I’ve been trying to improve my painting skill. I want models that I can look at and know that I gave them a decent effort. Also I enjoy painting models so I feel it is worthwhile trying to improve. This means that I look for techniques that require more skill, like creating lighting using layering, compared to ones that get a good result fast, like using speed paint. Layering is where you paint layers of paint each with a different value to create a gradient and speed paint is a watery paint designed to go over white that is specially formulated to collect in the recesses and away from the raised portions to give a smooth gradient in one coat. I feel that whilst speed paint gives a gradient of light to dark, it does not match how light will fall on an actual person well enough.

The next level I feel is to do non-metallic metal, this is layering pushed to the extreme to give the impression that the surface is metal. This is compared to using true-metallic metal, which is a shiny paint, which I feel doesn’t create a unified looking model when combined with layering. However this is an advanced technique, one where you need precise brush skills and some sense of how light bounces. So I wanted to practice before I started on my Ninth Age models.

When I was at MOAB I picked up a sprue of five skeletons which were perfect for the job. I also wanted to have fun with the shadows, so instead of just going from light to dark I experimented with a blue shadow on red. Now I made many mistakes with painting non-metallic metal, the spear tips were especially difficult due to their large and unnatural size. Overall I feel that I got to a point where I can start on other miniatures.

Skeltons

Now doing all this took much longer than using metallic paints and washes. I feel that even due to my brush speed increasing I’m taking a similar amount of time on each model. This isn’t really for everyone as most people seem to be satisfied with quicker techniques and want to get through painting as fast as reasonably possible so they don’t have to field a grey army. Though personally I’m quite happy spending hours on a single model and I’m not daunted by my big box of grey.

I enjoyed trying new model painting skills and seeing the improvements in my models as I practice.