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For those that have been in the game longer, are there trends that people following and can you see them changing over time.

Do you always try and achieve the same effect for you minis?

So if you are one of those clever people that can transition every but if power armour from dark to white edges, do you always do this. Or do you go for different styles and finishes. One of the reason I ask is that the impression I have got over the last 12 months is that taking your colour all the way to white at the edges is sort of the pinnacle of mini painting and what people would like to aspire to (hopefully you get the Style I mean) but I don’t, it’s not for me. It’s very good but I prefer to have the colour all the way to the edge. Yes highlight and shade but I like to create a contrast between light and dark without have to go all the way through the spectrum from dark to white.

Of course I couldn’t do that if I wanted but creatively I don’t want to.

I hope this makes sense?

Oh yes clearly there are trends.
How long time it goes between each shifting trend is a better question.
like now, edge highlighting is the thing, you never saw that 5 years ago in the quantitys you see now, and sometime over the past 10 years non metallic metallic look appeard among the competition painters.
Painting minis with oilpaint is allso something that appeard over the past 3-4 years.

When i started in the hobby in early 2000, black lining was the thing, you dont see any models whit that style beeing painted today.
Proper layered highlighting(aka fading colour tone) will never go away, competition painters need that style and it looks good, but it is too time consuming to be used on anything but a single model.

I think trends shifts cuz the gamers seeks new ways of getting a pro look with as little work as possible.

As above but I believe one person I’ve seen is still black lining models.
Nard purely uses it for his tyranid scheme (which looks amazing) and gives it a very unique and clean look.

The cell shaded look was big a while back but sadly began to die out.
Still love how great this looks due to the black lining and the extreme contrasting highlights.

Black lining? I’ll look into it it sounds cool and I prefer to work with dark colours and (as I am painting EC army) hioght with metallic and neon colours.

There are styles. 'tabletop', eavy metal, eavy metal plus, blanchitsu etc. Certain individuals have their own unique styles too. There are people I follow who use very high contrast, people who paint in an almost renaissance, classical painterly style, and some who keep them dark and dirty.

Some people use purely oils, some purely acrylic and some mixed.

Black or dark lining still exists. I use it sometimes, but usually in very specific areas that need the extra seperation to really pop.

I like to think my style is quite versatile and can adapt to lots of different models and settings. I try to pick from lots of different places, and constantly push new techniques.

mrFickle wrote:
Black lining? I’ll look into it it sounds cool and I prefer to work with dark colours and (as I am painting EC army) hioght with metallic and neon colours.

Black lining is from the time when washes dident exist and inks was messy and bad, but we still needed a way to seperate colours.
It deffo is an eye catching style, only requires a small thin hairbrush and a steady hand.

Definitely!

Best way to see some of them is to find pics from old White Dwarves (dwarfs?), and look at the styles...

This is interesting I didn’t realise that there were so many classified approaches to miniature painting. If it’s no too much trouble some examples of the different styles would be appreciated.

mrFickle wrote:
This is interesting I didn’t realise that there were so many classified approaches to miniature painting.

Here is another one for you: wet blending.
for when you dont want to do layer painting the traditional way.

Yeah, styles is definitely the right way to describe it, which can stick around or be trends that come and go.

One good example would be the popularity of dipping in the mid-to-late 00s, where we'd paint a model in just base colors, dip it in a can of polyurethane wood stain, shake off the excess, varnish, and boom, done. Then GW came out with their previous wash line, and dipping dropped off in popularity quite quickly, since coating a model in Devlan Mud had much the same effect without requiring the mess of physically dipping a model.

As far as styles go, I think you can break it down further into technique and scheme. As an example of a scheme trend, I've seen colorshift paints start to become popular for Tyranids, Necrons, and Eldar.

For technique, there are lots of different ways to approach any mini; I think vehicles make a good reference point.

1. A conventional 'wargamer' style, with sharp highlights on the edges of the model.
2. A zenithal highlighting style, brighter on the top to simulate a light source.
3. A scale model style, with some subtle color shifts, and accentuated by weathering moreso than highlighting.
4. Exaggerated color modulation, with color transitions on each plate giving a vibrant, almost cartoony look.

I don't think anyone can concretely list all the styles that are 'out there'. There are lots of ways to paint minis, and even for a particular effect, often lots of ways to achieve it (eg wet blending vs glazing vs washing).

Never followed guides or techniques or styles.
Kinda did what was fun at the time.

Now I am thinking just doing one model in a specific particular style, just to see that I can do it, and to pick up some tricks and shortcuts from techniques I did not know about, to enhance my own style.
Just to learn new things

There are certainly different painting styles, but I wouldn't go as far as to say there are trends per se in miniature painting.

Absolutely. NMM is back in vogue now (certainly on Reddit), with people attempting it on things that have no place being NMM. Cannot wait for that to fall out of fashion again... Same goes for "Grimdark" style. WTF is "grimdark" style? No, you've just painted a model in a somewhat more gritty style and reappropriated a word. That one pisses me off more than any.

Anyways, when I first started, goblin green bases and white undercoat was the norm (so much so young Grimtuff sprayed his first SMs white, because that is what he was told to do; despite them having black armour...) with not a lot of effects or technical things being added to the minis. I got into the hobby having only juuusssssstttt missed out on GW's "red period" wherein red seemed to be the default colour for a lot of random things on minis you wouldn't think would be red (like spear shafts).

3rd ed. 40k rolls around and there is a bit of a trend for more "realistic" bases with GW selling static grass for the first time. My own bases evolve to a grey sand with static grass, but still have the goblin green rims.

A few things come into vogue in the early 2000s due to several Golden Demon winners. NMM rears it's ugly head again (seriously. It's only use is on banners or reflective windscreens. Stop painting gaming minis in it. It does not work for something that is designed to work from a single angle.) as do a few other things, like OSL; which is another blight on this hobby. No, random "studio", your fly-by-night operation that has knocked out this new GW model so fast just to be the first does not need all that OSL, even on things that are not emitting light (Tau models were most egregious for this). OSL works in moderation, not in the glow stick factory explosion plasma guns that so many seem to love.

Bases changed to an even more realistic style with muted browns etc being used for the rims. In between this time was black rims too; more than likely brought on by the appearance of Rackham's minis; which were all masterfully painted yet on plain black bases.

Modern era to me, more than anything (which unsurprisingly in this sort of rant) is now far too many people not wanting to explore out the box. Too many official painting guides litter the internet and painters are unwilling or unable to deviate from them. Too many times do I see a post on Reddit et al. of someone asking "What colour did GW use here?" Does it matter? Just use whatever you can get to closely match. I guarantee the EMT did not use something straight from the pot and whomever put the boxart together did their best guess (Looking at you 13th Company SWs...). Art is about experimentation (but not NMM. Seriously, people are iceskating uphill with that one at times.... ), put on your big boy pants and see if it works. If not, then no harm done. Models can be stripped.

EDIT- reading through this thread there were still things I forgot. Forgot about dipping and zenithal highlights.

I would say there have been some trends over the years. Basing is one particular thing that used to be goblin green over sand and then a yellow-er green over top.

Now I couldn't imagine how many styles are around.

I can say that earlier GW models tended to have more of a bright "Pop!" to them than they do now. My own techniques have changed sooooo many times over the years. My poor Guardsmen are a mix of at least 4 different painting techniques that I've used. If I ever go back to painting them, there will be a 5th "Contrast" focussed approach. I love Contrast.

 Grimtuff wrote:
Absolutely. NMM is back in vogue now (certainly on Reddit), with people attempting it on things that have no place being NMM.

This is an example of being 'trendy.'

I think it's important to distinguish between 'trendy' vs 'trend'.

'Trend' describes an established notion/motion/style that pervades beyond a particular instance of time, while 'trendy' is better understood as something (whether they be an idea, style, etc) that is fleeting in nature. Being 'trendy' doesn't necessarily have to do with following a certain trend - it's simply following the new 'in' thing.

 skchsan wrote:

 Grimtuff wrote:
Absolutely. NMM is back in vogue now (certainly on Reddit), with people attempting it on things that have no place being NMM.

This is an example of being 'trendy.'

I think it's important to distinguish between 'trendy' vs 'trend'.

'Trend' describes an established notion/motion/style that pervades beyond a particular instance of time, while 'trendy' is better understood as something (whether they be an idea, style, etc) that is fleeting in nature. Being 'trendy' doesn't necessarily have to do with following a certain trend - it's simply following the new 'in' thing.

Having lived through it's previous en vogue period in this hobby I can say that it absolutely is a trend. Just give it time and it will pick up steam (hopefully not).

 Grimtuff wrote:

 skchsan wrote:

 Grimtuff wrote:
Absolutely. NMM is back in vogue now (certainly on Reddit), with people attempting it on things that have no place being NMM.

This is an example of being 'trendy.'

I think it's important to distinguish between 'trendy' vs 'trend'.

'Trend' describes an established notion/motion/style that pervades beyond a particular instance of time, while 'trendy' is better understood as something (whether they be an idea, style, etc) that is fleeting in nature. Being 'trendy' doesn't necessarily have to do with following a certain trend - it's simply following the new 'in' thing.

Having lived through it's previous en vogue period in this hobby I can say that it absolutely is a trend. Just give it time and it will pick up steam (hopefully not).

Fair enough. Being trendy can certainly lead into setting a trend.

To me though, NMM has always been seen as a project that showcases one's aptitude in painting rather than as something that is trend setting.

I think the general 'trend' in miniature painting, if there is any, is more of a free-for-all, follow whichever style is best suited for your painting level.

I don't get the hate for NMM. The claim that it only works for a single angle is incorrect. If you're going to run this argument against it, you need to apply it to the process of painting a 3d model in general. You're always going to need multiple light sources in order to achieve nice effects on the entire model, and also true metallic metal, which uses very similar techniques. The only way to avoid this is painting flat metallics and relying on their own reflections, which is unrealistic on the small scale.

NMM was absolutely a trend after it kind of exploded into the general wargaming scene. By which I mean way more people tried it than should have. Pro-tip: don't try NMM on your second mini. Just get the basic stuff down first.

The two-brush blending one, for me, came out of the popularity of Privateer Press because they used it everywhere. It seems to have died down in favor of using an airbrush for everything, including some slapdash OSL.

I say this as a painter who has always layered colors, and hence never get anything done because it take way too long.

Zenital priming would seem to be a "new" trend.

There are definitely trends. GW's in particular are often interesting, from their 2E "Red Period" where almost everything had some sort of bright red/orange bit, through their progressively more grimdark and broadly easier to paint styling of the 3E/4E period, etc.

These days, we see more variety and technique than ever.

My painting remains firmly within the "paint each individual element on a model its own color, then drown the whole thing in brown wash" school

Oh yes, dipping! Thanks for the reminder.

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
I don't get the hate for NMM. The claim that it only works for a single angle is incorrect. If you're going to run this argument against it, you need to apply it to the process of painting a 3d model in general. You're always going to need multiple light sources in order to achieve nice effects on the entire model, and also true metallic metal, which uses very similar techniques. The only way to avoid this is painting flat metallics and relying on their own reflections, which is unrealistic on the small scale.

NMM prioritizes single source highlight over omni-directional light. By it's nature it's 'best angles' are predefined by the location of the exaggerated metallic luster.

But I don't think people hate on NMM because of its limited best angles, but because the style detracts one from the immersion into the battlefield because of the contrast of style from battlefield, terrain & the models.

See I found that problem when I first started doing NMM. But I found a technique that places light sources at 4 corners around the model. 2 at the top, and 2 at the bottom. This allows you to place your light and dark points, but still have a readable effect from whatever angle you're viewing from, and as I said, if you're coherently placing highlights to correspond to a certain eye level on other non metal areas of the model anyway, you're going to come up against the same issue. For example, if you place a circular reflex highlight on the rounded top of a space marine pauldron, unless you're looking at it from eye level, it's also not going to look quite right... I guess this is only really relevant to display painters who are concerned with drawing your view to the correct place. Personally I don't have an issue viewing NMM or osl effects from different angles. But that may be me looking for technical skill over realism at those angles, I don't know.

I can see the tabletop criticism. It's not really relevant to me as I don't play.

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
I don't get the hate for NMM. The claim that it only works for a single angle is incorrect. If you're going to run this argument against it, you need to apply it to the process of painting a 3d model in general. You're always going to need multiple light sources in order to achieve nice effects on the entire model, and also true metallic metal, which uses very similar techniques. The only way to avoid this is painting flat metallics and relying on their own reflections, which is unrealistic on the small scale.

Hello, NMM hater here! I guess I'll lay out why I don't like it... It annoys me for a few reasons:

1) Because I think well-executed TMM can be beautiful. With (what seems like) the growing prevalence of NMM in the 'mainstream', there seems to be a bit of an attitude that you only paint TMM if you can't do NMM.

2) In most instances (again, talking about the broader trend here rather than all specfic cases), I don't think NMM is an aesthetic choice. This follows on from the previous point, but it feels very much like NMM is a technical flex more than the right decision to make artistically a lot of the time. NMM can look pretty jarring and incongruous on certain minis, and can often look a little cartoony, or very 'eavy-metal appropriate. Nothing wrong with those styles of painting by any means, but often I see NMM that is crowbarred into a paint job that really would have worled better with TMM.

It has just gotten so popular lately, and I feel like a lot of painters use it because it's the 'in' thing to do, despite (imo) it being something that is much better used in moderation and for specific styles, rather than a catch-all way for painting pro tier metals.

 The Power Cosmic wrote:
Oh yes, dipping! Thanks for the reminder.

This gave me a good chuckle.

I see trends I read about in modelling magazines from the 80s gaining traction amongst the gaming miniatures crowd in the last 5-10 years.

Weathering powders, oil-washes, OSL ... All of these were commonly used by diorama modellers back in the 80s. Only we had to grind our own powders from artists chalks, and make our own oil washes from oil paints and thinners.

Everything goes around eventually.

shmvo wrote:

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
I don't get the hate for NMM. The claim that it only works for a single angle is incorrect. If you're going to run this argument against it, you need to apply it to the process of painting a 3d model in general. You're always going to need multiple light sources in order to achieve nice effects on the entire model, and also true metallic metal, which uses very similar techniques. The only way to avoid this is painting flat metallics and relying on their own reflections, which is unrealistic on the small scale.

Hello, NMM hater here! I guess I'll lay out why I don't like it... It annoys me for a few reasons:

1) Because I think well-executed TMM can be beautiful. With (what seems like) the growing prevalence of NMM in the 'mainstream', there seems to be a bit of an attitude that you only paint TMM if you can't do NMM.

2) In most instances (again, talking about the broader trend here rather than all specfic cases), I don't think NMM is an aesthetic choice. This follows on from the previous point, but it feels very much like NMM is a technical flex more than the right decision to make artistically a lot of the time. NMM can look pretty jarring and incongruous on certain minis, and can often look a little cartoony, or very 'eavy-metal appropriate. Nothing wrong with those styles of painting by any means, but often I see NMM that is crowbarred into a paint job that really would have worled better with TMM.

It has just gotten so popular lately, and I feel like a lot of painters use it because it's the 'in' thing to do, despite (imo) it being something that is much better used in moderation and for specific styles, rather than a catch-all way for painting pro tier metals.

Agreed on both counts. My dislike of it is because it has become a trend rather than a technique. When done well, it is stunning- however, when everyone and their mum is attempting it on literally everything (I saw someone doing purple NMM the other day...) it becomes eye rolling. As I said, I lived through the previous iteration of it being the "in thing" in tabletop gaming and I know where this is going.

There are styles it fits perfectly, It certainly came about due to people like Bobby Wong and Vincent Hudon, but if you look at both of their painting styles it fits perfectly. Jamming it on a gritty painted mini just does not work, yet people try. I'm all for experimentation in art, but there is a point where you have to accept that something won't work and have to use the non fashionable choice.

 Grimtuff wrote:

Anyways, when I first started, goblin green bases and white undercoat was the norm (so much so young Grimtuff sprayed his first SMs white, because that is what he was told to do; despite them having black armour...) with not a lot of effects or technical things being added to the minis. I got into the hobby having only juuusssssstttt missed out on GW's "red period" wherein red seemed to be the default colour for a lot of random things on minis you wouldn't think would be red (like spear shafts).

Oh I tend to do that anyway. Since spray black and paint black are different shade generally I would need to paint the black parts with black anyway and makes harder to put lighter colours. Well light grey is what I use most of the time but generally go for light undercoats anyway.

Basically only time I use black is when basically entire model will get metals first up(generally with airbrush).

I always used to paint true metallic metal. I thought it was easier than NMM. Now I've learnt to do NMM properly, I know that it isn't. If anything it's probably a little bit more difficult.

The reason I've picked up NMM lately is because of my interest and study of classical/renaissance art, and to pick up a new skill. I like the illusion that NMM creates.

I don't know about trends but styles do change.

I honestly doubt we're ever going back to Goblin Green bases with almost primary colours. This is where I joined up and yeah, my Bolters are red, some power weapons are red, much heraldry is red.

Techniques like like hard edging, dry brushing and black lining will always be used in various ways as will things like wet blending and layering.

One Trick Ponies like NMM and OSL are, IMHO, semi fads. As is, sort of, Grimdark style. Sorta like a Nolan Batman film dark can work but double downing on it makes things look... hard to see. On a display piece I can see NMM, OSL and Grimdark looking good, on a tabletop I tend to wonder how the guy standing in the green fields are reflecting fire and smoke while shining like a lighthouse, under full sunlight.

 Grimtuff wrote:


Modern era to me, more than anything (which unsurprisingly in this sort of rant) is now far too many people not wanting to explore out the box. Too many official painting guides litter the internet and painters are unwilling or unable to deviate from them. Too many times do I see a post on Reddit et al. of someone asking "What colour did GW use here?" Does it matter? Just use whatever you can get to closely match. I guarantee the EMT did not use something straight from the pot and whomever put the boxart together did their best guess (Looking at you 13th Company SWs...). Art is about experimentation (but not NMM. Seriously, people are iceskating uphill with that one at times.... ), put on your big boy pants and see if it works. If not, then no harm done. Models can be stripped.

EDIT- reading through this thread there were still things I forgot. Forgot about dipping and zenithal highlights.

Exactly when I started last year although I did find a few different approaches I found a common attitude toward painting that felt fluke the official way which was basically doing loads of very thin layers with a white point and very dark point at each edge of you layer or the white point in the middle of it’s a round shape.

I have struggled with the very thin layer approach but have got on better with wet blending where I want a transition of colour. And I have found I can get the colours I want using much fewer layer. Ultimately I have found brush control to be the biggest winner in getti the mini to look how I want which I don’t think is focused on enough in the you tube videos. I think some of the pros forget how natural their brush control is.

I have found my own ways to use different paints to achieve different looks and am much more confident with experimenting. I think trying out different things is mega important. Also I wish I got an airbrush months ago. It’s so much easier to practice things if you can prime and base models quickly