Monday, December 9, 2013

You Can Do It2: Stonehenge!

One of the things I hear people say all the time when they see my work is, "Wow, that is incredible! I could NEVER do that!" Well... sorry to disappoint *wink* but "NOT TRUE!" :D

One of the purposes in this blog is to contribute to the rapidly growing knowledge out there about miniatures, miniature painting, gaming, etc., and more directly to assist noob enthusiasts with some direction that so many of us (early on) had to struggle through by way of trial and error! 'Nuff said about that!

Today's post is with the help of a patron who meandered into the game store I mini-paint at, and saw me staring at this piece here...
I had just finished putting the sheet of flock down (You can purchase sheets at any legit Hobby Store!) after dry-brushing the edges on this terrain piece, to go on the terrain table there...
 
Seeing the pile of styrofoam rubble laying next to the terrain piece...
(click any pic to enlarge)
He rubbed his bearded chin and said, "Hmmmm, I have an idea... but I have never done anything like this before!  Haven't even touched a paint brushed!"  Chagrined, and with a devious smile I said, "Tell me what your idea is, and perhaps I can help!"
 
He started pulling pieces out of the pile and (with some initial direction) started trimming them up with the Styrofoam cutter I had laying there on the table...
He glued the pieces together and "pinned" them using some long picture nails I happened to have laying around.  After using a black spray primer to base coat, I then showed him how to "dry-brush"; a simple technique which uses feathery-light passes with a brush in order to apply paint to the "ridges" on the object being painted.

Here is a piece that he had finished, setting out to dry...

Once all the pieces had been painted, it was time to show him how to secure them to the terrain piece; I poked a few of those picture nails up through the base of the terrain, and he began gluing them into place...
After gluing the pieces down, he decided he wanted to put a little pathway in, but wasn't quite sure how to do it... so handing him a piece of card leftover from a case of red-bulls, some scissors, and the can of black primer, he went to work...



SHAZAM! For never having any modeling, crafting, or mini-painting experience, this patron really did a phenomenal job! He and I were both really pleased with the result!  I tell people all the time that one of the best tools a mini-painter has in his tool-box is patience, and a few simple tricks (like dry-brushing); anyone can really do it! :D
 
Here are some snap-shots with some Imperial Fist space marines moving in:
Veteran Assault Sergeant reconing the area for his squad...
 
Bringing in the Company Commander!
 
Okay, this is just a REALLY cool shot! :D
 
It was soooo much fun sharing this experience with this patron named Jacob!  And now he has some confidence in his abilities to craft, build, and paint! 
That is (in all honesty) one of the funnest things about what I do here (also one of the biggest "pay-days"), sharing my love for this miniature world with others!  Great Stuff!

2 comments:

  1. Nice ideas, the result is excellent!

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  2. Thanks Phil! Even for a veteran terrain painter, the result is excellent and this guy was brand new to it! Most pleasing! :D

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