What difference is there between using Citadel paints and 'normal' acrylic paints (ie- Americiana) that an artist would use on a canvas?

I think that model paints have a higher amount of pigment that allows for a more homogenous colour. I don't believe it is impossible to paint with 'normal' paint and thin them down for use, however, I imagine it'll prove a great deal more difficult.

Look at the texture of a canvas vs the plastic model. The canvas absorbs paint and is rough vs the model. The viscosity is also different I believe. The model paint I see tends to be a bit 'thinner' and goes in much thinner layers for layering and blending than the thickness of an artist acrylic imo

Pigment saturation as mentioned above is another good consideration

Dr. Sorastro, paging Dr. Sorastro, come in please

My wife is an artist, and has an extensive amount of paints--- and I am trying to decide if it is worth investing in various model paints or if I can just use what she has.

And yes, this is my first foray into miniature painting---- being inspired by Sorastro's videos.

Unless you are aiming for competitive quality painting, you will be just fine with Americana (or other cheaper brands) paint, you just need to thin it a little bit more or you'll cover all the details of the miniature.

I paint all my miniatures using Reapers, Citadel and Americana paint and I get results that I consider good enough for tabletop gaming.

Citadel does have great technical paint, which can be great for blood, rust, corrosion etc. Regular craft paint isn't going to give you the depth in quality as paints such as this. These could be used selectively if you want to save cash from Citadel and go with a less expensive craft paint.

Citadel does have great technical paint, which can be great for blood, rust, corrosion etc. Regular craft paint isn't going to give you the depth in quality as paints such as this. These could be used selectively if you want to save cash from Citadel and go with a less expensive craft paint.

And washes! Washes are amazing and it is definitely worth investing in Nuln Oil and a few other selected ones.

Citadel does have great technical paint, which can be great for blood, rust, corrosion etc. Regular craft paint isn't going to give you the depth in quality as paints such as this. These could be used selectively if you want to save cash from Citadel and go with a less expensive craft paint.

And washes! Washes are amazing and it is definitely worth investing in Nuln Oil and a few other selected ones.

Another solution, if you're on a budget or just don't want to buy washes, is doing it old school and do your own washes by thinning down your colors even more. This way, you have access to every colors to do your washes. Just take the color you want, and mix it with more water than usual until it has the consistency you want (with Americana paint, it's usually between 7-10 part water for 1 part paint)

If you are to invest a little, I would suggest buying and keeping a good brush. In my opinion, the quality of the brush is more important than the paint. Go for a Size 0 for the most part and a Size 10/0 for the smallest details. Clean it often when you paint, acrylic dry fast.

Citadel does have great technical paint, which can be great for blood, rust, corrosion etc. Regular craft paint isn't going to give you the depth in quality as paints such as this. These could be used selectively if you want to save cash from Citadel and go with a less expensive craft paint.

And washes! Washes are amazing and it is definitely worth investing in Nuln Oil and a few other selected ones.

Another solution, if you're on a budget or just don't want to buy washes, is doing it old school and do your own washes by thinning down your colors even more. This way, you have access to every colors to do your washes. Just take the color you want, and mix it with more water than usual until it has the consistency you want (with Americana paint, it's usually between 7-10 part water for 1 part paint)

If you are to invest a little, I would suggest buying and keeping a good brush. In my opinion, the quality of the brush is more important than the paint. Go for a Size 0 for the most part and a Size 10/0 for the smallest details. Clean it often when you paint, acrylic dry fast.

Citadel does something to their washes that behaves a little differently than water. You can get their lahmium medium and add whatever acrylic paint you want to get that type of wash as well.

I will be using my acrylic tubes for painting my minis. That is what I have used for decades, now. They are not difficult to use, just add a little water to thin them a bit. I also use acrylic medium to make them transparent. Too much water breaks down the integrity of the paint... The pigments are often more predictable, saturated and you can adjust viscosity to your liking. They are no different then using bottled color hobby paint. In the long run, they will cost more because you are buying a lot of paint! One tube can last years!

Small acrylic bottle paints (i.e. Americana) are usually thinner in consistency, much like hobby paint. They are a good bargain and come in a large array of colors including metal finishes. I use these with my tube paints.

The hobby paints (i.e. Citadel) are pre mixed into certain colors for ease of use, especially for matching colors in larger jobs. Unless you use acrylic tubes to paint, buy hobby paints or smaller acrylic bottles. I have found that hobby paints that come in pots (small bottles) dry out faster than the others, though.