My first year of painting

[Andystarscream]

Ok bit of boring info first

I got in the hobby many years ago with Heroquest and over the years have owed and played nearly every game, and although dropping out for a couple of years here and there i always end up coming back.

Now although the span of hobby years is great the paint years is not with only the odd splash of paint over about three or four models with no shading highlights or anything (i'm talking just red cape here pink face there silver sword over there) so i don't really count that as painting, in fact i compared it the other day to drawing a matchstick man and painting the mona lisa.

And then a year ago i started watching tutorials on you tube and caught the painting bug

I'm a slow painting but i'd rather take my time and be happy with the result than rush and want to burn them all with rage fire

So anyway here are the results after a year.

edit - also wasn't sure weather to post all pics here or the album, i chose album but can change if i chose poorly

edit 2 - ok i chose poorly

[Firepower]

Probably better to post the pics from the album, rather than a link to the album.

 

Anyway, for a first real go at painting these are all pretty good.  I'd recommend matte varnishing to take that gleaming post-wash look off the models.  At least that's what I'm guessing caused the bright sheen.  Kinda works on the Great Unclean One though, given that they're all slimy and such.

 

The pics are a bit too far out and lacking in detail for me to really give a point for point chewing out though.  So that's less fun for me then :P

[Andystarscream]

Yes it's a satin varnish, just a personal preference although I seem to slap a bit too much on :) I'm of the opinion that a satin finish gives it a professional looking finish and matt just seems to lack something, this might be a throwback to me remembering when miniatures were all gloss varnished :p

I'll post some more pictures closer and also not just a album link like you said although it'll have be later when I'm back from work

[Spear of Achilles]

yeah I'd go Matte. You lose detail to shine

[Andystarscream]

yeah I'd go Matte. You lose detail to shine

hmmmm decisions decisions....

1. I like the effect of satin varnish over matte

but

2.And while not as bad as in the pictures My deamon prince now looks like i haven't highlighted it!

i might spray some anti shine on it

[Brother Eleysium]

Definitely not bad for your first year of painting. You're already grasping highlights and lowlights or you seem to be, and that's difficult to do for just a year experience. Try to get some smaller brushes or practice keeping your highlight lines thinner though. It takes time, but it will come and remember practice makes perfect. Another tip I've learned is painting your HQs last, especially when doing a new army or color scheme. I know if you're like me you can't wait to slap paint on your beautiful HQ models, but trust me they'll come out better if you do them last. That way you can use everything you've learned painting the rest of the models in the army on your HQs. Glad you're enjoying the hobby, happy painting. :-)