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Learning to paint


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New player here. Painting is the one thing that intimidates me most about wargaming. I don't expect my miniatures to look great the first time I paint them, but I don't want to ruin them either. My local GW store offers free painting lessons, would this be a good place to start?

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Yes.

smile.png

^

But seriously, free painting lessons? Why the heck not? The new GW painting method (roughly base, shade, layer 1, layer 2 maybe) is really a great way for most gamers to get started. It's not that expensive if you're buying what you need for your core army. Most schemes are really like three main colors and then some metal or bits for exposed flesh. If you don't care for the style they're offering, at least you'll probably pick up some tips about thinning your paints, brush control, the order in which you lay down colors...

The internet's a big place and there's a ton of info out there, but there's so much it can be intimidating. Live lessons will at least force you to pick something and get started, and the rest is all downhill from there. As you develop a preference for, say, drybrushing vs. line highlights, you'll know more about what techniques you feel ready for and it will help you channel your searching and learning.

Remember to have fun.

Yes! That will be good to get you started and have some hands on experience and learning, while someone gives you pointers.

Also check out some videos on Youtube and Forums here! There are a lot of great techniques that people have come up with that make painting less complicated.

Just don't be discouraged if your models at first don't look how you envisioned them. Just keep at it! tongue.png.....Perfection is only for the followers of Slaanesh devil.gif

To be more specific, internet tutorials abound, and you can learn much from them.  I learned everything I know from trial and error and the internet.  Unfortunately for me, internet painting guides weren't exactly common when I was taking my first steps through trial and error.  

 

My models were awful.  Awwwwfullllll.  I still remember poor Corbulo, drowning under 2 solid millimeters of red paint...

 

Even after I started seeing tutorials, it was remarkably difficult to simulate results.  It still is, on occasion, depending on the technique I'm trying to poach.  I understand why when I try to explain things to othr painters- doing it in text is an insufficient method.  Even text with some snapshots isn't so great.  Videos are pretty good, but for the best possible transfer of information, you need to be sitting next to the other painter.

 

By going in for lessons, you have a chance to skip over many of the faltering steps that I trudged through for years.

 

So, to reiterate: 

 

Yes

 

:)

I agree with others, get what hands-on experience you can. I good video or tutorial is never as good as seeing someone actually do a technique live, where you can ask pertinent questions and really see what they are doing. Take care that 'free' usually comes with the strings attached that they will try tom up-sell you some paint and brushes. While you shouldn't feel obligated, you shouldn't take too much good will without picking up a few bottles of wash or paint. If you find the right group who paint regularly at your local shop you can get great advice, direction, support, and motivation. Painting seems to go faster when you can gab a bit (but stay focused) and just get to work.

 

Once you've got some confidence with a solid set of base skills and techniques, the internet is the door to finding any advanced technique you can imagine. Naturally, if you can find someone who can show it live, it's always better, but a well shot video and/or photos with good explanation can do wonders. Like Firepower, I can remember the agony of seeing well painted miniatures in White Dwarf and not having a clue how they painted it beyond some 'sound bite' about the colours used. You can learn in hours/days with the internet what would have taken weeks/months a few decades ago.

To throw in my bit, these words will commonly appear "Don't forget to thin your paints" :) either water or a thinning medium. Also a technique I started with and will use until I'm dead, Drybrushing. I've used it on space wolves, iron warriors, star phantoms, on bases, on tanks and so on. I will also echo have fun most of all!

I think the best way to start is to follow some tutorials for the models you like to paint. After your done go to your GW and ask them for advice! They'll be able to point out some things you can do better on your next model. You'll be surprised how fast you're able to learn painting! :)

A good way of starting to practice painting techniques is to buy one of the clip-together models boxes. Marines, Imperial Guard, and various Xenos for around £6 or equivalent. I always have a few knocking around to test things on. The good thing of course, is that you can strip the paint off and use them again smile.png

Green is a pretty cooperative color, so it's not a bad choice at all for a first attempt at painting an army. Red, yellow and white: these are the colors you should fear. laugh.png

It's not quite as easy as blue. Blue is bar none the easiest color to work with (perhaps a tie with black), because changing tones (especially lightening them) is simply a matter of adding white. Green is a tiny bit trickier, because you are better off using yellows to change the hue to something lighter. But starting out, the premixed colors that come right out of the pot should serve you fine.

And my I commend you on the bluntness of you answer. I hope it's an indication of your really liking the scheme and you'll want to stick with it. When you're starting out it can be hard to choose. Remember, if you take up an army for the long haul, you're going to be working with those colours over-and-over. Pick something you're really passionate/certain about.

or pick chaos and paint every model a different scheme msn-wink.gif because chaos.Eye Stabbingly Awesome Slaanesh!!!!!

To think that this was actually the standard, once:

http://www.warseer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=175205&d=1374944163

That would test the patience of any painter. I can see why they went "Hey, guys....black and pink?"

or pick chaos and paint every model a different scheme msn-wink.gif because chaos.Eye Stabbingly Awesome Slaanesh!!!!!

To think that this was actually the standard, once:

http://www.warseer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=175205&d=1374944163

That would test the patience of any painter. I can see why they went "Hey, guys....black and pink?"

Come on. Did anyone make it through that era without some version of that exact model? I know I had a couple and they were so fun!

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