A Beginners Guide to Painting – Painting by Warhammer
A little while back, my Partner and I attended a Sydney Games Workshop while wasting time waiting for our train to arrive. Now this wasn’t my first time actually going to an Official store however we never made the time to complete part of the battle honours program. This Beginners Painting Guide is the Warhammer Introduction to the Hobby.
After having a quick Look around trying to convince my partner to choose an army (Don’t worry I’m still trying to convince her) we sat down to complete the Painting Beginners Guide.
We didn’t really know how this worked but we had plenty of time to waste. A Warhammer Employee sat us down in front of everything we need and shortly we were given a short run down on all their products.
Warhammer Beginner Equipment
We were introduced to all the basics in Miniature painting. These were all citadel products which is obviously a great marketing move. These products are perfect for Beginners.
Tools
We were both provided with each of the following
Paints
A line up of Paints were also provided by the Warhammer Staff. These include:
- Kantor blue
- Mephiston red
- Corax white
- Abadoon black
- Stormhost silver
- Retributor armour
- Agrax Earthshade
Miniatures
We also had the option of two miniatures that were already assembled and pre-primed, the Games Workshop employee also gave us the rundown on the importance of priming.
- Infernus Space Marine for 40k
- Stormcast Eternal Vindicator for Age of Sigmar
We evidently went with the Vindicator
Beginner Guide to Painting – The Process
The introduction was a short rundown on a few things about Warhammer beginner guide, tips and techniques for painting. Things like brush care, paint control, thinning paints and some lore regarding the miniature.
I really wish I got to learn all this early on, it really shows on my first miniature. My brush also did not live long either.
As someone who doesn’t play age of Sigmar, it was actually very interesting learning about the Stormcast. Just one of the things you learn to hate because of the community I guess. They do fit into the setting and I could honestly own an army one day.
Firstly, starting with Kantor Blue
As we painted the shield and the shoulders blue, we were made to thin the paints with water. This required us to use two thin coats for the best coverage. There was no pressure of making a mess of the miniature either as we could clean it up later on.
Secondly we added the silver.
This area just covered the scale mail and the tip of the spear tip. We also learned on how metallics worked, and that the damage it may cause to the brush.
Around this time I realised how well some of the Games Workshop Equipment was. I never really used their brushes and I was thoroughly surprised. I also really enjoyed the paper palette. Personally I didn’t even know of this product.
Gold
While we were waiting for the blue to dry, we used the gold to clean up the shoulders and shield. We also filled in the little details on the shoulder in gold. This was a Lion on the Right Shoulder pad and the imagery of Sigmar on the Shield.
Next we started with the red on the spear handle.
At this point we were more guided than instructed, merely indicated where the colours often are but we could really place them wherever we liked. I tried to keep to the box but doing a little more that we were told. As we coated the red I also mixed a little white so I could highlight the details along the spear.
The Warhammer Employee instructing us also came back see our technique with painting and ensuring we thinned our paints as instructed.
Lastly we had the Black and white details.
Black on the belt and the under armour. This was left until later as they were smaller details and seemed to be a little more difficult for my partner. It was fine though as she went back and corrected the colours.
White on the shield and shoulder lightning bolts. We also painted the little runic script/scroll white. This is essentially the purity seal of the Stormcast.
Although we were finished at this point we were given a pot of Agrax Earthshade.
We essentially coated all of the gold and the silver with this. As explained this was to fill in the recesses and build definition. I also painted the White Scroll at this point and this allowed us to explore tinting with the washes. If we went too overboard with the wash we could soak some of it up with the brush.
ALL DONE
We had completed the Painting side of the Battle Honours Program. We made up a little box for the miniature and placed it in.
Warhammers Painting Guide to Painting Techniques
Now the end of painting our miniatures we actually learned quiet a bit during this Warhammer Painting Guide. Firstly was the general care for brushes.
Learning about brushes for beginners.
Now before miniature painting, I had never been taught how to care for brushes, and really I didn’t even know we had to. Washing the brush was only if we were changing colour and you would always fill the brush to the tip.
IF I done that today. I don’t think id bring myself to paint ever again.
Brush care was explained throughout the whole process. We were first informed to not overload the brush. The instructor loaded the brush to put paint on the palette and quickly washed out the paint. After thinning the paint he only loaded the top half of the brush and began painting. He left us for a minute or two and came back to explain washing the brushes.
As we both had not changed colours we continually loaded after running out of paint instead of washing out the brush first. He showed us how it dried to the brush and recommended we wash the brush out every minute or so.
Lucky the brushes were not permanently damaged.
Thinning Paints
Now back to thinning paints. Something I definitely did not do on my first miniatures was thinning my paints. Most cheap acrylic paints don’t have the pigments to water down, this teaches us to just load up the canvas until we can’t see the white canvas. With miniature painting it is a lot more intricate. We need to thin to ensure we keep the texture of the miniature.
Everyone has seen this video
A mixture of Water and Paint at a 1 to 1 ratio was ideal for Citadel Paints. Another way to visualise this was to try and emulate the texture of milk or a soup. This allowed for a consistent outcome once we painted the model.
Whoops
Something surprising that I never really thought about was the explanation of fixing mistakes. The instructor was very helpful when we made mistakes, maybe even happy. He showed us a variety of ways we could fix our mistakes. Base coating back over was a great way of cleaning our miniature. Washing some water over some wet paint was also an easy way of just wiping an error off the vindicator. Now the most important one was not stressing if we made a mistake as I could lead to a new opportunity. We could turn the mistake into battle damage, inspire some details or even lead to some free hand. They really made us feel like we weren’t tuning the model.
Washing/Tinting
Wash paints was something I’m very glad they covered during this. On YouTube the only explanation of washes is to bring out definition by painting the recesses of a miniature. This is not how Games Workshop explained washes. Although we did use the was for some recess shading, it was more considered a glazing medium.
We coloured the armour and the scroll just using the wash. Using multiple layers or colours allowed us to generate different effects, whether that be shading, glazing or layering. I feel like this is the correct use of Washes, how many people treat Contrast paints.
This is another thing I’m glad they did not use during this session, contrast paints. Contrasts is a cheats way of adding detail onto a miniature, however it’s essentially eliminating one step. The control of the thickness of paints. You can pretty much achieve the same effect using a layer or base paint if you thin the paint enough. You may need to use some medium but you will achieve the same result.
Results
Here are the finished products.
They do look pretty good for the half hour of time we spent on them. Though most of the paint on these are the primer, we did really feel accomplished by the end of this. Spending time painting with others really made this experience one of my highlights in my painting journey. Even if it wasn’t my greatest work.
WHAT ELSE???
There are some things I wish they covered during the painting session. They completely skipped over basing. I’m not sure if we just ran out of time or they forgot but the miniature is already on a sculpted base. Meaning it just needs paint and to repaint the rim. Skipping this just reinforces not completely finishing the miniature.
The lack of colour creativity was also lacking during the experience. Adding one or two colours to the mix that aren’t pre allocated could allow newer painters not only experiment with other paints or mediums, but could allow them to explore the miniature painting process with some independence. I may have wanted my spear shaft green rather than the red or added some extra depth with Coelia Greenshade.
Though there were things lacking for this experience, it was overall an amazing thing they have offered.
And it is free!
Thank you Games Workshop Sydney
I congratulate Games Workshop on this experience, and I do believe these are the experiences that they need to bring people into the hobby. Bringing people into the hobby with no price at all. I originally stopped painting as it was something I could not work out. with this guide however, I don’t think I would have had that initial negative experience.
I know there are plenty more programs they do hold inside the stores so hopefully I’ll get to pick up another soon.
