Army Painter's Beginner's Painting Guide -- the real deal!
Jan 3, 2023 2:57:52 GMT
skunkape likes this
Post by sgtslag on Jan 3, 2023 2:57:52 GMT
The Army Painter company published, The Wargamer's Painting Guide, which demonstrates how to get armies of figures painted, in record time, to a decent GEtGW standard (Good Enough to Game With, at arm's length). I do not use their products, outside of some grass bush tufts. Instead, I use the original Dip Technique product: Minwax Polyshades Urethane Stain (Tudor = Black; Royal Walnut = Dark Brown; other colors can be used, as well, just pay attention to the shades and darkness of each, sticking to the darker brown colors), which is around 1/2 of the price of Army Painters Quick Shade Washes. The Minwax products (Satin or Gloss, does not matter) require a matte clear coat, when completely dry, as do the Army Painters Quick Shade Washes.
I use inexpensive craft paints, as the made-for-miniatures paints are just too expensive. I paint to a tabletop standard, so why spend money on expensive paints which really will not improve the look of my mini's at arm's length?
I took the Guide's advice, painting a group of Gnolls almost completely the same primary color of the finished figures: Americana Honey Brown. Now all I need to do, after it dries completely, is to paint the bits and bobs which are a different color. I gotta say that this was inspiring and motivating for me. I used Rustoleum's 2x White Paint + Primer spray paint, and that left me cold, and uninspired to begin painting them… Seeing them covered in the lighter shade of brown, however, really got me excited to begin painting these bad boys!
I just painted almost the entire figure with the Honey Brown paint, not worrying one iota about neatness, or accuracy. I applied the paint, well mixed, but not diluted at all (I don't care if the paint fills in minor details -- I would never paint such small bits, anyway!). Now I just have to apply: dark spots, on their bare skin/fur areas; black around their eyes, snout, and mouth; paint their clothing/weapons/equipment, and then brush on The Dip, and matte!
I plan to brush on The Dip Technique, to shade them, followed by a matte clear coat, to finish them for the tabletop. The Dip Technique will darken their fur, around two shade levels, so I am fine with the lighter Honey Brown base color for their fur.
I was suffering from the White Page Syndrome (writers suffer this, staring at a blank page, struggling for inspiration to get the first words written…), when they were sitting on my paint desk, all white. That was disappointing, as I have another bunch of these figures which have already been bloodied on the gaming table. These reinforcements have been assembled, and primed, for 6+ months. I just was not motivated to paint them. Period. Now, I am… Cheers!
I use inexpensive craft paints, as the made-for-miniatures paints are just too expensive. I paint to a tabletop standard, so why spend money on expensive paints which really will not improve the look of my mini's at arm's length?
I took the Guide's advice, painting a group of Gnolls almost completely the same primary color of the finished figures: Americana Honey Brown. Now all I need to do, after it dries completely, is to paint the bits and bobs which are a different color. I gotta say that this was inspiring and motivating for me. I used Rustoleum's 2x White Paint + Primer spray paint, and that left me cold, and uninspired to begin painting them… Seeing them covered in the lighter shade of brown, however, really got me excited to begin painting these bad boys!
I just painted almost the entire figure with the Honey Brown paint, not worrying one iota about neatness, or accuracy. I applied the paint, well mixed, but not diluted at all (I don't care if the paint fills in minor details -- I would never paint such small bits, anyway!). Now I just have to apply: dark spots, on their bare skin/fur areas; black around their eyes, snout, and mouth; paint their clothing/weapons/equipment, and then brush on The Dip, and matte!
I plan to brush on The Dip Technique, to shade them, followed by a matte clear coat, to finish them for the tabletop. The Dip Technique will darken their fur, around two shade levels, so I am fine with the lighter Honey Brown base color for their fur.
I was suffering from the White Page Syndrome (writers suffer this, staring at a blank page, struggling for inspiration to get the first words written…), when they were sitting on my paint desk, all white. That was disappointing, as I have another bunch of these figures which have already been bloodied on the gaming table. These reinforcements have been assembled, and primed, for 6+ months. I just was not motivated to paint them. Period. Now, I am… Cheers!