Thoughts on painting

Not too much to add here. Just a few random thoughts from recent experiences.

I've started to use Windex to thin my paints. This works surprisingly well. I use the clear, "natural", eco friendly kind. I'm not sure what the regular, blue kind would do the colors so I'm not even going to try and find out. Anyway, I find that it makes paints flow from the brush better than water. The paint literally goes where you want it to go. Nice. Only problem is that it appears as though the mixture encourages the paint to flow right up into the brush's fuller. Not so good. Gotta clean the brush extra regularly.

I finally managed to get my hands on a couple of the new GW washes. I'm liking them better than the old inks. Not as shiny and they flow better. They do seem to be a little too subtle on just one coat. It looks like washing will need to be done in layers.

I like the idea of painting outside. After being stuck inside all day at work, I really don't want to sit at the old workbench and paint while the remainder of day is busy being beautiful. There are a lot of problems with that though. I have to pack everything up for the expedition. I will forget something important. You would think the sun would be great for painting. No. It is either too bright or not bright enough, usually in turns. The combo of wind and sunlight also dries your paints crazy fast. Ah well, enjoy it anyway.

For Starters

So I've got me a blog. I think it should be fitting that I show off the very first miniature I ever painted. Somebody or Another the Rotund from Ral Partha:



Pretty sweet, huh? Looks kind of beat up. I must have painted him somewhere around 1990. In the 8th grade. I used acrylic paints and sable brushes even. I was already ahead of the curve by not using Testors enamels.

I think I'll repaint him now that I took a picture...

As for the present, I'm currently working on completing my British, French and German fleets for the Aeronef game. There will be pictures! Also in the works (you know, aside from everything else) is a Knoe Shoshu from the Space 1889 RPG that I'm sculpting. This gribbly creature is due to be completed by the end of the month. I shudder at the thought.

Another ongoing project is my Empire army for Warhammer Fantasy Battle. It was started sometime around 1993 and is still not finished. It's a mess is what it is. Not a badly painted mess but it just plain isn't done yet. I've been struggling with deciding on a unified base scheme for all the painted units. Something that will really make the army look done. More on this in the future.

Project number 2654 is my newly conceived world of Angstrad for use with the Dungeons and the Dragons. Most likely for AD&D second edition or D&D Rules Cyclopedia. Maybe a mash of both. It will be all gribbly and cool. You will read about it here first.