How to conduct a painting seminar?

[Valander]

Hey all, I\'ve just signed up to volunteer for a local convention coming up in August in Seattle, Dragonflight.

I\'ve done a couple of painting workshops before, but thought I\'d put it out there to see if anyone had any suggestions or hints on how to have one go off successfully.

 

[Dragonsreach]

I\'ve done a few demo\'s and just re-started doing them at my local GW store. Trying to make it a monthly event if we can. So here\'s a few of my ideas.....

The first thing is:- Make sure that people know that there is going to be a painting seminar. !

Have plenty of mini\'s that people can try their hands at. (and take away...............Mummy, look what I did.)
Have some good quality figures of your own work on display (I\'d suggest nailed to the floor but then I\'m cynical) and Photos on A4 paper. If you can get them laminated great, if not get a portfolio book. Self supporting is best.
Take reasonable quality but not your best brushes.(!)
Plenty of paper towels, baby wipes, breath fresheners and Valium. (You can always pop a breath freshener and offer a one to someone with a problem.)
One thing handy to have is business cards and/or a display with commission rates and contact details. If you have the time (and interest) try putting together a step by step pamphlet for people to pick up.

One last thing see if you can get a printout of your best mini on CMON. Then it\'s a double advert for yourself and Coolmini.

If there\'s any thing you want to ask, just PM ,me and I\'ll see If I can help.

 

[Valander]

Thanks for the input. The seminar is going to be held at a convention, and I\'ve already submitted the event listing to the program people, so it should be in the schedule.

I thought of most of the things you\'ve mentioned, so I guess I\'m off to a good start. I was planning on doing this kind of format:

(Given 2 hours at the event)
A handout that has some tips on assembly and cleaning of models. Also on the handout would be some discussion about what other kinds of supplies you\'ll need to paint (bruses, distilled water, Future, etc.).

A 20 min or so talk about the general idea of why primers are important, how to select a primer color, and then the overall concept of shadows and highlights. Mainly wanting to point out that it\'s not as hard as you might think to get good results, if you approach it with some knowledge about how to use some techniques.

The rest of the time at the event spent by *showing* people what \"2% milk consistency\" actually looks like, *how* to do layers, and general Q&A. I was planning on having some pre-primed miniatures that people can work on (and take home) as well as some decent brushes to use and paints to share. I\'ve also said in the program, though, that people are free to bring their own paints and models.

I wanted to gear it to all levels of painting, so I\'m actually not really going to cover the standard \"GW 3 Step: basecoat, wash, drybrush\" process (though I\'ll probably have some stuff about that on the handout), instead trying to show people how to get \"better\" than they currently are.