Just Katie | 28 Jul 2014 10:31 a.m. PST |
Good afternoon all, After a couple of years of being a lazy bint and mooching off other gamers, I have finally decided to try my hand at painting. I have to say that I am somewhat apprehensive since I have trouble keeping my lipstick within the lines when applying it, but I'm determined to give it a good go. So I'm being cheeky and asking if any of you talented people would be kind enough to share a picture of your first painting project with me. Any scale, any subject etc. I'd just love to see how your first go turned out – maybe it'll motivate this well-intentioned procrastinator to actually get a move on. Any tips or advice would also be hugely, massively appreciated too please-thankyou-please. All the best, Katie |
GildasFacit | 28 Jul 2014 11:02 a.m. PST |
Almost everybody's first few attempts make them feel like giving up these days. You see so much great stuff on the 'net that it makes you feel that you should do better even on a first attempt. Ignore what others do and judge by what you think is good for you at this stage – it will get better and fairly quickly too if you really want it to and put in the practice. Tips : Don't varnish anything until you have painted a few more – that way you can overpaint/touch up when you've had a bit more experience. Go for simple figures first and don't try anything fancier than basic colour blocks and details. Once you have those bits going to your satisfaction then you can try washes and dry-brushing and highlights. My first figures have all succumbed to the plastic rot Airfix figures suffer from and my earliest metal were Peter Laing 15mm so little or no detail and not of a quality I'd be happy with today. When I did them they were quite satisfactory as my standards were not that high and pretty well all I ever saw were a few magazine pics and I never expected to equal those so I was happy. |
CPBelt | 28 Jul 2014 11:11 a.m. PST |
BTW I feel I should add that over the past five years, I have developed psoriasis on my fingers, my hands tend to shake quite a bit, and I have problems holding things. (Don't ask how many times I have dropped a figure while painting it! Plus I often mutter "hold still" a lot while painting.) So if I can do it, anyone can!! I finished these about the same time in 2008. They were my first figures I painted:
That same year, I finished my first 15mm. A couple years ago, I went back and redid the shadows and highlights on the figures and picked out details I missed when I was a newbie. The revised figs look much better than in this early photo:
==================================== Within a few years of very sporadic painting, I was finishing these fellows. The figs look far better in real life. My old camera was a bit contrast-y. I feel I can do far better still if I take my time.
===================================== Hang in there. Experiment. Watch a lot of videos. Learn to layer, glaze, and wet blend. Use good sable brushes. Buy good paints. (I also use craft paints, but they have their limitations. Glazing and wet-blending are not easy with them!) And enjoy yourself. ordinarygaming.blogspot.com |
Battle Phlox | 28 Jul 2014 11:20 a.m. PST |
The first figures I painted were awful. That was back in the late 80s and I no longer have them. I've gotten a lot better and my painting gets compliments. When you start out don't be afraid to use too big of a brush. The first layer of paint can be sloppy as you'll put on a touch up job later. Also remember you can paint over your mistakes. |
Rhysius Cambrensis | 28 Jul 2014 11:57 a.m. PST |
Hi Katie, Don't use lipstick or felt tip pens!!! And get your blonde and ever so handsome friend to help you! |
HistoryPhD | 28 Jul 2014 12:44 p.m. PST |
My wife's first attempt is on my blog: link |
JezEger | 28 Jul 2014 1:24 p.m. PST |
Always use a primer, my preference is grey spray paint, but others swear by using black. Remember to thin your paint, you want it similar to milk. Don't use straight from the bottle as its too thick and will quickly dry on your brush and give poor results and jagged edges. Easiest way to get decent end result is to use some form of dry brush technique. Lots of youtube vids to help. |
normsmith | 28 Jul 2014 2:05 p.m. PST |
My first attempts were more than 35 years ago, so I don't have them to show. I remember being pretty proud of them, but it know that compared to what is shown here, they were just dreadful. 35 years on, I wouldn't say that I am massively better, but if your are trying to put armies together (rather than being a collector of a few nice figures), I think the best way to go is to block paint in lighter colours than look right and then cover it in a dirty wash. The shading that results from the dirty wash can transform a basic paint job into something a couple of levels higher. You will hear people talk about 'the dip' and a 'magic wash' using floor polish – these techniques basically give you your dirty wash, there are loads of threads here about 'the dip' and I think they will help you. Good luck and stick with it, there is a learning curve, so your stuff will get better If you want to practice, you could paint all my stuff :-). |
John Armatys | 28 Jul 2014 2:46 p.m. PST |
Buy decent brushes (Windsor and Newton series 7 finest sable) and take care of them. Don't try painting facial features – paint the face a flesh colour and when dry wash with very dilute dark brown paint. Later you might want to try painting lips and so on on larger figures. Avoid painting eyes – very few people can do it convincingly. Get a "goat mop" (Humbrol make them) for dry brushing the finished figure with a dried earth colour. Stick the figures onto a piece of wood, then wash in hot water and washing up liquid and let them dry before undercoating. Don't worry about mistakes, you can correct them later. Remember that your figures will be used on a wargames table and will rarely be looked at from less than three feet. Nice bases make figures look a lot better. |
Fizzypickles | 28 Jul 2014 3:15 p.m. PST |
Just paint something. If you then want to achieve something but do not how to, just ask. Painting isn't a competitive sport, it's a creative pastime and for some, a paid job. Just enjoy it |
Striker | 28 Jul 2014 3:31 p.m. PST |
Fortunately my early painting attempts from 35 years ago have all been stripped down with the intention of repainting them, old Grenadier D&D minis. If I have any advise to give, don't be afraid of thin paint. I thought it always had to have 1 coat coverage and thin paint was either bad paint or not mixed up enough. So my early Polly S went on straight from the bottle, but it did come off in convenient sheets. |
corporalpat | 28 Jul 2014 3:57 p.m. PST |
Don't have my earliest efforts anymore. They were all repainted over the years as I got better. Don't be discouraged I'll bet your first efforts are not as bad as you think. It's an old saying but true nonetheless: Practice makes perfect. Check YouTube for tutorials to learn new techniques. At the same time develop a style that is your own and that works for you. Good luck! |
Winston Smith | 28 Jul 2014 10:32 p.m. PST |
My first figures were painted back in the previous century when there were no craft or hobby acrylic paints. Long since thrown out or given away. I don't think cameras were invented yet. My only advice is to try different techniques and see which you like best. Don't be afraid to experiment because there is no one correct method. |
Rhysius Cambrensis | 29 Jul 2014 2:10 a.m. PST |
@ CPBelt, Great painting – it's better than my efforts and I don't have psoriasis! |
Barks1 | 29 Jul 2014 2:40 a.m. PST |
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wrgmr1 | 29 Jul 2014 3:42 a.m. PST |
My first paint work was 40 years ago with Testors enamels, long since gone. I use only water based acrylics now. If you are only painting a few figures, take your time. Primer – white for lighter colors, grey for medium, black for darker or if you want to leave the creases or edges black. Don't bother painting eyes, they are too difficult. I paint the face with Burnt Sienna first, highlight with tanned flesh, then highlight with medium to light flesh. Leaving the eyes around the base of the nose and edges of the face dark. Layering, building up color, darker to lighter, takes time but looks great when you do it. Start with a dark color, then use a lighter shade, paint the same area leaving a small amount of the dark around the edges and creases. You can do a third lighter color if you wish and have the time. Dry brushing, put a small amount paint on your brush, wipe it on a paper towel until it is almost dry then lightly brush the figure. It is easy, looks good and takes very little time. Practice on a junk figure. Washes tone down all colors, so start with a bright color. Take some paint, water it down and then wash your figure. It will color the original paint darker and settle into creases. Wipe away any excess with the corner of a paper towel. If you want it to settle into the creases without darkening your paint, spray your figure with an overcoat protector first. Some paint companies make washes. Greek Hoplites, Dry brushing on their helmet combs. Ink pen lining on their uniforms and cloaks. [URL=http://s219.photobucket.com/user/tjm3/media/IMG_0003.jpg.html]
[/URL] Burgundians, three color layering. I painted the eyes. [URL=http://s219.photobucket.com/user/tjm3/media/Burgundians/Burgundians003.jpg.html]
[/URL] [URL=http://s219.photobucket.com/user/tjm3/media/IMG_7187.jpg.html]
[/URL] Prussians, two color layering, except for the faces. Bases are finished [URL=http://s219.photobucket.com/user/tjm3/media/Calpe%20Prussians/IMG_7548.jpg.html]
[/URL] Prussian artillery, unfinished bases, two color layering. [URL=http://s219.photobucket.com/user/tjm3/media/Calpe%20Prussians/WargamesatGenesJanandFeb080.jpg.html]
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VonBlucher | 29 Jul 2014 9:36 a.m. PST |
Just Katie, I still own the first figure I ever painted from 40 years ago, I'm currently away from home right now and unable to post an image, but trust me that my 5 year old grandson could do better. I've learned a few things over the years is to experiment, and to seek advice from those whose figure painting skills you would like to emulate. Most of us our more than happy to help you get to that point, where you are happy with your output. Below are links to some of my more current figures. TMP link TMP link
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Just Katie | 29 Jul 2014 11:23 a.m. PST |
Thank you so much for sharing so many memories, stories, pictures and brilliant advice everyone. I've been sat here taking notes! All the pictures on here are amazing. I'm still actually going through them right now and I'm almost drooling. @Barks1 – you know what, you did a far better first job at 12 than I expect to at 30! And I'll be checking out your blog forthwith. Same goes for CPBelt – my jaw dropped at your photos and I'm definitely going to be following your blog. Actually, I'm going to be following the blogs of anyone who has linked them…….and probably bugging you for advice on them some time in the near future. Thank you very much for all the advice and encouragement again folks. What a nice welcome to the forum and you've all definitely encouraged me to get cracking and not sweat it. I'll post my work when I've got something to show. I don't expect to be anywhere near as good as everyone on here (even with help from my "handsome blonde friend", good though he is!) but I feel a lot more confident now. All the best Katie |
VonBlucher | 29 Jul 2014 12:00 p.m. PST |
Katie, 30 second trick to painting eyes on 28mm figures. After priming, paint in the eyes with a mix of pale flesh & white. Next with a fine tipped brush paint a line down the center of the eye with either blue or brown,this will have the figure looking forward. Next outline the eye in black, not only to clean it up but to give an impression of eyelashes. Now you can start painting the flesh, I've showed this to numerous people and they are amassed at how simple this is to do. John |
Just Katie | 30 Jul 2014 11:17 a.m. PST |
Thanks VonBlucher. I will definitely give that a go when I progress up to 28mm. Looking at your own figures, I'll take any tips I can get from you! I also want to add that I just finished looking at the pictures posted by yourself, wrgmr1 and CPBelt and blimey, I'm actually in awe and feeling disappointed that you don't all run some kind of painting university. Now that's something I wouldn't mind taking a student loan out for! Thanks again everyone, I've learned a lot from this thread. Of course, if anybody comes through with a university, or is simply saintly enough to help me learn further, please drop me a PM. All the best, Katie |
Barks1 | 01 Aug 2014 8:49 p.m. PST |
Thanks, Katie, welcome aboard! Looking forwards to seeing how you go. |
Aubrey | 11 Aug 2014 2:24 a.m. PST |
Just Katie, I'll offer you the same advice that I gave my then 11 year old daughter when she said she wanted to paint something:- * Pick Something you want to paint (she chose a cowboy). * Get the consistency of the paint right (not too thick not too thin). * Always undercoat. I use black but white is much easier to begin with imho. * Use a good brush with a good point. * Concentrate on getting the paint in the right places. * Don't worry too much about the details at this stage (e.g. the eyes – I don't bother myself for anything under 40mm). * Take your time. She was proud of what she did – be proud of your first efforts. I've been painting for 30+ years and my first efforts were horrible messes but with lots and lots of practice I'm infinitely better (I've just won 3 painting prizes at my club). To be honest you are very lucky to be starting these days – acrylic rather than enamel paint, lots of advice and inspiration on the web, lots of great figures to paint. Really looking forward to seeing what you produce. Cheers Aubrey |