All Your Basing Techniques...

...Are belonging to Cast Resin? Ballast and Static Grass? Rocks and Bark from the backyard, or Cork maybe?

With all the options we have available to us in the modern age of the hobby now, what do you use to base your models? Is it really that important that the base your model sits on look good? Does it warrant the price of the more modern, third-party resin bases or are the tried and true methods of yesteryear still classic, and classy, enough to showcase your hard work?

How do you choose?

The Right Light

In "Tools of the Trade: Painting", one of the tools I mentioned that I believe is essential for painting miniatures is the right light to paint them by.

"But Tim, isn't light, light? How different can light sources really be? Does it really make a difference?

Take a piece of white paper outside and look at it. Looks white, doesn't it? Now take that same piece of paper inside and look at it next to the lamp by your couch. If you have normal, everyday bulbs in those lamps like most do, it will now take on a bit of a yellow hue. See, even though the color of the paper did not change, in different light the color of the paper looks different.

So how does that affect painting miniatures?

Test Figures... Are They Necessary?

Yes. There, that was a short article, now wasn't it?

Wait...you want the "why" they are necessary? Oh fine, don't just take my word for it. If have to explain myself, we might as well get into specifics as to why I think painting up a test figure for your army concept is important.

The model above was actually my second-to-last test model for the Centurions. The next model is one of the finished models from my actual army.

The "Oooooh, Shiny!" Syndrome

We've all done it. Walked into the local shop and saw the new codex, army book or boxed set that just came out, and your hobby A.D.D. kicked in. The next thing you know, you've got a new army, whether you finished the one you were in the middle of or not, using previously mentioned new, shiny codex/army book/boxed set.

Let's not confuse this with "Bandwagon" syndrome... Though similar, the "Oooooh, Shiny!" syndrome refers to anything brand new, whether it is competitive or not.

So how do we avoid this wallet-sucking syndrome? Do we even want to? I mean, just LOOK at the new Ogre models!

A Matter of Opinion - Paints

Tools of the Trade: Painting, included pretty much everything I currently have at my disposal at my paint station...except the paints. This was done purposefully as I have what I think people should have as a matter of fact, when painting. Then I have what paints I use, as a matter of personal opinion and, what works for me.

Since I didn't want to leave the topic hanging, we're going to start a new series titled "A Matter of Opinion", and we'll dive right on in with the paints I use, the companies I buy them from, and even a bit of what I'd like to try in the future.

Let's divide the paints into three categories; opaque, metallic and wash.

Deathwing, Black Templar Style - Finished!

Yes, you read that correctly! The Black Templar Deathwing commission has been completed! There wasn't that much left to do after the last update with the HQs and the Dreadnought...

Or so I thought.

Deathwing, Black Templar Style Update 3

 
HQs and Dreadnought are done!!

Two of the best things about this commission was that I got to paint one of the new Grey Knight plastics for the first time, before I started my own, and I finally got to paint a conversion I started over 2 years ago. The figure that is being used to count as Belial originally started out as a Lone Wolf for my Centurions. When my friend needed a figure for Belial, and he wanted him with twin lightning claws, I quickly offered up the conversion I never used for him, as I still really wanted to see it hit the tabletop. A few tweaks later, he was ready to lead the Black Templars' version of the Deathwing!

The Importance of Good Criticism in Our Hobby

I had an Art Professor back in college that was known for many things, but one was his brutal art critiques. There were horror stories about critiques in his classes... So when I scheduled my first of many of his classes for the first time during my freshman year, I was terrified. I mean, how was I going to deal with such harsh criticism of my work?

Our first critique came and went... The world didn't end, and my personal view of my art didn't come crashing to a bitter fall. So what did happen? Probably the best and worst thing that ever could have...

He was honest with me.

We're going to take a look at how Good Criticism plays an important part in our hobby, concentrating on three key areas; Giving it, Receiving it, and most importantly Asking for it.

Games Day and Golden Demon 2011

What a whirlwind this past Saturday was! My friend, Jason, that came up to Chicago with me made a very telling remark, "Why in God's name don't they make this a two-day event?". While I didn't exactly have a better response than "Well, it's always been this way", I can't really disagree with him...

I will say that this was the most fulfilling Games Day I've ever attended. Why, you ask?

The people. Not the event itself, but the people who I spent time with.