Let me introduce myself

[fsn]

FSN - have you read any books on painting techniques (cos that's all it is). I read one recently and my painting improved immediately.

Yes. Lots.   Followed articles in Military Modelling and everything  I've just about got WWII+ figures down, but I'm still struggling with bright colours. I've got some Vallejo paints which I hope will help. (bad workman - tools - I know.) It's about finding a style as much as anything.

You have my sympathy, Nobby !
Disc ?.....Pulled muscle ?

Twisted getting up from a chair.  

[Westmarcher]

Hi, Surgery Sergey. Welcome to the Pendraken Forum.

On painting skills, I'm with Nobby (fsn). Even bought Kevin Dallimore's book to try to improve my painting skills but, alas, my eyesight ain't as good as it was (not that it has been perfect for most of my life) which contributes to a bad posture making my back hurt when I do embark on a painting project these days - so, not much painting done these days.   

Unfortunately, I'm not a great 'Fantasy' fan (yet, strangely enough, I do like Lord of the Rings ... wha ..?) but I do appreciate nice sculpts (and painting) and these certainly fit the bill.     

[Leman]

FSN - try Javier Gomez - Painting Wargames Figures - a great book, easy to follow and invaluable colour charts using a fairly limited palette, but mixing to obtain brighter highlights. I found it really useful. Mind you, I also use Windsor and Newton series 7 brushes, which are pricey but really retain their points.

[Westmarcher]

What brush sizes do you use?

[fsn]

1/4". 

I use a range 4 to 0000. Tend to be Humbrol or something of that ilk for the larger, and W&N for the smallest.

It's a bit like music. I can play the guitar, but my daughter is musical. I can string some chords together, she makes the instrument sing.

I am a competent sketch artist, but mechanical. I will draw what I see. I remember attending a life drawing class and was asked "do you not see the purple in that leg?" to which the honest answer was "no". The chap next to me drew one purple leg and one lime green. He had a certain flair, but at least you could recognise the model from my drawing!

For many years I painted 20mm Napoleonics using the Humbrol Authenticolour paint range. I knew what went where and which order it went in. When I switched to Pendraken, I switched to acrylics, and I ain't got my mojo working yet on those lovely colourful Horse & Musket outfits. I can do Dark Age, I can do modern, but I haven't yet clicked on the age of clip, clop, pop, pop.

[Subedai]

#fsn
  I tried after -about thirty years- going back to a white undercoat but couldn't work with it so I reverted to black. The way to make the colours 'pop' is twofold. Unless you have a source that no-one else knows about then reds, yellows and white will always look patchy and horrible on the first coat because the paint settles in the creases and folds leaving the black to darken the raised areas. If you go in first with a darker base colour say dark red, tan or a light brown or light grey respectively then you just need to catch the high points and the brightness will shine out at you. Even two coats of the lighter colours works if you are just blocking in your areas. A black undercoat is very forgiving because you already have the deepest areas of shading done for you.
   You can always use what I call the 'T' method on the face; a line across the forehead and another down the nose which has the top half done for you. A quick, angled flesh line down the cheek and that's the face done; eye sockets and cheek area sorted. It sounds like a bit of a ba**ache but it's simplicity itself. It's all about technique and learning or even re-learning. I always say the my first figures looked like psychedelic amoebas but luckily I have progressed from there. As Leman says, try Javier's book,(notice that he, Matt of Muslow and Kevin Dallimore all use black undercoat) and their colours 'pop'.
  For colours that go together I always think Napoleonic. For example, if the Imperial Guard Hussars wore red and green and it looks good then why doesn't it work when I do it? Again, use a base and a highlight on both, you will be amazed at the difference. You can actually put dark colours next to each other without them looking a total mess. Blue and orange, green and orange, green and yellow, red and green or blue, they all work well together. If you still unsure, download a copy of a paint wheel which will then give you complementary and opposite colours.
  Also a nice bright base will complement light coloured figures and enhance dark ones. A dark base does nothing apart from making everything else look dark. A rule of thumb: 'The smaller the figures, the brighter the base needs to be'.
Suck it and see, you might amaze yourself.

[Matt J]

what he said

apart from this

notice that he, Matt of Muslow and Kevin Dallimore all use black undercoat) and their colours 'pop'.

I always use white undercoat (Kev uses black).

However I use a multilayer technique so the undercoat for me is irrelevant to the finished article for me its simply a primer and I find it easier to pick out detail in white.

If you want to get figures done quick and make the colours pop then use black spray undercoat and, as Subedai says, you need more than one coat with certain colours. Check out Kev's guide on the forum its very simple but very effective (it has to be, he's doing it for a living).

[Subedai]

what he said

apart from this
I always use white undercoat (Kev uses black).

However I use a multilayer technique so the undercoat for me is irrelevant to the finished article for me its simply a primer and I find it easier to pick out detail in white.

Apologies. 

[Orcs]

Welcome Sergey,

The figures are Really nice - Yes i do gaem in 28mm Fantasy.  Well mainly "historically correct" Lord of the Rings.

Do you do any Orcs or Goblins - I have an unnatural attraction for them 

[sergey]

Soon my mini on Kickstarter!

[Luddite]

Welcome sergey, looking forwards to seeing your 10mm armies.

Which Pendraken ranges are you collecting? 

There's a big push on a fantasy revamp at the moment that you might be interested in.  I also understand there are some Aztec tanks on the planning table (due for release 2275AD).

[Leman]

Isn't that when FK's parcel is due to arrive?

[sergey]

Thanks for the support

[Leman]

Truss me, I'm a wargamer.

[Tawa]

Truss me, I'm a wargamer.

Truss you? OKie dokie! *wombles off to get a length of rope.....*