Kavrae
Junior Strategist
Posts: 182
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Post by Kavrae on Mar 5, 2018 16:43:26 GMT
Ok guys, it looks like I've been asked to teach a one-off miniature painting class for a local charity event. I've got two one-hour timeslots (2nd is a repeat to catch people who missed the first) I'm going to teach complete newbies as much as I can to get them started. Then they get to take their model home to finish themselves. Afterwards, will try some game demos for those who are interested.
The problem is: I'm an excruciatingly slow painter and have never taught anything like this before! Sure, I've taught software development, but this is entirely different.
Supplies Granted via PP PIP 81015 Daniera Madise x15
PIP 93087 Work Studio Brush x15
PIP 93007 Fine Hobby Brush x15
93060 Battledress Green x2
93052 Murderous Magenta x2
93075 Cold Steel x2
93012 Armor Wash x2
93059 Ryn Fleash x2
93161 Kossite Flesh Wash x2
93080 Solid Gold x2
93017 Brown Ink x2
93047 Trollblood Base x2
93070 Trollblood Highlight x2 (black, white, and primer we must provide ourselves due to low supplies) We're going to pre-assemble and prime the Daniera models BEFORE the event.
Current Plan 1) Show them 5 Satyxis Raiders in various stages of completion to give them a "guideline" of which steps I use, and what the effect looks like (only unpainted unit I have left). (I have 1 month to prepare this, which is more than enough) a) Primed only b) Base coat entire model (emphasizing thinned down paints) c) Shading (I use glazing, I'm TERRIBLE with wet blending) d) Highlights (both glazing and drybrush) e) Weathering/finishing 2) Go over the importance of trimming, washing, priming, and thinning paints (do I have time for this? very important though) 3) Teach them the basic painting techniques. (but which ones?)
Help Is this a good way to go about it? Am I missing anything important? Is an hour enough or should I ask for more time? What should I be teaching them in that short timeframe? Maybe work on just one small part to save time? Like base coating a shoulder, then learn how to shade and highlight it properly? Are the examples a good idea or just wasting time? Should I just skip step 2 and go straight into the painting so I don't lose their attention? Considered bringing in my first model and last model as an example of how badly I started and how much I improved. Good idea for "inspiration" or bad idea for "shameless humblebrag"?
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Post by AdeptusB on Mar 5, 2018 19:03:12 GMT
A few comments:
Be sure to prime with black: this will speed up base-coating a bit (anything you can't easily reach is 'in shadow').
I'd throw in some examples of dry-brushing, since this is one of the most simple blending techniques.
Since glazes take a long time to dry, try to do that as the last step of the first hour block.
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Kavrae
Junior Strategist
Posts: 182
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Post by Kavrae on Mar 5, 2018 19:08:47 GMT
I'm not sure what you mean by glazes taking a long time to dry. Maybe we're using the same word to mean two different things? I take it to mean repeatedly going over increasingly smaller sections with a highly diluted shade or highlight to do a smooth transition.
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mattmcd
Junior Strategist
Posts: 521
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Post by mattmcd on Mar 5, 2018 19:55:33 GMT
Considering it is complete newbies I would start by providing a few printed take-home sheet with step by step suggestions from opening the package to varnishing. I would keep the steps as simple as possible and provide a tip on each for a “next level” skill that could be researched later, after they’re confident with the current skills. For instance: 1. Prep - Handout covering the basics of cleaning and assembling models. Show examples of super glue and green stuff assembly with a “next-level” suggestion of learning to pin.
2. Prime - suggestions on priming thin, paint vs aerosol, color? Etc. Next level suggestion to research zenethal or whatever it’s called. Lol.
3. Base - next level “wet blending” 4. Wash - next level “two-brush” 5. Highlight - dry brushing basics with next level suggestion to research “glazing” 6. Protect
Then I would provide another quick tips handout on brush maintenance (as a fairly new player it was nearly a year before I did anything other than rinse with water and lay out to dry)
Then have the unit examples available live in each step as you are suggesting. “This model is in step 2, this in step 3 etc.”
Then for the demonstration part have them start at step 3 and start base coating. Work your way around and be really helpful making sure everyone is good at getting their paint consistency right. Do a small section like you were thinking so they can put on a base coat, put a wash on it and then dry brush on a highlight.
Teach the next step while the paint is drying on their previous step.
If they walk out with a shoulder pad ready for varnish I’d say you rocked it. Lol
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Kavrae
Junior Strategist
Posts: 182
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Post by Kavrae on Mar 5, 2018 19:58:31 GMT
Considering it is complete newbies I would start by providing a few printed take-home sheet with step by step suggestions from opening the package to varnishing. I would keep the steps as simple as possible and provide a tip on each for a “next level” skill that could be researched later, after they’re confident with the current skills. For instance: 1. Prep - Handout covering the basics of cleaning and assembling models. Show examples of super glue and green stuff assembly with a “next-level” suggestion of learning to pin. 2. Prime - suggestions on priming thin, paint vs aerosol, color? Etc. Next level suggestion to research zenethal or whatever it’s called. Lol. 3. Base - next level “wet blending” 4. Wash - next level “two-brush” 5. Highlight - dry brushing basics with next level suggestion to research “glazing” 6. Protect Then I would provide another quick tips handout on brush maintenance (as a fairly new player it was nearly a year before I did anything other than rinse with water and lay out to dry) Then have the unit examples available live in each step as you are suggesting. “This model is in step 2, this in step 3 etc.” Then for the demonstration part have them start at step 3 and start base coating. Work your way around and be really helpful making sure everyone is good at getting their paint consistency right. Do a small section like you were thinking so they can put on a base coat, put a wash on it and then dry brush on a highlight. Teach the next step while the paint is drying on their previous step. If they walk out with a shoulder pad ready for varnish I’d say you rocked it. Lol These are some absolutely amazing ideas. Thank you!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2018 22:20:41 GMT
You might consider doing a demonstration on priming a single model in front of them. Stress the points of spraying lightly, with multiple coats, to keep details on the model. I’ve seen new painters overbase and then lose major interest in the hobby.
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Kavrae
Junior Strategist
Posts: 182
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Post by Kavrae on Mar 5, 2018 23:48:10 GMT
You might consider doing a demonstration on priming a single model in front of them. Stress the points of spraying lightly, with multiple coats, to keep details on the model. I’ve seen new painters overbase and then lose major interest in the hobby. I've actually switched from spray-on primer to paint-on due to the area's weather. Which is probably what I'll recommend for locals, but will certainly talk about both.
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bluebeard
Junior Strategist
crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women
Posts: 293
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Post by bluebeard on Mar 6, 2018 8:50:56 GMT
Since it's for beginners, keep it simple. I like the 3 color with a shader technique. Basically have a base coat color, then a mid tone and a high light for dry brushing. Then take a brown or dark gray shader and cover model. It's easy to teach
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Post by Soul Samurai on Mar 6, 2018 9:36:28 GMT
I'm not sure what you mean by glazes taking a long time to dry. Maybe we're using the same word to mean two different things? I take it to mean repeatedly going over increasingly smaller sections with a highly diluted shade or highlight to do a smooth transition. That's not what I thought glazing meant. I thought it was just meant applying a coat of a "glaze": a thin transparent layer of paint or ink that basically tints the existing colour. What you said sounds like what I thought was called layering? You should probably practice first to see if you can cover everything in the time, and remember that questions and conversations mean everything will take much longer. Personally I think you might be trying to teach too much if they are beginners? When I've tried to teach people miniature painting in the past I showed them basecoats and washes, with drybrushing and/or edge highlighting. Any more than that might prove intimidating.
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Post by NephMakes on Mar 6, 2018 13:31:47 GMT
You should probably practice first to see if you can cover everything in the time, and remember that questions and conversations mean everything will take much longer. [...] Personally I think you might be trying to teach too much if they are beginners? I also suspect that you're trying to cover too much. If teaching miniature painting is anything like teaching undergraduates, one hour goes by really quickly. New teachers typically try to cover too much too fast, leaving student dazed and confused. Since this is a hands-on thing, I bet you've only got time for: - Introduction and getting miniatures into their hands
- Talk about washing, trimming, and priming. Pass around a model that hasn't been prepared so they can see.
- Talk about base coats with thin paints
- Let them start base-coating a part of their minis
- Talk about shading with washes. Some of them might get far enough to start themselves
- Talk about highlights with drybrushing (if any of them make it this far)
- Hand out a sheet with a re-cap of what you've done plus names and brief descriptions of other techniques so they know what to search for online
Anything more than that and some people will be overwhelmed. Plus, base coats and a wash is enough to get them playing with figures painted to "tabletop" quality. Definitely run a practice session with a couple friends, relations, pets, etc.
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Post by W0lfBane on Mar 6, 2018 15:04:03 GMT
Yeah if you're teaching compete newbies I would suggest going over the basics.
Cleaning Priming- the difference between white and black priming Base Shading Highlingting- mid tone and drybrush Sealing.
That's honestly what they'll need to start of. Leave time for them to ask questions.
If you want advanced techniques put those in the worksheets and be like if you want more advanced tech pick up this worksheet at the end.
Lastly. Always make sure to explain "why" Why do you highlight why do you seal.why are you using a toothbrush to clean that model.not enough people tell you why when they teach
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Kavrae
Junior Strategist
Posts: 182
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Post by Kavrae on Mar 6, 2018 16:27:37 GMT
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Post by Soul Samurai on Mar 6, 2018 19:51:56 GMT
One thing you should probably plan on having to explain is WHY we shade and highlight; how light looks different at smaller scale and also how it helps miniatures to be more "readable" from a distance because the shapes are more distinct.
Other than that it all looks good; covers the essentials without going into confusing levels of details. Having said that, IF you're handing out worksheets, some possible topics to mention there might include:
-A small section on caring for your brushes. -The importance of building up to brighter colours with layers of intermediate colours (& the difficulty of painting whites and yellows). -I feel the issue of "official schemes" vs. custom colour schemes might be worth touching upon: new players can sometimes feel unsure about whether colouring a model the way they want is a gaming "faux pas" or not; I suggest encouraging them to exercise their creativity.
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Kavrae
Junior Strategist
Posts: 182
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Post by Kavrae on Mar 6, 2018 20:06:44 GMT
One thing you should probably plan on having to explain is WHY we shade and highlight; how light looks different at smaller scale and also how it helps miniatures to be more "readable" from a distance because the shapes are more distinct. Other than that it all looks good; covers the essentials without going into confusing levels of details. Having said that, IF you're handing out worksheets, some possible topics to mention there might include: -A small section on caring for your brushes. -The importance of building up to brighter colours with layers of intermediate colours (& the difficulty of painting whites and yellows). -I feel the issue of "official schemes" vs. custom colour schemes might be worth touching upon: new players can sometimes feel unsure about whether colouring a model the way they want is a gaming "faux pas" or not; I suggest encouraging them to exercise their creativity. Those are some good points. I will see where I can work them in. Yellow and White difficulty I'll talk about during the priming section if I can. As one of the strengths of white primer and how those colors are just always difficult to work with and keep clean. Alternate color schemes I'll mention and encourage when doing the base color. Let them choose anything they want rather than sticking to the same color scheme from the beginning. The point about light and scale I can probably fit into the shading tutorial. This one took me quite a while to realize myself. Would have been nice to have heard about it from day 1. Building up layers of colors I can add to the highlights section. I'm currently working on the handouts now. Starting with the basic info from the class. Adding one "advanced" item for them to research for each section. Then I'll see how much room I have for extra stuff like brush care.
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Post by W0lfBane on Mar 6, 2018 20:35:47 GMT
One concern. Since they'll be sharing their models doesn't that mess the model won't have time to dry before the highlighting section
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