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.
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!
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 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.
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.
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.
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 😂
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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 got one convoluted tip: Find what's fun for you. Try something new when it isn't fun anymore. And remember: This isn't about "achieving" anything other than enjoying yourself while you do it. Be that painting with contrast paints, washes, no washes, oils or enamels.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
I've acknowledged that I'm never going to be an award winning painter. That's not my goal. My goal is to make my models look good "at arms length" so they look good on the tabletop when using them. I've found that a combination of a zenithal plus contrast or otherwise thinned and transparent paints or washes helps me get a good looking model finished quicker. I can and have done better manually, but it takes a lot more time. I am content with the effects that things like washes and contrast paints can get for the time invested in painting the models. I don't see these as being tools that are slowing my growth, but more that these are tools that I can use to get a model painted to a quality I am happy with in less time. I find there is some skill involved in selecting the appropriate wash, contrast, or otherwise thinned paint for each part of a mini, and what highlighting or shading effects you choose to compliment that without putting too much paint on the mini and detracting from the zenithal effect. I'll admit that these are very newbie friendly techniques, but there is definitely still some skill involved in getting the most out of them.
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'.
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
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
The skit in the first part of this video. Dotting the eyes, and wanting to die. It's a universal miniature painting experience, it needs to be a youtube short lol.
In my view, a great painter doesn't discriminate a paint type, i.e. acrylics, washes, contrasts etc. but uses what suits their goals. For instance, guilliman flesh is an amazing paint to establish some initial lights and shadows on human flesh. Then comes layering and glazing to push your contrast and why not a bit of airbrush blending if there is enough real estate and you've got a precise airbrush. It's a playground and we are kids enjoying the best hobby ever!!
Not wanting to "ruin" your expensive models is the hard part to get over. I specifically bought some GW models because I can just soak them in rubbing alcohol to remove paint to try again, granted most of the models I ended up buying and treating like precious relics like my Stormcast Eternals Protectors that took me six months to find a set that wasn't preassembled and painted. It's really hard to get over not wanting to ruin models when they're so expensive and you can't just replace them whenever. GW models also have a huge issue at times where parts of them are just near impossible to paint without sub-assemblies. Any of the space marines with their rifles/flamers right up against their chest, anything holding a shield, anything with a skirt, cloak, or other dangling fabrics is just a huge pain. I always end up painting the legs and the insides of those dangling fabrics and such before attaching to the base. As for everything else, I just haven't attempted painting them. The Stormcast Eternals Vindicators for instance, I love the shield design, but it's so large that I have to do sub-assembly and I just don't know how to do it, so I haven't.
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.
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.
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.
3D printing has freed me from the i'm not good enough fear, cause if i screw up a paint job i can always print another. 3D printing isnt for everyone, so become friends with some who is into it.
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'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For me, speed paints are amazing as a base coat. I go darker than I need, then highlight from there. The benefits are 1) ease of coverage compared to normal paints. You get the job done much quicker 2) it leaves a good definition of detail I would then add shadows and highlights as needed, but while that initial layer may not be perfect - it's still already 80-90% correct-ish and requires less to get it to good looks. I, for one, have a terrible artistic eye, and for the life of me I can't see where the shadows and highlights are supposed to go on a miniature. Taking a photo, looking at hard light, "just put it on all top surfaces" - doesn't work for me. But speed paint is close enough where I can fix small things from there. 😮 It is easy and natural for you as you're painting minis for years if not decades, and now as a job. But a lot of people just can't get it. For example I watched two dozen NMM tutorials and I still can't understand how you guys decide where dark and light colors go. It just looks RANDOM, with no sense of reason to it. And yet you're clearly following some logic that no matter how many people explain to me I can't see. 😮
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that washes, contrast paint, etc. are evil or bad! You shouldn't feel guilty for using them. If you're loving painting and happy with your results, keep it up!
@@Miniac Upon reading my comment back it sounds a bit aggressive/accusatory. As if I'm saying "What do you know, pesky TH-camr, about how us mortals feel?!" In case you read it this way, I assure you it wasn't my intention. I was just trying to say that speedpaints and shades absolutely have their uses even in higher-than-tabletop levels of painting.
With whites, some of it can legitimately just be the brand. Citadel paints with high amounts of white pigment are just notoriously rough to work with. They had to discontinue the old Ceramite White paint because it was basically defective, which says a lot. I had no problems after switching to AK Intense White. As for sub-assemblies, I agree for tabletop painting a lot of the time, but you try painting the new Malstrain Genestealers with all four arms attached without wanting to jump off a bridge, haha. If you want anything more precise than a basecoat + wash or Contrast paint will give you, those arms will block details that are 100% going to be visible at the end. I left two off each Genestealer to preserve my own sanity.
One reason to buy expensive equipment as a beginner is to know that tools aren’t holding you back, so you need to improve your skills. I agree it shouldn’t delay your painting though
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!
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 😊
![อิสราเอลโดนอิหร่านถล่มหนักกว่าที่คุย : [คุยผ่าโลก worldtalk]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/R8gIN-MQhWw/mqdefault.jpg)
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.
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!
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
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!
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.
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.
One of the all time miniac videos. Nuggets to time ratio extremely high. 11 tendies out of 10 ❤
Dude, your lead up and delivery to "Kill me." was immaculate lmao
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 video is so well timed. I’m 2 months in and needed to hear much of this advice. Thank you!
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.
thanks S for really hitting so many basics of growth mindset and being patient and being an endless beginner Namaste!
Now that was a kick-ass motivating perspective. Thanks for that Coach!😊
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 😂
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.
That intro is perhaps the most relatable and funniest bit on the internet for mini painting.
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.
"Removes critical artistic thinking in favor of speed and simplicity" is the best advice I have heard in a painting video yet. Kudos.
Loving these videos man.
Good stuff! Been painting for 4 years now and i learned stuff in this video!🙌🏽👍🏽
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
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!
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.
Dude! Thank you! Love this video and sharing it with all my friends who paint once they wake up.
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!
Very great coverage 👏
Great advice. One of your best vids yet in my opinion
Great video Miniac, great usefull tips. The video itself is not stretch out and very to the point. Appreciate it!
Man I love your videos. Thanks for it all
I got one convoluted tip: Find what's fun for you. Try something new when it isn't fun anymore. And remember: This isn't about "achieving" anything other than enjoying yourself while you do it. Be that painting with contrast paints, washes, no washes, oils or enamels.
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 😱
Videos with GW products in the thumbnail just perform better. GADAMMAT you got me
This video was pretty motivational.
I appreciate this video since I’m a very new mini painter 😊😊😊
Drying paint + frying egg... very useful metaphor, helpful video. Thanks!
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!
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.
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!
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*🤌
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!
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
Loved the video great job!
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.
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 ;)
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.
That was very informative Scott! Great vid!!! Thank you!
12:17 your mom does! 🎉
Great video btw 😂
Burn
I've acknowledged that I'm never going to be an award winning painter. That's not my goal. My goal is to make my models look good "at arms length" so they look good on the tabletop when using them. I've found that a combination of a zenithal plus contrast or otherwise thinned and transparent paints or washes helps me get a good looking model finished quicker. I can and have done better manually, but it takes a lot more time. I am content with the effects that things like washes and contrast paints can get for the time invested in painting the models. I don't see these as being tools that are slowing my growth, but more that these are tools that I can use to get a model painted to a quality I am happy with in less time. I find there is some skill involved in selecting the appropriate wash, contrast, or otherwise thinned paint for each part of a mini, and what highlighting or shading effects you choose to compliment that without putting too much paint on the mini and detracting from the zenithal effect. I'll admit that these are very newbie friendly techniques, but there is definitely still some skill involved in getting the most out of them.
Fantastic egg analogy
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'.
So excited for this video!
I wish I had known these tips when I returned to the hobby 6 years ago... Really solid advice!
Great video! I learned new stuff!
8:25 The way may jaw dropped when I saw the Vulf shirt in the b-roll
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.
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
Great video. I learned a couple things.
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.
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.
Good video Scott. Thanks
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!
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
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.
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.
The skit in the first part of this video. Dotting the eyes, and wanting to die. It's a universal miniature painting experience, it needs to be a youtube short lol.
In my view, a great painter doesn't discriminate a paint type, i.e. acrylics, washes, contrasts etc. but uses what suits their goals. For instance, guilliman flesh is an amazing paint to establish some initial lights and shadows on human flesh. Then comes layering and glazing to push your contrast and why not a bit of airbrush blending if there is enough real estate and you've got a precise airbrush. It's a playground and we are kids enjoying the best hobby ever!!
Great video.
Loved this content.
Thanks.
Having left nuln oil about a year ago, I can confirm I transformed as a painter since then.
Not wanting to "ruin" your expensive models is the hard part to get over. I specifically bought some GW models because I can just soak them in rubbing alcohol to remove paint to try again, granted most of the models I ended up buying and treating like precious relics like my Stormcast Eternals Protectors that took me six months to find a set that wasn't preassembled and painted. It's really hard to get over not wanting to ruin models when they're so expensive and you can't just replace them whenever.
GW models also have a huge issue at times where parts of them are just near impossible to paint without sub-assemblies. Any of the space marines with their rifles/flamers right up against their chest, anything holding a shield, anything with a skirt, cloak, or other dangling fabrics is just a huge pain. I always end up painting the legs and the insides of those dangling fabrics and such before attaching to the base. As for everything else, I just haven't attempted painting them. The Stormcast Eternals Vindicators for instance, I love the shield design, but it's so large that I have to do sub-assembly and I just don't know how to do it, so I haven't.
@2nd paragraph: th-cam.com/video/kKNm0dU71uY/w-d-xo.html
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.
I did not expect to see void spirit from Dota 2 when I watched this. I need it!
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
ahahaha that eye at the beginning. I almost knew you were gonna say that lol
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.
Love it! ❤ great tips all around!
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.
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.
3D printing has freed me from the i'm not good enough fear, cause if i screw up a paint job i can always print another. 3D printing isnt for everyone, so become friends with some who is into it.
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!
For those of us with a lot of white ink left: do your zenithal, then hit it with a varnish real quick. No more reactivation issues.
"no more nuln oil"
Yes Officer, this video right here.
Great video Scott. So thankfull for your insights ❤
Excellent and super honest video. Thanks for sharing. ❤
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.
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.
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.
"Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.” -Jake
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.
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!
For me, speed paints are amazing as a base coat. I go darker than I need, then highlight from there.
The benefits are
1) ease of coverage compared to normal paints. You get the job done much quicker
2) it leaves a good definition of detail
I would then add shadows and highlights as needed, but while that initial layer may not be perfect - it's still already 80-90% correct-ish and requires less to get it to good looks.
I, for one, have a terrible artistic eye, and for the life of me I can't see where the shadows and highlights are supposed to go on a miniature. Taking a photo, looking at hard light, "just put it on all top surfaces" - doesn't work for me. But speed paint is close enough where I can fix small things from there. 😮
It is easy and natural for you as you're painting minis for years if not decades, and now as a job. But a lot of people just can't get it.
For example I watched two dozen NMM tutorials and I still can't understand how you guys decide where dark and light colors go. It just looks RANDOM, with no sense of reason to it. And yet you're clearly following some logic that no matter how many people explain to me I can't see. 😮
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that washes, contrast paint, etc. are evil or bad! You shouldn't feel guilty for using them. If you're loving painting and happy with your results, keep it up!
@@Miniac Upon reading my comment back it sounds a bit aggressive/accusatory. As if I'm saying "What do you know, pesky TH-camr, about how us mortals feel?!"
In case you read it this way, I assure you it wasn't my intention. I was just trying to say that speedpaints and shades absolutely have their uses even in higher-than-tabletop levels of painting.
With whites, some of it can legitimately just be the brand. Citadel paints with high amounts of white pigment are just notoriously rough to work with. They had to discontinue the old Ceramite White paint because it was basically defective, which says a lot. I had no problems after switching to AK Intense White.
As for sub-assemblies, I agree for tabletop painting a lot of the time, but you try painting the new Malstrain Genestealers with all four arms attached without wanting to jump off a bridge, haha. If you want anything more precise than a basecoat + wash or Contrast paint will give you, those arms will block details that are 100% going to be visible at the end. I left two off each Genestealer to preserve my own sanity.
That’s why this guy wasn’t in Deadpool3! He’s teaching us painting.
One reason to buy expensive equipment as a beginner is to know that tools aren’t holding you back, so you need to improve your skills. I agree it shouldn’t delay your painting though
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 vid.
Miniac Great Guy
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 advice from a guy constantly eating paint.