Joined
·
532 Posts
I always recommend practicing new paint schemes on the spare parts you get in plastic kits. Watching Youtube tutorials is always good too.
One of the big issues new painters often have is layering on paint too thickly, so I'd recommend making a wet palette. I was really surprised the first time I tried it out and found if I left a blob of paint overnight it would often still be wet the morning after, where on a regular palette it's starting to dry straight away and your time is limited. But the point is you can thin the paint with a touch of water and the thinner paint is better for retaining the detail on a miniature after painting several layers. I made my wet palette with a disposable plastic bowl, a few squares of kitchen roll and a square of baking paper laid over the wet kitchen roll.
Bracing your elbows/forearms on a solid surface is a great piece of advice too. I just sit back on my sofa to paint so with my hands on my lap my forearms are already supported and I don't have to worry about shaky hands and involuntary twitches. Realistically the only thing to worry about would be having a sudden fit and spasming uncontrollably, maybe frothing at the mouth, but in that scenario at least I'd be using thinned paints so any wild brush strokes wouldn't be the end of the world.
Overall the best advice I'd give is to know your own limits and don't attempt to hit a standard way beyond the level you've painted at previously. If you can't paint space marine eyes well, leave them black. Use simple techniques like drybrushing and washes to do the work for you and bear in mind that excellent painters have put a ridiculous amount of hours into honing their craft
One of the big issues new painters often have is layering on paint too thickly, so I'd recommend making a wet palette. I was really surprised the first time I tried it out and found if I left a blob of paint overnight it would often still be wet the morning after, where on a regular palette it's starting to dry straight away and your time is limited. But the point is you can thin the paint with a touch of water and the thinner paint is better for retaining the detail on a miniature after painting several layers. I made my wet palette with a disposable plastic bowl, a few squares of kitchen roll and a square of baking paper laid over the wet kitchen roll.
Bracing your elbows/forearms on a solid surface is a great piece of advice too. I just sit back on my sofa to paint so with my hands on my lap my forearms are already supported and I don't have to worry about shaky hands and involuntary twitches. Realistically the only thing to worry about would be having a sudden fit and spasming uncontrollably, maybe frothing at the mouth, but in that scenario at least I'd be using thinned paints so any wild brush strokes wouldn't be the end of the world.
Overall the best advice I'd give is to know your own limits and don't attempt to hit a standard way beyond the level you've painted at previously. If you can't paint space marine eyes well, leave them black. Use simple techniques like drybrushing and washes to do the work for you and bear in mind that excellent painters have put a ridiculous amount of hours into honing their craft