PaintMinion

We have that 1984 Dragon magazine, bought in 1984. So...I am thinking the cat lady special ducks are just too cute to not vote for!

Matthieu is definitely a master to learn from, and also check out the video that Jennifer Haley and Anne Foerster did together. Should also help a bit.

As for bases, I get mine from Ken Thomas Bases, mostly at conventions, Wayne's bases, and other avenues online and personal. Always be on the lookout for good bases! For something that will be viewed as art, it needs a good :handle" so no one touches the minis!

Something else that wasn't emphasized enough here - your painting problems may not be you, it may be your brush! Try one WN Kolinsky Sable 0 and show us the efforts then. ;-)

And as a side note - have a wet pallette, never use it. Skya has tried to show me how to use it, but do not see how it can help me yet. Not saying it isn't a good thing - she does great stuff with it! Just not for me yet, if ever.

Wow, really good questions for your quest to become a non-beginner painter! To that quest I give you the following advice: If you are like me, you have read everything, seen step by steps and still are not seeing the results get better. For me, it took seeing it done in person in front of me, with some nudges and guidance. If you can get to a convention somewhere, there are usually classes - Gen Con, Adepticon, ReaperCon, GenghisCon...and others.

1) What do you mean by socket bases?

2) You want better blends - learn feathering and glazing. Glazing is your friend. it is just thin paint but you can get some great special effects with it. Personally I use Reaper Master Series, with some Vallejo here and there. Flow Aid, whatever brand helps too.

3) Books to buy or books to look at?

Sheperd Paine's book on How to Build Dioramas is a great reference - Shep is a Grand Master in the world of Historical and Military models. Found on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/How-Build-Dioramas-Sheperd-Paine/dp/0890241953.

The book of his life's work is impressive and also inspirational, and I do own it - he is a friend and I belong to the Military Miniatures Society of Illinois (MMSI) that has a show in October if interested in SEEING great stuff from around the world). Do not be afraid of the Historical minis side of the hobby!

I own the CMON Annuals books for inspiration and to show students when I teach. I also have some magazines, and other misc stuff from Ilyad, Andrea, and handouts and tutorials printed from dozens of great painters.

For what it is worth - Keep working on pieces and don't worry, it's only paint! Oh, and Higher Highlights, Deeper Shadows. ;-)

Trust me, it's a universal rule that you will never have enough speed painting events, no matter how hard our Speed Paint Arena Boss works!

That said, I believe they keep 6 slots open per round for generics on the spot. You're bound to get one if you come early and let the Boss know!

Also, not to be a dweeb or anything, but is Wyrd going to offer prizes this year in the painting competition? Hmmm?

There are spots saved for generics, just bring your generics early. There is speed painting for a number of manufacturers, but check the Gen Con Events list for info on when Wyrd Speed Painting is happening.

And good luck painting! It is a blast!

Just a quick message that I don't take commissions anymore, haven't for a year now because of medical issues. I'll keep painting, but it's gonna be very slow.

My suggestion for those looking to get stuff painted is to go look at stuff in the Galleries and on CMON and other sites and find a painter posting stuff that's the level you want. Then approach them about price. Painted Level is in the eyes of the beholder...or eye of the Beholder...well... ;-)

Wish I got all my news this way. That was fun!

If you need info and haven't found any of our posts, it's because we're a bit short handed this year and our website didn't work yet. Here's the info...Attached.

Attachments include the Comp Info with the prize and rules stuff, as well as the current incarnation of the Manufacturer Awards. We are waiting on Eastern Front and Hasslefree to add to those Awards as well, so there will be an update before the convention yet.

If you have any questions or need any help, let me know.

Sue Wachowski

Competition Administrator

Miniatures Hobby Events

MHEManufacturerAward_7_8_2010.doc

GenConCompetitionInfo_MAY2010.doc

You might try6 Aves Apoxie Sculpt...I find it easier to use than Milli, and much more water friendly fror smoothing and sculpting, also dries super hard.

I'm using Vallejo and Reaper Master Series, as well as Reaper Pro Paints. All are good. As stated, start with a few and work your way up slowly.

If it is color scheme help you need, why not research the painted minis already out there in galleries and websites around the web and see if something catches your eye? Print it out for reference and color match as best you can. There is no failure here, no requirements, no rules except what you like. There are techniques you can learn and there's painting guides all over the net for them.

Not too old...juuuuussst rite. Happy Birthday!

Hi guys!

Been lurking around here, but wanted to let all of you know that my Iron Painter piece "Quest for Fire", the one with the halfling roasting marshmallows by dragon fire, won a gold medal at the MMSI Chicago Show. It's my first gold, and I'm rather proud, and very grateful to Nathan and all of you for inspiring me to create it.

I'll update pics eventually, but all I did was work on the dragon some more since Iron Painter.

So...when is the next Iron Painter? Skya says I gotta win two of them to keep up with her. <<<shudder>>>>

Pics from Iron Painter - http://wyrd-games.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2731

HA! Like Ninjas, that's exactly right!

Hey, Mat, do you paint? You could always join the IMMPS paint group if you like to slosh some pigment, we currently paint at a home in Elgin, but soon I'll be moving to a home and can host paint nites, as well as skya hosting in Lake Zurich.

As a heads up, I, too, am a cheesehead, transplanted to flatland. Once a cheesehead, always a cheesehead. Don't let them tell you different!

Be prepared defintely for using the term "Chicagoland". I go into Chicago maybe once a year if I'm unlucky. Otherwise, Chicagoland covers from Milwaukee to Joliet abouts, and most folks think people around Chicago hang out in the city all the time. Yep, we live in a bubble here, because everything is geared towards Chicago...news, weather and sports.

Do put on your calendar Oct 16th weekend. MMSI Chicago Show is a wonderful place to show off your painted work and see some incredible stuff! Schaumburg Marriot by Woodfield....Oh, andf everyone will think you shop at Woodfield all the time. Locals really just go in to the one store they need and leave as quickly as possible... ;-)

Good luck on the move, we're moving as well next week, same town. Packing sucks, huh?

Happy Birthday Rob, and many many more!

I think the best thing to take out of this discussion for everyone is something I usually tell my students...sometimes it's not your skills holding you back, it's your brushes! I also use WN S7's #1, 0 and 00, though I have tried DaVinci and the series 7 miniatures. The Series 7 Miniatures I didn't like because they didn't hold enough paint and I found them difficult to take care of in terms of cleaning and conditioning. DaVinci just splayed after only a few months of use, and my WN usually last at least a couple years, so I'm happy. If I am given the opportunity I may try the others suggested as well, always on the look out for new products!

Do you have the new book of his life's work? Wonderful inspirations in it. And hysterical at times. I wish he would show pics of his kitchen and all those cows...

Please Note tyat we are adding on Iron Wind Metals, Battle Tech Award as well! More info soon!

Hey folks who are interested, come to the MMSI Chicago show in October and you can see him there, as well as other jaw-dropping artists. A fun relaxed weekend with fellow painters. And Bexley...I would have to say that I have been influenced by Shep in the past couple years I've known him, so yeah, if we can keep future competitors from going, perhaps we'll have a leg up. He has certainly done a great deal to cross the borders between Historical and Fantasy at the MMSI show...he's welcomed us with open arms. It'll be a real treat to see him at gen Con. He's a great guy!

Hey, there are more Badgers on this forum than you think...

Happy Happy Birthday Birthday!

I'm surprised about the mini GH. I took several classes with Jeremie at 2007 Gen Con and got a mini at each class. (All were demos, don't recall if any were billed as otherwise.) Did you ask him about it? He may just have forgot to hand them out to the class?

Last year Jeremie had a problem with the box that was shipped to the hotel for Gen Con...it did not arrive on time, it came...I want to say Sat afternoon? ooops, Art corrected me...the hotel lost the package for a bit.

omg that is just funny. Love it DH!

Dang, Nathan, just saw this as I got back from ReaperCon. I was ever so cautious traveling with my 13 year old daughter and at times she was saying "Oh Mom" when I was 'too strict' in the airport, and at times I was letting her go with that trusting-but-watchful feeling every parent has. It's all of our worst nightmares. Rant all you need to us so you can be the strength and calmness your daughter needs from you. Me, I will breath deep and do what I can to keep children safe...and that means watching out for other people's kids as well as my own when out in public!

Also recommend Aves instead of the Milliput as it's not quite so bad for you. Be careful of the Milliput! If you must, though, I got mine from The Last Square. Good peeps there, and they ship fast.