Figmentia: Ruminations on Painting

- By Richard Dagger

I started collecting 25mm models about 12 or 13 years ago. At the time it seemed like a neat way to represent role-playing characters, and they were sold at places like Mind Games, where I spent lots of money anyway. They looked cool, so I bought some – and that’s where it all started. I expanded from role-playing to include tabletop games like Space Crusade and Hero Quest. Whilst quite primitive games, they had lots of neat models, which I attacked with my Humbrol enamels (shudder).

About 10 years ago, I met some people at college who played wargames with little figures. Already being interested in painting the things, I started collecting an army for Epic (GW). Then I was introduced to Warhammer, which with my fantasy background seemed like a good idea. Then, with the sound of inevitability came my favourite game: Warhammer 40k.  

Whilst wargaming provided the impetus to get into buying figures, they soon became an end in themselves. While, over the years my dedication to the gaming side of the hobby has fluxed, my interest in buying and painting little lead men has remained constant.

While a large number of my purchases have been Games Workshop figures, I also have quite a number of Grenadier, Ral Partha, Target, Foundry, Battlefront and other models. Regrettably, it’s very difficult to get anything other than Games Workshop models in Wellington, or in fact most of New Zealand any longer. Whilst the excellent Battlefront figures are available, and a few places carry the new AD&D line from Wizards of the Coast (WOTC), there is very little available off the shelf from other figure lines (particularly for those interested in buying cool figures to paint, rather than models for a specific game). I’m lazy, but Internet shopping is becoming a more and more attractive option to get some of the figures I want to paint – Rakham, I-Kore and just some of the wacky stuff I’ve seen on the internet.

Painting though. Painting is my true love, the thing I buy the little men for, and one of my major leisure activities (other than dressing up in medieval drag and beating other people round the head with wooden swords.)

Why paint? For some people it’s a laborious task, the thing you have to do to play in tournaments, where unpainted figures are not generally allowed. For me, it’s an end in itself, and more and more I find myself painting for the love of it, rather than to get some army finished. There are some excellent resources on the internet such as websites like Dr Faust’s Painting Clinic, but one of the most valuable I have found is the yahoo groups minipainters list. Lots of good advice, friendly people who will critique your work in a constructive fashion, and lots of people who post links to new models, things they’ve painted, websites and so on. A great resource.

Trying new things and listening to advice is a good way to improve your skills. A few years ago I hit a plateau, and wasn’t really improving or going anywhere. After finding the minipainters list (thanks Rachel), and experimenting, I find I’m improving again, and my love for the hobby has just grown stronger. Sometimes I paint things in the ‘proper’ colour scheme to master techniques. Other times I try something new, trying to create something original. But I think it’s important to push yourself. When I see a technique I like the look of, or a look I want to achieve, I try and find a model to use it on ASAP. It’s easy to not bother, or not take the risk of something that may not work, but the satisfaction in adding a new technique to your repertoire is worth it.

I’m also entering more painting competitions and displays. One of the reasons for doing this is because I think I’m pretty good, and I like others to see my work. And of course there’s the possibility of winning cool stuff. But the main reason is because such competitions help you grow as a painter. You have a reason to do your best, to reach further than the last figure you painted. The other entries can provide a source of inspiration – it’s unusual for me to look at a competition, or go to a wargaming convention, without coming away with some ideas from what others have done. And painting competitions can be a great source of critical feedback. Most of the world, (e.g. people like my flatmate) are not painters. They know what they like, but don’t really appreciate the subtleties of the techniques I use. But other good painters, competition judges and the like can provide you with valuable feedback, hints and tips. It helps to develop a thick skin – judging such competitions is a subjective thing, and you have to be willing to accept criticism if you want to learn how to improve.

Painting miniatures is a hobby for some of us, a chore to be avoided for others. For some of us, it is one of the best things about the hobby, an enjoyable activity in itself, producing a result that we can be justifiably proud.

Notes

Minipainters mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mini-painter
Dr Faust’s Paining Clinic: http://www.paintinclinic.com