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I've been painting minis for about 3 years. I paint a lot. Between Aug and Dec 2014 I painted over 100 minis.

Since then, however, I've only painted 25 or so. I was stuck in a rut. I needed to change things up.

I always painted in what I consider the "standard way". Basecoat, inkwash, highlight. It's quick and effective. I tend to play games that have a lot of minis, so spending a lot of time on one mini just doesn't make sense for me.

So, I decided to try a new (to me) painting method. It's the "triad" method, or the "Kevin Dallimore" method. Each color has 3 shades, dark, medium, and light. You paint the dark of each color first, then the medium, then the light. There is NO ink wash.

I like it! I painted 4 minis in two days:



I like the brightness and impressionistic feel of the minis. I'm painting for effect at tabletop distance, and they really pop on the table.

It takes slightly longer per mini, but there is no wait for the wash to dry. If you count drying time, then the triad method is much faster.

Here's an example of some of my minis using the "standard" method, for comparison:



I think the standard method gives a more realistic look, but from a few feet away, the triad method minis stand out on the tabletop more.

Gladiators are from Crusader Miniatures and Flagellants are from Games Workshop.

I have painted about 1 mini a month this year due to... life. So I can understand a bit or frustration at the productivity loss.

My thinking is that you are doing exactly the right thing in mixing it up to get interest back into painting. Also, I think the triad method in the long run might be a better way improve your skill with the brush. Next step might be to ad another step or two or blend the wash and triad techniques together.

That said, your stuff looks very nice. Keep up the good work!

You'll find that as you get going, more advanced techniques are pretty much a combination of the two methods.

For instance, one of the things you can do with the "triad" method is to blend each color into the one below it (applying the next color while the last is still wet, and blending at the edges).

And then you will discover that washes and glazes can help with applying deeper shades and highlights.

MB

I like both styles, and you seem to have them both nailed down pretty well.

There's a lot to be said for a solid looking army that may not be as fancily painted as a lot of stuff you see but looks like a great cohesive force on the table.

The 'triad' method also works quite well at smaller scales or on cheap models with soft detail, whereas the 'standard' runs into issues - it's hard to apply a wash for shading when the crease it's settling in represents half the model's face! Not only have you expanded your painting toolbox for 28mm, you've also set yourself up to transition nicely into 10mm, 15mm, or 20mm/1:72, should you ever feel the desire. If you gravitate toward "lots of minis" games, such a shift/expansion may very well be in your future.