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Post by sonic on Sept 4, 2016 20:10:24 GMT
Hi all.
I've just started painting 15mm and 25/28mm figures again after many years and have noticed from researching pictures on the internet that styles seem to have changed. Is the use of heavy 'lining' and exaggerated highlighting common now, or is it just the fashion that is prevalent amongst 'professional' painters at the moment?
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Post by Cromwell on Sept 5, 2016 6:39:32 GMT
My painting i am afraid is very simplistic. I am happy if my figures look good, on mass, on the table.I just don't have the time for twiddley bits!
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Post by lkmjbc on Sept 5, 2016 15:18:31 GMT
Hi all. I've just started painting 15mm and 25/28mm figures again after many years and have noticed from researching pictures on the internet that styles seem to have changed. Is the use of heavy 'lining' and exaggerated highlighting common now, or is it just the fashion that is prevalent amongst 'professional' painters at the moment? Yes. That has been the trend for some years... more for 25mm and up... but increasingly for 15mm. I have however in the last few months have gone back to a white undercoat... stain painting. That was the norm years ago. I find it actually brings out the colors on 15mms. Joe Collins
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Post by lfcasey on Sept 5, 2016 15:50:01 GMT
I’ve always followed the old Scruby 3 foot rule – if you hold the miniature out at 3 feet and can see a detail paint it – if not don’t worry about it. As a result my miniatures are serviceably painted and look good in mass. One thing I have never gotten around to is adding all sorts of grass and rocks to bases. To me those distract from the miniatures. As far as I am concerned, keep it simple and enjoy the end product
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Post by sonic on Sept 5, 2016 17:37:24 GMT
I’ve always followed the old Scruby 3 foot rule – if you hold the miniature out at 3 feet and can see a detail paint it – if not don’t worry about it. I always followed that rule myself in the past, but I must admit that some highlighting adds to the figure, even if only adding a little white to the 'base' colour and flicking it over the raised bits. The new style can seem very 'caricaturish' from what I have seen so far and I don't think I like it. I'm grateful that it's not just me that prefers the 'old' style! The question is, what is it about the style that makes people like it? (This is an honest question: I could be open to conversion).
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Post by timurilank on Sept 6, 2016 13:05:39 GMT
For the past 25 years I have painted nothing else than 15mm miniatures. Having reached a near zero “lead pile” several years ago I do return to the older collections and improve their standard.
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Post by jdesmond on Sept 7, 2016 7:59:12 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk !
Don't know about ye professionals, but the style/method I've developed over the years is something like painting, in this order: 'awkward to get at parts' flesh shadows in black, possibly 'blacklines' 'paint inside the lines' finish details, highlighting...
(Pictures to appear Real Soon Now)
Second, I'm a perfectionist - I want to think "The paint job on this toy soldier is the Very Best That I Can Do". And if I'm that way, with a 10/0 paintbrush on a winter evening, I can be easygoing with the rest of my life.
Some of us paint small armies to be able to fight miniature battles, some of us - like me - fight miniature battles to have an excuse to paint small armies. And some of us (to retell old joke):
General is inspecting the Paratroop Division. Stops before one private, asks "Soldier, Do You Like To Jump Out Of Airplanes ?" "YES, SIR!" General asks this of a few more troopers, same response. Finally... "Soldier, Do You Like To Jump Out Of Airplanes ?" "No, Sir" "THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE PARATROOPS ?" "Sir, I like to hang out with people who like to jump out of airplanes."
Best wishes to everyone for the new school year, or the Fall (or Spring for the antipodeal folk) in general.
Yours, John
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si2
Munifex
Posts: 8
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Post by si2 on Sept 7, 2016 9:01:11 GMT
I have never seen a 'pro' painter use blacklining. Exaggerated highlights should be common, as natural highlights don't work on a small figure. The whole process of painting miniatures is to create the illusion of reality at a fraction of the size. Painting is personal, some slap it on regardless and are happy, others spend a long time perfecting their art and are never happy. I do what's necessary to get the stuff on the table. I chose particular brands of figures that are not too high quality so I don't get hung up on creating masterpieces.
Don't be distracted by what you perceive is the fashion or trend, just do what you feel.
Si2
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Post by mark leslie on Sept 8, 2016 6:15:15 GMT
The internet has had an incredible influence on my painting style over the years. Pre-internet I basically painted colours straight out of the pot with no attempt at any sort of shading or highlighting. I think this fellow, early nineties(?), is maybe the last example of my early painting still kicking around. Come the internet, come the ever gradual improvement(?), change of style and method, all influenced by he easily accessed work of the world wide community. Another example, from last year, I think. So black lining and layering has become the norm for me at the moment. I suspect the influence of Fanaticus and other internet eye candy has pushed me along this road over the years.
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Post by Roland on Jan 4, 2017 3:17:30 GMT
Wish I had an easy answer for you but, I have to say that everything hinges upon what you are trying to get from your models and your games. There is little doubt that miniatures painting and color theory for it has become much more sophisticated and varied since when I started in the late '70s but it still comes down to what you want. Many folks are very satisfied getting enough colors on their troopers to clearly discern what they are ( and compared to so many gamers of today that are willing to table unpainted miniatures, I applaud that. My only rule is in a public game: please paint your minis). For myself, I come from an arts background. I can't help myself. I want to paint eye candy to the extent that I can. So, there's that. Cheers, Fred
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Post by timurilank on Jan 4, 2017 7:05:41 GMT
The internet has had an incredible influence on my painting style over the years. Pre-internet I basically painted colours straight out of the pot with no attempt at any sort of shading or highlighting. So black lining and layering has become the norm for me at the moment. I suspect the influence of Fanaticus and other internet eye candy has pushed me along this road over the years.
Mark,
I have just noticed your post. Very nice.
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Post by Haardrada on Jan 5, 2017 22:11:59 GMT
I used to block paint then black line,but moved on to layering and dry brushing.
One thing that I've always stuck by is to add a tinny bit of black paint into the varnish when finnishing my figures.I know it dulls colour, but is essentially what I'm looking for.I don't see an army that has been campaigning for days,weeks or months turning up to fight in Parade dress and so dull colours to suit.It may not be to everyones taste, but it also hides a multitude off sins.😊
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Post by timurilank on Jan 5, 2017 23:01:04 GMT
I used to block paint then black line,but moved on to layering and dry brushing. One thing that I've always stuck by is to add a tinny bit of black paint into the varnish when finnishing my figures.I know it dulls colour, but is essentially what I'm looking for.I don't see an army that has been campaigning for days,weeks or months turning up to fight in Parade dress and so dull colours to suit.It may not be to everyones taste, but it also hides a multitude off sins.😊 Adding black paint to varnish is something I have never tried, but I do like to tone down colour by adding a bit of brown to red, yellow or orange. This way I reach a faded look to tunics or shields.
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Post by Haardrada on Jan 5, 2017 23:19:00 GMT
I started doing it years ago with Old Glory Napoleonic figures in campaign uniforms as it added that little "dull" effect to the uniforms and equipment.
When I painted my 15mm Xyston Spartans the figure detail plus the layering paint style plus, drybrushing and the black in the varnish came out really well.
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Post by gregorius on Jan 6, 2017 0:34:18 GMT
I find that black by itself is too harsh. I mix burnt umber with the black in the proportion of 1 black to 4 burnt umber.
Cheers,
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