Any tips to help become a better painter?

[Dane-gerousOne]

Hey guys, I was hoping that the 40K community would have some helpful tips or pointers to help improve painting miniatures. So if you can provide any help that would be great.

[Architech]

Practice and try new things. Don't simply stick to what has been working for you...push it...try something new. Go for highlighting/blending techniques and just keep working on it

[Lelnar]

What Arch says. from personal experiance, I have been trying new things all the time and my wife and friends say that I am improving.

Don't be afraid to try, paint can be stripped or just painted over

[vikinboere]

My painting has improved the moment i found the right brush, i've tried a couple of different types before i found one i really liked.

I'm using brushes from Rotmarder-kolinsky like you can see in the pic below, the middle and lower one. For me it's nr1 & 3.

[Badarmies2]

+1 here brush and proper paint make a world of difference. I use a 1, 0, 000 typically. I find natural brushes are far better than synthetics. I also use velajo (spelling) paints and find they spread more uniformly than GW or Model Master. I use an air brush for my base coat and large tanks because they put on a thin uniform coat and don't erase any detail.

My painting has improved the moment i found the right brush, i've tried a couple of different types before i found one i really liked.

I'm using brushes from Rotmarder-kolinsky like you can see in the pic below, the middle and lower one. For me it's nr1 & 3.

[Shining Finger]

All the above, and watch youtube painting tutorials

[Inquisitor_Helmawr]

What is it that you want to achieve? - there are loads of ways to improve.

Also, what standard are you starting at?

[edmundblack]

Practice, Patience and Persistence. Talent takes a back seat, in fact you don't need it. Willingness to learn from others and from yourself and the will to practice and be happy with your own work. That's it, that's all it is. That last part is essential I think.

[NoobOrky2011]

My painting previously sucked. Like bad. Like I hated to do it and bought prepainted minis for my D&D games. So when I made the dive into Warhammer 40k I did a lot of research and found something that helped me a GREAT deal. I am not one who can read a book and just figure it out, I tend to be a "show me" type personality more than anything. Since my son and I were going to start with the Assault on Black Reach, I found a DVD from AG Productions called "Let's Paint: Assault on Black Reach". After watching this a few times, and using what I learned on my orks and while they are not top notch up close, as far as tabletop quality goes, I've received nothing but compliments. They have a whole line of "Let's Paint" DVDs for all sorts of factions and games, so I would check it out. But I must say, my brush choices are limited here in my little town, so I will be searching online for the Rotmarder-kolinsky ones recommended here.

[vikinboere]

I will be searching online for the Rotmarder-kolinsky ones recommended here.

I buy those in my local gw shop, they aren't cheap but that's ok for me, if i'm spending 1000+ euro's on a hobby i'm not going to complain about 4euro for a brush. One of the reasons i like this brand is that they are shaped triangular. Very easy to hold in your hand.

[Tbcrow]

I spend a lot of time watching/read the painting forum here. There are a lot of cool tips, and you can see the way some of the models developed. Something of an insider view.

I'm far from good, but I've improved immensely through just painting all the time.

[NoobOrky2011]

I buy those in my local gw shop, they aren't cheap but that's ok for me, if i'm spending 1000+ euro's on a hobby i'm not going to complain about 4euro for a brush. One of the reasons i like this brand is that they are shaped triangular. Very easy to hold in your hand.

Sadly, here in a small town in the states, my FLGS does carry GW products, but not the brushes, so I am going to hit up my non-chain art store and see what they have.

[Michael]

What the others said really.

Practice and patience is the key.

Painting minis is more of a handcraft and something everyone can learn. You don't need any artistic talent or something like that to make miniatures look good.
Buy a mini you like and paint it. Don't be upset if it didn't come out the way you wanted, just take what you learned and carry it over to the next one.
Paint lots of different minis. The more variation there is in the miniatures you paint (armour, cloth, skin, weapons, hair) the more practice you get and the more you will improve an overall painter.
Don't compare your stuff with what others did, instead compare it with what you did perviously. No one became a master painter overnight, just look at your older minis and you will certainly see the improvement you made.
But most important of all, have fun. Don't force yourself to paint if don't feel like it. It's a hobby afterall.

[Novasry]

Echoing what others have said, Practice really is the key. Grab a load of old, cheap models of eBay and just dive in, go crazy. Look for inspiration around you, check our own painting blogs and sites like CoolMiniOrNot for some great pieces of work.

Remember, mastering one skill is much better then learning a hundred, pick your style and stick to it and you will see loads of improvement.

[Marine Dad]

I think it has been pretty well covered by people above, Patience and Practise and above all enjoy it, because if you arn't push it to one side.
When I was younger I seemed to be always painting models for a deadline and to be frank it shows. I have no deadlines now I paint when I want, if I want, I feel my finished articles are the better for it ... MD

[Dane-gerousOne]

All great tips guys, thanks. I do realize that practise will help me improve, I do however find myself "pushing" myself to paint (if that makes sense). I do want to enjoy painting, I just find it's quite time consuming for me, but I appreciate all the feedback and I am actually quite interested in those brushes. Thanks.

[Architech]

you need to find a way to make it an event for yourself to raise enjoyment. For example...ricky chang paints in his study while sipping some nice red wine, and when he needs inspiration he watches his fish tank. Many shut out the world with classical music (from my own experience and several years of teaching in a studio work environment...I suggest away from metal and 'hard' music). Personally I enjoy tossing on a dvd of a show I know to well to watch. That rolls for 3+ hours per side...giving me good chunks of work

[NoobOrky2011]

you need to find a way to make it an event for yourself to raise enjoyment. For example...ricky chang paints in his study while sipping some nice red wine, and when he needs inspiration he watches his fish tank. Many shut out the world with classical music (from my own experience and several years of teaching in a studio work environment...I suggest away from metal and 'hard' music). Personally I enjoy tossing on a dvd of a show I know to well to watch. That rolls for 3+ hours per side...giving me good chunks of work

I use old radio dramas and books on CD when I paint, a fantastic escape. (of course Daft Punk works really well too!)

[Architech]

I was going to agree with you on the old radio shows....and books on tape....but then you spoiled it. If I painted to Daft Punk, I'd twitch my brush all over the place

[Marine Dad]

I use old radio dramas and books on CD when I paint, a fantastic escape. (of course Daft Punk works really well too!)

Have you tried the Black Library audio dramas they are enjoyable, can be inspiring, and are certainly topical, I tried this whilst I have been painting, I enjoyed them, one of my favouites has been "Throne of Lies" about the Night Lords, but being a CSM fan I might be biased ..... MD