Shield

So, I know I haven't posted much recently, but here is one thing that I have completed that I actually like. Most other things that I have painted don't look nearly as good.

Some Things You Should Know

I know I have only been at this whole “Painting Miniatures” thing for about two months now, but I really feel as if I have learn quite a bit since then. I have to say, much of that knowledge is thanks to many of my followers.

So here are a couple of things I've learned so far:

Make sure you have proper materials.

While I was painting my first few miniatures, I was using cheap brushes that lost bristles almost as much as I lose hair. That made painting very difficult because I would have to constantly try to pick out bristles and go over different areas two or three times to cover up the mistakes. Make sure you buy brushes that will last a long time and be sure to use the right types of brushes whenever you are using different techniques. What I mean by that is I have a designated dry-brushing brush as well as a washing brush. The brush I use when dry-brushing is smaller, with sturdy bristles that can handle this rough painting technique. The washing brush, on the other hand, is a larger, soft-bristled brush that can hold a decent about of wash. Make sure you do your research before you go out shopping for the right brushes for you.

Water down your paints!

Another mistake I was making with my first miniatures was not watering my paints down at all. This ended up making my miniatures look like they had layers upon layers of paint, when most of the time they didn't. I also noticed I lost quite a bit of detail by having the paint caked on. The small details are what make these figures look spectacular, don’t lose them! What I like to do is use a palate, add a few drops of paint then add a few drops of water. Citadel has what’s called Lahmian Medium that you can use to achieve the same effect. I happy with my water.

Don’t forget about your base.

While experimenting with color schemes on my Tyranids, it was pointed out to me by Oliver Bayley, that if I focused on my bases a little more, that would make a huge difference with how the mini looks as a whole. I couldn’t agree more! Simply by adding a few rocks and some greenery, my Tyranid went from mediocre to semi-decent. I feel that this is an easy step that can make your men look ten times better. I have also found that if you create a contrast between the top and the base and the sides, it makes the scenery you create really stand out. Don’t forget about your base!

Make sure each layer dries before moving on.

I’ve gotten excited and carried away many times, not allowing paint or wash to dry before applying an additional layer. As I’m sure you may have guessed, this did not turn out very well. This is especially important when applying washes. If you are looking for the most natural look, make sure you are allowing enough time before adding any additional paint or wash or else you will end up with unappealing lines.

Most Importantly: Have Fun!

No matter why you are painting, whether it is because you ultimately want to create the best looking army you can, or if you are like me and just enjoy painting, have fun with it! Never forget, this is a way to express your creativity and should not be viewed as a chore. If you wish to compare your work, compare it to your own to see just how much you have improved.

So, now I pose a question to you. What is one thing you learned while painting that you wish you knew before hand?

Work In Progress

So, if you follow me on Google+, you may already know that I am working on my very first Chaos Knight. I have decided to change up the color scheme slightly from what I had started with. Originally, I was thinking of using screaming bell red and runefang steel silver as the armour. Instead of the silver, I have decided to use balthazar gold. I think that this will end up looking much better. 

I am still far from done, but here is what my progress so far!

Wish me Luck!

Ok, so I am starting a new miniature, one that intimidates me greatly. A Chaos Knight! It is larger and has more detail than any mini I have painted. Here is what I have so far... I'll be taking this one slow.

River Attempt

So, try not to laugh at this first attempt at a river. All I had to use for water was white glue, and let me just tell you, it did not work. Not one bit! The glue did not dry fully clear. Some parts you can still see the white. So when I can, I will be stopping and picking up some appropriate materials to hopefully create a much better river scene! I didn't even bother to flock the one that I just did.

For the time being, enjoy my disaster :P

Bridge is Done!

If you follow me on Google+, you may already know that I have been working on my first terrain project. I found instructions in a Games Workshop "How To Build Terrain" book on building a wooden bridge. I finally finished it and I think it looks pretty good!

Here is the How To:

First off, you will need a few tools and materials.

~X-acto Knife
~Adhesive (I used rubber cement, but I think a hot glue gun would have been easier)
~Balsa Wood
~Card Stock Paper
~Paint

You'll want to decide how big you want your bridge to be. Mine is only big enough to fit 2 miniatures side by side, but if you want your's larger, the process would be the same.

Once you decide what size of a bridge you want, cut the balsa wood in strips to mimic wooden boards. I don't think this type of bridge is supposed to look perfect, so I cut the strips uneven and crooked. 

After cutting the balsa, You would want to shaved off pieces from each board to create imperfections. This will make the bridge look like it was built by hand. Plus, it will also look much better when you go to dry brush.

Next, you glue the wood to a strip of card paper randomly to make the bridge look less uniform. You would want fold the ends of the bridge to the height you want it to be.

The last thing you have to do when building the bridge is add the posts. 

Once you have your bridge built, it's time to paint!

Here's how I added color:

I first painted the entire bridge black. I didn't think about it until after I started, but this step could easily have been completed with a layer of spray paint.

From there, I painted a layer of brown all over, not really worrying about making it look perfect. 

Then, I dry brushed a lighter brown over the entire bridge. I also did a very light dry brushing of white.

From there, I created a dark brown wash and applied it all over.

Last, I dry brushed another light layer to accent the features and created nice highlights.

If this is a project you were looking to do and need more information, feel free to reach out to me. I had lots of fun building my first piece of terrain and hope that this post will inspire others to try similar projects! 

A Violet Execution

My third executioner looks very similar to the others. It has the same theme, which is why I think my next one will look different. I really like the colors I used so far, but I want to switch things up and experiment with different techniques. I'm not planning on playing war games with these minies, so I don't mind if they don't all match.

In any case, here is my most recent. I can definitely see improvement! Let me know what you think!

Update on Executioner #2

So, I just made a quick update to my second executioner. If you noticed with the first post of #2, the sides of his base were painted white. It was pointed out to me that leaving the sides unpainted might create an attractive contrast. I agree completely. Here are the results!

Executioner #2

Second Executioner finished... 10 more to go! I did the base on this one a little different because my clumsy self spilled all my flocking on the floor. Oops! Basically all I did was paint the base with Bestigor Flesh, then used a technique new to me, called stippling, to dab white onto the base and create a textured look. After that I added the only flocking I didn't spill, Olive Green Bushes, and lightly painted some white on them to make it look like they had a dusting of snow. I am definitely not entirely satisfied with the base, but as for the rest of the figure, I am please. Let me know what you think!

Finally Finished

Okay, I know it has been a long time coming, but I have completed my first Har Ganeth Executioner! I love how the cape turned out and I really like the armor! I was hesitating to paint his armor because I had not clue about how to paint black and make it look nice. So what I decided to do was leave the black base coat then simply dry brushed Runefang Steel on the edges, making it look worn.