"Sculpt or paint job?" Topic

What makes a great WARGAMING figure? The sculpt or the paint job. Can a great paint job cover a terrible sculpt? Vice versa?

Today's figures allow a mediocre painter to produce a good looking painted figure.

In the past, I have seen dazzling paint jobs on what I would consider mediocre figures.
Specifically, the Hinchliffe Late Byzantine cavalry figures. I think that they were pretty harsh figures, and the casting also left a lot to be desired.
I remember seeing one of the best painted armies I have ever seen made from these figures.

Paint job…. I've seen a lot of nice sculpts look bad by poor painting(often times my own painting)

BUT

Then I see a misshapen chunk of lead painted so well I am amazed that the painter could see the intent even if the skill was lacking of the sculptor's idea of what it could be.

I think it takes both. For it to be top notch you need both to be spot on. Otherwise occasionally painting can save a mediocre figure. But nothing can save a bad paint job???

Yes and yes.
It does need both, but you can get away with just really great looking sculpts.

Hmmm. A great wargaming figure is one that is recognizable for what it is from across the table. The sculpt can help with that but ultimately it is the paint job. A bad paint job still looks bad if it is a good sculpt underneath.

Paint job all the way. See above. A gifted artist can make the worst metal blob look good, while the best sculpted figure in the world can look like crap with a bad paint job.

Paint job.

IMO miniatures are an art form. They blend sculpting with the techniques of painting. Therefore, the importance of the sculpt and the quality of the paint job are of equal importance.

Great thoughts guys.

I beg to differ on the worst metal blob, some are beyond help unless you go to the green stuff. I have painted them and ugly is as ugly is, lol. Theres a long legged dog out there that nothing can help for example…