Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So lately ive noticed that ive been painting my infantry models pretty badly. If anyone could post some helpful tips on painting models that would be great. Also, i dont use the GW paints (I'm using acrylics right now), so if you could recommend an alternate paint that would be good too. The main thing i paint are DE units, which require a lot of drybrushing, and it may sound stupid but i cant dry brush very well so if you have any helpful tops on drybrushing without making the paint look terrible after it dries please share! I dont just paint DE though, i also paint SM, CSM, and Tau for my friends. So, please post painting tips here! Pics would be appreciated too.
(Not sure if this should be in the tutorials section...if need be ill move it)

Acrylics are where it's at. Never touch an enamel nomatter what you do. What kind of paints are you using? Coat D'Arms, Vallejo?

Drybrushing is very easy. Just get some paint on your brush, then brush your paint off on the side of the paint pot or a napkin, so much so that there's almost nothing left on the brush. Now run this dry brush over the area you want to highlight. Here it is on my Chimera:



An alternative you could try to highlight and shade your models would be a wash. GW sells a bunch of washes that are really, really nice. For instance, if you have purple Dark Eldar, you could paint them purple as you do now, then wash them with the dark purple wash GW makes. Once that dries, you've basically got a painted figure right there!

Currently I'm using Liquidex acrylics (thats what i think its called). Should the brush you use for drybrushing be a specific size? Cuz the DE warriors are pretty tiny lol

Drybrushing is fairly easy once you get the knack.
Wipe off as much paint as you can from the brush.
Then before applying to the model, test on the base or something. I tend to use the back of my left hand for convenience.

Do this everytime you load the brush.

I have found that it is better to thin the paint very slightly and keep it moist through out.
This may sound silly given the term drybrushing, but it prevents the raised specks you otherwise get which looks like sugar frosting.

Also use your old brushes as the technique is a good way of wrecking the shape of the bristles

Just noticed that you are using Liquitex.
Liquitex and drybrushing do not really go together well if iirc from a long while ago.
You will probably find it easier to drybrush with Citadel or similar hobby acrylics, as the consistency feels better for the technique.

Personally I have never really got on that well with Liquitex, but I know some people can use them well. But not tried them with the various mediums.

HTH some Soma


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Part of the knack is touch.
The bristles need to lightly flick the raised surfaces.

Too much pressure and/or too much paint loading will get the paint into the recesses which you generally don't want.

I personally use Americana paints. They are a buck a bottle, and have a squeeze top. Some basic tips for painting are thus:
Always water your paints some to thin them. Some say to go for a milk consistency, but personally I go a bit thicker then milk. Doing this will not only make your paint go on smoother, but it will help with things like drybrushing. If you dry brush with a non thinned paint its too thick and doesnt work right. Trust me, thin them down a smidge, and youll see better results from your drybrushing right away.

As for the brush, I personally have found if you take a some what thicker brush, used primarily for larger areas(not the tank brush lol) and simply cut it down by about half, makes a perfect drybrush for smaller minis. Also the flat tip will now suck up some paint, and allow for better dry brushing.

Onto taking the paint off, load your brush about half way. Meaning stick the brush a little less then halfway into the paint. The on a paper towel or something similar just brush the brush around until it barely leaves paint on the high parts of the paper towel. It takes some practice but once you get it down youll fly through it.

Good luck man. Also post some pics of your work so others can help you with specific things. Sometimes people are only missing a step or two and they become good painters.

Thanks for the help! As soon as i find my camera ill post some pics but for now all i can do is describe it