a person who is more into playing and sees the building and painting as a speed bump to get to the playing helpped me realise i was improving when i thought i wasn't by basically telling my me hand painted model looked like i used an airbrush for a glow effect
My wife is a painter and tattoo artist. When I first started painting minis she was super supportive no matter what I showed her. But now that I have progressed she gives me brutally honest feedback and it has made me become much more thoughtful with color theory and shadows.
My wife is also a painter, and I went through almost the exact transition. She quickly went from "wow good job!" on everything to "The osl is completely off and your diffusion levels are regressive. ..Also, do you still have that color wheel I gave you?" lmao. And I can't ever argue because she's FANTASTIC and literally always right. Whenever I begrudgingly repaint a part to meet her suggestions it's ALWAYS way better. The brutal honesty really helps even if it hurts at first haha
Tattoo artist here of 20+ years and to be honest painting minis is a lot like Tattooing just minus the subject says ouch😂😂😂and I am recently coming back to the hobby since I was a kid. got inspired from the space marine 2 game and forgot what I had missed as a kid. Now I'm knee deep in black templars. Painting them in between clients 😂😂😂..
@@McVilla1N Nice! I tattooed for 6 or 7 years before I went back to being a creative director full time. After apprenticing under my wife for 2 years I had forgotten what critical critiquing was like until I showed her a mini of mine about six weeks ago. 😂And yeah, squirmy clients are no fun. 😂
Scott: I think you should leave Nuln Oil behind... Is that so hard? Well no... and yes... Now it comes to it, I don't feel like PARTING WITH IT. ITS MINE, I FOUND IT, IT CAME TO ME! ITS MINE! MY OWN... MY PRECIOUSsssss
@@Miniac And some people can get scared away from oil washes because everything else they have is acrylic, and getting set up with some tubes of different colors (black is badly overrated) and odorless spirits, with the associated ventilation cautions, seems unreasonably daunting. But for pin washes and being able to go back and clean up your wash rather than having to just overpaint it, there's little that can beat it.
Speaking of numner 1... It's crazy this video popped up now! I've been painting and collecting W40k on and off since 3rd edition. In the last month after binge watching Vince, I decided to repaint my Tyranids, where before I used contrast paint and it always bored me after about 10 models, I put the contast paint away and am painting light as Vince says. It feels very overwhelming as my skills are just not there, but I remember you saying you can never ruin a mini by painting it. So I'm painting bravely and for the first time ever I'm really enjoying the process and feel I won't lose motivation to finally finish an army for once as every model is different (even just a different pose or angle) so every time I sit down it's a new challenge and something fun to improve on. I have no idea what I'm doing but at least I'm doing it and not leaving it up to a wash or contrast to do the job for me! Thanks Scott!
@@Miniac But did you learn 10 tricks? That's a crazy number of tricks unless you count moving, turning, stopping, standing, moving slower, kicking the board away, popping it up and catching it, run with it and hop on, olly.
@@MrKosko acid drop, manual, ollie, pop shove it are the only ones I can remember 😅 I remember really struggling to figure out how to do a kick flip and never succeeding!
My family line is plagued with jumping hobbies and now I’m a dad with 3 boys and I not only use this type of method with them but also for myself. Prove you’ll put in the effort, progress and continue and you can get it.
I'm going to defend painting in sub-assembly for specific models. There are situations where you definitely want to do it, like if you have a very detailed inside covered by a lattice (soulblight lords). Or when the part that is in the way sticks out and you can clearly see the model underneath (AoS Slayer beards). I also advocate for subassembly when you have a model that consists of multiple distinct features, like Mysterious Emissary by Malifaux.
Simple tip: Before you primer, use a desk lamp to light the mini from the direction you're going to zenithal and take pictures from every angle. This will let you evaluate how much you like the light scheme and help you match the light values if you get to lost in the process later.
I've been painting for 6 years and I started to use contrast paints just now. For glazes. It's amazing how Imperial Fist yellow will saturate your yellows and reds. It's a marvel how red and orange contrast can shade your yellow in seconds with smoothest blends ever.
5:57 I think a lot of people get hung up on doing other techniques with layering because they kind of get told, "Thin your paints this much for layering, this much for glazing, this much for basing, etc". But there's a massive spectrum within layering alone, even between two different paints, in how much you thin, load the brush, etc. I remember really watching your videos on different blending techniques, and the fact you focused a lot on what the paint is actually doing as it comes off of the brush was really food for thought. Even though I think it was on different techniques, that made me think a lot about what the paint is actually doing ,which helped my layering a ton.
Yeah ppl treat it as a hard rule. Even naming a paint range 2 thin coats. I use a wet pallette but i thin less than a lot of people. Still dont get texture bc i move my paint quickly and know my working times. Saves me time too lol i usually only need 1 coat for a base coat
This video is just plain awesome! So many things I struggle with all in the same view with a matter of fact "just paint" message. Thanks for motivating me to get back to work on getting better.
As a beginner, who has spent so much more hours watching youtube videos than actually painting, much more money than I should have on tools and equipement, and most of all, spent so much time finding excuses to not start painting because I thought I needed something more, stuff or knowledge... I feel like your video opened my eyes, and that's the thing I needed to stop lie to myself and start to build painting experience. I needed those words, thanks a lot for this !
... I wish I'd watched this before I just painted my l last project... I have painted minis for years.. Recently spent 9 pounds (10bucks) on two contrast paints too use 3drops of each... Then went back to what i knew... For years, dived in to the new thing without enough research... Thanks again for making this video, great for painters of all levels... Made me very much trust in the process.. 💜🤯🤗
I’ve been working on my entry for Scale Model Challenge this year. I really relate to these tips. In the end you need to paint, and paint, and paint some more. As cliché as it sounds practice makes perfect, and I’m still miles off perfect.
Hey, I just wanted to thank you for this video. I have been only painting for a few years, so this video is perfect for me. I realize now I am making some of these mistakes and now after watching feel I have a direction of where to go, what to try. This video really hit home for me, thanks
Online comparing is the double-edged sword of mini painting. It's great for getting ideas on how to do things different or what other techniques to try, but it's so discouraging to see the insane results others can achieve. It's like you have to build a new muscle in your brain that will constantly tell you it's okay, that you're good enough.
I have the same struggle both in my miniature painting and terrain building that I just started to get into for my D&D games. We have to accept where we are at, focus at getting better and also be okay with each of us having our own styles so it is okay not to look like each other. Even if some of those paint jobs are insanely beautiful and I want my stuff to look just like that 😂
love the approach of pushing your limits and trying something new. I'm currently painting my whole Deep Rock Galactic Board Game minis in cel shading style to lean to the original game aesthetics. I'm not the best at it, but at least I try and with each mini painted I get a little bit more understanding about how this technique works and get more satisfying results.
Awesome video. I never considered the drying time this much and your tip for where to end, didn't think about that. Going to try to make this part of my workflow. Thanks Scotty
Even though after so many years hobbying I still need to be reminded of many things Scott says in this video that should be a given for me now. Great video Scott WE LOVE YOU SCOOOOOTT
I’ve been painting through a pack of space marines to chill after work and it’s been great for pushing my comfort zone in subtle ways. Do an iron warrior to freehand some hazard stripes, an imperial fist to work on pure yellow, a custom chapter to practice my color selection, a night lord to paint in a grimdark style. It’s great!
Agreed with everything in this video! I was lucky? enough to learn to paint in the late 80’s where we didn’t have all the speed/contrast type paints so had to do it the hard way and it made us better painters for it.
Hey cool trick I’ve found with milk oil and shades is I mix it with colors like red to darken the color for darker shadows and slowly build up to the main and even highlight color. Helped real well with nmm red armor
This was great scott, ive been painting for 2 years now and i needed this to give me a kick up the arse to get past washes and really take my time and try to improve. Thanks man!
I can very much relate to this topic. I had a mentor recently tell me some of the things you went over in your video. They also informed that the paint brand I'm using is problematic for some techniques and that I need to give other brands a try. It wasn't something I wanted to hear after investing so much money, but they were right and got me out of my comfort zone. Thank you for keeping us thinking.
Really great video! I'd say I'm very much an intermediate painter, I've painted on and off for 7 years (since the summer before 9th grade) about half of which I was focused on trying to grow as a painter and I've done pretty much all the stuff in this video. The point about paint islands is new to me though and explains some models I've not been as happy with, I prefer models that have less going on to leave "white space" for me to have more freedom with highlight placement which makes those islands easy to do. It'll be a good thing to improve on, I've been having fun experimenting with fun shadow colors lately so it'll be a natural thing to work on next, and the varying shadow based on height of the model is something I wouldn't have thought to try before (I do the inverse with highlights all the time though lol). This channel was the very first miniature painting channel I watched so its really cool I'm still learning from it now
Don't agree with the sub assembly comment. However your egg in the pan analogy about drying paint is genius and straight to the point. Great video, thanks for being the one who is speaking up about how speed/ contrast paint is holding people back. Holding folks back but also stopping them from experiencing something special, that is art.
I’m looking at getting an airbrush but it’s funny, I’ve actually made a promise to myself that I’ll get one once I get shading and highlights along with blends down with my brush. It’s not a definite line but when I feel I’ve got a good grasp on it I’ll get a nice airbrush to assist.
This video came at a great time. I confess I also am a collector of paints, brushes and other accessories waiting for the time to return and pick up the brush and just paint. With miniatures so expensive now, I am reluctant to begin for fear of stuffing them up!
Loved the vid, and have been watching you since you started, as it was around that time i came back to the hobby from a long break. Its funny, but organically i have found out most of these tips for myself, alongside learning from others such as yourself. Your vids are always well put together, informative and not bloated with use this use that product placement. Thank you Scott, and keep on being awesome!
So many things on this video seem like they were big revelations for me in the past 12 months. It was fun to review them and reflect on my journey before, during, and after painting the ranger through your class. Can’t wait to show everyone in the TUP community my next project and take it into my first competition!
Excellent video! I have recently put my contrast paints aside to focus more on base coating and layers and it has made a huge difference in my enjoyment and results. Very timely and appreciated video.
I came to that conclusion after buying a bunch of speed paints and then determining that they all gave a darker tone to the mini's i was painting and i needed more contrast. As a result i puchased opaque paints and now is painting with them. I do ocasionally use thinned speed paint as a filter but not very often. Loved the video.
I completely agree with getting away from washes. I feel like I used them as a crutch and I noticed a huge improvement in my painting once I stopped using them!
OK, I've been painting miniatures, figures, and doing models for more years than I care to count. Lol. I've published a book on figure painting, and won tons of awards. But I have to say, this is one of the best videos on general painting that I have seen. Common sense advice from a pro. Stuff I had forgotten, but now need to go back and remember. Freaking great video Miniac. Looking forward to the others.
The white ink reactivation makes a lot of sense for a recent problem I had. I was too lazy to get up and get my golden hi-flow so i used white acrylic ink instead. Reactivated and mingled with the oils I was using. Made a giant mess that took substantially longer to fix than getting out of my chair and getting the right product. This video explained so much of my mystery problem!
There's some gold here, that's for sure. I recently ditched washes and I've dramatically improved in a surprisingly short time. I still bust out the washes for dirty bases, but otherwise, they're stuck in the rack.
Dude, the GAS section is me. I "started" the hobby almost 2 months ago and I've only assembled and cleaned my mini's. Been collecting paint, paint shaker, brushes, air brush, compressor, every little knick knack I think I might need and haven't even primed 1 mini yet lol. I've got a weird fear of starting.
Thanks Scott, one of the best videos i've watched for months. This might sound wierd, but it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck multiple times!!
Loved this video, I enjoyed the thought process and the importance to just be uncomfortable and just do it. I suffer a lot with the worry of messing up my models but the more I have just gone fuck it the more I have surprised myself, I was painting something recently and I wasn't happy with the end result but I tried something and now I know what not to do. It's a hobby but for some of us it's easy to over think it and it stops us from enjoying it. Loved the video Scott, look forward to more! Also what is happening with a UK supplier for your merch, the shipping costs to the UK are a bit of a pain
Very cool video, I've been trying to give those ideas to friends and fellow painters but never could articulate the ideas as well as you did. Next step to improve once you've done all this for me : start getting lessons, masterclass and honest feedback from better painters. Growth never ends, it's deeply satisfying.
Great video Scott, much prefer this style of video. You have mentioned painting your imperial assault minis for playing sessions in the podcast, would be nice to get your tips and tricks to get board game minis painted speedy but decent standard. Have a whole bunch of board game minis sitting there to be painted.
I think I am making great progress so far, I just started on NMM and had to ask reddit on how my Dantes axe looked and turns out I did a great job on it. I think people should post more and ask what can be done or if it looks like what you are trying to replicate. There have been many times where I was upset with my mini or part of it and turns out I nailed it but I have been sat looking at it far too long and just not seeing it anymore. I have been in the hobby almost 6months now and I try to push myself out of my comfort zone constantly. I mean I can always just strip the mini whenever it goes really bad. That said I do think people are naturally talented and some DO learn much faster than others.
I just got into WH AoS mini painting. This was really helpful. Thanks for the call out on these things. I was doing 3 of them 😂. Going to change them and get after it. Cheers!
First of all, thanks for the Twitch raid the other day! Second; I love what you said about starting with the crappy skateboard before getting an Element deck. Ive been taught the same way by my parents and I'm glad it stuck with me up to now in the hobby. For example; I feel that is now time to get that fancy airbrush after using the Chinese crappy one for about 4 years now.
You said it so very well, it's not for those who want to paint an army. People should accept that there are different levels of paint. I started as an army painter, now i strive to improve my paint job itself. And by removing washes for example I've even started to find my own touch, my own taste in what I personally like. And this is a great thing, to paint for YOURSELF, not for army or tournament.
I've recently moved out of my comfort zone and moved away from washes. I'm using Pro acryl paints and working my way from darkest to lightest colour. It's very daunting but I love the results, and am slowly seeing improvements. I just need to stop comparing myself to experts like you and Vince.
@Miniac I will, it's a steep learning curve though. I'm so used to baseciat, wash and highlight. But very rewarding. I saw the speed paint competition you had with vince, and I have to say that I think vince was just slightly better.
Two things I like to tell myself and newbies 1) Sucking at something is the first step to being kinda good at something (shout out to Jake the Dog) 2) you're too new to be bad Lots of folks are terrified at doing something poorly. I'm more concerned with celebrating the effort and reflecting on the process.
I paint a lot of subassembly, but i do some prep work. I only use subassembly for stuff that would be boocked by other parts, and I mask off glue points with latex masking fluid. i dry fit everything first so i can see if its worth it, and it allows me to prep for gaps if needed. I also don't paint anything over a base shadow color if its more than 75% covered, just so theres no glimpses of primer only. All in all its worth it sometimes, but not always. I find it's easier for me to get finished pieces this way though.
That was a good analogy with the eggs. I only found out about Miniac's backlog recently with the vincey con prep video! I think you should shout it out in your main channel 😊
Man you just keep making some of the most entertaining videos. I always look forward to watching and learn a thing or two as well each time. I also love you're sense of humour and wish I could push myself to do the same on my channel. KUTGW!
i use a super enhanced slapchop. i still end up with some of the "islanding" issued you mention but everything blends together a lot better. i use the damp dry brushing for the pre-shade followed by a colored zenithal and colored undershade from the air brush using inks. then i apply thinned contrast paints and then add more highlighting.
There's always a bit of excitement for me when I get to see you finally posted a video. I say "finally" work all the respect to you and no dig. You take more time to be thoughtful and not necessarily a schedule. It's stating true to the quality over quantity. I heard you mention in one of your podcasts that it can bum you out by not getting as many views or somehow associating likes and views to the value of the video. I hope you realize there's so many people, like myself, who watch these and may not interact with a like (because we forgot) or left a comment. It leaves you with no way to measure how we took it as viewers. The world of content creators I'm sure sucks in that you want input and feedback, but that's not always going to be something you get. If you looked at your work like the transfer of knowledge to others who seek it, you will find it hits exactly who needed it. Your videos have a lot of your own passion and personality in these videos and never feel contrived, forced by a product, pushed by a vendor, or have any influence except your own. It's appreciated a ton! I'm going to leave my like and a comment, but know I've watched all your videos and forgot to do it many times. It shouldn't be any reflection of the enjoyment or inspiration I get from your work. Keep it up, Scott! Your videos make me feel like I can relate to pros like yourself because the struggles are similar - I just don't have the expertise yet. But that's also a good reason to keep watching what you do to improve, and I hope to pass my knowledge to others.
Should hire yourself as a marketing expert - hashtag "saveyournips". :) Solid ideas here. I actually find myself using contrast paints and equivalent as filters more than the "normal" use. From my vintage (2nd. edition) Blood Angels Red paint has horribly orange. Like, full on orange. So it needed the "Red Ink" from GW applied all over to actually look red. That's mostly what I'm using the contrast paints now - I like the white to give a blueish tinge, which bleeds in to the discussion on white. I only use pure white for the starkest highlights. And yes, it's ok to be bad!!! I tell my kids we're not being paid to play chess/paint/board games - it's all good! To get better you have to basically always be bad - but being bad at increasingly harder skills. Guess it's time to actually get started with the Duchess...
This. This is why I love speedpaint. Not as a basecoat, but a way to punch up other paints. Either like you mention as a filter, but it also works well to add a bit more punch to somewhat drab colors. When I find a paintjob getting too dark or bland, I will add a very thin filter of white or yellow then go over with a speedpaint/contrast paint that is brighter than what I was working with. You can really turn around something that way and give it some 'pop'.
Secret hidden final tip. PAINT MORE MINIS :) I've generally stayed away from sub assemblies but find it helps for things like a kill rig. 6 dudes and a Big ol' Squig were much easier to paint separately, put together, then touch up. I tend to lean this way more when the models are larger and more awkward to hold.
Have you tried stripping tamiya? Another option is to mix white ink with an acrylic clear satin/matt to stop the reactivation. Contrast/speed paints have their place. Not going to layer 50 minis with capes when speed paint looks incredible in a single coat.
I wish more people talked about volumetric painting and made more tutorials on the subject. Its the number one thing to up skills everything else could be considered secondary.
"We live in a day and age where nearly every hobby paint range is usable" - Damn straight. Army painter's new line of paints is really damn good for the price. I still favor Pro Acryl and Vallejo but I've been happy using Army painter's paints a few times.
I did it! I put my painting on hold until I gathered all the things I "needed". I got everything and when I finally started to paint, I rarely used half of the equipment I have.
My secret sauce is to show off my work to non-painters in order to get the praise I crave. Keep me motivated to keep improving!
big brain
I think people worry that they are bad, when the reality is that they are bad but think they're even worse.
a person who is more into playing and sees the building and painting as a speed bump to get to the playing helpped me realise i was improving when i thought i wasn't by basically telling my me hand painted model looked like i used an airbrush for a glow effect
@@jeanclaudevanslamme i think its good to judge your own work like that. make you wanna keep improving.
Sometimes this strikes the other way. "Wow, this looks just like the Wizkids minis I get for D&D"
My wife is a painter and tattoo artist. When I first started painting minis she was super supportive no matter what I showed her. But now that I have progressed she gives me brutally honest feedback and it has made me become much more thoughtful with color theory and shadows.
My wife is also a painter, and I went through almost the exact transition. She quickly went from "wow good job!" on everything to "The osl is completely off and your diffusion levels are regressive. ..Also, do you still have that color wheel I gave you?" lmao. And I can't ever argue because she's FANTASTIC and literally always right. Whenever I begrudgingly repaint a part to meet her suggestions it's ALWAYS way better. The brutal honesty really helps even if it hurts at first haha
Tattoo artist here of 20+ years and to be honest painting minis is a lot like Tattooing just minus the subject says ouch😂😂😂and I am recently coming back to the hobby since I was a kid. got inspired from the space marine 2 game and forgot what I had missed as a kid. Now I'm knee deep in black templars. Painting them in between clients 😂😂😂..
@@McVilla1N Nice! I tattooed for 6 or 7 years before I went back to being a creative director full time. After apprenticing under my wife for 2 years I had forgotten what critical critiquing was like until I showed her a mini of mine about six weeks ago. 😂And yeah, squirmy clients are no fun. 😂
Ive missed this style, Scott. Most of us here have joined you along your entire journey. More of this style please dude.
I feel like I learn the most per minute during a Miniac video.
@@wikyWargaming Agreed!
Agreed mate. This was the stuff that got me through pandemic days and went on to help me improve my skills. MOAR PLZ
Scott: I think you should leave Nuln Oil behind... Is that so hard?
Well no... and yes... Now it comes to it, I don't feel like PARTING WITH IT. ITS MINE, I FOUND IT, IT CAME TO ME! ITS MINE! MY OWN... MY PRECIOUSsssss
There is another way! Another way, darker, more difficult to find, more secret. But Miniac knows it. Let Miniac show you!
@@Miniac And some people can get scared away from oil washes because everything else they have is acrylic, and getting set up with some tubes of different colors (black is badly overrated) and odorless spirits, with the associated ventilation cautions, seems unreasonably daunting. But for pin washes and being able to go back and clean up your wash rather than having to just overpaint it, there's little that can beat it.
@@seanmalloy7249 i really need to do this but ugh...setup
Speaking of numner 1... It's crazy this video popped up now! I've been painting and collecting W40k on and off since 3rd edition. In the last month after binge watching Vince, I decided to repaint my Tyranids, where before I used contrast paint and it always bored me after about 10 models, I put the contast paint away and am painting light as Vince says. It feels very overwhelming as my skills are just not there, but I remember you saying you can never ruin a mini by painting it. So I'm painting bravely and for the first time ever I'm really enjoying the process and feel I won't lose motivation to finally finish an army for once as every model is different (even just a different pose or angle) so every time I sit down it's a new challenge and something fun to improve on. I have no idea what I'm doing but at least I'm doing it and not leaving it up to a wash or contrast to do the job for me! Thanks Scott!
Finished watching the whole vid. God damn this is such a great treasure trove of advice!! One of your best
Gotta say, as a mini-painting dad, that skateboard story was pure gold.
It worked for me!! 😅
@@Miniac But did you learn 10 tricks? That's a crazy number of tricks unless you count moving, turning, stopping, standing, moving slower, kicking the board away, popping it up and catching it, run with it and hop on, olly.
@@MrKosko acid drop, manual, ollie, pop shove it are the only ones I can remember 😅
I remember really struggling to figure out how to do a kick flip and never succeeding!
My family line is plagued with jumping hobbies and now I’m a dad with 3 boys and I not only use this type of method with them but also for myself. Prove you’ll put in the effort, progress and continue and you can get it.
One of the all time miniac videos. Nuggets to time ratio extremely high. 11 tendies out of 10 ❤
I'm going to defend painting in sub-assembly for specific models. There are situations where you definitely want to do it, like if you have a very detailed inside covered by a lattice (soulblight lords). Or when the part that is in the way sticks out and you can clearly see the model underneath (AoS Slayer beards). I also advocate for subassembly when you have a model that consists of multiple distinct features, like Mysterious Emissary by Malifaux.
Simple tip: Before you primer, use a desk lamp to light the mini from the direction you're going to zenithal and take pictures from every angle. This will let you evaluate how much you like the light scheme and help you match the light values if you get to lost in the process later.
This is hands down your best video. A video for every beginner. Always a follower, always a student. Thank you
This video is so well timed. I’m 2 months in and needed to hear much of this advice. Thank you!
I've been painting for 6 years and I started to use contrast paints just now. For glazes. It's amazing how Imperial Fist yellow will saturate your yellows and reds. It's a marvel how red and orange contrast can shade your yellow in seconds with smoothest blends ever.
5:57 I think a lot of people get hung up on doing other techniques with layering because they kind of get told, "Thin your paints this much for layering, this much for glazing, this much for basing, etc". But there's a massive spectrum within layering alone, even between two different paints, in how much you thin, load the brush, etc.
I remember really watching your videos on different blending techniques, and the fact you focused a lot on what the paint is actually doing as it comes off of the brush was really food for thought. Even though I think it was on different techniques, that made me think a lot about what the paint is actually doing ,which helped my layering a ton.
Yeah ppl treat it as a hard rule. Even naming a paint range 2 thin coats. I use a wet pallette but i thin less than a lot of people. Still dont get texture bc i move my paint quickly and know my working times. Saves me time too lol i usually only need 1 coat for a base coat
This video is just plain awesome! So many things I struggle with all in the same view with a matter of fact "just paint" message. Thanks for motivating me to get back to work on getting better.
The analogy of messing with drying paint being like messing with cooking eggs is genius (really). Great way to describe it.
As a beginner, who has spent so much more hours watching youtube videos than actually painting, much more money than I should have on tools and equipement, and most of all, spent so much time finding excuses to not start painting because I thought I needed something more, stuff or knowledge... I feel like your video opened my eyes, and that's the thing I needed to stop lie to myself and start to build painting experience. I needed those words, thanks a lot for this !
... I wish I'd watched this before I just painted my l last project... I have painted minis for years.. Recently spent 9 pounds (10bucks) on two contrast paints too use 3drops of each... Then went back to what i knew... For years, dived in to the new thing without enough research...
Thanks again for making this video, great for painters of all levels...
Made me very much trust in the process.. 💜🤯🤗
thanks S for really hitting so many basics of growth mindset and being patient and being an endless beginner Namaste!
I’ve been working on my entry for Scale Model Challenge this year. I really relate to these tips. In the end you need to paint, and paint, and paint some more. As cliché as it sounds practice makes perfect, and I’m still miles off perfect.
Hey, I just wanted to thank you for this video. I have been only painting for a few years, so this video is perfect for me. I realize now I am making some of these mistakes and now after watching feel I have a direction of where to go, what to try.
This video really hit home for me, thanks
Just great advice, as always. Big fan of your channel for many years now.
Online comparing is the double-edged sword of mini painting. It's great for getting ideas on how to do things different or what other techniques to try, but it's so discouraging to see the insane results others can achieve. It's like you have to build a new muscle in your brain that will constantly tell you it's okay, that you're good enough.
I have the same struggle both in my miniature painting and terrain building that I just started to get into for my D&D games. We have to accept where we are at, focus at getting better and also be okay with each of us having our own styles so it is okay not to look like each other. Even if some of those paint jobs are insanely beautiful and I want my stuff to look just like that 😂
Thanks man, I needed this one. I keep coming up with excuses not to just sit down and paint. Love the nitty gritty quick painting tips.
love the approach of pushing your limits and trying something new. I'm currently painting my whole Deep Rock Galactic Board Game minis in cel shading style to lean to the original game aesthetics. I'm not the best at it, but at least I try and with each mini painted I get a little bit more understanding about how this technique works and get more satisfying results.
Awesome video. I never considered the drying time this much and your tip for where to end, didn't think about that. Going to try to make this part of my workflow. Thanks Scotty
Even though after so many years hobbying I still need to be reminded of many things Scott says in this video that should be a given for me now. Great video Scott WE LOVE YOU SCOOOOOTT
I've been painting for a few years and have in the last year or so I ditched washed and got way better at painting really quick.
I’ve been painting through a pack of space marines to chill after work and it’s been great for pushing my comfort zone in subtle ways. Do an iron warrior to freehand some hazard stripes, an imperial fist to work on pure yellow, a custom chapter to practice my color selection, a night lord to paint in a grimdark style. It’s great!
Agreed with everything in this video! I was lucky? enough to learn to paint in the late 80’s where we didn’t have all the speed/contrast type paints so had to do it the hard way and it made us better painters for it.
I started in the 70's thankfully we have better toys to play with these days I still avoid Uho glue like it's got the plague 😱
Hey cool trick I’ve found with milk oil and shades is I mix it with colors like red to darken the color for darker shadows and slowly build up to the main and even highlight color. Helped real well with nmm red armor
This was great scott, ive been painting for 2 years now and i needed this to give me a kick up the arse to get past washes and really take my time and try to improve. Thanks man!
I can very much relate to this topic. I had a mentor recently tell me some of the things you went over in your video. They also informed that the paint brand I'm using is problematic for some techniques and that I need to give other brands a try. It wasn't something I wanted to hear after investing so much money, but they were right and got me out of my comfort zone.
Thank you for keeping us thinking.
Really great video! I'd say I'm very much an intermediate painter, I've painted on and off for 7 years (since the summer before 9th grade) about half of which I was focused on trying to grow as a painter and I've done pretty much all the stuff in this video.
The point about paint islands is new to me though and explains some models I've not been as happy with, I prefer models that have less going on to leave "white space" for me to have more freedom with highlight placement which makes those islands easy to do. It'll be a good thing to improve on, I've been having fun experimenting with fun shadow colors lately so it'll be a natural thing to work on next, and the varying shadow based on height of the model is something I wouldn't have thought to try before (I do the inverse with highlights all the time though lol).
This channel was the very first miniature painting channel I watched so its really cool I'm still learning from it now
Good stuff! Been painting for 4 years now and i learned stuff in this video!🙌🏽👍🏽
Don't agree with the sub assembly comment. However your egg in the pan analogy about drying paint is genius and straight to the point. Great video, thanks for being the one who is speaking up about how speed/ contrast paint is holding people back. Holding folks back but also stopping them from experiencing something special, that is art.
I’m looking at getting an airbrush but it’s funny, I’ve actually made a promise to myself that I’ll get one once I get shading and highlights along with blends down with my brush. It’s not a definite line but when I feel I’ve got a good grasp on it I’ll get a nice airbrush to assist.
I really needed this. I keep buying more crap and watching painting techniques instead of just cracking on with the painting. Cheers for the video.
This video came at a great time. I confess I also am a collector of paints, brushes and other accessories waiting for the time to return and pick up the brush and just paint. With miniatures so expensive now, I am reluctant to begin for fear of stuffing them up!
Loved the vid, and have been watching you since you started, as it was around that time i came back to the hobby from a long break. Its funny, but organically i have found out most of these tips for myself, alongside learning from others such as yourself. Your vids are always well put together, informative and not bloated with use this use that product placement.
Thank you Scott, and keep on being awesome!
So many things on this video seem like they were big revelations for me in the past 12 months. It was fun to review them and reflect on my journey before, during, and after painting the ranger through your class. Can’t wait to show everyone in the TUP community my next project and take it into my first competition!
Excellent video! I have recently put my contrast paints aside to focus more on base coating and layers and it has made a huge difference in my enjoyment and results. Very timely and appreciated video.
I came to that conclusion after buying a bunch of speed paints and then determining that they all gave a darker tone to the mini's i was painting and i needed more contrast. As a result i puchased opaque paints and now is painting with them. I do ocasionally use thinned speed paint as a filter but not very often. Loved the video.
I completely agree with getting away from washes. I feel like I used them as a crutch and I noticed a huge improvement in my painting once I stopped using them!
OK, I've been painting miniatures, figures, and doing models for more years than I care to count. Lol. I've published a book on figure painting, and won tons of awards. But I have to say, this is one of the best videos on general painting that I have seen. Common sense advice from a pro. Stuff I had forgotten, but now need to go back and remember. Freaking great video Miniac. Looking forward to the others.
Enjoyed watching this after listening to the last trapped under plastic episode. It was cool to watch it with that context.
The white ink reactivation makes a lot of sense for a recent problem I had. I was too lazy to get up and get my golden hi-flow so i used white acrylic ink instead. Reactivated and mingled with the oils I was using. Made a giant mess that took substantially longer to fix than getting out of my chair and getting the right product. This video explained so much of my mystery problem!
There's some gold here, that's for sure. I recently ditched washes and I've dramatically improved in a surprisingly short time. I still bust out the washes for dirty bases, but otherwise, they're stuck in the rack.
Dude! Thank you! Love this video and sharing it with all my friends who paint once they wake up.
Damn. I didn’t even know I had this problem (the island problem). Thought I was straight killing it! Thanks for the post and the tips!
I remember watching your move into this space. The set looks great! Time for another tour?
Dude, the GAS section is me. I "started" the hobby almost 2 months ago and I've only assembled and cleaned my mini's. Been collecting paint, paint shaker, brushes, air brush, compressor, every little knick knack I think I might need and haven't even primed 1 mini yet lol. I've got a weird fear of starting.
Also, looking forward to the next videos you mentioned ;)
Thanks Scott, one of the best videos i've watched for months. This might sound wierd, but it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck multiple times!!
Dude the scrambled egg thing is huge. Never knew what the problem was when the paint gets grainy. Thanks alot!
Loved this video, I enjoyed the thought process and the importance to just be uncomfortable and just do it. I suffer a lot with the worry of messing up my models but the more I have just gone fuck it the more I have surprised myself, I was painting something recently and I wasn't happy with the end result but I tried something and now I know what not to do. It's a hobby but for some of us it's easy to over think it and it stops us from enjoying it. Loved the video Scott, look forward to more!
Also what is happening with a UK supplier for your merch, the shipping costs to the UK are a bit of a pain
Now that was a kick-ass motivating perspective. Thanks for that Coach!😊
You have perfectly put into words what I've been fumbling to tell my friends who are new to the hobby! Perfect video. *chef's kiss*🤌
Not wishing to be creepy but solid video Scott. Glad you've recovered. And by far and away the best review of a sponsor's product EVER.
Two points that I'm acutely focus on is letting the paint dry and paying attention on how the paint is pooling. Thanks for the video.
Very cool video, I've been trying to give those ideas to friends and fellow painters but never could articulate the ideas as well as you did.
Next step to improve once you've done all this for me : start getting lessons, masterclass and honest feedback from better painters. Growth never ends, it's deeply satisfying.
Great video Scott, much prefer this style of video. You have mentioned painting your imperial assault minis for playing sessions in the podcast, would be nice to get your tips and tricks to get board game minis painted speedy but decent standard. Have a whole bunch of board game minis sitting there to be painted.
Inspiring! I enjoy your work. It does motivate my work with collages drawing and painting.
I enjoy people who work in different mediums than mine.
I think I am making great progress so far, I just started on NMM and had to ask reddit on how my Dantes axe looked and turns out I did a great job on it. I think people should post more and ask what can be done or if it looks like what you are trying to replicate. There have been many times where I was upset with my mini or part of it and turns out I nailed it but I have been sat looking at it far too long and just not seeing it anymore. I have been in the hobby almost 6months now and I try to push myself out of my comfort zone constantly. I mean I can always just strip the mini whenever it goes really bad. That said I do think people are naturally talented and some DO learn much faster than others.
"Removes critical artistic thinking in favor of speed and simplicity" is the best advice I have heard in a painting video yet. Kudos.
I wish I had known these tips when I returned to the hobby 6 years ago... Really solid advice!
I just got into WH AoS mini painting. This was really helpful. Thanks for the call out on these things. I was doing 3 of them 😂. Going to change them and get after it. Cheers!
Great advice. One of your best vids yet in my opinion
First of all, thanks for the Twitch raid the other day! Second; I love what you said about starting with the crappy skateboard before getting an Element deck. Ive been taught the same way by my parents and I'm glad it stuck with me up to now in the hobby. For example; I feel that is now time to get that fancy airbrush after using the Chinese crappy one for about 4 years now.
I love the scrambled egg metaphore. Eggselent stuff!
Drying paint + frying egg... very useful metaphor, helpful video. Thanks!
Great video Miniac, great usefull tips. The video itself is not stretch out and very to the point. Appreciate it!
I miss these videos where it's just you talking and giving us the tough love ❤
You said it so very well, it's not for those who want to paint an army. People should accept that there are different levels of paint. I started as an army painter, now i strive to improve my paint job itself. And by removing washes for example I've even started to find my own touch, my own taste in what I personally like. And this is a great thing, to paint for YOURSELF, not for army or tournament.
I've recently moved out of my comfort zone and moved away from washes. I'm using Pro acryl paints and working my way from darkest to lightest colour. It's very daunting but I love the results, and am slowly seeing improvements. I just need to stop comparing myself to experts like you and Vince.
@@Clidefride007 keep it up!!
@Miniac I will, it's a steep learning curve though. I'm so used to baseciat, wash and highlight. But very rewarding. I saw the speed paint competition you had with vince, and I have to say that I think vince was just slightly better.
That intro is perhaps the most relatable and funniest bit on the internet for mini painting.
Great stuff Scott. I have found myself not reaching for the washes recently and didnt realize it until this vid. I still wash my metals though
Two things I like to tell myself and newbies
1) Sucking at something is the first step to being kinda good at something (shout out to Jake the Dog)
2) you're too new to be bad
Lots of folks are terrified at doing something poorly. I'm more concerned with celebrating the effort and reflecting on the process.
I paint a lot of subassembly, but i do some prep work. I only use subassembly for stuff that would be boocked by other parts, and I mask off glue points with latex masking fluid. i dry fit everything first so i can see if its worth it, and it allows me to prep for gaps if needed. I also don't paint anything over a base shadow color if its more than 75% covered, just so theres no glimpses of primer only.
All in all its worth it sometimes, but not always. I find it's easier for me to get finished pieces this way though.
I appreciate this video since I’m a very new mini painter 😊😊😊
That was a good analogy with the eggs. I only found out about Miniac's backlog recently with the vincey con prep video! I think you should shout it out in your main channel 😊
Great video. I learned a couple things.
This video makes me want to paint minis SO BAD! Great job!
Very great coverage 👏
Man you just keep making some of the most entertaining videos. I always look forward to watching and learn a thing or two as well each time. I also love you're sense of humour and wish I could push myself to do the same on my channel. KUTGW!
I wish I had known about white ink reactivating before I started using it. It really caught me out in the past.
i use a super enhanced slapchop. i still end up with some of the "islanding" issued you mention but everything blends together a lot better. i use the damp dry brushing for the pre-shade followed by a colored zenithal and colored undershade from the air brush using inks. then i apply thinned contrast paints and then add more highlighting.
There's always a bit of excitement for me when I get to see you finally posted a video. I say "finally" work all the respect to you and no dig. You take more time to be thoughtful and not necessarily a schedule. It's stating true to the quality over quantity. I heard you mention in one of your podcasts that it can bum you out by not getting as many views or somehow associating likes and views to the value of the video. I hope you realize there's so many people, like myself, who watch these and may not interact with a like (because we forgot) or left a comment. It leaves you with no way to measure how we took it as viewers. The world of content creators I'm sure sucks in that you want input and feedback, but that's not always going to be something you get. If you looked at your work like the transfer of knowledge to others who seek it, you will find it hits exactly who needed it. Your videos have a lot of your own passion and personality in these videos and never feel contrived, forced by a product, pushed by a vendor, or have any influence except your own. It's appreciated a ton! I'm going to leave my like and a comment, but know I've watched all your videos and forgot to do it many times. It shouldn't be any reflection of the enjoyment or inspiration I get from your work. Keep it up, Scott! Your videos make me feel like I can relate to pros like yourself because the struggles are similar - I just don't have the expertise yet. But that's also a good reason to keep watching what you do to improve, and I hope to pass my knowledge to others.
Should hire yourself as a marketing expert - hashtag "saveyournips". :)
Solid ideas here. I actually find myself using contrast paints and equivalent as filters more than the "normal" use. From my vintage (2nd. edition) Blood Angels Red paint has horribly orange. Like, full on orange. So it needed the "Red Ink" from GW applied all over to actually look red. That's mostly what I'm using the contrast paints now - I like the white to give a blueish tinge, which bleeds in to the discussion on white. I only use pure white for the starkest highlights.
And yes, it's ok to be bad!!! I tell my kids we're not being paid to play chess/paint/board games - it's all good! To get better you have to basically always be bad - but being bad at increasingly harder skills. Guess it's time to actually get started with the Duchess...
This.
This is why I love speedpaint. Not as a basecoat, but a way to punch up other paints. Either like you mention as a filter, but it also works well to add a bit more punch to somewhat drab colors. When I find a paintjob getting too dark or bland, I will add a very thin filter of white or yellow then go over with a speedpaint/contrast paint that is brighter than what I was working with. You can really turn around something that way and give it some 'pop'.
That was very informative Scott! Great vid!!! Thank you!
Secret hidden final tip. PAINT MORE MINIS :)
I've generally stayed away from sub assemblies but find it helps for things like a kill rig. 6 dudes and a Big ol' Squig were much easier to paint separately, put together, then touch up. I tend to lean this way more when the models are larger and more awkward to hold.
that was perfectly helpful after a year of trials and error. Hope reborned
Thank you Miniac
Have you tried stripping tamiya?
Another option is to mix white ink with an acrylic clear satin/matt to stop the reactivation.
Contrast/speed paints have their place. Not going to layer 50 minis with capes when speed paint looks incredible in a single coat.
that is a solid idea!
Man I love your videos. Thanks for it all
I wish more people talked about volumetric painting and made more tutorials on the subject.
Its the number one thing to up skills everything else could be considered secondary.
"We live in a day and age where nearly every hobby paint range is usable" - Damn straight. Army painter's new line of paints is really damn good for the price. I still favor Pro Acryl and Vallejo but I've been happy using Army painter's paints a few times.
This video was pretty motivational.
Great video!! And that ending Growl 🤌
Great video Scott. So thankfull for your insights ❤
I did it! I put my painting on hold until I gathered all the things I "needed". I got everything and when I finally started to paint, I rarely used half of the equipment I have.
Excellent and super honest video. Thanks for sharing. ❤
14:18 - holy $h!t - I thnk this is the first time i've heard this advice put like that. i thnk i understand it so much better now! thank you