"Craft Store Paints, Good? Bad?" Topic

Hey again,

(p.s. thanks to all for answering so many of my questions lately)

i'm a brand new mini painter (i've painted nine figures now in total), and i've started with Apple Barrel paints from Michael's (so i don't have to spend a ton to see if i like the hobby). There are a few things i have not been able to do well from instructions i've read on the Internet (esp. washing), but, on the whole they don't seem that bad. Their "stickiness" does very well with drybrushing (or at least from what i can tell with my zero experience).

i'm also finding that the more i water them down the better they seem to work (or at least to get to the results i am looking for).

Anyways, i went to my local Hobbytown USA today in quest of some inks to learn to wash with (based on recommendations here and elsewhere). i ended up speaking with a guy there that used to work for Games Workshop, and he wasn't fond of the idea that i was a.) using Apple Barrel paints from Michael's, b.) using gray primer, and c.) using gesso to prime with. Of course, he was nice about all this – i asked for his professional opinion, and he gave it to me.

i'm cool with the gray and the gesso (i think – i have an aversion to sprays in general when i can avoid them, and non-toxic – i.e. gesso – is always good); however, i'm curious – should i be concerned about using craft store paints? i know they need to be thinned more than the average paint, but are they not recommended at all?

I use them all the time. The only "hobby" paints I use are for skin tones. It really comes down to a matter of preference and what you want out of the paint. Some people want paint that covers in one swipe, others want a certain color, some just refuse to admit anything outside of the X brand paint exists.

Use what you feel comfortable with. If you find you enjoy the hobby and want to continue painting, experiment with Vallejo or GW paints.

Rich

Many threads on this topic, but start here:

TMP link

CC

Hi Grip,

Until this week I have used Apple Barrel paints exclusively. This might be of interest to you:

link

Also, all of the miniatures on my blog until January 26th were painted with Apple Barrel paints:

link

Now, I just bought about 70 Citadel paints, and am starting to use them. Compared to Apple Barrel, they are nicer, but to a beginer there is not any differance. Check out the Imrahil model half way down the page. Would you have guessed I used Apple Barrel paints on him? Well, I did.

Hope that helps!

DwarfMan

Quite a lot of folks use craft store paint with no trouble. As long as you know how to handle what you buy, it's all good. There are *some* craft store paints that are too grainy, but you can identify those pretty quickly and, having spent all of 88 cents on them, not feel too terrible.

Brand loyalty to GW paints, or Vallejo, Reaper, Coat d'Arms, Armoury, or Foundry is all well and good, and I would generally recommend a miniature-specific brand like GW for metallics, but paint with what works for *you* (including primering). You *might* find you like the miniature brands better, but the vast price difference may mean you take your time switching over. Meanwhile, your inexpensive craft store paint collection means *you are still painting*.

I've been painting for 10 years and still use primarily craft paints, mostly CeramCoat. You can see my figs here: link

Thanks for the tips (sorry as well, i didn't realize this had been discussed… still adjusting to the board format here at TMP).

All this is very much appreciated, thanks!!!

One more question – let's say i were to step up to Vallejo paints or GW paints… are there affordable starter kits (i mean, basic/primary colors, a couple metallics, and a few variant shades of the basic colors) that won't break the bank?

While GW does do starter kits, they are generally much more basic than you are looking for. Otherwise, it's full price. I don't recall Vallejo's starter kits being under much discount, either.

Grip:

There are a number of Vallejo starter kits. I'd suggest starting with a bottle or two and see how you like them (noting that the Game color and Model color are very different from each other).

I mostly use hobby paints, but I'll always buy a handful of whatever is on sale at Michael's or AC Moore whenever I visit those stores. They all have their strengths and weakneses but when you need to paint large terrain pieces nothing beats a big bottle of $.99 USD paint that you got at the craft store.

My first exposure to actual "model paints" was at a convention paint-and-take. I was able to try a couple of different brands on a free mini.

If you want to start buying slowly, try the lighter colors (and yellow) and the metallics. They tend to cover (and flow) a little better than the craft paints.

Craft paints will always have a spot on my table, even if just for terrain and large models.

Very cheap! Very useful for terrain and bigger projects. SOme get outstanding results on figures but it is more that they know how to paint and which colors to use. Limited choices for khaki and drab style military color but again if you do your homework you can mix and get them. There are some sites that show you how.

Some colors are outstanding others just don't work. FOr example-I use Delta Medium flesh which I like all the time.

Bought something called Americana Raw Sienna which I can throw in the garbage.

So overall they are a good asset but for figure and vehicle painting they can be hit or miss unless you have the familiarity to know which ones to pick.

Hope my thoughts help.

the big 8oz bottle of black just cant be beat pricewise.
I use craft paints exclusively.

I think we all started with craft store paints. I found I bought "quality" brand paints as and when as I found I needed a colour which craft store equivalent didn't quite cut it – bright colours like reds and yellows which over a black primer don;t have enough pigment to cover well. I'd stick with the craft store stuff until your technique improves and having quality paints becomes more important.

I started with Partha Paints 'way, 'way back. I still have a few, and I have a few GW inks but 95% of what I have is Ceramcoat with the odd Folk Art here & there.

Regards, the Gorb

Their is a wide range of starter Vallejo packs from 6 color packs, 16 color packs,to 72 color case's.

link

I use Vallejo, Tamiya, some GW, and some Decoart paint which is 'craft store paint'; it's thick, but I just thin-it-down, no problem! Basically, try a variety of brands of paint, and figure-out what you like… few painters confine themselves to one single brand of paint… most use a wide range…

I think they are great for painting terrain and scenery.

I have around 5-600 jars of Craft paints. I have around 100-150 hobby paints. Each has it's uses. I will typically use Craft paints unless I can't get that color.

Thanks,

John

I started 30 years ago with enamel model paints, moved about 5 years later to miniatures paints, moved about 5 years after that to acrylic miniatures paints. I still think model / miniature paints are better for small detailed miniatures, with finer pigments and better flow formulation.

However I use craft paints almost exclusively for large projects such as terrain, and have been known to use them for figure bases and movement trays.

I have mostly Partha Paints that I got 8 years ago, and a handful of GW paints just because they had a color I liked.

But my collection of the craft paints is growing, and my brother uses them exclusively. They work just fine, they sometimes need more coats than the Partha stuff for the bright colors, but so what? I tend toward the notion that folks who claim a substantial diffrence have it all in their head, like people who insist GMC trucks are build better than Chevy trucks. Same thing, one just costs more.

For terrain and buildings they can't be beat by anything.

It depends on what you want to do with them. You've already figured out their strength -- they're cheap, and are usually thick enough to be a good drybrush. If you're doing quick-and-dirty paint jobs for armies -- or painting large areas -- they're the right tool for the job.

However, I've found that if you do wetter work -- washes, blending, and glazes -- the craft paints don't handle as well.

Because of this, I tend to use Vallejos for my figures, and craft paints (Americana or Apple Barrel) when I'm doing buildings.

Salutations, gentlefolk,

A while back I wrote my painting recommendations up. Were published as a _Spearpoint_ article – though they left my name off of it. On web at:
link

Needs to be updated – some of paints ain't available no more. Would appreciate your opinions.

Thanks, John Desmond