Newbie seeks advice...

[Brew]

Hey guys and gals,
My first real posting on here...so Hi there everyone!
So i have a few questions and am looking for some advice.

I have only been painting since September and have only been able to spare very little time in the past months. My first complete mini was a forgeworld Tau aircaste (the photo is poor quality, have to work on something to improve this).

AirCaste Tau

Has anyone got any tips on taking better pics??

Since painting this mini i have bought/downloaded a few Dvd\'s including Miniature Mentor\'s DvD and Painting Miniatures with Jeremie Bonamant Teboul. Both of which i think are excellent and have been invaluable in picking up some techniques. Have also been scouring the articles and forums for other tips, etc.

My latest WIP is a Sternguard Space Marine in Ultramrine colours with NMM bolter and bits...

Main problems encountered so far:
1) When working on a section i\'ve been putting down a mid-tone and adding layers of shadows then adding layers of highlights, the shadows work well but the hightings seem very difficult to place, usually leaving a ring of highlight and a dark patch in the middle, right were the highlight should be (don\'t have any decent pics yet). Its like i\'m wiping off the paint not applying it!! Any ideas...

2) recently it seems easier to place the lightest colour as the base and the work down to the darkest shadow. Does anyone else do this??

I will attempt to get some decent pics of the SM on here so you can have a better look!

All help much appreciated!

Brew

 

[Ritual]

Seems to me you\'re applying too much paint at once. Possibly you\'ve thinned down the paint too much, but the problem is most likely you apply too much at once. That has the effect of the paint forming \"tide marks\". You can reduce this problem by adding lots of gunk to your paint (lots of people do this), but if you learn to control how much paint that goes onto the mini you don\'t really need any additives.

 

[flakon]

My guess is your brush is too loaded with paint, as the above poster mentions. Are you using the side of your brush to paint the raised edges?

 

[freakinacage]

also if you noice this happening, leave the model for a bit, maybe the paint isnt drying properly and you are wiping it off coz its too wet..just an idea

 

[Sauce Devil]

I can\'t tell much from that photograph but it looks pretty tidy, not bad going considering you\'ve only been painting for a few months.

There is a photography guide over at warhammer.org. The basic rule is to switch your macro on and your flash off and take the picture in natural daylight if possible.

I recently upgraded to a Canon A590 IS which is a very cheap and basic camera by professional standards but it give me much better pictures than my old CoolPix (it\'s a few years old).

 

[Brew]

Thanks for your replies guys.

I\'ve overhauled my photo taking process, thanks to some of the articles on CMON...genius.
See the results below...

Better pics of my Aircaste Tau

However, not sure if the zoomed in pics make my mini look better or worse!!

As for the painting problems;
Ritual and Flakon; I don\'t think i\'m over loading my brush, and its definetely not tide marks. I\'m watering down my paint to around 3-1 (Water to paint) and the paint dries just as I apply it the the mini.

If i had to guess i would thing that i am dragging the paint off the area i want it and leaving it on the edges of the section i\'m painting.

Do you think i am watering the paint down too much or over working a section???

Still confusssed, Brew

 

[Ritual]

Yeah, could be you\'re rubbing the paint off then applying next layer. I\'m not sure if you\'re thinning too much or not. I don\'t know how thin my paint really is, as I keep it fairly thick on the pallette and work with a moist brush instead. But, I would try changing the way you paint a bit and see what happens. Try waiting a bit longer between layers and also try thinning the paint a bit less. If you can achieve the same results with less thin paint it will save you some time and effort. There\'s no point thinning the paint beyond what\'s needed.

 

[Brew]

Thanks,
Will try a few things out to see if it works...
See my latest WIP below...maybe this will help you see some problems and to help/comment!!

Brew\'s Hangover WIP

Thanks guys,

Brew