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So the technique I was using so far goes like this- For My IG

I Prime my figures with white matte Spray paint. Going to start just priming right on the spar before I cut to save time.

I don't assemble the figure with Glue I paint each piece by sticking it to putty on a stick.

I dry brush everything thing down with matte Halo Spartan Green and Dirty Brown for clothes with black and silver Details and it has a nice sheen and looks great.

I add a few highlights and Bam it looks prestine.

Now I add a Brown wash and the thing looks like i dropped it in the mud.

Why do people suggest Washing!

My figure is all dark and I can hardly see all the lines I took so much time to do.

I see some small effects on the clothes slightly as the wash was a slightly lighter shade but damn it ruined everything else.

I am so mad I saw some video of someone slathering on a Wash on youtube and that's what gave the the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb2L01zfF6s

At 4:44 he just drowns it in brown. My brother drowns his SM's in Black and they look crazy good. I guess i have too may contrasting colors.

Also I really like this style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5mcpGhUJzM

But I would use brighter colors.

Is it wrong in 40k for things to look nice, bright and clean?

Should I have been Eldar lol?

I think I am going to try Washing first then dry brushing over to keep the little details possibly using brown just on the clothes and black on armor, hands and face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzjeLQVIutA

I really liked how this was done the technique and everything.

Soooo

_________


Do you all have some tips or suggestions for me being new to painting for making some really nice looking IG troops with the skill level being low and not drowning it in a wash?


Here are some pics of my Bros scout body and rockter and my IGman

Washes are only useful when you want to make something darker/shaded quickly and easily without worrying too much about detail. If you have already painted a lot of detail and you are happy with your model, don't wash it. Or if you really want to wash, do it before adding details and highlights.

It all depends on the look your going for, if you want a lighter was there are a few options. First you can just thin down GW washes, they will still give you some contrast but won't go on as dark. Second you can make a paint wash, this will allow you to darken colors but you'll be able to wash using a color closer to the original. Third you can use an ink glave, which will allow you to brigten the area.

I'd need to see pictures of your work to offer more advice, but it sounds like your "method" of painting is very time consuming especially for an IG army.

Or use a light wash (i.e. with much more water added) before highlighting to bring out the 'valleys' in the miniature.

Added Pictures

Probably should also clarify the methods of using washes too. The two most popular are mopping and pin washing. Correct me if I am wrong, but in this thread seems to be talking mostly about mopping. Pin washing only puts the wash in very select spot, not the entire surface of the models. so you can have targeted darker areas. If you are hesitant to use washes, pin washing is what I would try first. see if you like the effect. Both have their places, but not always at the same time on the same model.

There are also different styles of washes too. The newer GW washes are more for getting into crevices, where as washes like what Secret Weapon has are more of a slight glaze. So mopping each of these will give different results.

First, don't prime on the sprue. You'll leave mold lines and where you cut it off the sprue it won't be primed...in addition to needing to be cleaned up too.
For your goal of painting IG that look good, with low skill, and no washes you accept certain things.
Shadows and highlights have to be simulated by paint instead of washes.
Colors should be basic and easy to apply

Luckily the colors you have on your model are easy to work with. Greens and browns go on well in one coat. If you refuse to use washes then try applying a darker basecoat and dry brushing a lighter color over it.

Maybe a better answer can come if you let us know what kind of paints and washes you have used, and how.

I also wouldn't shortchange yourself on you skill level, you have a good base and in time any used skill will increase or perish based on how often you do it.

Washes aren't your problem, your colour scheme and lack of neatness is. Look at the video you linked again, before the washes were applied, the painter did a very, very neat job of blocking in the colours.

The model looks bad because you've used gold and silver on the cloak. Bad idea.

Also, your painting isn't very neat, focus on that first, getting neat, flat layers of colour "inside the lines" first and worry about shading later.

You appear to have used a white undercoat, and then only painted a single layer of red on to the cloak. You will need 2 layers. Water your paints down *slighty* and wait for each layer to *fully* dry before painting on another or you will completely ruin the surface.

When I say slightly, I mean slightly. Often people using too-thick paint will hear the advice "water down your paints" then absolutely drown their paints with water. You just need a single drop, mixed in with the paint on your palette.. I notice you are using a palette, so that's a good first step.

Am I right in thinking that you didn't wait for the cloak to dry properly before applying the wash? Your photos look wet.

Your guardsman is fine, just needs more practice and concentration on making the paintjob neat. Patience is the main thing you need when painting, most well-painted models take about 30 minutes to an hour to paint.

Do not attempt to paint eyes until you are better at painting. They are very tricky to pull off, and if you do them badly it will look worse than if you hadn't done them at all.

If you want a basic, good looking guide to paint imperial guard, follow the video you linked do, but follow it *exactly*, you can't just expect to take the "slather it in brown" stage out of it and then expect it to work on every single other model that you paint, regardless of what colour it is.

Neatness is absolutely key, there is no way to get around the need for it.