Latest posts for the thread "I hate skilled painters"

I hate skilled painters

Voodoo Boyz — GMT

OK, so I head to my local GW store last night to pick up some gifts for my gaming group and I figured I'd ask the guys there for some help as I'm currently applying transfers to my Ultramarines, thus finishing the army.

I always noticed that the Ultras in the store had much smaller U symbols on their shoulder pads, and considering a lot of my sarges had the shoulder pad with a metal strip on it and thus I can't use the large transfers on those shoulder pads, I figure hey they probably have some transfer sheets I don't.

So I pick up the stuff and start talking to em. Mention that I want to get the transfers they used on those there marines.

THEY WERE ALL FREAKIN PAINTED ON!

....

After complimenting them on their skill, admiring the Imperial Fists where they free drew the hand symbol on all the shoulder pads and then and assuring him that no, I couldn't do that myself and would make do with the transfers, I kindly left the store.

Somewhat embarassing that I thought their paint jobs were so good they had to be transfers. Also disheartening that I could never manage to paint a freakin upside down Omega that well on a tiny ass shoulder pad.

RE: I hate skilled painters

beef — GMT

I hate them to. they suck.

RE: I hate skilled painters

Frazzled — GMT

They are evil. Clearly this is discrimination. We, the pigmentapplication challenged should file the appropriate legal actions to end this discrimination. No longer will we be oppressed by the pigment application gifted. Instead they will have to do community service working on our minis. Is ten minutes of painting a day too much to ask your honor? I think not.

RE: I hate skilled painters

mauleed — GMT

All of my Ultra symbols are painted on as well. It's really not very hard. If you want I'll show you how to do it.

Transfers on shoulder pads are horrible because they always get rubbed off. I'm sure the curved surface is part of the issue.

RE: I hate skilled painters

Voodoo Boyz — GMT

Dave from the store offered to show me and even do a couple, but I'd rather try and find my own way. My painting skills are like a monkey on crack, I just don't have that kind of control for freehand. I may try it out to test on some of the models I don't care about but I'm not expecting good things.

I do like the way the transfers look when on the models, I like the large symbols, but I'm going to have to figure something out for some of my command models.

RE: I hate skilled painters

blue loki — GMT

You could always make yourself a stamp out of foam, rubber, or sponge. Custom-cut it to fit the curved shape of a shoulderpad to avoid having to roll it.

It would take some work to get it right, but you'd only have to do it once.

RE: I hate skilled painters

Strangelooper — GMT

I somehow think that applying a stamp cleanly might be tricky.

I've used transfers for unit numbers on my IG, and never had them rub off. I put them on after painting, but before the two layers of varnish (1 Gloss, then 1 Matt). They get sealed in there quite firmly.

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SirNotInThisFilm — GMT

we hates them, we hates them so much,

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mauleed — GMT

I'm sure I can show you how to do it rather painlessly in no time.

It's all about back cutting. You paint a sloppy "U" in white, then cut back with the blue, and you get nice, sharp lines and edges.

RE: I hate skilled painters

CaptKaruthors — GMT

Or you can get the 3D shoulder pads from GW make a Greenstuff mold of the symbol and make 3D U's. I had a friend do that for me and it worked out great. Here is a sample of how they turned out.

Capt K

RE: I hate skilled painters

Shadow_Strike — GMT

I cant get control very well, the only time I can get control is if I prop my hands on one knee. Its safe to say it looks weird because I look like Im in the fetal position.
Backcutting ftw.

RE: I hate skilled painters

Symbio Joe — GMT

I don't hate them I enslave them }:->

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engine — GMT

I hate people who complain that they can't paint because they are too busy on the internet to practice.

RE: I hate skilled painters

beef — GMT

check the link engine has shown, Hate him, he is one of those talented painters and converters. Die Die Die

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Vero — GMT

It's really not that hard to do the shoulder icons. It's doing large amounts, and making them all look the same that is hard.

RE: I hate skilled painters

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

Posted By engine on 12/08/2006 10:34 AM
I hate people who complain that they can't paint because they are too busy on the internet to practice.

Quoting for truthery. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can paint to a decent standard provided they practice, practice and practice. There is no innate talent required. One does not need to be some art guru to paint well. Just take the time to practice and be be patient about what you are doing. Do this and you are guaranteed to eventually get results. Give up at the first mistake and you'll never improve.

edit: Hell, I painted on these shoulder pads Land Speeder (where you can see 'em). That also shows you what *not* to do when applying decals, as I didn't put down a gloss coat before applying them nor did I add one afterwards. Lesson learned. Speaking of which, didn't we already go over the easy way of flawlessling putting decals on SM shoulder pads in another thread recently? This stuff really isn't half as hard as most make it out to be, it just takes a lot of time.

RE: I hate skilled painters

Vero — GMT

You also have to understand what you are doing, understand the technique.

You can paint all day, but if you stop to think and understand it. you wont get anywhere. Which is what practice is suposed to develope.

RE: I hate skilled painters

Frazzled — GMT

Yes and the average person can get really good at golf if they play all day every day. Whats your point?

RE: I hate skilled painters

Voodoo Boyz — GMT

Posted By engine on 12/08/2006 10:34 AM
I hate people who complain that they can't paint because they are too busy on the internet to practice.

I'll make sure next time I have a few minutes of down time at work I'll have my models and paints near by instead of just posting on Dakka.

The main thing wasn't so much about people being more skilled than I am at painting, it's more about I couldn't imagine people actually painting symbols on and not using transfers.

Anyway I figure I'll throw up what I've done figure wise. I agree that if you practice enough you'll get better, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm no good at freehand, and just can get away with spending a ton of time trying to touch up all the mistakes I make as I paint on other colors.

Not the greatest work ever, but I'm relatively proud of it. Still no where near as good as what nyarlathote posted, but I'm happy to have them painted and on the field.

And yes, I'm aware I still have to drill the gun barrels out.

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Vero — GMT

They are fine for table top. If you're happy with the result, then that's all the matters. I would rather play against a painted army, either poorly painted or nicely painted, than against bare or primered models.

RE: I hate skilled painters

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

Those are fine and nothing to be ashamed of. As Vero mentions, I rather play against an army that has a very basic 3 colors + flock than a bare metal/plastic or primer only army any day.

Here are two great shortcuts that will both speed up the process and help you get better looking figures:
1) Spray primer, works best if you can get it in the base coat color of your army though that is not always possible. Depending on the brightness of the base coat, prime black, white or grey.
2) After blocking out the main base coat colors (before picking out any details), apply "Magic Wash": basically a 50/50 mix of water and Future Floor Finish (called Klear in the UK IIRC) and enough black or brown ink so that it washes into the nooks and crannies of a figure without painting it that color. Make sure you let the wash dry, but after that, all you need to do is a light drybrush of the base color and pick out what details you want.

The above two will both help speed up the process and get you easy results that will garner you compliments down at the local store. There is no genius or special talent required, just practice and the knowledge that comes with it.

RE: I hate skilled painters

beef — GMT

@voodooboys, I personally have found that Ultramarines are the easiets to paint as you can drybrush them and get fast results.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/vittorio_13/e30e80d5.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/vittorio_13/librarian.jpg

RE: I hate skilled painters

bigchris1313 — GMT

Posted By engine on 12/08/2006 10:34 AM
I hate people who complain that they can't paint because they are too busy on the internet to practice.

What if they freely admit that they're lazy and hate doing it, taking full responsibility for their lack of skill? Does that make it ok?

RE: I hate skilled painters

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

Then don't complain about it. It's fine if someone is lazy and/or hates painting, but don't come a complaining about it when you don't want to do the necessary work to improve you skills.

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Atma01 — GMT

The problem lies not within other people's ability to paint but in the fact that you collect Ultramarines. Just change to Chapter that doesn't suck and all your problems will be over. ;p

Seriously though they are right when they say its all about the practice. I would reccommend getting one of those starter sets just to bash around getting used to freehand and inking/drybrushing etc. Then you aren't risking messing up models you already like and you WILL get better.

And quit yer *female dog*in, your's it just a U. I collect Blood Ravens and paint the icons freehand. Oh sure a raven with a drop of blood on a bone background was a brilliant idea guys! >.<

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beef — GMT

there nothing wrong with the boys in blue. Check my painted one out on the previous page, very easy and quick to paint with reasonable outcome.

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rryannn — GMT

I don't hate skilled painters, I strive to acheive similar results through patience and practice. I've been going at this for 5 years now, and I'm only starting to become proud of the work I do.

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DaIronGob — GMT

Transfers are a pain in the arse UNLESS you use that stuff from Micromark that "melts" the transfers on.

Is what I use. It makes it so the transfers look painted on, no extra glare or that damnable edge that is noticeable.

Ummm... here's a good link for it.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82400

RE: I hate skilled painters

beef — GMT

now where could i get that or something similar in the uk

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GrimTeef — GMT

I got my Micro-set and Micro-sol from GriffonGames.com - they may ship overseas, not sure.

You can see the results of Micro set and Micro sol and their custom printed decals that they offer in the very back of your 4th ed Space Marine codex - check the Dreadnought.

RE: I hate skilled painters

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

Also, as mentioned in that other thread, you always want to put a gloss coat down on the area you want to apply the decal in addition to using the Micro-Set & Micro-Sol stuff (and probably one afterwards as a sealant). Decals aren't hard to apply at all, so long as you follow the proper procedures, something doubly necessary given GW's over-thick, poorly printed decals.

RE: I hate skilled painters

beef — GMT

True I have never come across such crap decals ever. When I was younger and did model planes I remeber the decals being much thinner and easier to aplly. then I saw the GW ones and thought maybe I imagined the whole thing. Now I am building planes again and relise that its true, GW decals suck

RE: I hate skilled painters

Voodoo Boyz — GMT

One thing I've found that makes putting the decals on a lot easier is taking a craft knife to em and cutting along the edges at least somewhat. I've cut the Ultramarines U down pretty substantially and it's worked wonders for going on smooth and looking good.

RE: I hate skilled painters

Grot 6 — GMT

If you were so inclined, you could learn how he did it, and copy the technique. Practice on some old plastic second edition basic marines, and continue on after a few tries on the new ones.

I don't see anything wrong with your minis, and they are a damn fine job. Its ok to have a bit of professional envy, it will motivate you to do a better job. I always try to learn how other people paint, and never lack for interest in painted mini styles.
I've noticed alot of metal and plastic piles on the table and always find that the lack of commitment as well shows in the offenders gaming as well. I don't mind the beginner, where you can see a progress in the making, but the people who put together a flavor of the month army, play it like crap, and then try to blame it on the army always seem to have the minis with the excessive glue, the broken bits cluttering the table, and trails of bodies who have been hit so hard that they loose thier limbs and bases, are just as effective in thier own special way. I blame it on the staff types that "sell" the game, and some of the less fortunate buyers that get hooked by the paint job on the box. Its not a big effort to learn to paint, but it is looking more and more every couple of months that time and patience are more of the skill then the actual painting.

My opinion, but with the way the suck price is with even the basic of plastics, the game isn't like the old days when one could pick and choose. It should take a little more planning and effort for the results that you want.
I don't hate better painted armys or painters, but I'm not going to lie around and take it when they try to be smug about it. I see how they did it, learn a few pointers that I can use, and make an effort to do the job better.

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chuckyhol — GMT

Grot, well written and very interesting. I agree with you 110%.

There is however a bit of natural talent associated with painting. While this is somthing time and patience can negate, talent always has a bit of an effect.

What people should do is realise this, and be content with their paint jobs (which are usually pretty good!).

Chuck

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beef — GMT

No such thing as natural talent. Just kidding, chuckhol is absolutly correct. some people are just great painters whereas other no matter how hard they try eventualy reach a ceiling affect, Just be happy with what you have.

RE: I hate skilled painters

beef — GMT

either that or spend Bucks on painted mini by profesional. cheaper to play with your own

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Kultofthebonedragons — GMT

Cant you buy the shoulder pads any more?? I know I use to ordere EC and Night lordpads all the time??

RE: I hate skilled painters

beef — GMT

I think you still can