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Hi guys,

I'm looking to finally try to take the next step forward in my painting, I have been kinda stuck doing the same thing for a while now and really want to improve and learn new things.

I was wondering how useful/helpful the GW how to paint citadel miniatures book really is? If anyone has any comments or thoughts on it please let me know, I'll be going to my local shop Sunday.

If you don't like it, please refer me to some other resource I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks,
IHLBT

Youtube can be your friend here... whilst I wont slam you for wanting the GW book since I have not bought it or used it either, I will say that from what I have seen of it, it is basically like what you see in the tutorials in a WD magazine painting guide. For me, I dont like it, but if that sort of style of being shown how to paint something works for you, maybe go for it... but then you can also find really good tutorials on how to paint miniatures here on Dakka or other sources such as BOLS or Warseer or youtube, from gamers like us, who wish to share their secrets and tips and schemes for painting.

So here is the thing with the GW book. It teaches the GW way of painting with new GW line of paints. Which if that's what you use and want to use its all good. IMHO its a very "paint by numbers" kinda way to do it though.

If your looking for good solid tutorials on different painting techniques regardless of paints I would look at the tutorials here on dakka. Handcannononline.com. YouTube and many, many others.

Here are a few links, hope it helps.

http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/p/archives-and-tutorials.html

http://handcannononline.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePaintingClinic

 darefsky wrote:
So here is the thing with the GW book. It teaches the GW way of painting with new GW line of paints. Which if that's what you use and want to use its all good. IMHO its a very "paint by numbers" kinda way to do it though.

This. GW have a very narrow idea of how to paint that they push (even going so far as to start labeling their paints what order you should be using them). It is fine for beginners but if you know your basics and want to move forward that book is not for you, instead you should be branching out and trying all sorts of different styles. Grab a model, spray it white and try painting the whole thing with paints watered down until they are washes, things like that. GW will only ever push the base > layer >wash > drybrush method.

I haven't bought it myself, I've just flicked through it in store.

I think the GW book is good for teaching you some of the basics and getting your models to a good table top standard. If you want to learn more about a range of different techniques and take your painting beyond the basic level, it's not that good. One thing I liked about it was how it shows you really close close ups, so you can actually see what you are trying to achieve with each coat. I have seen some nice looking armies produced simply using their "paint by numbers" system as darefsky put it.

If you are going to the shop itself, hopefully they'll have an open copy you can flick through and decide if you like the sort of results they get and the techniques they use before you drop the money on it.

I own the version of that book from the old paint line. it's not bad book, but you'll probably outgrow it quickly. I've learned far more from youtube and dakka then I have from any of the painting books I've picked up. youtube is an amazing resource for us newbie painters. you get to actually *see* someone use the technique they're describing instead of having to figure it out from 4-6 small photographs and a couple paragraphs of text.

Do consider that the new GW painting book, does come with a DVD that has video footage of painting the miniatures, and that may sway your decision.

I'd ask to see if you can watch some clips from the video see if there is anything you would like.

The range of techniques in the book aren't bad, but free sources are free and abundant on the net.

Search on YouTube for "girlpainting". Her painting tutorials are the most helpful I have found. She really shows you how to get good results quickly.

If you want to see what that book is like inside, my youtube channel has a review video of it.

But yeah, you can find as much free content online as you'd ever need.

You can Tube this. I watched it and learned a decent amount. Cant say Ive looked at the book but the video was helpful.

As others have said, it's a good book that's not the "issue". The thing is, you can often find better and cheaper tutorials and information on the internet.

Hiya IHLBT,

The Citadel book/dvd combo is one of the few things they toss out that is worth the money you pay for it. The DVD is great, Adam Troke narrates it, and I forge the name of the young buck who does all the painting. The combination of the two makes it a great value.

BUT!!!!

You will learn a system of painting, using the new citadel paint range and their methodology. He says up front in the intro that system is made to get you an ARMY ready for TABLETOP in a quick, easy manner. You will not get any golden deamons from this method, but it does make for a very good looking army. If you have existing skills, this won't be a great value for you. If your looking of OSL, NMM or Zenithal tricks, this ain't it.

For taking your skills past the basics, I would suggest the Hot Lead videos, or anything from AG Productions. Miniwargaming.com has great stuff, but they drown out their stuff with crappy music.

http://hot-lead.org/dvd/index.html

http://www.agpminis.com/

http://www.miniwargaming.com/


So, if you have a spare $50 and want to see the GW way of painting, pick it up. If you want to get mad skilz, you'll have to go elsewhere.

v/r
Bill

PhantomPhixer wrote:
I would suggest the Hot Lead videos

not to derail this thread (too much), but I keep hearing about the hot lead series and I'm wondering if it'd be worth it for me to pick up. I've been painting for over a year now and have the basics down, but some of the more advanced stuff like wet blending and such still eludes me. still a worthy investment?

you can pay through the nose for a piece of garbage, or you can look online for tutorials--including on dakka--which are free. I recommend against buying a glorified catalog marketed as an instructional guide

 varl wrote:

PhantomPhixer wrote:
I would suggest the Hot Lead videos

not to derail this thread (too much), but I keep hearing about the hot lead series and I'm wondering if it'd be worth it for me to pick up. I've been painting for over a year now and have the basics down, but some of the more advanced stuff like wet blending and such still eludes me. still a worthy investment?

If you were to get any DVD at all, I would suggest picking up Jeremie Bonamant Taboul's DVD, it is fantastic. He is a truly incredibly painter and his tutorials are quite impressive.

I've currently got one for sale.. brand new.

personally I thought it was great for beginners. The book isnt much, but the DVD really shined the light on basics that the 'pros' on several of the mentioned things here tend to forget that new people dont know. When I first picked it up, I was using testors enamel to paint everything and wondering why it came out looking terrible. That DVD set me straight.

I'm sure there probably is better out there, but if you get this, you know you will be getting something that is a quality video to get you started.
Also, they are right, it totally is a massive commercial for GW paints, but even then, there may be better, but no one here will deny the GW stuff isnt at least a good place to start.