Ok ... so I have my ongoing New Guy thread and, currently, I am tinkering with pin washes and filters. Learning that it takes time, as the paints need much longer to cure than acrylics, yet you get some awesome, while looking natural, results. The time required, though, is significant. Like, 24-48 hours of drying time prior to the next step or your thinner eliminates 100% of the work done. Yeah ... learned this via trial/error. So really cool techniques ... thus far my favorite results ... much time required between steps.

Meanwhile, there is the process of underpainting; shading; glazing and highlighting minis only with acrylics. Labor intensive and I have noticed some painters, like Sorastro, are very subtle. Results are amazing and lean natural. Lot of patience and less time to let paints dry, as compared to oils. Many light layers. Acrylics dry quickly. A light layer even quicker.

Conversely, I have noticed other solid painters go for a far more dramatic effect with highlights, as to have the little figure pop at a distance. Up close looks little more comic book/animated=esque but high on rule of cool. Same holds true. Patience and less time to let paints dry compared to oils. From watching tutorials of artist that work this way there is also less time. Not as many gradients of color.

I have painted 3 minis ... my test Rebel group with the IA pack of commandos. That is my life's experience and want to add that for sake of context. From my novice perspective ... ignorance is bliss ... however you want to dice that up ...

Given the results you can achieve with oils via pin/filter/shadowing, why not apply those on minis? Is it due to the time required for the oils to cure? Are those techniques better suited for vehicles and I am missing something? Would oils on minis be considered "cheating" ... opting for a method too easy and frowned upon?

Same question for strategic placement/use of pastels/powders on minis? Too easy?

And when I say too easy or cheating ... think of it like someone at a 5 Star chop house asking for either ketchup or A-1 for a filet. Waiter would most likely roll eyes and laugh at the customer and or the chef would probably get little wound up and come out to the table. Most likely each happens. The artist, who in this case is the chef, would be put off.

So are higher-end artist/long-time hobbyist put off by oils on minis or is it ok to use them? Drying time dissuade folks?

Several of you are really good painters/modelers. Thus, I put this out to the crowd and, as always, appreciate the help/answers

I am not professional by any means but I would say I have had some good looking miniatures in my collection. I always use acrylics. I typically use a combination of highlighting and washes. I used to paint over black base coat but after watching sorastros videos I think I will switch to white.

For me it comes down to 'playing painted'. While miniatures painted with oils look great they also take more time and I need to paint dozens of figures and a handful of vehicles. I'm a slow painter already and can't really afford to be any slower so I work with faster techniques - acrylics, air-brushing, etc.

I think that you have to decide based on your goals, available time, and physical ability what you want to achieve.

A handful of spectacular looking minis ready to win a serious painting competition?

A fully painted army that looks great on the table but lacks the attention to detail that wins the top awards.

Somewhere in between...?

Perhaps you've already found him but James Wappel is an incredible miniature painter who uses oils a lot. You should check him out. I'd post a link but don't know what the rules are for such things.

Good Luck!

PS - I don't mean to imply nor do I agree that miniatures painted with oils look better than those with other techniques. They are just another tool in a painters arsenal.

J--

To address the "cheating..." If you get a look that you are happy with, it's not cheating. There may be people that want to argue with you about how you did it, but ignore them. Ultimately, the goal is your satisfaction with the game and if you achieve that then keep doing what you do.

3 hours ago, Dash Two said:

Ok ... so I have my ongoing New Guy thread and, currently, I am tinkering with pin washes and filters. Learning that it takes time, as the paints need much longer to cure than acrylics, yet you get some awesome, while looking natural, results. The time required, though, is significant. Like, 24-48 hours of drying time prior to the next step or your thinner eliminates 100% of the work done. Yeah ... learned this via trial/error. So really cool techniques ... thus far my favorite results ... much time required between steps.

Meanwhile, there is the process of underpainting; shading; glazing and highlighting minis only with acrylics. Labor intensive and I have noticed some painters, like Sorastro, are very subtle. Results are amazing and lean natural. Lot of patience and less time to let paints dry, as compared to oils. Many light layers. Acrylics dry quickly. A light layer even quicker.

Conversely, I have noticed other solid painters go for a far more dramatic effect with highlights, as to have the little figure pop at a distance. Up close looks little more comic book/animated=esque but high on rule of cool. Same holds true. Patience and less time to let paints dry compared to oils. From watching tutorials of artist that work this way there is also less time. Not as many gradients of color.

I have painted 3 minis ... my test Rebel group with the IA pack of commandos. That is my life's experience and want to add that for sake of context. From my novice perspective ... ignorance is bliss ... however you want to dice that up ...

Given the results you can achieve with oils via pin/filter/shadowing, why not apply those on minis? Is it due to the time required for the oils to cure? Are those techniques better suited for vehicles and I am missing something? Would oils on minis be considered "cheating" ... opting for a method too easy and frowned upon?

Deciding on the visibility of highlights is a personal preference. It comes down to what you are trying to achieve with the miniature; more specifically how you expect them to be viewed. A "showcase" miniature will have more natural, more blended highlights that look great in a close up picture. A "gaming" miniature is meant to be viewed from several feet away - generally you need rather sharp highlights that can pop out from that distance.

There is no concept of "cheating" as far as I am concerned. The end result of painted miniatures on the table is appreciated by everyone involved. More - the technique is much less important than the execution and result. I have seen TERRIBLE jobs using "dip", and GREAT jobs using the same method. If you can't stay in the lines, no amount of layering or wet-blending with a 0/0 brush is going to result in a good looking miniature.

3 hours ago, Dash Two said:

Same question for strategic placement/use of pastels/powders on minis? Too easy?

And when I say too easy or cheating ... think of it like someone at a 5 Star chop house asking for either ketchup or A-1 for a filet. Waiter would most likely roll eyes and laugh at the customer and or the chef would probably get little wound up and come out to the table. Most likely each happens. The artist, who in this case is the chef, would be put off.

So are higher-end artist/long-time hobbyist put off by oils on minis or is it ok to use them? Drying time dissuade folks?

Several of you are really good painters/modelers. Thus, I put this out to the crowd and, as always, appreciate the help/answers

To reiterate: do not bother with what is considered "right", if someone doesn't like a certain method or material, and especially do not bother with trying to impress people with how snazzy and difficult your choices were. Some of the weathering powders and such I see now are both easy to use and look great. Rather than being snobby about, I'm more jealous they either weren't around or that I simply didn't know about them when I started painting.

I mix just about anything into my arsenal if it helps me achieve my goals. I paint with acrylics but also use oils for washes from time to time. Yes, the drying time is a negative, but sometimes I just need something I can work with over time on the miniature or terrain rather than a water based solution that gives me practically zero time with the color. I'll layer, I'll use colored primers, I've used dip, oils, alchohol based materials (I really like some of the golds in this catergory), it's all good if it works for you!

When I had to paint 180 goblin miniatures for a WFB army, you can bet your best paint brush I used some colored primer and a can of (carefully) thinned Minwax to make that happen. They look dang nice on the table. The alternative of never having them painted, ever, is certainly worse. I'm positive that every single one of my opponents would agree that facing my army of goblins using an easy (but very effective if done with care and skill) method of shading is far superior to having 10% of them painted to a beyond-tabletop standard.

BOOM!

I really appreciate the community. Ask and answers. Much, much appreciated.

jsalyers, yep, found Wappel and his work. CRAZY talent.

I think I am going to take a test mini and do a base layer with acrylics, as normal, and, then, try to highlight with oils.. Same approach I am using with a pair of models. Personally, I am finding it easier ... much ... to work with the oils and struggling with the drying time, which is major downside.

You can use liquitex slow dry or acrylic extender for more open time.

45 minutes ago, onebit73 said:

You can use liquitex slow dry or acrylic extender for more open time.

Thank you. I am a failing fast type and have picked up a product like this. Tinkered with it and was able to notice how it changed the behavior of the paint.

though more expensive I do like the "new" GW paints that tell you what "Kind" of paint they are.
Base, Layer, Dry, technical and shade. I plan to try the "base" paints as my first layer of color on my rebels.
Privateer Press does a similar thing with "matching" base and highlight colors.

I never liked oils simply because of the harsh solvents and thinners needed to clean up brushes and mistakes. Acrylics' easier & quicker cleanup is a big deal for me, especially with a small child in the house - even more so in the winter when I can't open a window to air out the house.

I no longer use oils due to fumes. My plastic model building teenage years were not sufficiently ventilated & I have pretty serious reactions to heavy fumes now. But the bonus has been easier clean up, longer brush life, more time painting than preparing to paint, easier airbrush use. Also, since my first child is due any week now, being able to paint while watching the kid will be good.