Video Tutorials - recommendations and rant

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-Ice

New member
Hello guys! I've been scouting around the internet for helpful tutorial videos and so far I've found a few useful ones from YouTube, a nice local gamer lent me some of his videos, and I've finally found the cash to purchase all that is available from Miniature Mentor. So far, I like what I'm seeing and it helps me learn new techniques and see how they're supposed to work without sacrificing a mini or spending cash on paints that I may not use.

I was wondering if there were any other video tutorials out there that would be helpful. I'm specifically looking for quality ones that result in good-looking tabletop quality (note the difference between "5-yr old TTQ" and "discerning gamer/CMoN TTQ") minis. For instance, I appreciate Miniature Mentor's approach and although it is mostly geared towards display-pieces, I'd rather learn the "proper techniques" and choose to take a shortcut instead of just being taught the shortcut and not knowing the theory/reason behind the actual technique. Miniature Mentor's approach is so detailed and so OCD that I could say "hmm, I could probably do that for my army by doing less coats/less dilution" and be happy with my results.

What I am NOT looking for is some stupid, slap-some-paint-on-and-say-it-looks-cool kind of videos that swamp YouTube and some other tutorials (see rant below) that are quite frankly just a waste of time and money.

I don't mind paying so long as I'm getting my money's worth. So please, point me in the right direction. Cheers!


Rant:

I've just watched The Painting Wizard's Workshop videos that was lent to me and I have to say "what a load of crap!" The guy featured was talking unnaturally and in the second video, it was obvious why -- he was reading from a teleprompter! A close-up shot clearly showed his eyes moving back-and-forth which could've been hilarious if the whole video wasn't totally crap. Okay, I've said it's crap, and here's why:

1. Vague instructions
2. This is a tutorial video which actually shows the painter putting on globs and globs of paint! He isn't even worried about putting it on too thick! The wash part of the video could actually see the wash dripping off of the mini!
3. Advanced techniques and master-level painting... what "Advanced techniques and master-level painting?"

All-in-all, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, new or old. I feel like I have to re-watch the P3 video (which is actually better) or even my Miniature Mentor videos to "rinse out" the bad taste of the Painting Wizard. The only "magic" there was that he actually claims to be able to paint quality minis!

Okay, rant off.
 
A

Arma

New member
Firstly there ARE some great tutorials on Youtube... Check out massive voodoo's channel or awesomepaintjob for some good examples.

As far as videos go I recommend the following:
- JBT's DVD set (this is just amazing and shows how a true master paints)
- the 3 DVD Hot Lead Miniature Painting set (amazing stuff also)
- Miniature Painting with Natalya (also available as a digital download in the CMON store)
- Almost all of the PAINTING tutorials from Miniature mentor (Especially the newer ones)
- Rune Kaple's DVD (was one of the first out, it's a little short on content compared to the others but it's still very good imo and was the first one I ever bought)

The P3 one is very basic and good for a beginner. I wish they'd do a 2nd one based on their 2 brush blending techniques that Matt DP uses.

One thing I will say about painting videos.. I wouldn't try to emulate their style just get an idea of where to take your own style. If you true and copy it just never comes out the same. I tried and failed (but then again I suck at painting!)

Have fun!
 
I

-Ice

New member
I don't know who voodoo is, but AwesomePaintJob is one of my haunts. I download their videos off the web and archive it for easy access (don't have to load the video everytime). Pity the camerawork is poor, either that or Miniature Mentor has just spoiled me.

I do have a subscription on Miniature Mentor and I am in the process of downloading and archiving everything.

What is JBT? I would buy the DVDs from this site but it seems that it is based in the USA so I'm not too keen on shipping. If it were available for download I wouldn't mind.

While I do agree that the P3 video is very basic, the information is presented very well and the camera work is quite good as well --- therefore the overall effect is one of understanding and enlightenment. If one was to watch the P3 video then the Painting Wizard, one would have a nice base to start painting (P3) then one would take a massive leap backwards into a deep chasm with gigantic, rust-coates metal spikes (Painting Wizard).
 
W

Wicksy

New member
-Ice said:
I don't know who voodoo is, but AwesomePaintJob is one of my haunts. I download their videos off the web and archive it for easy access (don't have to load the video everytime). Pity the camerawork is poor, either that or Miniature Mentor has just spoiled me.

I do have a subscription on Miniature Mentor and I am in the process of downloading and archiving everything.

What is JBT? I would buy the DVDs from this site but it seems that it is based in the USA so I'm not too keen on shipping. If it were available for download I wouldn't mind.

While I do agree that the P3 video is very basic, the information is presented very well and the camera work is quite good as well --- therefore the overall effect is one of understanding and enlightenment. If one was to watch the P3 video then the Painting Wizard, one would have a nice base to start painting (P3) then one would take a massive leap backwards into a deep chasm with gigantic, rust-coates metal spikes (Painting Wizard).
Click to expand...

JBT is a French painter named Jeremie Bonamont Teboul. I too own his DVD and its pretty much my painting bible. Just google his name and take a trip to his website and check out his stuff. You should be able to pick up a copy of his DVD direct from him. I had to as Kraken Editions no longer sold the UK language version.
 
Stewsayer

Stewsayer

New member
Hi Ice,

Definitely try and get the JBT video if you can. The Hot lead set I found a little basic for me, but I can see it being good for beginners. The Mini painting with Natalya from CMON (can get as a download) one is also good but doesn't have the level of explanation that the others have. Having said that there is still a lot to absorb from it.

Here's a link to the Massive Voodoo blog http://massivevoodoo.blogspot.com/2010/11/blending-tutorial-part-2a.html it has links to vids on their youtube channel.
 
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Wren

Wren

New member
Laszlo's demo of using drybrushing and washing together in the Hot Lead video looks like it would be pretty useful stuff to doing nice tabletop to me. I was itching to try it after watching, though I was busy with another project and will now have to go back to it! It was a slightly different approach than what I had gathered from written tutorials years ago. The Hot Lead DVDs overall are very thorough about showing paint consistency and application and so on.

I haven't watched the Painting Wizard stuff, but it might be worth mentioning that it's at least 6-8 years old, the oldest of anything mentioned. So impressive that he got anything out there at the time, before access to cheap but decent video equipment really picked up, even if the quality of the instruction isn't that impressive in itself. ;-> I remember people being super excited about the first free thing that was posted on the net five or so years ago, and now there are dozens or even hundreds on YouTube, it's amazing how quickly what's available has increased!

The only one I can think of that hasn't been mentioned is Andrea's Painting Figures. It's also on the older side, so I think you'd be better off getting Hot Lead, JBT and the Miniature Mentor stuff.

I've heard rumours of another in the works, by painters I'd certainly be interested in seeing more of how they work, so here's hoping that comes out before too long.
 
T

Torn blue sky

New member
I'm just gobsmacked Wren is here!
I have nothing to offer in regard to vids, I've never seen/watched any. But hey, Look! It's Wren!
 
A

Arma

New member
I don't like the earlier ones. Like the ones for painting black / white.. because they're not what they say. The black is deep blue and the white is cream. The painting techniques are there though. The one with the Dreadnought may not be all that useful as it covers many techniques used in painting AFV and airbrush application.

For straight painting, off the top my head, my favourites are the big demon by Romain, Anything with Allan C, the giant tutorial and the "speed painting" one is also very good.
 
I

-Ice

New member
twisted, I don't know about your skill level but I would greatly recommend the first video (Complete Guide) for beginners. Although it is not "complete," it did show me how to properly execute a couple of techniques. At the very least, it taught me basecoat application, blending, and a bit on how to figure out how light would illuminate a model. The most important thing it taught me is patience. Now I'm perfectly fine with 4-5 coats for a basecoat --- before watching the video and doing Tommie's tutorial, I thought a basecoat goes in one or two coats, and any more would be "doing it wrong." Now I do more coats, and I am always happy with my results!

Granted I've not watched all the videos yet, but the subscription ($70) for all the videos is worth it for me IMHO.

I've just got a copy of JBT's video. Can anyone tell me how to get it to speak English all the time? It seems that each time I watch a "segment," I have to configure it to speak English. Granted I watch on my PC with VLC player rather than on a DVD/TV, but I don't know if that makes any difference.
 
ChemicalFencer

ChemicalFencer

Lost in the desert
I just thought I'd give my 2 pence worth here.

The Painting Wizard's Workshop is IMHO great for the beginner painter. It is aimed at young painters, and it does go through the basic techniques. Don't get me wrong, I personally got nothing out of it and thought it was silly, but still I think for a young'un starting out it is good.

As for Miniature Mentor, I didn't go for their subscription, but I did get a couple of their vids. Of course there is the Complete Guide, which is pretty good as folks have already mentioned. I also got their advanced and their speed painting set. Both of which where very good. The only thing to mention though is that in the speed painting there is quite a bit of airbrush work, but it did give a recipe tip or two.

For YouTube, have a look at Girl Painter, and AG Productions Inc in addition to those already mentioned. I think Girl Painter has released some free to download DVDs, while AG Productions have several "Lets Paint" sets. Both give a good table top quality demonstration.

I also have JBT, Hot Lead and Andrea. The JBT DVD is a little hard to understand sometimes in English. The Andrea one is basic but gives some great clean up tips. Hot Lead gives a more structured approach, more technical. He doesn't give off the natural artist feel to me unlike Jeremie or Mathieu. Saying that he is a great painter and can be e-mailed for advice.

Also, do have a look at the MassiveVoodoo blog - it is excellent. I know it has already been mentioned, but take a look and be inspired.



CF
 
I

-Ice

New member
Sorry, no. I will not even grant it the "good for beginner" excuse. Why? Because it gives the beginner a wrong start to the hobby. I believe in proper teaching and proper methods.

For me, the P3 video is a better beginner video, or JBT (as far as I could watch).

Granted, each has his own opinion so this is my 2 cents as well.

Thanks for the recommendations, I will look up those sites later on. Cheers!
 
T

twisted-transistor

New member
-Ice said:
twisted, I don't know about your skill level
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my skill level? well i am a "beginner" (not even been painting for a year or completed more than 10 minis yet) but somehow i managed to get to the golden demon finals in two catergories in my reigon. don't ask me how, personally i think i'm the worst painter in the world. i will take your advice and take the sub (i'm asking for it for christmas and it's $90 where i live) and according to everybody who knows me, i have already inhuman patience. i have already one of the videos, and it's great! thank you for the advice ice.
 
I

-Ice

New member
Well if you've gone to the Golden Demon finals, I don't consider you a "beginner." If you haven't completed 10 minis but got to the finals, you simply aren't an army painter but you're a show-piece painter.

Having said that, I don't know what the "Complete Guide" video can show you that you don't already know --- however, I am sure the more-advanced videos would have something for you and therefore, the subscription would be way cheaper than buying each one individually.

Have you posted your GD minis on this site? I'd love to have a look at them.
 
J

JMichael

New member
I've been franticly looking for the JBT english videos (if anyone wants to sell/trade/loan, please pm me.)

I do have the Natalya set and a subscription to Miniature Mentor.
Overall, I find the Miniature Mentor a great resource to get different techniques from different artists. I was able to download all of the vids in several days. They are a bit slow on adding new tutorials, but you can buy a single and they will apply that purchase towards a subscription (just email them).
Natalya's video had a lot of information, but again it's just one person's technique (albeit a great painter!). I did enjoy watching her paint Teclis from start to finish.
 
R

Ritual

New member
I just like to say, that I don't think that too many tutorials will help you. A tutorial, both in writing with photos or a video tutorial, can be helpful indeed, but in the end you need to sit down and do a lot of painting. If you look at too much and read too much you might end up being distracted by the amount of information that it can hinder you in what is really the key to improving your skill: practice! If you have one or two tutorials that you already find helpful I would suggest spending your time at the painting desk instead of hunting for more tutorials, and then taking time to watch/read them. You can always add another tutorial to your library later on, when you feel you have gained as much as you can from the ones you've already got.

I experienced this effect myself, some years ago. I spent too much time searching the Internet for articles and tutorials, and when I actually sat down to practice, I became confused by the amount of techniques, methods and tips I wanted to try out. Some of them were contradictory, and I didn't know which one I'd go for. In the end I sort of went back to what I'd done before, but applied a few slight changes to make small improvements of my techniques. It was a lot of work for quite little effect, and I experienced a lot of frustration during the time.
 
T

twisted-transistor

New member
-Ice said:
Well if you've gone to the Golden Demon finals, I don't consider you a "beginner." If you haven't completed 10 minis but got to the finals, you simply aren't an army painter but you're a show-piece painter.

Having said that, I don't know what the "Complete Guide" video can show you that you don't already know --- however, I am sure the more-advanced videos would have something for you and therefore, the subscription would be way cheaper than buying each one individually.

Have you posted your GD minis on this site? I'd love to have a look at them.
Click to expand...

thank you for the advice. i'll keep that into consideration when looking at future vids, both on minature mentor and other sites, and no i haven't uploaded photos yet (i still haven't gotten my minis back from GD yet), but i am currently working on painting attempt #6, which frankly is a LOT better than anything i submitted for GD (though i still think it sucks), and will upload asap.

i watched throught the "complete guide", and it was nice to finally get names for the tecniques i was unconciously using. nobody's ever given me instruction so i literaly had no idea what the hell i was doing, and it really helped me clarify unanswered questions, espicially on non-organic surfaces, of which i have no experience with, which is painfully obvious in my failed attempt to paint metal surfaces with metallic paints (non metallic metal is fine for some reason though)

oh and i also apologise in advance for anything i might say, i have a bad habbit of sticking my foot in my mouth somtimes, so be forewarned ^^;
onceagain thank you so much, and i will get photos uploaded asap
 
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