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Hi so recently I have got into slightly more advanced painting and was hoping for any tips on how to improve my standards.

well...
To start off i'll state the obvious,
Paint needs to be less thick XD

You really, really, really must thin your paints. At the very least make sure your brush is wet before applying paint. This is some of the chunkiest painting I've ever seen. Coverage is another problem you seem to have - the whites and reds are letting a lot of black through, and this makes them look splotchy and crappy. Try using foundation paints if you haven't already. I'd suggest using Mechrite Red for the red parts, and Dheneb Stone for the white parts - I'd then paint your red over the Mechrite Red and your white over the Dheneb Stone. Your painting needs a lot of work before you try "advanced techniques" like freehand or highlighting. Work on getting a solid foundation first, then think of trying those other things out. Sorry if I'm coming off as overly critical, but you do need a lot of work.

Brother SRM, you are coming off as overly critical.

dark6spectre wrote:Brother SRM, you are coming off as overly critical.

well criticism helps people to improve

or just leads them to suicide....

dark6spectre wrote:Brother SRM, you are coming off as overly critical.

Well, we could pat him on the back and tell him that he's a few days from a GD, but how much good would that do?

He posted looking for criticism. Brother SRM posted legit techniques that will help improve the OP's standard, which was the purpose of this thread. That's not being overly critical.

OP - Thin your paints. Really, it's THAT important. Also, do you use primer? It is very important to properly prepare the surface you are going to paint. Spray primers are one of the most important tools in your toolbox.

Read through the painting articles on this site and the GW site. You want to focus on getting good coverage with your base colors. For your first mini above (Assault Marine with Lightning Claws), the paint is very smudgy, especially the whites. You want to take your time and use thin coats to get a smooth color. This will be much easier with a proper coat of primer.

You also should take the time to make sure your colors end up in the right places. If you make a mistake, go back and fix it before you finish the model. If you are painting the red on a model's shoulderpad and get a little on the rim that is another color, touch it up. Also, try to make sure each color is clearly "lined" - there should be a small area of black or darkness between two colors, especially on marines.

But most importantly...keep practicing!

dark6spectre wrote:or just leads them to suicide....

...maybe in your world, but in the real world, it helps them to improve.

Valk

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:or just leads them to suicide....

...maybe in your world, but in the real world, it helps them to improve.

Valk

Dont quite believe you lol. need examples

dark6spectre wrote:

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:or just leads them to suicide....

...maybe in your world, but in the real world, it helps them to improve.

Valk

Dont quite believe you lol. need examples

Well if what you're saying is true, this world would either be too crappy because everyones too nice to criticise, or we'd all be dead.

See the flaw in your theory now?

Valk

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:or just leads them to suicide....

...maybe in your world, but in the real world, it helps them to improve.

Valk

Dont quite believe you lol. need examples

Well if what you're saying is true, this world would either be too crappy because everyones too nice to criticise, or we'd all be dead.

See the flaw in your theory now?

Valk

lol i'm not saying Everyone would commit suicide. im just saying some might do that.

dark6spectre wrote:

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:or just leads them to suicide....

...maybe in your world, but in the real world, it helps them to improve.

Valk

Dont quite believe you lol. need examples

Well if what you're saying is true, this world would either be too crappy because everyones too nice to criticise, or we'd all be dead.

See the flaw in your theory now?

Valk

lol i'm not saying Everyone would commit suicide. im just saying some might do that.

You really think people would commit suicide over criticism?

On noes!! My Dark Angels don't have enough highlighting *cuts wrists*

But as to the OP, I agree with the fact that the paint is too think. Thin it down a bit and you'll see a great improvement, although you have some great conversions there, especially with the GK guys

Valk

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:

Valkyrie wrote:

dark6spectre wrote:or just leads them to suicide....

...maybe in your world, but in the real world, it helps them to improve.

Valk

Dont quite believe you lol. need examples

Well if what you're saying is true, this world would either be too crappy because everyones too nice to criticise, or we'd all be dead.

See the flaw in your theory now?

Valk

lol i'm not saying Everyone would commit suicide. im just saying some might do that.

Rofl i'm not on about 40k or modelling as a whole (though some guys might be so depressed they do commit suicide over crappy highlighting) but on life as a whole.

You really think people would commit suicide over criticism?

On noes!! My Dark Angels don't have enough highlighting *cuts wrists*

Valk

LMAO im not on about 40k or modelling, i just mean life as a whole (although someone might be depressed enough TO commit suicide over crappy highlighting

Don't worry im not going to commit suicide *sobs into hands*. Thanks for the advice my red is kind of rubbish.... Ill probably invest in some foundation paints, as for spray primer I like how good and easy it is but the price has always grappled with me, you don't get to many sprays out of a can...... However I will defiantly thin down my paints and do more thin coats especially on the white. Im always surprised how close up photos make your mins look so crappy......

@Brother SRM thanks for constructive criticism, the red/white problem has really annoyed me, are the foundation paints you mention GW available or from another company? Ill defiantly get some of those. As for thinning this has always resulted in the paint just dripping off the plastic/metal.... any help there would be appreciated. I defiantly need to improve my painting, so far im only satisfied with the Warboss, im aiming for that level on my most of my mins, however I would never have the patience to paint an entire army at that level (or better).

For spray primer i would go to your local hardware store and get some Krylon spray primer in either Black or Grey.

Astronominican gray is good for white. I think I spelled that right. If not, well, you know.

Dragonchef wrote:For spray primer i would go to your local hardware store and get some Krylon spray primer in either Black or Grey.

I have noticed that those Krylons are crap for metals but great for plastic. The Krylon seems to slide right off the metal, often taking several coats to get it to cover the model.

GW's stuff, while COMPLETLEY OVERPRICED, does cover well. I tend to save a can of that for the metal models and use the Krylon on the plastic ones.

P.S. Another way to feel good about your painting skills and avoid above referenced suicide is to buy some pre-painted stuff off the internet. While you will get some good ones, the doozies that do come in will leave you beaming with pride.

I thank criticism. Anyhoot, i like the idea of your colors. but with each color try to start with a thinned down "shade" of that color. Take an old mini, paint a leg with this try practicing it, and if it doesnt turn out move on to the other leg. then the helmet and the arms, or the shoulder pads. Just try to get the base color first, then you can use your true color and paint over it. This while ALWAYS thinning your paint.

Best tip. Paint should be the consistency of skim milk. that way coats will do the job. Your on the right track.

What kind of brushes are you using also?

vodo40k wrote:
@Brother SRM thanks for constructive criticism, the red/white problem has really annoyed me, are the foundation paints you mention GW available or from another company? Ill defiantly get some of those. As for thinning this has always resulted in the paint just dripping off the plastic/metal.... any help there would be appreciated. I defiantly need to improve my painting, so far im only satisfied with the Warboss, im aiming for that level on my most of my mins, however I would never have the patience to paint an entire army at that level (or better).

The foundations are from GW, yes. The reason your paint is just slipping off is because you're either overthinning it (like outright pouring water into your paint pot instead of just a drop or two) or you're not painting over primer. Primer gives the paint something to stick to which plastic doesn't offer. Also, priming with black automatically gives you some shading in areas you miss. So in your case, here's what I'd do:
- Buy some black Armory primer. They make really good spray primer for about 6 bucks a can - one can will get you really far - I've primed an entire Ork army in like 3 cans. I've used the black on plastics and metals, and it works on both.
- Prime your models black
- Dheneb Stone (or Astronomicon Grey) the parts you'll want white
- Mechrite Red the parts you'll want red
- Paint over the Stone parts in white
- Paint over the Mechrite Red parts in your red of choice
- Anything metallic should be painted Boltgun Metal, then given a wash of Badab Black. This will shade it and make it look really nice

Anyway, glad I'm helping. As for those guys who spent half the page arguing about what constitutes criticism, don't pay them any mind.

Tadaaaa