New painter needs help :)

[Radeem]

Greetings,
I just recently started collecting (and painting of course) WHFB. Now, what I want to do is paint my models above tabletop quality, but I need help. I started with the orczez and goblinzez army and I have a few questions.
What\'s a \"wash\" and how do I make it?
Is there any way to make inks(citadel ones) less glossy?
And can anybody point me to a site or tell me step by step how to make \"light\" transitions between shades of the same color(like the ones or close to ones you see in army books)? My stuff turns out....well....blocky, here\'s a link to a mini I painted:
[urlhttp://www.coolminiornot.com/index.php?id=34203&c=All&m=All&nm=none[/url]

So please, comments, tips, anything will be welcome, I really want to know how to make my painting right.

 

[Tiderius]

Hello
I just recently got back into painting also.

I don\'t think your painting is \'blocky\' but it may be a bit flat. By that I mean, lack of highlights and shades. The skin looks excellent, but the cloak, the shoes and hat if given a shade or two of highlight would make the mini stand out more.
Currently I would say that is just a smidge above table top quality. I like the gold, and as before, the skin is great.

Here are some website I found very helpful. (credit goes to everyone who helped me find these)

Some helpful hints (good for brush info)
http://www.wegotgame.net/jen/tips_index.html

Some good painting tips:
http://www.ellsweb.com/

Photographing Tips, etc...
http://www.tinctureadept.com/paintingtips.htm

Articles on CMON site (large)
http://www.coolminiornot.com/go.php?go=articlephp&expand=all&orderby=recent&levels=99

I hope you will find these helpful! :flip:

 

[frenchkid]

Here is the website that help me out the most:
painting clinic
And I agree with the highlight more comment, plus think about using matt varnish. To make ink less glossy I think there sonthing that is made by vallejo that makes paint less glossy. not sure thougth