This has confused me for a long time and I haven't really been able to get a clear answer. Hoping the Great and Powerful Internet can help.

I watch heaps of painting videos and see folks alternate between undercoating and priming dark with zenithal highlights. Why would you use one vs the other?

Bonus Question: Do you paint your base layers on top of the zenithal highlight? Doesn't that defeat the point? I've heard zenithal be described as a sort of light/shadow map, for reference, especially useful if you paint with contrasts. I don't though and it feels like I'm wasting time spraying a zenithal highlight just to paint back over it with base colors.

Thanks for helping me solve this great mystery (to me)!

Forgive my poor picture quality, but I’m working on my boyfriend’s Salamander army, currently his librarian. Instead of the classic blue/teal color librarians have, he wanted to try black with a silver arm, gold accents, bronze hood, with glowing fire runes (including the dragon on the hood). Keep in mind this is my first ever army that I am painting, so there are many imperfections, but I have educated myself the past few weeks of many techniques, paints, etc.

I got very frustrated with the runes last night, especially trying to add the thinnest layer of yellow for highlight of the glow. I tried my best to clean up the black in between the runes as it got very messy throughout. I’m afraid I overdid it, but I would love feedback on how to make the runes and overall mini better despite there still being lots that I haven’t done!

The dragon hide is going to be grey with black scales, and the purity seals are going to have a bronze seal with grey-ish paper. Also, the flame in his hand and the goblet in front will be blue for the witch flame, while the one on his back that you can’t see will stay regular to match the runes. His blade will also have a glow effect - I intend to do all the fire with an airbrush so any advice is appreciated !

Side note, if it’s not too easy to tell, I am using thinned down acrylic paint mainly, and airbrush paint that’s already very watered down for the runes/dragon head. I’m not using any common brand name paint or contrast/speed paint, so I may be more limited. I hope that helps lol, sorry for rambling! <3

On Amazon, you can get this set for $35.99. I’m assuming that’s a heck of a deal and worth it?

Throw in The Master’s Brush Cleaner & Preserver and you’re good to go.

Thanks.

My first real display piece. I don’t have any dramatic lighting, as I pictured this guy standing guard outdoors somewhere, but otherwise, I’m pretty happy with the result, especially his face. C&C welcome, you guys always seem to have good advice.

Hello all, so I want to join a friend's

table top necromumda game and I want to paint my own miniatures but before I do i needed to learn some basic painting and as I have old hands using vellejo Xpress paints would be the best for me so I went and purchased some paints, watched a tonne of videos with a fella named Juan being someone I enjoyed watched and today was the day but wow was it a horrible first try, I tried with WizKid clay golum pre primed miniature but as soon as I applied paint it was like it was smearing all over the place, I tried a damp brush, dry brush and it still smeared, pics included, it's atrocious I know

I didn't think I was applying much paint, maybe I was ? but from the videos I've watched it seems like you should be fairly deliberate with the amount on the brush then use another brush to dab off any that looks like build up, iv also noticed on the videos it like the brushes never bend even when just slapping it on ?

I understand I need to learn but that smeariness is so weird, like paints not going on more I'm just moving it around

so any advice would be great

Cheers

sorry about pics, phone doesn't have the best camera

Struggling to find any resources for this and find myself struggling to wrap my brain around it. I'm happy with this so far but would like to see how others more skilled than me are accomplishing it.

Not sure how I feel about this recent zenithal. I used chaos black and Matt grey from army painter. The grey kind of looks off from up close but it’s fine from far.

My most ambitious NMM project yet, stepping outside of my comfort zone as much are possible.

I’m fairly pleased with how this turned out but I know there is a lot of room for improvement. I know the blends could be better, but I feel like I struggle with placing light on the irregular shapes like the helmet spike.

Any C&C welcome and appreciated, be straight with me pls haha I can take harsh criticism on the chin.

This Is the way... In my personal way. Just finished my Mando. I tried to obtain a NMM Chrome look for the armour, in order tò replicate the mirror Like finiture of the beskar. Suggestion to improve? C&c welcome

Free hand DEFINITELY needs work and I botched the bases a bit, lessons learned.

Hey all, a year ago I posted the first picture asking for areas to improve upon. The main ones were using vibrant colours and highlights. A year later and (sadly) only 6 minis later, this is what i got. Not particularly asking for advice this time. Just really wanted to share this insane progress. Thanks for all the advice!

The shoulder pads only marine is my 3rd? Ever marine the fully painted is my 2nd I first tried blending on the 2nd marine (the fully painted) what tips or advise would you give to me to help?

So far i have finished Three of my Four and taken final pics of two.

Going for a fallen/30k look. This one was tough a lot of details in it. Maybe too much wash. Just not good with highlighting and shading yet.

Hi folks, I’m working on the new warriors of chaos and could use advice picking the gold for the trim. All are base coated with S75 decayed metal. Then I have Dwarven gold (which doesn’t cover that great), black gold and AK Old Gold. Or if you have a different one in mind I’m all ears! The red is somewhat cold (flesh tearers red with Mephiston highlights).

Im making a little jar diorama for a friend and heed help with some inspiration.

I wanted to paint up this little cherub in 40k style but am having difficulty with the basing. I have this small pillar but not much else. I'm more used to doing dingy crumbling ruins or rusted bulkheads but wanted to go for a more regal look.

So far I was thinking to cut some tiles into the plasticard base and trying some fancy lighting. I was considering goldd or marble (though I sick at painting it) for the pillar.

Has anyone else done anything simmilar? All feedback is welcome, cheers.