on the full gallery of entries here. It will be updated regularly.
Final Thoughts
The contest is off to a great start! Thanks everyone who has already participated. If you haven’t got an entry in yet, you have 10 more days to get your name into those drawings for those juicy prizes!