Un-experienced at Painting.

[Brother-Sergeant Valen]

Greetings!

 

In the past, I've been quite happy to be another of the faceless horde of 'grey' players, those who don't really bother to paint. This was partially due to not having time, but also related to not being very experienced at the art (Nor being very good with arts and crafts in general). This changed with my recent return to the game, and I decided this time 'round I wanted to truly give painting a shot.

 

Now, it's 3 months later, and I'm struggling to keep that 'inspiration' alive. I understand the practice curve, but nothing I seem to paint turns out right, and it's rather disheartening. Originally, I began with the intention of attempting to work my way up to replication DV8's Space Wolves color scheme, but now I'm thinking a more simple color scheme is in order (Although, what color scheme that may be, I don't know). I manage a base coat easily enough, and can pick out details, but simply fall apart when it comes to highlighting, despite the number of tutorials I've watched/read on the subject.

 

So, my questions are thus:

 

Is there any form of highlighting that is simpler to learn, to work my way up?

 

Drybrushing. How much paint am I supposed to have come off onto the model when I paint? Should I still be seeing faint lines on the paper when I'm wiping paint off, or should it be nothing unless I really push down? Can this really be used as highlights?

 

Extreme highlights. How much lighter should this be than the surrounding color? Any tips on placements?

 

Do I need to highlight marines to come up to a table-top standard, or can I get away with just picking out details?

 

---

 

There's probably more, but this is all I can think of. Feel rather embarrassed having to ask these questions, but I'm still not getting it despite buying the Games Workshop 'How to Paint' guides, reading and watching tutorials on the net, etc. and I don't really have anyone around I'm comfortable asking these questions (My closest GW is an hours drive).

 

Thankyou in advance for any help you may provide, and try not to be too patronising :P.

[Olis]

This sounds like a case of, with all due respect, trying to get too much done for your 'skill level'. You have to work your way up, mastering simpler (or simplified) techniques to acquire the knowledge on how to apply more difficult skills. That said, I'm sure we can give useful pointers for you (you never know DV8 might appear to offer sage advice). :P

 

So, my questions are thus:

 

Is there any form of highlighting that is simpler to learn, to work my way up?

 

Well, my suggestion for simple highlights is try a one-stage highlight: Pick a colour a little brighter than the one before (elementary, I know) and go over edges reasonably lightly. It pays not to overload your brush, frater. Use this smartly as picking EVERY edge out isn't necessarily a good idea. Bear in mind where light comes from (above, usually).

 

If you feel the one-stage isn't enough try a two-stage: Two sucessively lighter colours applied much the same as before but use the second stage more sparingly and more toward corner edges than the first stage. From there it's up to you - more intermediary steps, brighter highlights, washes and inks, etc.

 

Drybrushing. How much paint am I supposed to have come off onto the model when I paint? Should I still be seeing faint lines on the paper when I'm wiping paint off, or should it be nothing unless I really push down? Can this really be used as highlights?

 

OK...

1) Not alot at all. Barely any at all, in fact.

2) I personally use tissue like kitchen towels or bog roll rather than paper because it is absorbent. But anyway I wipe the brush onto the paper until barely anything comes off (but still something), making VERY faint lines. BTW don't push down when you drybrush as it can put paint into deeper details where it's not wanted.

3) Yes it can be used for highlights but the finish this effect can leave will be 'grainy'. It's best to use it on highly detailed surfaces like fur/hair, chainmail, tyranid bodies, etc

 

Extreme highlights. How much lighter should this be than the surrounding color? Any tips on placements?

 

Well, you could, provided you work up to this with successive paints, theoretically go all the way up to white. However if I were you I'd stop at a 'bright' version of your base colour (greys for black, scorpion green for, possibly, dark angels green). The brightest colour used should end up toward the very tips of corners, to maximise their impact.

 

Do I need to highlight marines to come up to a table-top standard, or can I get away with just picking out details?

 

No, you don't need highlights for tabletop standard and yes, you can get away with details. Do what you're comfortable with and remember: tabletop standard requires the viewer to be a couple of feet away so if it looks okay to you from about that distance then it'll look fine to everybody else.

 

Hope this helps. ^_^

 

Edit: Typo.

[Tanhausen]

Very good advice given above!

 

For a model to be TT you only require 3 colours. I think your goal should be learning how to paint in thin layers rather than getting 3 colours...

 

A basic concept: no stroke should cover completely...at least needing 2 layers is a thumb rule to know you are painting thin enough, unless you are using washes.

 

MHO in any case :)

[WingsOfTheFalcon]

The easiest way to bulk paint, though not particularly pretty is to paint everything in the brightest colour you would use to highlight it then give it a really heavy wash of either Devlan Mud or Badab Black.

 

This will give you shading and highlighting and can be done extremely quickly.

 

The trade off is that the colours don't have the depth they would have if you put a few stages of highlights together, but perfect for general tabletop use.

 

So metals you would paint Mithril Silver and then give a wash of BB, etc.

[Hemal]

altrnative to highlighting is to use a shade on a lighter version of the base coat...

[KAINE-77]

Hey, please don't get disheartened!

Know it's easy to say that, but believe me when I say, most of us know the frustration of a model not turning out how we hoped!! ;)

 

Gotta agree that I think maybe your getting ahead of yourself... There's such a raft of techniques and terminology that it's easy to think you have to try it all!

 

My advice would be to just thin your paints and practice painting 'within the lines' and getting soild colour down, which is not as easy as you'd think at first. Then worry about shading and highlights.

 

But one technique I like is 'layering'.

 

As an example, I want to paint red:

So, with a black undercoated model, I paint several thin layers of red Gore on an armour plate leaving the black undercoat in the recesses which acts as the shading, then, with the next lighter red in GW's range, Blood red, I use a small brush with a tiny amount of paint on it and using the edge of the brush I gently hit just the uppermost raised edges.

 

Gw's range is great for layering so pick the colour you want, in this example blue:

Regal Blue (Darkest) For The Shading, Ultramarine Blue (Mid tone) Main colour, Enchanted Blue (Lightest) Highlight.

 

As others have said, the washes are great for shading and there's one designed to compliment each colour.

 

Just keep going!!! :)

[Lord Ragnarok]

This sounds like a case of, with all due respect, trying to get too much done for your 'skill level'.

 

I think the keys for me (I'm a moderately in-experienced painter) are the following:

 

1.Starting simple(as stated) First minis were basecoat then highlights

2. Working on Thinning paint

3. Using better brushes

4. After i practiced enough on the simple highlights I moved to a more complex scheme.

5. Although I bit off more than I could chew I think I am sticking with this scheme. As I feel I will get it very right with practice. Which segues to...

6. ....PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE (Which I need more of, but see quick improvement after I hunker down and paint stuff)

7. Don't get discouraged. Look at every chance at painting as a step to improve. Some folks are just really good at this. I only try and paint table top quality. Once I get some mastery down I can make them look a little nicer.

 

 

I will post my visual progression later.