vincegamer
Active member
I thought the Israelites wiped out the Canonites ages ago.
The Zen of Paint Brands
- Thread starter E-Arkham
- Start date
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Petexxx1
Guest
Great Genius or merely a
I personally think that using the best equipment for the job makes a task easier. So for example, the vast majority of mini painters use good quality sable brushes rather than, say, an \'orrible bit of yak\'s tail. However, what is \"best\" is likely to be a matter of personal opinion. Craft paints vs Professional paints is one aspect where opinion varies. But some of you with longer memories may recall a chap by the name of Fraiser Grey who used to appear in White Dwarf. He painted with enamels. Now as far as I am concerned enamels are more effort than they are worth (well that I never learned not to roll the brush on my tonge!). yet Fraiser used to produce some of the most sublime work I think I have ever seen.
My point (and I\'m sure that there was one when I started this) is that it depends on the artist. I\'d never produce anything really good with enamels because I just don\'t have the mindset for it. That doesn\'t mean that they are not worthwhile or \"the best medium\". It really depends on the individual.
Not trying to hijack the thread, but if anyone knows of a site showing Fraiser\'s current work I\'d love to see it.
I personally think that using the best equipment for the job makes a task easier. So for example, the vast majority of mini painters use good quality sable brushes rather than, say, an \'orrible bit of yak\'s tail. However, what is \"best\" is likely to be a matter of personal opinion. Craft paints vs Professional paints is one aspect where opinion varies. But some of you with longer memories may recall a chap by the name of Fraiser Grey who used to appear in White Dwarf. He painted with enamels. Now as far as I am concerned enamels are more effort than they are worth (well that I never learned not to roll the brush on my tonge!). yet Fraiser used to produce some of the most sublime work I think I have ever seen.
My point (and I\'m sure that there was one when I started this) is that it depends on the artist. I\'d never produce anything really good with enamels because I just don\'t have the mindset for it. That doesn\'t mean that they are not worthwhile or \"the best medium\". It really depends on the individual.
Not trying to hijack the thread, but if anyone knows of a site showing Fraiser\'s current work I\'d love to see it.
this would be a great test...
Maybe I\'ll give that a try as well. I think this may be the most convincing way to tell. Please post your results if you get a chance.
They say that a good craftsman never blames his tools, but what if it is the wrong tool? Have you ever tried to tighten a flat headed screw with a phillips headed screwdriver??
Of course, there is also Finn\'s point that after investing serious money in a miniature collection, why should one even take a chance with a possibly inferior product?
Maybe I\'ll give that a try as well. I think this may be the most convincing way to tell. Please post your results if you get a chance.
They say that a good craftsman never blames his tools, but what if it is the wrong tool? Have you ever tried to tighten a flat headed screw with a phillips headed screwdriver??
Of course, there is also Finn\'s point that after investing serious money in a miniature collection, why should one even take a chance with a possibly inferior product?
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Petexxx1
Guest
I guess I would say that if you don\'t try new mediums you may never the one which is perfect for your style.
There\'s also the point that no one range or even type of paints is perfect. I think that its fairly obvious that many of the top artists on this site actually use a variety of paints and that they have favourites from each range.
americana
http://www.coolminiornot.com/18447
Supervike: Here is a pic of a mini painted by SJB in Americana paints. Americana paints cost about $1.00 for twice what you get in a Citadel pot. The problem with Americana is it is very, very, very thick. You have to dillute it so much you begin to wonder if the savings isn\'t offset by your water bill increase.
I use Americana for my scenery because it is cheap and has some really good colors. Give it a try.
barkel
ps. if the link didn\'t work then it is post #18447.
http://www.coolminiornot.com/18447
Supervike: Here is a pic of a mini painted by SJB in Americana paints. Americana paints cost about $1.00 for twice what you get in a Citadel pot. The problem with Americana is it is very, very, very thick. You have to dillute it so much you begin to wonder if the savings isn\'t offset by your water bill increase.
I use Americana for my scenery because it is cheap and has some really good colors. Give it a try.
barkel
ps. if the link didn\'t work then it is post #18447.
vincegamer
Active member
my experiment
Okay, it\'s done.
It was a rush job, but it\'s done.
The same mini, the same color scheme, the same mediocre painter, the same paintbrush. The only difference is one is entirely in Vallejo model colors the other in Apple Barrel \"school days\" acrylic paint set. The only exception is that I discovered my AB white had gone bad and I don\'t have black so any black or white on the AB one was done with GW Chaos Black and Skull White. The same techniques were used on both as well: some blending, some dry brushing and NMM bronze for the metal bits (since I don\'t have any metalic craft paints).
see if you can guess which is which.
THE EXPERIMENT
p.s. My photography needs work, the right side is too shadowed.
Okay, it\'s done.
It was a rush job, but it\'s done.
The same mini, the same color scheme, the same mediocre painter, the same paintbrush. The only difference is one is entirely in Vallejo model colors the other in Apple Barrel \"school days\" acrylic paint set. The only exception is that I discovered my AB white had gone bad and I don\'t have black so any black or white on the AB one was done with GW Chaos Black and Skull White. The same techniques were used on both as well: some blending, some dry brushing and NMM bronze for the metal bits (since I don\'t have any metalic craft paints).
see if you can guess which is which.
THE EXPERIMENT
p.s. My photography needs work, the right side is too shadowed.
Godlikebuthumble
New member
I couldn\'t tell...
...but my guess would be that the right one are the vallejos... seriously, I don\'t know. Proves a point, I guess...
btw: my next door arts store has a sell-out of Vallejo model color (not game) for a Euro (about $1,2) each... any comments on the quality and how well they do for minis? I still only use Citadels...
...but my guess would be that the right one are the vallejos... seriously, I don\'t know. Proves a point, I guess...
btw: my next door arts store has a sell-out of Vallejo model color (not game) for a Euro (about $1,2) each... any comments on the quality and how well they do for minis? I still only use Citadels...
Legacy Account
Active member
The one on the left is Vallejo....
Experiment, part two...??
As a second part of the experiment, it would be interesting to put them on a bright wondow sill for a period to test lightfastness. This is as important to me as any other paint quality, perhaps more important than most...
I would have to agree with Space, judging from what I can see in the photo.
As a second part of the experiment, it would be interesting to put them on a bright wondow sill for a period to test lightfastness. This is as important to me as any other paint quality, perhaps more important than most...
E
E-Arkham
Guest
My bet for Vallejo is also on the left side miniature. It will be interesting to see the results.
I don\'t think anyone needs to spend time painting a miniature up for the lightfastness test. You could instead use a strip of plasticard or extra bases, paint closely comparable swatches of colour on each (blue, red, yellow, and black at the least), and leave them out. A control should be done for each paint brand and placed in a box, which would be helpful to measure how much if any fading has occurred.
Strangely enough, out of all the windows in this place, there are none that actually get direct sunlight for the majority of the day. If I can find an appropriate high sunlight area, I will give this a try.
Kep
I don\'t think anyone needs to spend time painting a miniature up for the lightfastness test. You could instead use a strip of plasticard or extra bases, paint closely comparable swatches of colour on each (blue, red, yellow, and black at the least), and leave them out. A control should be done for each paint brand and placed in a box, which would be helpful to measure how much if any fading has occurred.
Strangely enough, out of all the windows in this place, there are none that actually get direct sunlight for the majority of the day. If I can find an appropriate high sunlight area, I will give this a try.
Kep
Valander
Member
I\'m leaning towards the one on the left as Vallejo.
A more interesting question, I think, is which one of these did you find easier to paint? In other words, did you notice any significant differences in *how* you painted, based on which paint you were using?
Pretty nice work on both counts, though!
A more interesting question, I think, is which one of these did you find easier to paint? In other words, did you notice any significant differences in *how* you painted, based on which paint you were using?
Pretty nice work on both counts, though!
Legacy Account
Active member
Come on then, put us out of our misery.......
QuietiManes
New member
The one on the left looks a little cleaner, little less gritty etc. Assuming that wasnt intentional I\'d vote the left is Vallejo.
*twiddles his thumbs*
*twiddles his thumbs*
I\'m a bit behind in the discussion here as I just stumbled across this thread.
Good point, Finn. I\'ve been using craft paints for about 10 yrs. because they\'re cheap. But I now have a huge stockpile of paints that I\'ll probably never use up before they go bad/dry up. Plus they take up more space than the smaller containers. I\'m thinking of switching to Vallejo if I can find a local source - I hate waiting for the mail!
vincegamer
Active member
I deliberately posted this before going away for a couple of days so I could get more replies before commenting. Since I\'ve only got 6 votes on it so far, I\'m going to wait to tell you which is which.
As to ease, the Vallejo was easier to work with only because it was more opaque so used fewer coats, though I suppose I could have thinned it more. My AB paints I had already thinned when putting in the dropper bottles so they are very watered.
The AB paints also had some problems I will attribute to age since they are 10 years old and the Vallejos only about 1 year. I\'ll see how they do in 2014.
Since no one asked this is a Ral Partha scuplt from 1977. Pretty good quality for being almost 30 years old. I really like the Fenris and Midgard Serpent hunting the sun and the moon. What do you all think of my NMM bronze?
As to ease, the Vallejo was easier to work with only because it was more opaque so used fewer coats, though I suppose I could have thinned it more. My AB paints I had already thinned when putting in the dropper bottles so they are very watered.
The AB paints also had some problems I will attribute to age since they are 10 years old and the Vallejos only about 1 year. I\'ll see how they do in 2014.
Since no one asked
this is a Ral Partha scuplt from 1977. Pretty good quality for being almost 30 years old. I really like the Fenris and Midgard Serpent hunting the sun and the moon. What do you all think of my NMM bronze?vincegamer
Active member
photos
Okay, just to give the thread another shot, here are the photos.
I would have entered them earlier, but something happened to superdownloads so I opened a photobucket account.
Oh, and if anyone is curious, this is a Ral Partha figure from 1977. The base is just how they came back then, on a flat disk. The disk is slightly smaller than a dime, as this guy is true 25mm.
So here ya go, make a guess.
Okay, just to give the thread another shot, here are the photos.
I would have entered them earlier, but something happened to superdownloads so I opened a photobucket account.
Oh, and if anyone is curious, this is a Ral Partha figure from 1977. The base is just how they came back then, on a flat disk. The disk is slightly smaller than a dime, as this guy is true 25mm.
So here ya go, make a guess.
The cloak on my crusader was done with an Americana paint called black plum, and every single article of yellow on my miniatures (including nmm) has been done with an americana paint, as I\'ve never gotten around to buying a GW yellow. I love the results...I find the low pigmentation works really well for layering as a midtone. You bascially get the same effect with it as people try to get by adding matte mediums to their paints. A GW shade and highlight together with an americana basecoat have gotten my some of my best results.
Vince, I say Vallejo is the left hand one...
