I too paint for the table and not the showcase. I know that doesn't mean that I paint poorly it just means I don't spend hours upon hours on a single figure. Love these weekly Miniature adventures updates and topics. Thanks so much for what you do.
"What if's" require such a high understanding of tactics and potential political implications. Respect to you for realistically exploring these scenarios.
I am a wargamer who paints rather than a painter who games. It's all about getting figures on the table. My painting technique has changed over time through necessity, as I get older.
To a degree, I've found there is a trade off between technique and time (and increasingly eyesight). I want to get my troops on the table for a game as soon as possible, and my acquisitions are often led by specific projects. Washes were the turning point for me with Agrax Earthshade, the lifesaver, on top of basic block painting and a final highlight. I can churn out whole armies quite quickly and I am happy enough with the fact few people will see them closer than from three foot away!
I've painted for both the table and competition in the past winning a few, but mostly 3rd with a few second places with the majority being unplaced. These days I mainly paint just for the gaming table. I remember using enamel paints when I switched from model kits to war gaming. Being introduced to acrylic paints was a massive revelation lol....
I generally don't make any major changes to my painting style, I'll try the odd thing but nothing to radical. It's important to note that everytime you change your technique you get slower as you lose the familiarity you had with the previous technique. There really isn't a magic formula, you just have to get a find what works and stick to it. Speed paints aren't any quicker they are just a different technique ! As I always say "Stop f#*k^"g about and Paint It" 😁
Pretty much the same, started with airfix and humbrol enamels, found vallejo panzer aces range when i was more into military modelling. Had a go at figure painting with oils, went back to gaming played all sorts of periods, fantasy gaming introduced me to the citadel range. I developed a style that got figures on the table to a standard that i was happy with certainly not up with the competition painters, but it did lead to several requests from other club members to take on painting for them. ive gone through white undercoating and then mainly black now i tend to undercoat to suit the figure/period. i would say Vallejo is still my go to paint but I have many brands of acrylics on the shelves. Lock down gave me the excuse and time to have a look at airbrushing (plus the realization that they are not as expensive as i had imagined) got on pretty well and now see it as another tool in the arsenal, great for undercoating, terrain, horses etc (down side I picked up several 1/35th vehicle kits that now need a home). I'm still trying other products and have been trying out a few of the contrast/speed paint ranges, not fully sold on them but they do have there uses.
Yes! A constant experimenter and dabbler here, everything from Humbrols to Citadel, to Army Painter, to (yes) oils, and alkyd oils. Like you, I work hard to paint to the best of my abilities, but the 'three foot rule' works well and allows for most (admittedly large) WAS and SYW-era units to get finished in a few weeks. Happy Sunday!
I take pride in my finished models, but my hands are not steady enough or my eyesight keen enough for tiny details or precision work. So I'll often leave off unit insignia or tiny details...no one will notice on the table!
For me, the best compliment I get is when an experienced wargamer walks by my table and compliments the whole look. I've changed a lot, from terrible as a kid (no guides at all, made me quit), to the triad system, to washes and drybrushing, back to triads, and now a bit of both with SP and Contrast paints doing a lot of the lifting. But I also paint differently for 28mm vs. 15mm vs. 6mm, so what I do more of depends on the scale. My forever goal though is to paint faster, that's my weakness, I'm too damn slow.
Addenum - TSR's original Battlesystem rules for big battle DnD had a painting guide (and one figure in it) and it's still the best starting point I've found for the triad system, it got me sorted our after my teenaged misadventures.
I think that 'whole army' look that revolutionized my painting. Putting as much effort into basing and flags as the miniatures themselves. My first army (fantasy figures for WFB) just had painted green bases...if they were lucky they had dried oregano glued on them. They looked awful, but smelt delicious 🤣
I am a wargamer who paints his miniatures for the game. Started in the late 1980s painting Airfix with umbrol enamels. I used an airbrush for some time, but I didn't like it. When I came back to the hobby, I made the transition to acrylics, mostly Army Painter and Green Stuff World. Recently, speed paints and contrast paints have really made a difference for me, not only in speed and quality, but in ease of use. I find that I am using acrylics less and less. Great video.
I'm always willing to give a new products a try. Whether they make it into my 'painting style' is another matter, largely dictated by the scale I am painting.
My big ‘leaps forward’ were: moving from enamels to acrylics, discovering inks and dry brushing, discovering highlighting and colour theory. My painting hasn’t changed much in the last 20 odd years since making these changes however, as - like you - I’m a gamer rather than a painter!
Incorporating inks and coloured washes into my painting was the big change for me. I use a peat brown calligraphy ink (diluted 50/50 with water) for all my 6mm figures. Anything larger gets a wash of something like quickshade, but it depends on the project and what type of finish I want.
Enhancing the gaming table rather than perfection - nicely stated. It certainly sums up my approach. I remember feeling liberated when I moved from solely painting 28mm to mixing it up with 15mm. Learning to paint 15mm relaxed my painting style (at 15mm no one is going to be looking to see if that mustache is nicely drybrushed...or to hell with them if they are!). When I would go back to paint 28mm, I felt much more relaxed. I know felt like I was just "doing extra" for the 28mm instead of feeling obligated to achieve higher levels of painting skill. Not sure if all the above makes sense!
My collection consists of a lot of 6mm and 15mm but also some 28mm, and each requires its own painting style. Switching scales certainly keeps things fresh.
One thing I can give credit to the "Evil Empire" working for them for 8 years is that they broke me off the habit of painting one figure at a time. Also the ability to batch paint models with speed. I took force myself to try new paints and techniques. I'm really sold on Express Colour and Speed Paint.
I've got a mix of Contrast Paints and Express Paints, supplementing my wider collection of Vallejo Acrylics. I use them when the model requires it so I've ended up with something of a blended technique for some figures (particularly fantasy figures for some reason).
@MiniatureAdventuresTV agreed! The Express are really nice and they've just added several colours more appropriate for WW2 subjects that I'm eager to give a go.
I also started with enamels on RPG figures, ca late 1970s. The initial focus on individual characters made it difficult to transition to painting armies en masse. It took a long time to figure out how to force myself to dial back the level of detail and make real progress on large units.
I think most are wargamers first who paint for gaming purposes. The caliber of painting also depends on the scale you use - the bigger the scale , the more detail required, & vice versa. As I have always gamed in 'battles' scale; I have had to paint whole armies, so I aim for an overall look, rather than worrying about the detail on an individual figure. Not to say that each figure isn't given a decent 'game grade' paintjob using the 3' rule (which I have used since the 70s). Like all, I shudder to remember the terrible first painting (& basing) attempts, but they have gotten hugely better over the years from learning different techniques, & I will happily field troops painted in the style I have used for the last 15 odd years, which hold their own against any 'modern' paint jobs.
TBH, Lee, if one is as old as we both are, one probably started off wiht Enamels and no shading. It's what we all did. And painting techniques have moved on SO much in the last decades. (Back in the 1990's, if you entered Golden Demon, you could get into Games Day a bit earlier, so one year-1999-I entered my Vampire Counts General, just to get in sooner. Surprised when she made it to the final. NO chance of that today). My point is, we've all got better over the years, beginners are turning out stuff that would've won painting comps 30 years ago. This is great for the hobby. These days I mostly game 6mm, si I'd have to put myself into the "paint to game" camp.
There is one in the top corner of the room. The best solution in the past has been using a small dehumidifier, but mine broke and I haven't got round to replacing it. Too busy buying miniatures to spend five minutes on Amazon looking for a new one 😆
Hi Lee, I paint purely to get minis on the table, if I’m honest I dislike painting so tend to go down the skirmish level wargame as it usually means less minis. I have even had models commission painted to avoid what I consider a chore. Great channel
When I'm 'in the zone' I paint like a machine and can get through lots of the boring repetitive stuff quite quickly. Then I treat myself by doing the special figures last.
I've never been a quality painter. In the early days, as most would do in the '80s, it was block colours. No highlighting, shading , black lines for definition or any of that nonsense! My best work has been using washes instead of paint though I rarely do that these days. I also used GW paints but stopped when they went to contrast paints which, to my eye, don't work. I use Vallejo now, mostly. I have come a long way and my figures are acceptable to me. My sons think they are great! But I'm more realistic.
I'm happy with 'good enough' for the games table, but I still enjoy looking at top quality gaming figures. Its why I enjoy shows like Partizan, with so much eye candy on display. I'll never achieve their standard, but by god I can dream!
Been painting with enamels since the 1970s, never really like acrylics, although I use acrylic washes for some things. I have definitely improved over time. Shading and three tone systems seem to me to be a hang over from the time when all figures were flats, but then I paint mainly 15mm figures. You can see them here ; ua-cam.com/channels/EuRv4YveqWXemQ3R2uP7Iw.html
I too paint for the table and not the showcase. I know that doesn't mean that I paint poorly it just means I don't spend hours upon hours on a single figure. Love these weekly Miniature adventures updates and topics. Thanks so much for what you do.
Thank you, glad you enjoy them.
"What if's" require such a high understanding of tactics and potential political implications. Respect to you for realistically exploring these scenarios.
I am a wargamer who paints rather than a painter who games. It's all about getting figures on the table. My painting technique has changed over time through necessity, as I get older.
I'm always on the lookout for products that make life easier.
To a degree, I've found there is a trade off between technique and time (and increasingly eyesight). I want to get my troops on the table for a game as soon as possible, and my acquisitions are often led by specific projects. Washes were the turning point for me with Agrax Earthshade, the lifesaver, on top of basic block painting and a final highlight. I can churn out whole armies quite quickly and I am happy enough with the fact few people will see them closer than from three foot away!
I've painted for both the table and competition in the past winning a few, but mostly 3rd with a few second places with the majority being unplaced. These days I mainly paint just for the gaming table.
I remember using enamel paints when I switched from model kits to war gaming. Being introduced to acrylic paints was a massive revelation lol....
I generally don't make any major changes to my painting style, I'll try the odd thing but nothing to radical.
It's important to note that everytime you change your technique you get slower as you lose the familiarity you had with the previous technique.
There really isn't a magic formula, you just have to get a find what works and stick to it. Speed paints aren't any quicker they are just a different technique !
As I always say "Stop f#*k^"g about and Paint It" 😁
I'm not a top drawer painter, but I give it my best shot because I don't have any choice, given painting has become the core of my hobby.
I'm always striving to do better. I reckon I plateaued several years ago but I'm comfortable with that.
Pretty much the same, started with airfix and humbrol enamels, found vallejo panzer aces range when i was more into military modelling. Had a go at figure painting with oils, went back to gaming played all sorts of periods, fantasy gaming introduced me to the citadel range. I developed a style that got figures on the table to a standard that i was happy with certainly not up with the competition painters, but it did lead to several requests from other club members to take on painting for them. ive gone through white undercoating and then mainly black now i tend to undercoat to suit the figure/period. i would say Vallejo is still my go to paint but I have many brands of acrylics on the shelves. Lock down gave me the excuse and time to have a look at airbrushing (plus the realization that they are not as expensive as i had imagined) got on pretty well and now see it as another tool in the arsenal, great for undercoating, terrain, horses etc (down side I picked up several 1/35th vehicle kits that now need a home). I'm still trying other products and have been trying out a few of the contrast/speed paint ranges, not fully sold on them but they do have there uses.
Yes! A constant experimenter and dabbler here, everything from Humbrols to Citadel, to Army Painter, to (yes) oils, and alkyd oils. Like you, I work hard to paint to the best of my abilities, but the 'three foot rule' works well and allows for most (admittedly large) WAS and SYW-era units to get finished in a few weeks. Happy Sunday!
I take pride in my finished models, but my hands are not steady enough or my eyesight keen enough for tiny details or precision work. So I'll often leave off unit insignia or tiny details...no one will notice on the table!
For me, the best compliment I get is when an experienced wargamer walks by my table and compliments the whole look.
I've changed a lot, from terrible as a kid (no guides at all, made me quit), to the triad system, to washes and drybrushing, back to triads, and now a bit of both with SP and Contrast paints doing a lot of the lifting. But I also paint differently for 28mm vs. 15mm vs. 6mm, so what I do more of depends on the scale.
My forever goal though is to paint faster, that's my weakness, I'm too damn slow.
Addenum - TSR's original Battlesystem rules for big battle DnD had a painting guide (and one figure in it) and it's still the best starting point I've found for the triad system, it got me sorted our after my teenaged misadventures.
I think that 'whole army' look that revolutionized my painting. Putting as much effort into basing and flags as the miniatures themselves. My first army (fantasy figures for WFB) just had painted green bases...if they were lucky they had dried oregano glued on them. They looked awful, but smelt delicious 🤣
I am a wargamer who paints his miniatures for the game. Started in the late 1980s painting Airfix with umbrol enamels.
I used an airbrush for some time, but I didn't like it.
When I came back to the hobby, I made the transition to acrylics, mostly Army Painter and Green Stuff World.
Recently, speed paints and contrast paints have really made a difference for me, not only in speed and quality, but in ease of use. I find that I am using acrylics less and less.
Great video.
I'm always willing to give a new products a try. Whether they make it into my 'painting style' is another matter, largely dictated by the scale I am painting.
My big ‘leaps forward’ were: moving from enamels to acrylics, discovering inks and dry brushing, discovering highlighting and colour theory. My painting hasn’t changed much in the last 20 odd years since making these changes however, as - like you - I’m a gamer rather than a painter!
Incorporating inks and coloured washes into my painting was the big change for me. I use a peat brown calligraphy ink (diluted 50/50 with water) for all my 6mm figures. Anything larger gets a wash of something like quickshade, but it depends on the project and what type of finish I want.
@ Windsor and newton inks are good!
Still painting roughly the same way I started painting --- years ago. Just now I use Acrylic paints rather than enamel one's.
Enhancing the gaming table rather than perfection - nicely stated. It certainly sums up my approach. I remember feeling liberated when I moved from solely painting 28mm to mixing it up with 15mm. Learning to paint 15mm relaxed my painting style (at 15mm no one is going to be looking to see if that mustache is nicely drybrushed...or to hell with them if they are!). When I would go back to paint 28mm, I felt much more relaxed. I know felt like I was just "doing extra" for the 28mm instead of feeling obligated to achieve higher levels of painting skill.
Not sure if all the above makes sense!
My collection consists of a lot of 6mm and 15mm but also some 28mm, and each requires its own painting style. Switching scales certainly keeps things fresh.
One thing I can give credit to the "Evil Empire" working for them for 8 years is that they broke me off the habit of painting one figure at a time. Also the ability to batch paint models with speed. I took force myself to try new paints and techniques. I'm really sold on Express Colour and Speed Paint.
I've got a mix of Contrast Paints and Express Paints, supplementing my wider collection of Vallejo Acrylics. I use them when the model requires it so I've ended up with something of a blended technique for some figures (particularly fantasy figures for some reason).
@MiniatureAdventuresTV agreed! The Express are really nice and they've just added several colours more appropriate for WW2 subjects that I'm eager to give a go.
Im still experimenting .... quite like contrast style paints to speed the process but add traditonal highlights
I also started with enamels on RPG figures, ca late 1970s. The initial focus on individual characters made it difficult to transition to painting armies en masse. It took a long time to figure out how to force myself to dial back the level of detail and make real progress on large units.
My first figure was truly awful, with virtually no detail, but I loved it. Unfortunately, its long gone, lost sometime in the last 40+ years.
I think most are wargamers first who paint for gaming purposes. The caliber of painting also depends on the scale you use - the bigger the scale , the more detail required, & vice versa. As I have always gamed in 'battles' scale; I have had to paint whole armies, so I aim for an overall look, rather than worrying about the detail on an individual figure. Not to say that each figure isn't given a decent 'game grade' paintjob using the 3' rule (which I have used since the 70s). Like all, I shudder to remember the terrible first painting (& basing) attempts, but they have gotten hugely better over the years from learning different techniques, & I will happily field troops painted in the style I have used for the last 15 odd years, which hold their own against any 'modern' paint jobs.
Great video Lee😊
Glad you enjoyed it
TBH, Lee, if one is as old as we both are, one probably started off wiht Enamels and no shading. It's what we all did. And painting techniques have moved on SO much in the last decades. (Back in the 1990's, if you entered Golden Demon, you could get into Games Day a bit earlier, so one year-1999-I entered my Vampire Counts General, just to get in sooner. Surprised when she made it to the final. NO chance of that today).
My point is, we've all got better over the years, beginners are turning out stuff that would've won painting comps 30 years ago. This is great for the hobby.
These days I mostly game 6mm, si I'd have to put myself into the "paint to game" camp.
An achievement to be proud of non-the-less, even if it was 'by accident' 🤣
You might benefit from an air vent either through the wall or out the ceiling and out through the roof/facia.
There is one in the top corner of the room. The best solution in the past has been using a small dehumidifier, but mine broke and I haven't got round to replacing it. Too busy buying miniatures to spend five minutes on Amazon looking for a new one 😆
Hi Lee, I paint purely to get minis on the table, if I’m honest I dislike painting so tend to go down the skirmish level wargame as it usually means less minis. I have even had models commission painted to avoid what I consider a chore. Great channel
When I'm 'in the zone' I paint like a machine and can get through lots of the boring repetitive stuff quite quickly. Then I treat myself by doing the special figures last.
I've never been a quality painter. In the early days, as most would do in the '80s, it was block colours. No highlighting, shading , black lines for definition or any of that nonsense! My best work has been using washes instead of paint though I rarely do that these days. I also used GW paints but stopped when they went to contrast paints which, to my eye, don't work. I use Vallejo now, mostly.
I have come a long way and my figures are acceptable to me. My sons think they are great! But I'm more realistic.
I'm happy with 'good enough' for the games table, but I still enjoy looking at top quality gaming figures. Its why I enjoy shows like Partizan, with so much eye candy on display. I'll never achieve their standard, but by god I can dream!
Been painting with enamels since the 1970s, never really like acrylics, although I use acrylic washes for some things. I have definitely improved over time. Shading and three tone systems seem to me to be a hang over from the time when all figures were flats, but then I paint mainly 15mm figures. You can see them here ; ua-cam.com/channels/EuRv4YveqWXemQ3R2uP7Iw.html