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Title says it all. My paints either go on too diluted or too thick (GW paints?), I can not apply highlights without making it look bloody obvious, and I cannot wet blend to save my life. How can I fix these troubles? And what combination of true skill and equipment does it take to really improve your painting? I paint average okay grade miniatures, but I am always baffled at the crazy works of holy super-duper greatness performed by commission painters. I suppose a lot of factors can play out, such as paints, the brushes you use, techniques, etc. What steps or recommendations do you guys suggest? I have been painting for roughly 2 years and wishing to perhaps someday be good enough to be a commission painter perhaps as a part-time job in the near future. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!

Post a few pictures of stuff you have painted and it will help people suggest things you could do to improve them.

I personally am not a great painter, but I would definately suggest using proper ratios in order to dilute your paint.

Pippette (sp?) a small quantity of your paint onto a ceramic tile, drop in a couple of drops of water, mix and apply to a model. Keep on diluting until you have a mixture that goes on the model easily and is not too thick/thin.

Then, knowing the radio of paint:water you used, you can dilute the whole pot, or just note the ratio on the pot, so you know roughly how to mix it in future (as paint dries out over time, you may have to adjust the mix ratio)

SilverMK2 wrote:Post a few pictures of stuff you have painted and it will help people suggest things you could do to improve them.

I personally am not a great painter, but I would definately suggest using proper ratios in order to dilute your paint.

Pippette (sp?) a small quantity of your paint onto a ceramic tile, drop in a couple of drops of water, mix and apply to a model. Keep on diluting until you have a mixture that goes on the model easily and is not too thick/thin.

Then, knowing the radio of paint:water you used, you can dilute the whole pot, or just note the ratio on the pot, so you know roughly how to mix it in future (as paint dries out over time, you may have to adjust the mix ratio)

Thanks, for the advice, I'm slowly moving to Vallejo paints because of the dropper bottle, or I can do a flow-aid water mixture with my GW paints using empty Vallejo bottles, I'll see. Right now over it It's getting late now and I should probably get some sleep for school, I'll get some pictures up maybe tomorrow once I get the chance.

Just practice. Over time you'll find out how to make the paint the right consistency. After time you'll also pick up good techniques. Before you know it you'll be Golden Demon! (Well, maybe not, but you know what I mean....)

If you want to become better unfortunately there is no quick fix, its just down to practice. I've had a similar problem, I've been painting on and off for over ten years but only painting to a reasonable standard for about a year. All that I've changed is to look at more and more painting vids be it on here or youtube or whatever. Now i'm not saying copy what they are doing, but just look at how they use the brush, the motions, paint ratios and so on. Sort through the techniques you like and discard the rest, then take those techniques and practice them. Sorry its a long-winded answer but I hope it helps.

Pick up PP's core techniques DVD
http://privateerpress.com/formula-p3
Watch it through
Then practice along with it, a few times. You can use the techniques on any suitable miniature. I found watching how the experts do it as eyeopening as their written instructions.

Learn new techniques and practice them.

thats pretty much what it comes down to.

Learn new techniques and practice them.

thats pretty much what it comes down to.

Start by learning how to dilute your paint. Droppers are good to start with but ideally you should get to point you can do it at least close by eye. (A little out isn't bad, a wet brush or a few minutes to dry a little does the fine adjustments. That's normally different paints being slightly different thicknesses.)

At the same time work on brush control. Get the paint to go smoothly onto the model where you want it to go without all falling off or running into the recesses, or being thick and obscuring detail. Be prepared to do a couple of thin layers to get coverage. These two bits are the most important part of painting, you are actually get quite a decent looking table top quality army just filling in all the base colours. And then once you've gotten the whole army done you can go back and add more details when you think you've improved.

Highlighting is mostly practising where to put them and what colour to make them. Thickness of them helps. Start with a single edge colour highlight and then you can improve to several colour layering. This is where brush control really comes in, to get the paint to go where you want it to. There are plenty of guides on where highlights should go. The best reference is actually the GW website, I've found. Or WD.

Leave wet blending alone until you're comfortable with the basics. Feathering is easier but still an advanced topic. Generally a good idea to stick to the simpler things until you know you can do them because you'll need them anyway. And be willing to listen to advice when you post something. You don't have to follow all of it, or agree with it, but do listen.

Skip steps as needed, too. It all comes down to practise until you're comfortable, then push yourself further.

Patience. Ive been painting for 10 years or so, and I still learn new tricks and techniques with every new army I work on.

Watch the posts on sites like this, when you see someone posting pics and you like the results- find out how they did it.

Look for tutorials, there are dozens on youtube these days.

Alright ladies and gentlemen, here are some of my models I worked on recently. I also paint Tau but I will be going full force on Space Marines once I have enough funds to get a battle force.


A Test color scheme for my new custom Space Marine Chapter



Back



Full Body Shot



A bit blurry, but with normal lighting. Also note the Guardsmen.



Guardsmen Close-Up, Unfortunately the texture is really grainy due to the grey primer from Army Painter, which I'm still getting use to.



Back.



What do you guys think?

Oh my, that looks exactly like my friends marines but cleaner. Looks crisp but lacks highlighting and detail.

I think you are priming in cold weather from the looks of that guardsman.


After that I would watch all of Les' videos at Awesomepaintjob.com

When your done with that thank him profusely for his service to the community and start painting.

As posted above, you've got a clean basecoat going. I cant quite tell from the photos though but you may need to thin your paints just a tiny bit, just to get that basecoat a little bit more smooth. But you're off to a great start, but with some highlights you'll make that marine look extra snazzy.

Some random stuff I've heard...

Try to never dry brush, it is for the weak/unskilled.
Ditto washes (okay for tone changes, but not for shading)

and what really caught my eye and I'm trying to do... 1 hour a day (at least) for painting. Doesn't happen everyday, but I try. It really let's you take your time 'cause you aren't trying to get 20 Space Marines done in a weekend, you just paint what you can everyday. Gives you time to try new things, to play with layering. Settle on a goal of something small, like the gun, and you can spend the whole hour on that 1 thing and really dedicate yourself to it.

Anyways, my 1/2 cents.

PS. I am in love with Demogerg's sig

I agree with Deminyn; try spending what seems like a ridiculous amount of time on one small detail, even if it's only a lower leg/whatever. Try blending your highlights by adding seemingly imperceptible amounts of lighter paints to your mix.

You wont get results overnight, but you will notice small improvements every time you pick up your brush. The worst thing you could do is to expect to get a massive improvement in a short space of time; patience is key

I bypassed all the "practice" and went straight to the source. Thats right, I was trained to piant by Chuck Norris. Thats right. Thats why my little plastic dudes kick such a$$!

Deminyn wrote:Some random stuff I've heard...

Try to never dry brush, it is for the weak/unskilled.

... :(
haha

That marine would benefit greatly from a simple edge highlighting. Also, it's a bit hard to judge your skill by the marine alone, as it requires very little painting--basically a basecoat and edge highlighting. Unless you want to put a bit of time into it, in which case it's perfect for subtle shading.

I'd like to see a picture of a miniature wearing cloth/robes that you've done, to get a better idea of your level so I can offer advice.

Well, what I did to learn was reading every article on CMON, as well as looking at every model they had rated 8 and up, studying techniques and color choices, etc. As well as reading forums, magazines, online articles, etc.

Order Hot Lead or Miniature Mentor, perhaps the PP DVDs, or get a subscription to No Quarter and/or White Dwarf for their awesome articles.

Spend money on good stuff. W&N Series 7 brushes, Vallejo paints, slo-dry and matte mediums, etc. If you work with inferior stuff, the results will not be up to snuff, because talent can only overcome so much.

Read, read, read. Again, I emphasize it. Don't stop at 40K model articles, look at WWII and historical models, look at oil and enamel options, explore railroad modelling effects, etc. Use sources for NMM and explore how metals look, how things rust, and how light hits objects.

Take a class or two on painting at a local college, if you can. I am an art major and painter and those skills have helped me out a lot.

Lastly, don't get discouraged. My first models looked terrible, but I got a lot better with practice. Just keep at it and you will improve.

My advice? Save those old, first attempts. Don't strip them. Gaze upon them every once in a while, and marvel at how much better you've become, every time you do a new army.

Where in California do you live? I would be willing to sit with you for an afternoon to show you a few tricks and help develop your skill.

EDIT: if you would like to see some of my work refer to my threads here.

Deminyn wrote:Some random stuff I've heard...

Try to never dry brush, it is for the weak/unskilled.
Ditto washes (okay for tone changes, but not for shading)

PS. I am in love with Demogerg's sig

Never is a strong word, drybrushing and washes have a place, you just need to learn to recognize where that place is.

Drybrushing: Great for "natural" details, bases primarily, but also if you are building a displayboard/diorama drybrushing helps with quickly giving you a varied natural highlight. Also usefull for weathering models, adding dirt to the bottoms of tanks etc.

Washes: I wash almost every single model I paint.... I start by priming in grey, then wash in black, then basecoat with thinned down colors, this gives the colors a smooth and clean shading without blocking the colors out completey. Its also great for working on skin tone, start with a slightly lighter base color, wash with the darker color, then shade and highlight from the result. I also dont use and specific brand of washes, I make my own by mixing normal paint, water, and future floor finish, this allows me to get a consistancy that fits with the application.

Dakka's very own Manchu wrote the little play that is my sig, props to him, and thanks.

Deminyn wrote:Some random stuff I've heard...

Try to never dry brush, it is for the weak/unskilled.
Ditto washes (okay for tone changes, but not for shading)

and what really caught my eye and I'm trying to do... 1 hour a day (at least) for painting. Doesn't happen everyday, but I try. It really let's you take your time 'cause you aren't trying to get 20 Space Marines done in a weekend, you just paint what you can everyday. Gives you time to try new things, to play with layering. Settle on a goal of something small, like the gun, and you can spend the whole hour on that 1 thing and really dedicate yourself to it.

Anyways, my 1/2 cents.

PS. I am in love with Demogerg's sig

That I dont agree with. Just because you use washes or drybrushing doesnt make you a gakky painter. Those are techniques in painting. I think if your comfortable using one or both on certain things is fine. Just realize they have their limitations.

Id say as far as your over watering/under watering I had the same problem when I started doing that. I find its perfect to use a mixing pot or something similar. Im cheap, so I used juice bottle lids. They are large, and are perfect for mixing. ANYWAYS, also if you can get paint pots/bottles that have dropper lids that makes it MUCH easier to pour out paint. I dont use GW paints, I use Americana paints, and the bottles have the dropper lids like mentioned before. Also when done mixing, do a test dab or 2 on a piece of paper towel. Itll let you know if its too thick, thin or just right.

Apparently I should put that in context... the drybrushing was from an article answer this kinda question, where the author said to stop drybrushing and learn to highlight without it. I think the point was dry brushing is a quick and easy way to get an effect if the mini is textured for it, but it is more important to learn how to highlight in general than it is to rely on dry brushing. The same was meant for shading by using washes instead of learning how to apply highlights and shading.

The "for the weak/unskilled" was a little humor added on.

I know on my DT Mauler I used drybrushing on some lava rocks because I couldn't actually pull off the edge highlighting subtly enough with layering. It was harder to control and on my DT Blitzer it didn't turn out as well and there wasn't much recourse. I avoid it b/c understanding where to highlight and shade was a weak point of mine in the past and I would use drybrushing and washes to get around it. So I agree with the article and suggest it for others that want to go from "an average painter to an AWESOME painter"

I almost cried when I read the dry brush comment.

Big Meks aint supposed to cry.

I pretty much started out with washes and dry brushing (actually still use them 80% of the time)because it was "fast and easy" and gave great results and built my confidence.
I have slowly started mixing other techniques into the mix and I think I am improving slowly but consistently.

My big advice is dont be afraid to try new techniques and if you mess up....the paint will come off.

But most important is PRACTICE PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE and when you think you are ace sit down and practice some more.

OH , I also like the space marine. great start. very crisp and clean. just follow the advice of the very talented folks here and you cant go wrong