trying too hard

[scottjames]

So I recently got back into my painting after several years away, and through effort and thinner layers have managed some of the best minis I\'ve ever done (getting around 6-7 on the vote, which is great for me).

So then I get into reading up on new techniques on CMON, and I get a DVD, and read a book and site or two - and I get a wet palette and a nice new brush - and stick my neck out with trying all these new things..

..and it\'s so painful I feel like I am learning to paint all over again. My wet palette is either too wet, or it dries up on me, my brush is hooked at the end already so why did I spend double what I normally do on it, and I\'m sure I could have painted this Eldar\'s cloak better my old way than with this super new wet blending thing that I dont even understand because I\'ve never seen anybody actually *doing* it before.!!

Just venting!

Want to throw this Eldar in the bin!!

=(

 

[airhead]

what brush did you get that has hooked? Not a good sable?

Changing too many things at once can sometimes be bad. No wonder you feel like you are starting over from scratch.

 

[Roger Bunting]

Are you going to the Platoon Britannica thing at Warhammer World on sunday? Someone might be able to show you some techniques.

 

[Ritual]

Take it easy! Painting is supposed to be fun. You\'ve got the rest of your life to learn all these things. The best way is one or a couple of things at the time.

About the hooked brush... Synthetic brushes do that and some (cheaper) sable brushes are in fact a mix of sable and synthetic bristles, and they can hook as well. Get a pure sable brush! Those won\'t hook. They can have other quality issues, but none as bad as the hooking. The down side is that they are usually VERY expensive. But, a good one can last you two years, so in the long run they\'re cheaper.

 

[alextheartist]

I recently got an italerira(sp?) sable brush, it was fairly cheap (about the same as gw), but has kept a great point so far and has a cute little easy hold handle, best brush i have bought so far.

Alex

 

[scottjames]

It\'s synthetic, winsor and newton. Up until now I *always* used sable brushes, for years, and loved them. Then I read about some new techniques and somebody recommended a synthetic brush, and so I went and bought one. Big mistake. Trying too hard!

I will persevere with the wet palette because I see the benefits that are there to be had if I stick with it. Over the years I\'ve just got so used to mixing on a white ceramic tile to a certain consistency, that not using it feels really alien. What\'s with the wet palette? How much water? Why are the paints drying off it? etc. etc. Arrgh!

---

I\'m going to get myself a nice sable brush again, and I\'m going to finish this Farseer my usual way. I\'ll let the new techniques become part of my reportoire more slowly.. I just got really excited there for a while as I rediscovered my hobby and got all inspired to do better.

I really want to come to the Britannica, it\'s not too bad a drive for me, 2 hours..and I am free Sunday, I\'m sure I could learn a lot by watching some demos..

 

[scottjames]

..and thanks for the encouragment!

 

[jahminis]

whoever told ya to get a synthetic brush needs to be strung up by his thumbs...they\'re good for drybrushin\' bases, and that\'s about it...

keep it simple for the transition back into paintin\'...i still use the ceramic tile method...

mess around a bit, and let the feelin\' come back...then try to get freaky with the new techniques...

cheers
jah

 

[airhead]

I gave up the wet pallet when I started with the ceramic tile. Now I use the ceramic paint wells (lotus blossum). Lets me get the washes really thin, easy to clean.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by scottjames
It\'s synthetic, winsor and newton. Up until now I *always* used sable brushes, for years, and loved them. Then I read about some new techniques and somebody recommended a synthetic brush, and so I went and bought one. Big mistake. Trying too hard!

Only synthetics hook at the tip (in fact I\'ve never had a synthetic round that didn\'t hook!) But that curled-over tip can have its uses so don\'t be too disheartened.

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=8820

The thing about quality brushes is that the best - Kolinsky sable and the like - are very expensive but they\'re worth it to many people for their point-holding ability, the amount of paint they hold and their excellent capillary action. Treated with respect they also last really well.

Originally posted by scottjames
I will persevere with the wet palette because I see the benefits that are there to be had if I stick with it. Over the years I\'ve just got so used to mixing on a white ceramic tile to a certain consistency, that not using it feels really alien. What\'s with the wet palette? How much water? Why are the paints drying off it? etc. etc. Arrgh!

I use homemade wet palettes so I\'m not sure what the problem you\'re experiencing is (I\'ve read enough about the commercial type that they should be very similar or identical in how they work).

During a single session little puddles of paint should not alter significantly in how wet or dry they are - even thin smears of paint should not try out uncovered for a hour or more if the palette paper is in contact with the reservoir.

But during storage piles of paint will tend to get wetter, eventually even a little pile of dryish paint can turn into a little puddle. This is just the way wet palettes work. The only way around this is to take out the palette paper, remove the sponge/foam and then seal it up.

Einion

 

[Gilvan Blight]

I have to say not only synthetics curl. My wife gave me a set of W&N Series 7 Kolinskies and after 2 minis one of my brushes has curl in the tip. That\'s one of the highest end brushes you can get, and probably the most recommended on here, so it\'s not only synthetics/cheap brushes that curl.

On the same note though, I love it, it\'s perfect for getting to hard to reach places close to the body of the mini.

 

[mattsterbenz]

I\'ve had a sable brush curl from leaving it in the water pot, and that\'s it. Made that mistake once.

I only use GW brushes and never had a problem. They last forever too

-Matt

 

[laurence]

Good that you\'re back into painting again!

My advice would be to keep using the tile as a palette. I bought a proper wet palette at Blicks art store in Chicago and find it to be a real pain to use. The paint soaks into the paper and loses its pigment. Also, using fresh paint on the palette\'s better than using old paint. So after seeing Allan C paint I just paint from a piece of plasti-card. It\'s the best palette I\'ve ever used. Maybe I\'ll pick up a ceramic one doen the track.

Also get a decent brush! The Raphael 8404 series are really good but I still prefer W&N series 7. It\'ll last you years!

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Gilvan Blight
I have to say not only synthetics curl. My wife gave me a set of W&N Series 7 Kolinskies and after 2 minis one of my brushes has curl in the tip. That\'s one of the highest end brushes you can get, and probably the most recommended on here, so it\'s not only synthetics/cheap brushes that curl.

Never had this happen with a natural-bristle brush in 30+ years. But another potential flaw to add to the Series 7 knock list! I doubt I\'ll ever buy another one.

Einion

 

[Sauce Devil]

I haven\'t bought any yet (and I\'m broke for the next couple of months anyway) but Kolinskys are recommended by everyone over any other brush. You get hooked tips with both synthetic and semi-synthetic (mixed fiber) brushes, only natural sable brushes will stay straight.

Don\'t view your past work with rose-tinted glasses, you probably had plenty of frustration and boredom but you forget the hard parts and remember the successes and completed jobs.

The trouble with learning more advanced techniques is that you want to apply them to all your new stuff. When I was a kid I would have been satisfied with dry-brushing alone and I\'m sure I could paint lots of minis very quickly that way, but I wouldn\'t be satisfied with relying on only basic techniques now.

 

[Harok]

I\'ve to agree with everyone on this thread, their advice is really appreciated for anyone who wants to improve their hobby skills.

Let\'s not forget to reason most of us started with this hobby. It isn\'t about a specific brand of brushes (though some are obviously better then others), it isn\'t about wet palettes versus ceramic tiles, it isn\'t aout new models being supposedly cooler than old school ones. It\'s about having fun and enjoying a creative activity.

I can understand the stress some people may feel from the competitive showcase of CMON. It\'s normal, but it\'s something that can lead you to frustration and maybe even make some people stop painting at all. We all have read people saying \"I\'ll stop painting after seeing your models\" in many artists\' thread, dozens of times.
I found myself starting to think that way, and then I realized I was treating miniature painting in the same way as I treat my normal work, being too critic, competitive and stressing over every diminute detail. It\'s easy to go this way, as miniatures require a lot of patience, dedication and focus, and some people have a natural tendency to be overly critical about themselves and what they do (my case, mostly).

Then I realized there are hundreds if not thousands of painters on CMON, most doing it for fun or playing, and only a very few do it for living or contest competition. Any of us is just insignificant when compared to the whole community and collective improvement and evolution of the hobby over the years. Same as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin would\'ve never reached the moon if it wasn\'t for the many scientifics and technicians of NASA, those many award-winning famous painters wouldn\'t be there if it wasn\'t for the support and advice of the global community. Their position is one of big responsability, we expect them to inspire us, to fulfill amazing challenges, and to represent the miniature hobby community to the rest of the world.

I realized I\'d never been interested in Golden Demons or any other dreams of fame & glory, no envy of that responsabilty. I\'m collecting and painting minis for their aesthetical value, because I like the mythos behind this and that army, and because it\'s an entertaining hobby! All you\'ve to find and remember is the reason that got you started on this hobby, and you\'ll see how it\'s a lot easier to see what\'s your goal, and then go for it.

That\'s also why I haven\'t submitted any mini yet, I\'m taking it easy, and I will only post one when I feel 100% happy with the results. Until then, I\'ll keep them for myself. Meanwhile, we can all enjoy sharing advice, encouraging each other, improving our techniques and watching over the progess of our favorite painters. No need to stress, right?

 

[laurence]

Originally posted by Harok
I can understand the stress some people may feel from the competitive showcase of CMON. It\'s normal, but it\'s something that can lead you to frustration and maybe even make some people stop painting at all. We all have read people saying \"I\'ll stop painting after seeing your models\" in many artists\' thread, dozens of times.

Hi Harok,

I think you\'ve made some very good points in your reply in this thread. I also think that it\'s the great painters that motivate many new painters to go on and reach their full painting potential. This is true for me. For example, I saw Sebastian Archer\'s latest work last night and all I can think about is painting the mini on my workbench. Many of the guys that say, this mini makes me want to quit painting are probably just saying that as a kinda compliment. I\'m sure it\'s not literal. As you pointed out, just enjoy it. As they say, the journey\'s better than the destination.

See ya.

 

[Sauce Devil]

Originally posted by Harok

It\'s about having fun and enjoying a creative activity.

And making money.
I have yet to start selling due to lack of time and sheer laziness (only one of which I will ever overcome, and it\'s not the latter) but there must also be some satisfaction in turning a profit.

Minis are selling very cheap on eBay at the moment (painted or unpainted) but I think it\'s more to do with the weather and time of year than the economy; it\'s warm and people are spending their cash on more outdoorsy stuff.

 

[johnboyjjb]

My advice is to find somebody in your area and see if you can paint together. Watching someone else use their techniques is awful handy for learning where what your trying is going off.