"Miniature Painting for Beginners – How to Get into the Hobby" Topic
8 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Please do not use bad language on the forums.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the Painting Message Board
Areas of InterestGeneral
Featured Hobby News Article
Featured Link
Featured Showcase ArticleHobby brushes direct from Sri Lanka.
Featured Workbench ArticleThe Spacefarers are covered with some kind of lead disease!
Current Poll
|
Tango01 | 06 Feb 2020 10:36 p.m. PST |
"Getting into the hobby of painting miniatures sounds easier than it actually is. Sure – you might have just bought your first Warhammer set or a board game with boringly greyish miniatures. Now it is time to give your miniatures a pretty new look…." Main page link Amicalement Armand |
Sgt Slag | 07 Feb 2020 7:32 a.m. PST |
Too high end for beginners: "…Army Painter, Citadel, Formular P3, and Vallejo…" These are expensive paints for someone just starting out! They may be investing more money than they may want, or have, at this point. Here is another point which is way above a complete beginner's level of understanding: "A game-changer to the painting scene is Citadels "Contrast Paint" range." They will not understand this reference, most likely. It may be a game-changer, but it is beyond their knowledge level, and should not be a part of the discussion, at this point. The details on actually applying the paint are too simplistic, not enough details: "Most colors need about two to three layers of paint before they get the needed opacity (but it all depends on the colour and the primer used)." Again, this implies that the paint is thinned, before applying. Most people start out with inexpensive craft paints. A better approach, which will achieve decent results, at arm's length, is to apply simple block painting. Craft paints are very inexpensive. Explain what "simple block painting" is, specifically. Follow that up with how to use a black wash: either, the classic Dip Technique (Minwax Polyshades is about $15 USD/can, versus $30 USD per can of Army Painter's product!), or Magic Wash technique (Pledge Floor Polish is $6 USD/bottle!!!). Both The Dip, and Magic Wash, are easy to use techniques. They're actually quite effective, at arm's length, which is normal playing distance. Success encourages; failure discourages, and defeats the will to press on, in most people. The author seems to be jumping the gun, pushing beginners towards high-level painting techniques too soon. We need beginners to achieve satisfactory results, fresh out of the gate! If they choose to pursue a higher level of painting, they will. If not, they may be satisfied with their GEtGW (Good Enough to Game With, at arm's length) quality painting, and continue on in the hobby, happily and merrily. Or they may drop it, and pursue other hobbies and interests, knowing that they spent a minimal amount of money, without getting in over their heads. I strongly recommend a step-based approach, starting on the low end for quality, and money investment. They can always climb higher, if desired. Pushing newb's to paint with high-end supplies, miniatures, and techniques will result in more frustration, and anxiety. Games Workshop is already setting its customers up for failure by pushing high-quality painting. Look at how common it is to see primed armies on the gaming table… Just my $2.00 USD's worth. Cheers! |
Anton Ryzbak | 07 Feb 2020 8:01 a.m. PST |
I concur with Sgt Slag, I have never gone past craft paints. The Americana range has a much wider selection of colors than any of the high-end lines, cost about 1/6 as much per ounce and handles just as well. antonswargame.blogspot.com 28mm Victrix plastics
|
Sgt Slag | 07 Feb 2020 10:10 a.m. PST |
At arm's length, that warrior would look superb, on the tabletop! That is what I'm talking about. I paint to a "low" standard, as I rarely view my figures closer than the tabletop. I also paint armies: my Goblin army numbers 180 figures, currently. I have more than a dozen other armies, of various races and creatures, to play with, all painted. I've been playing army games since around 1995. If I painted to a "higher standard", I would have maybe two armies done, by now. Each painter must choose their "standard", or level, of painting. As long as they are happy with it, nothing else matters. When I field multiple armies, for both sides, in a large mini's game, my fellow players are impressed: the number of figures, the variety of races and creatures, and they have a cohesiveness, all being painted in the same style, and standard. We are all happy to roll dice, thrash each other's armies on the table, and, hopefully, achieve a satisfying victory. Different strokes, for different folks. If you are having fun, nothing else matters. However, helping newb's to achieve a level of success, immediately, is paramount if we want them to stay in the hobby. That is all that I am harping about. Like I said, they can climb the "quality ladder", if they choose to. Or not. Cheers! |
Tango01 | 07 Feb 2020 11:46 a.m. PST |
|
Slow Oats | 07 Feb 2020 12:48 p.m. PST |
I agree with Sgt Slag. Start simple with gear, it's less daunting and teaches folks to work with what they have. I'll throw in this: teach layering early on. Pretty much an essential technique for using acrylic paints, and I wish I'd learned it sooner. If you can teach someone to layer in shadows and highlights you can totally bypass the need for basecoat/wash techniques, which I always found too boring and time consuming. |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 08 Feb 2020 12:29 a.m. PST |
I love the basecoat-wash-drybrush process. It's like a long meditation. |
|