<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "New Painter Looking for Tips"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/8.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net New Painter Looking for Tips GW Chaos Cultist box in Slaaneshi style.

Now, this is my very first modeling project ever, so obviously it's pretty bad, especially the very first guy. I'm feeling pretty good about how far my skills came over the course of this, though. Before I get started on some actual Chaos Marines, I'm looking for any tips on things I'm missing, or advice on what techniques I should focus on.

Some pics are attached. First one is all 5 of the depraved cultists lined up, second one is a closeup on my very first one (who's garbage), third one is a closeup on the last guy (who's not too bad), and the last is a closeup on the middle one (who I have mixed feelings about). Any and all advice on how to up my game from here would be welcome!

A few notes:
-I'll decorate my bases from now on, and may go back and do these ones, but I forgot it on the first guy, so I figured I'd give it a miss for this project.
-I didn't basecoat these because I thought it was optional for plastic models, but after a little more research, I'll do it from now on.
-I'm struggling to get some of the layer paints, especially Fulgrim Pink, to go on properly. Am I perhaps not thinning them enough, or thinning them too much?

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to moving up from here!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Hmm, formatting issues with the pics, my apologies. Thanks for your patience!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771120.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771120.page GMT New Painter Looking for Tips
 AardBasket wrote:
-I didn't basecoat these because I thought it was optional for plastic models, but after a little more research, I'll do it from now on.
-I'm struggling to get some of the layer paints, especially Fulgrim Pink, to go on properly. Am I perhaps not thinning them enough, or thinning them too much?


Welcome!

By "basecoat" do you mean priming? As in, did you prime the model before applying the paint? My guess is that you did not, which means that the first issue is the likely cause of the last issue there.

Priming gives you a good layer to stick to the plastic, which is then a good layer for the acrylic paint to stick to. Just go to a hardware store, or Walmart, and get yourself a cheap can of spray automotive primer in the color of your choice. Considering the colors you are working with, I'd like suggest grey, but black or white will do fine as well.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771134.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771134.page GMT New Painter Looking for Tips
 AardBasket wrote:
Hi, brand new Warhammer hobbyist here. After gradually coming around to wanting to collect and paint a Chaos Space Marine force, I've finally completed my first project, and done up the standard GW Chaos Cultist box in Slaaneshi style
A few notes:
-I'll decorate my bases from now on, and may go back and do these ones, but I forgot it on the first guy, so I figured I'd give it a miss for this project.
-I didn't basecoat these because I thought it was optional for plastic models, but after a little more research, I'll do it from now on.
-I'm struggling to get some of the layer paints, especially Fulgrim Pink, to go on properly. Am I perhaps not thinning them enough, or thinning them too much?


Notes for your notes
- I always 'decorate my bases' at the very end. Many people put sand on at the beginning while they assemble and prime the entire model - go with however you want. There are also those people who paint the base of the model black and don't add anything to it or they buy the clear bases and don't worry about it.
- Priming is less essential for plastic models and some higher tier painters won't prime because they worry it may obscure some of the finer details. As a beginner painter you should prime everything since the paints flow a little better on primer than they do on plastic. If you plan on picking them up or using them in war-games definitely prime them or the paint is more susceptible to rubbing off or chipping. Also clear coat varnish them at the end.
- Fulgrim pink is a layer paint so it doesn't cover as well as a base paint. This is a GWism since most other companies don't delineate between what paints should go on when. Also be ready with any paint to put on multiple thin coats.

I hope this helps. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771153.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771153.page GMT Re:New Painter Looking for Tips
So, most of the videos and tutorials I've seen encourage putting layers on bases. If I were to prime the model, would it be better to apply layer paints directly?

In any case, thanks guys, and I'll be sure to take multiple thin layers even more to heart!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771198.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771198.page GMT New Painter Looking for Tips GW system of painting. The darker/deeper color gives depth to the color and makes it easier for you to build up and layer different colors over that base paint.

Before GW went with their current system painters would mix white and black paints to lighten or darken their paints to create highlights.

You can apply the layer paints directly over the primer but it won't have the same affect as if you put it over a base.

*edited to remove a redundant statement]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771216.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771216.page GMT New Painter Looking for Tips
As someone mentioned before, the distinction between "base" and "layer" paints is specific to GW. Pretty much every other brand just has... paint. GW has done this to make it clearer to beginners what paints are better suited to specific techniques, but I don't like it personally as it seems like they've deliberately made layer paints to have poorer coverage than they could have otherwise. It might make things a little easier for new painters, but as soon as you have the basics down it becomes a hindrance, since you can take a paint with good coverage and add a medium to reduce it, but you can't take a paint with poor coverage and somehow improve it...

If you're having trouble with Fulgrim Pink, that's probably why. As long as you have it decently thinned (you develop a feel for this over time, but my general rule of thumb is about 2 parts paint to 1 part water) then you probably just need to do another coat or two. It looks like your painting is off to a good start!

Judging from some of your pics you may have already started doing this, but I would advise playing around with some of the premixed washes available ("Shades" in GW terms). They're really easy to use and can improve the look of your models in a single step. Happy painting!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771310.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771310.page GMT Re:New Painter Looking for Tips GW, there is a difference between Base and Layer paints with the Layer paints being slightly more translucent than the Base paints.

Spoiler:




]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771329.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771329.page GMT New Painter Looking for Tips
My advice to you as a beginner is to forget about layering and any other techniques for the time being, and work on neatness. As a total beginner you need to learn how to paint 'inside the lines', before learning anything else. This is your crawl. As you learn this, you will encompass things like brush control, amount of paint you put on the brush, aswell as thinning correctly. You will hear a lot of 'facts' about thinning, which you should take with a pinch of salt. There is no absolute for thinning. Sometimes you need super thin, sometimes you need a little thinned, and sometimes you can use paint from the pot. It's an art not a science, but this is getting a little advanced, just something to be aware of. For now, I'd try out thinning, to get used to it, but don't be afraid of going straight from the pot for base layers, as this also requires control.

You can start using shades or inks to help you get a tidy finish, as these will help you with definition and boundaries of individual parts of the model.

Reduce your colour pallette. You don't want to go crazy with all different colours as this will look garish, and you will be unhappy with the result, (unconsciously if nothing else).
You've made things a little difficult for yourself by choosing pink as a first scheme I will say! It's a difficult tone to get right. I'd suggest focusing more on reds, or purples. Once you learn how to highlight later on you can revisit these and make them look more pink using the red or purple as base tones.

Once you've gotten your crawl down you can move onto your baby steps. Learning how to layer, how to apply basic highlights and shadows, starting to learn how to pick out details etc, before moving onto more advanced topics like colour theory, light placement, glazing, tones, values, saturation, contrast etc. The painting world is immense, and you need to take your time.

Honestly, it's not a terrible first effort. Neaten up your paintwork a little, try some shades/washes, and you'll be on the right track. Consume as much media as you can on the subject. Don't worry if you don't understand everything right away, as I can guarantee you won't, just focus on what you do, and keep practising ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771520.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771520.page GMT New Painter Looking for Tips http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771778.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10771778.page GMT Re:New Painter Looking for Tips
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10772572.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10772572.page GMT New Painter Looking for Tips
1. Hand eye coordination will only get you so far, if you dont know the various techniques that the pros use to achieve an effect you wont improve much.

2. Watch Darren Latham on youtube who is one or the best painters in the business, he quit YT now but he has around 40 video tutorials just packed full of knowledge.

3. Thin your paints more than you think. If you can get a smooth coat in one pass you're probably doing it wrong (some paints will coat really nice in 1 pass but many factors)
If you cake a mini in paint it's a lot harder to strip in future if you ever want to repaint when ur at a better level.

4. Focus on being neat and applying smooth coats before advanced stuff like multiple edge highlighting. A miniature painted neatly but simple looks better than a messy but technical figure imo and you can always go back and add to them.

5. You dont have to be a good painter to produce really nice looking minis you just need to practice and know what you need to do before you do it. Dont just make it up as you go along. Be patient. You wld be surprised how much mini painting is to do with the amount of paint on the brush and how thick the paint is. If even 1 part of the mini is not even or fully dry before you add another layer you can make a real mess.

Ps. The guy with the morning star would actually look pretty good if you put a wash over the metalics it like gw nuln oil

Good luck!

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10772619.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/787355/10772619.page GMT