My first completed Space Marine

[Mourner]

on basecoating/blocking:
I've always understood basecoating as spraypainting a clean mini. the basecoat's only purpose being to provide a good base for the other colors to adhere to (your can of white spray paint)

Blocking in, in my book, is giving a basecoated area the mid-tone you want it to be, nothing more.
basicly you're preparing for the real work, shades and highlights
you might do this for all the areas on the mini, or just for the next area you'll be working on.

onto the chest eagle:
cant really tell if that's grey or metal but:
grey:
paint it grey
wash it with black
paint it grey (leave the recesses dark)
highlight with white (or grey mixed with white)

Metallic:
paint it metallic
wash it with black
paint it metallic (leave the recesses dark)
highlight with a lighter metallic

so... that's basicly the same as everything else, just on a smaller area.
what i'm trying to say: you say your not stupid, i believe you (for one, you ask us to pretend you are)
shading and highlighting are two of the most important and basic techniques, for the time being, practice these on any area on any mini you paint, once you got that down, take the next technque and mix that in

as for a picture:
http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA...52483_99120101032_SMCommandermain_445x319.jpg
EM quality, the light blue lines at the edges of the armor are the edge highlights

 

[Yuggoth]

Isn't it basecoated with a base color, then the shades are, in theory, drybrushed on to it?

doing that would mean that the raised areas would be dark, and the recesses light.
No, Mourners Method is the way to go.
Maybe highlighting by "layering" (i.e painting he highlights with diluted paint on all raised parts, but not so diluted (well too make it even more complicated, it is more a question of not having to much paint on your brush than of the dilution itself) that it flows into the recesses) on such a small scale is to difficult at the moment. Then you could do your highlights with the drybrushing method. Drybrushing does have its place in minature painting, it just isn`t the all-purpose thing that those GW guys claimed it to be.

 

[Torn blue sky]

I'd agree with Yuggoths and Mourners assessment of blocking. Don't worry about "coming across as an ass", these things are terms we punt about all the time because we're used to it. It's understandable that you're just learning these things Just keep asking questions about the things you haven't quite grasped or don't understand. Only way to learn!

 

[-Ice]

Aulbath, thanks for the link. I've watched the first one countless times now, but the end result isn't what I want. I'm downloading the second one now (got a folder with downloaded videos for easier access). Thanks! If you got any more, keep 'em comin'!

Yuggoth, my excuse is that if I learn how to paint cleanly and properly, it easier to "dirty it up" for a weathered/gritty/battle-torn effect. So my focus is now on the basics. I want to CHOOSE to paint clean or paint gritty or paint realistic rather than for it to be an end result of sloppiness.

Isn't it basecoated with a base color, then the shades are, in theory, drybrushed on to it?

Sorry, I meant "highlights" instead of shades. Told 'ya I was tired!

Mourner, I think what you call "basecoating" is actually undercoating. I use the term "priming" to better distinguish it from basecoating. Am I right, folks, or is it I who has it the other way around?

paint it grey
wash it with black
paint it grey (leave the recesses dark)
highlight with white (or grey mixed with white)

That sounds simple, but then again, I'm new to this. Let me just point you to Tommie's tutorial post (#30) that I found most helpful -- here. What I found useful was that he basically took it step-by-step --- 1) what colors to mix and ratio, 2) expected number of coats, 3) expected result of each coat, 4) recommendation about adding water and directions on how to tell if it's "just right", and 5) tips on troubleshooting too much/too little/just right.

what i'm trying to say: you say your not stupid, i believe you (for one, you ask us to pretend you are)

I know I'm not stupid, I am successful in a line of work where we cannot afford stupid (although there still are some!), but in this area, I am. Or perhaps stupid isn't the proper word. Idiot? Ignorant? Newbie? Padawan? Grasshopper? Apprentice? In any case, let me refer again to Tommie's post. What he is telling me is basically "basecoat your mini" but for a new painter like myself, he took the time to elaborate each step, actually teaching me a technique. While I've "basecoated" countless times before, this was a new method and the results were better than how I used to do it. Now onto your instructions. "Paint, wash, highlight," sounds easy enough. But how do you paint/wash/highlight? How do you know if you've got it right? How do you know if it just needs a little more of this or if you did too much of that? What are the actual steps you do while you are in the "paint" process? What are the actual steps for the "wash" process?

See what I mean? Okay, I'm not stupid, but I do need a lot more simpler instructions than most people. Big words like "paint" and "wash" and "highlight" are... scary.


I'm glad to realize that "blocking" means working with one color at a time --- working on "red blocking" means painting all the red areas (armor, helmet), "black blocking" means painting all the black areas (armor creases, gun, jetpack), "wash blocking" means giving the mini a wash... did I get it right then?

And Torn, thanks for the support, I'm glad to know that people are open to my probing and sometimes idiot-level questions. The learning process actually makes the actual mini painting more fun and exciting... in the nerdy-sort of way

 

[Torn blue sky]

Blocking isn't necessarily working on one colour at a time, some people work on a bunch of stuff at once. Personally I find it more economical and efficient to do it like you've said. Blocking is basically putting the base colours where you want them.
No worries for the support, most people would argue i'm constantly at idiot level =P

 

[Aulbath]

Aulbath, thanks for the link. I've watched the first one countless times now, but the end result isn't what I want.

Beginning to get confused here. Judging from the mini you posted that first vid Blood Angel shows everything I would have shown you too. Before you can get to the part of "what you want" you should have the basics down, that video is the basics.

I'm downloading the second one now (got a folder with downloaded videos for easier access). Thanks! If you got any more, keep 'em comin'!

Check the rest of that guys videos, not gonna post links to all of his stuff when YouTube provides easy access to all of his uploads. Watch the ones that aren't about the Blood Angels too, learn the concepts and understand what LB is doing while there is variation to how people go on about - he does all the basics and shows them in great detail.

"Paint, wash, highlight," sounds easy enough.

It is.

How do you know if you've got it right? How do you know if it just needs a little more of this or if you did too much of that? What are the actual steps you do while you are in the "paint" process? What are the actual steps for the "wash" process?

Honestly mate, grab a brush and slap paint on stuff. Then grab another brush and slap wash on stuff. SEE AND FEEL the paint & wash for yourself... it's great to know theory and all, have steps and what not... but it's just theory. You learn painting (or any other craft) by actually doing it, rather than reading about it. You have to ruin a couple of miniatures to get the hang of things, most of us did - also painting is no exact science, it's all about yourself having a go at it and seeing what works for you. Painting is vague and it's about you, your personal taste and your experience. Nobody wins a Golden Demon by theoretically painting a winning miniature

See what I mean? Okay, I'm not stupid, but I do need a lot more simpler instructions than most people. Big words like "paint" and "wash" and "highlight" are... scary.

You have seen them on video by now. All of them. Just emulate that. Do like the guy in the vid does. Most importantly DO it. Don't be afraid of the consequences, if it goes wrong... you know what to do better or different the next time. You know what they say; "if the road is easy the destination is worthless".

On a sidenote, a Cryx army was at my doorstep today - so no primer testing this weekend, thus no Space Marine tutorial. Though everything I would have shown you was in those videos I posted, so basically you have it all at hand and just need to apply it - seeing that it isn't what you want I am a bit at a loss... cause that's what you need to do if you want to score better than 5 or get anywhere close to your goal.

Anyway, here is the official "paint 'em like they are in the books"-guide from GW itself - apply those steps to your stuff and you got what you want: http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/c...dex=1&aId=8000028a&multiPageMode=true&start=2

 

[Mourner]

first of, i didn't want to offend you with anything i said.

but my point is, you can read as much as you want, and get as confused with all the different terms you hear, but the best way to learn is to do it.
do it and ask people what you did wrong

the instruction i gave you above (and in your other thread) are what i know as the absolute basis of anything i want painted at a decent TTQ, if i want to paint a 7, i'll just refine these techniques, more layers, more shades of color, and through that, smoother transitions.
painting an 8, i refine it even further, even more layers, even smoother transitions, extra techniques, a bit of conversion, but basicly it's the basis, but with a lot more time and effort put in.

Each extra technique i use, uses that basis, just to a different effect.

so if you want to improve, do keep reading, but more importantly, pick up a brush and try. feel what works for you. make sure you have that basis working for you, that's different for every painter.
i've read most of the tuts on this side, i can achieve a nice blend, but not with any of those tuts.
I've read them, taken that knowledge and deviced my own way. maybe that's just a stepping stone, but right now, at my current skill level, it works.
but the fact that it works means that i should try the next step, always keep pushing yourself

 

[-Ice]

Haha, thanks for it anyway Torn. I know I can be very... annoying.

Aulbath, I know the video shows techniques, but even the same technique using different paints together produce different results. I do appreciate the techniques shown in the video and they are useful, but I guess was also hoping the end result to be what I wanted to achieve so that I can "save time" by copying both the techniques and the paints used and end up with exactly the results I wanted. Kinda like hitting 2 birds with one stone. I'm downloading the rest of his videos though and find it really useful, even if just to be aware of new techniques and seeing the results. The fact that he's got HD videos is awesome as well. Although I said I've seen his youtube before, thanks for pointing me to it again else I wouldn't have realized what resource I was missing.

While I do recognize the logic in "go out and do it," fact of the matter is I've simply run out of Space Marines to test on. I can get more, sure, but that's gonna be on the next payday. I asked my local GW guy to re-prime my "sacrificed" SMs but he botched it up real good, with some minis having bald spots, others had too much primer, and most having both problems. I guess I could paint on those, but handling those minis just irritates me no end, so for the sake of the hobby, I'd rather not.

Another reason is that I want to learn more so that I actually understand the "theory" behind what I'm doing before I do it. It actually helps me understand and appreciate the process better. I know we all learn from our mistakes, but if I can learn from other's mistakes as well, I'd hopefully end up doing less of my own and in the end turn out to enjoy the hobby better.

Mourner, don't worry about it, I wasn't offended in any way. I was just replying to make sure we're on the same page regarding my "awesome newbie-ness". I do appreciate all your feedback so do keep 'em comin'!

And trust me, I'm dying to get some more proper painting sessions... I finished work early today and walked around high street looking at possible "painting stations" and I've got my hobby money all portioned out for this month's paycheck. :brushlick:

 

[Aulbath]

While I do recognize the logic in "go out and do it," fact of the matter is I've simply run out of Space Marines to test on.

Easy solution for this, go to Ebay and grab one or two old metal Space Marines (should be a couple of dollars, much cheaper than a new blister) for a low low price - try on them everything, each time you are done put them in a good, long bath of Acetone. Acetone should dissolve the colors you used and you should have your mini back to being metal. Rinse and repeat as needed. Unfortunately, this doesn't work on plastics - so don't try dumping your plastic Marines in Acetone as they will literally melt to death (so you can't save those minis you have had yourself ruined by the Shopguy).

Again, you have seen the techniques that everyone uses - even the masterpainters probably started like this at some point. Finding out the colors that suit you, and all the ratios of color to water and whatnot, is almost entirely up to you as it is a matter of taste, light, brushes, skill, feeling and experience that nobody can give you except yourself. Only thing people can do is point you in a general direction - you gotta bring it home though.

 

[-Ice]

Excellent advice the Aulbath. I didn't know metal SM existed, thanks!

 

[MrPickles]

what do you mean u dont want to tackel shading. just hit that sucker with devlan mud then ball red. it will still look better and it's easy.

 

[Ordo Septenarius]

From the grave!

 

[Einion]

For negative points!

 

[SomeDesign]

looks very well for your first mini i also started with painting and my first mini looks much worse than yours
i would give you 10 from 10 points for your first mini ^^