Enter the newly received White Dwarf article on how to paint an Ultramarines Storm Talon, and why I think it's a perfect example on how NOT to write a painting tutorial, starting with the picture above. I do promise that this will be a informed critique of the article, and not just a troll bashing.
The first picture is the beginning of the article, and it speaks of how the entire model was base coated using the Citadel spray gun. The image above shows the model fully assembled. We all know that there is no way to get good, even coverage on a model like that with a spray gun no less, after its been fully assemble as they show it, and yet they speak nothing of the assembly. The only notable step they explain is covering the cockpit canopy with masking tape so as not to get the base coat on it. Of course, they don't mention whether or not the pilot and cockpit was painted before or after the rest of the bird was sprayed.
Speaking of the pilot and cockpit, please see the below image, and let's break it down.
2. Ahhhhh, see? Told you it wasn't finished. In this view of the finished piece, you can see the skull on the helmet painted.
3. In this view, you can see the eyes and the rebreather on the helmet painted as well, if not a few other details they left off.
Now where where the details in numbers 2 and 3 in the 4-step process in number 1? The obvious answer is that they aren't there. Why do I consider this a problem? Because they should not assume people will catch this and fill in the blanks they left. If this is meant to teach people how to paint the pilot, then many will stop at step 4, and that obviously is not finished.
My last major critique of this article is the weathering... The best they can do is "Chad weathered the leading edges with the Detail Brush, using the same colours as for painting the metal"? (yes, I spelled "color" in the British spelling since this is a quote...no matter how many times spellcheck tried to correct it) Did they paint all the leading edges? Only some of them? How did they choose what to whether and where? Why did they highlight the edges of the weathering in a light blue? And dear Lord, the sloppiness astounds, once again.
"Well, if you think you can do better..."
Look, I'm not saying I can or can't do better, (even if I think I can...sorry, I couldn't help it), I'm saying that this is no that way to write and depict a painting tutorial. This is vague instruction at best, and it requires the reader to look elsewhere for further instruction on how to accomplish what is shown in the incomplete tutorial.
For me, I look at this as a lesson on how not to write tutorials for the folks who read this blog, and I hope to never replicate what they've done. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that if anyone has any questions on how to accomplish the points that they did not cover, let me know in the comments, and I'll be happy to explain how.
- Tim
i keep seeing more and more review of GW's white dwarf, and its pretty rare that they are anything good.
ReplyDeleteIt feels like they think everyone is starting the hobby, and if you really want advanced tips, you need to buy their "advanced book".
Not sure how to feel about it. Bad batrep, bad painting tips, there really isnt that much left to look at.
You know...back around issue 300-325 or so, I really enjoyed White Dwarf, and didn't see myself not getting a subscription. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.
DeleteAnd really, even their 'advanced' books aren't exactly much better.
nope, I only bought this one because it had the rules for the new flyers.
With the release of the new paints range and the "How To Paint Citadel Miniatures" book (It also fails spectacularly to teach very much at all about painting) the quality of painting in White Dwarf generally seems to have been pulled back with the exception of the new releases photos. Certainly the tutorial pieces aren't looking like 'Eavy Metal standard work, and cover very little.
ReplyDeleteThe White Scar tutorial in the same issue (UK ed. anyway) seems just as brutally short on detail compounded by shading white with brown (erm?) and the wash used not covering the detail well at all.
Given the pool of painting talent that GW can draw on it seems odd that they don't seem to be drawing on any of it for their articles. It seems a far cry from being taken step by step through how to mix 10 odd shades of red to paint just the armour on the Space Hulk terminators.
See, I was wondering about the new 'how to paint...' book and really how effective it would or wouldn't be. Sad to see it doesn't measure up :(
DeleteYou reinforce my point exactly when you speak of the Space Hulk Termies though. And heck, what about the past articles on gems, blending and skin tones? Those articles were fine as tutorials. Maybe not the best, but certainly a far cry better than the most recent.
My reviews of the book and DVD are here
Deleteand here They're not good products, failing to fulfil any implicit promise in their title.
The old White Dwarves were a fantastic reference on how to paint pretty much any colour/material you liked, as well as talking about colour wheels, spot colours, construction guides (the Land Raider guide stretched over two issues if I remember rightly) and generally getting into the technical side of the hobby beyond "Colour goes here. Slap in on with this brush". Sadly now slightly reduced in utility due to the paint range changes.
Was there actually a detailed tutorial in white dwarf on painting the space hulk terminators at one time? I know they had a semi detailed tutorial on their website for a while. This definitely reminds me how bad I am with procrastination on painting.
Deleteblech... yeah, okay. the book and dvd are crap.
DeleteOh yeah, the older, WD were awesome. Heck, like I said, even 325 on back were good. solid articles too. course, the batreps were always hit or miss, but still :)
I remember as a kid trying to follow their "guides" and getting frustrated that the mini I did was so far off from their pictures. I quickly learned to develop my own style by taking a few classes and swapping out colours I found better. Frankly these things have never been tutorials as you never come away having learned anything, IMO.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to disagree with you a little on this. While their tutorials have never been the same as a hands-on class or instruction by someone, they've been better than this. I can understand the initial frustration as you try to match what they've done, but hey, it's all about practice.
DeleteYeah I should be fair and say that the 'eavy metal WD articles have been pretty detailed, but the latest round of painting guides felt kind of like they are mailing it in.
DeleteYou thought they would do a better job with the tutorials considering the new expanded paint range they now have making great looking models seem easy to do and hence selling the paints used.
ReplyDeleteThe new painting guide that came out at the same time as the new paint range was just as 'detailed' as the recent white dwarf tutorials.
Like SUD said, given the talent pool I can only assume they are no longer trying anymore, which is really dissapointing.
See, I'm curious if the new, expanded paint range is actually dumbing things down for us in their eyes, so less instruction is needed, and more "Well just use paint type X"...
Deletehmm...there's a blog post somewhere in there...
Anyway, I'm with you and SUD, in that it's extremely disappointing. I'm wondering maybe if they are rushing? Maybe not making WD deadlines a priority or planning them ahead enough?
The only defence I think that can possibly be made is that this looks like a "hobby" paint job rather than an "'eavy metal" paint job.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that, whilst "hobby" paint jobs make people feel like they can achieve what is shown, it doesn't really aspire to anything.
An 'Eavy metal paintjob shows you what you can try to achieve and makes the step by steps all the more important... because they are actually worth reading!
They basically need to pop over the carpark and get the guys from Forge World to do their painting articles for them.
oink, I thought the same thing for a brief moment, but then shook my head and came to the same conclusion you did. I mean, it's not like it's hard to tell people to take their time to get nice, clean brush strokes, is it? How does it help painters progress if the company that puts out the miniatures doesn't SHOW them how to progress in their own magazine?
DeleteHow will painters then react to say, Golden Demon, when there are no advanced techniques, or well written instructions on how, portrayed?
HAH! And here I was wondering if all the good painters are spending too much time on the FW Masterclass books ;)
I think that the painting articles in the new White Dwarf are a vast improvement over previous ones. I still don't think a novice painter can pick it up and expect the same results. I also don't think that the novice painter is the target audience.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I've got to disagree with you on this. While the painting article was a poor example of a tutorial on how to paint the model, I believe a novice painter can achieve the result they portrayed in the article just fine with some patience and a willingness to look up some techniques.
DeleteIf the WD isn't targeting new players and novice/new painters, then who is it targeting? GW's marketing strategy has always been to the new and recently engaged hobbyist.
they also seem to want us to dry drush everything! sorry gw but no thanks.
ReplyDeleteHAH! Drybrushing can have it's place at times, but I agree, it's not the answer to everything :P
DeleteYou sir are wrong! Drybrushing is the beesknees! Drybrushing + liquid skill (washes) = a quick / easy table top ready army!
DeleteThen again, having people like you and Blaine around to critique my work ensures I will never have everything painted because I am not allowed to take all of the shortcuts. :)
Nah, you can take shortcuts, Josh...so long as you keep trying to improve your painting skills to the point where you don't need to take so many :)
DeleteHeck, I use washes for goodness sakes :P
I'm a year late but, granted these new types of tutorials are aimed at new players, I'm guessing gw wants to get all the new people on the table quicker too for some marketing reasons or formulae. But yeah, they are complete and total poopie. So, now if it doesn't have the word `eavy metal out front, you can expect it to be poopie. Yeah some person had the dark vengeance painting guide converted into a PDF and up`d as a torrent some place I had to look and confirm my suspicion. Omg. I was right.
ReplyDelete