the best source for miniature painting lessons?

[Zerstiren]

I want to paint Warhammer 40k miniatures. I'm not interested in playing, just collecting miniatures.

Who's instructional videos should I follow? I've watched some videos from Lester Bursley, from "awesomepaintjob," and I favor his instructions, because he prefers a simple mini paintbrush over complicated equipment. But I have seen videos involving airbrushes, which appears to be a very convenient time saver.


Your thoughts?

 

[Zerstiren]

I do want to just start out with the paintbrush. I'll only buy expensive equipment when I feel this is a fun hobby for me.

Now I'm stuck on how to choose the right color scheme for my space marines. I want to make Imperial Fists, but I don't want them to be a "sickening yellow" color: I want a rich, golden color.

I just bought "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures," the 2011 release spiral-bound book with DVD. From what I understand, all the paints leading up to the last layer, compliments that color. So if I want a golden-yellow space marine, I start with a brown base, and work up to golden-yellow, followed by dry brushing and glazing. Is this accurate?

 

[Midnight Llamaman]

Les has some goddamn awesome videos, but he favours airbrushes and Vallejo paints. (Vallejo paints are awesome, though the new Citadel range is also really awesome from what I've seen - especially the Technical paints).

The new book as suggested by Zerstiren is a brilliant guide, but it very much is about the new paint range GW themselves offer so if you have a problem using their paints it's maybe not that useful.

The biggest lesson is experience, grab yourself some cheaper mini's and paint the hell out of them. Don't rush, take your time - experiment. Maybe try eBay for some metal mini's (as most of 40k is Finecast now), they're incredibly easy to strip down unless you varnish by using something like a stiff toothbrush and some nail polish remover if you just want to practice on a few models.

 

[Nami nom noms]

I do want to just start out with the paintbrush. I'll only buy expensive equipment when I feel this is a fun hobby for me.

Now I'm stuck on how to choose the right color scheme for my space marines. I want to make Imperial Fists, but I don't want them to be a "sickening yellow" color: I want a rich, golden color.

I just bought "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures," the 2011 release spiral-bound book with DVD. From what I understand, all the paints leading up to the last layer, compliments that color. So if I want a golden-yellow space marine, I start with a brown base, and work up to golden-yellow, followed by dry brushing and glazing. Is this accurate?

generally you start with a 'flat' which is usually the middle shade of whatever colour you want it to be, for Imperial fist this would be an slightly darker yellow.
Then use a wash to shade easily, and once its dry paint the flat colour over the highlighted areas again. after you've done this you'll have a nicely shaded mini, at which point you can just start building up thin layers of lighter colours were the highlights should be.

As for places to find tutorials... well, try any you can find. In the end you'll find what works best for you.

 

[SckizoBoy]

I do want to just start out with the paintbrush. I'll only buy expensive equipment when I feel this is a fun hobby for me.

Now I'm stuck on how to choose the right color scheme for my space marines. I want to make Imperial Fists, but I don't want them to be a "sickening yellow" color: I want a rich, golden color.

I just bought "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures," the 2011 release spiral-bound book with DVD. From what I understand, all the paints leading up to the last layer, compliments that color. So if I want a golden-yellow space marine, I start with a brown base, and work up to golden-yellow, followed by dry brushing and glazing. Is this accurate?

Had to quote because... do not ever, ever, ever, ever glaze. The effect is hideous to say the least.

For Imperial Fists, it really depends on what 'effect' you want to give it.

Based on what you've got there, I'd go for a white base coat, brown foundation, brown/yellow undercoat, gold wash, gold to yellow layering and topcoat, with white/gold/yellow highlights. (Though I may have mixed up the wash/undercoat terminology there...)

I generally have black basecoats and build successive layers of colour (usually purple, 'cos I have a strange fixation with that colour in WH40K), wash with black ink then topcoat in a purple mix with a touch of black, finishing with purple/white mix highlights.

Anyway, I have absolutely nothing to add to what [user]Katatori-kun[/user] has mentioned.

 

[Zerstiren]

generally you start with a 'flat' which is usually the middle shade of whatever colour you want it to be, for Imperial fist this would be an slightly darker yellow.
Then use a wash to shade easily, and once its dry paint the flat colour over the highlighted areas again. after you've done this you'll have a nicely shaded mini, at which point you can just start building up thin layers of lighter colours were the highlights should be.

As for places to find tutorials... well, try any you can find. In the end you'll find what works best for you.

This is exactly what I'm looking for: a standard method for choosing the best color scheme. And it's as I thought, so this'll be much easier. Thanks!

 

[Zerstiren]

Had to quote because... do not ever, ever, ever, ever glaze. The effect is hideous to say the least.

For Imperial Fists, it really depends on what 'effect' you want to give it.

Based on what you've got there, I'd go for a white base coat, brown foundation, brown/yellow undercoat, gold wash, gold to yellow layering and topcoat, with white/gold/yellow highlights. (Though I may have mixed up the wash/undercoat terminology there...)

There are pictures of a "blood-letter" getting a glaze. It describes a major difference . . . when I didn't see anything. So no glaze on my marines. Good notes!

 

[SckizoBoy]

There are pictures of a "blood-letter" getting a glaze. It describes a major difference . . . when I didn't see anything. So no glaze on my marines. Good notes!

I personally dislike glazing, because the effect becomes too shiny and fake/plastic.

However, prodigious use on Bloodletters would work, bringing out an otherworldly sickliness to them that sort of suits them... just don't do it to the face! As for Marines, though, glazing (IMO) never suits them, because they're supposed to have either the down and dirty battered look (hence the metal highlights to show chipped paintwork and battle damage) or the practical disciplined look of clean burnished armour. If it's shiny, it doesn't come off that well on miniatures, so you can only get that effect by layered and contrasted washes (AFAIK the model for the Dark Angels Terminator captain in the codex has about thirty-odd layers of paint to achieve that sort of shimmering faint green/bleached bone sheen to it).

 

[slowpoke219]

Do a search for mintures painting on youtube, you´ll be amazed how many you can find and seeing the technique really does help more so than the books even, at least in my opinion. It´s how I learned, and don´t be afraid of making mistakes becuase you will make them. Just experiment and have fun, it's actually very relaxing and enjoying.