How to BASECOAT miniatures - Warhammer Hobby Fundamentals (No Airbrush)

[@ArtisOpus]

What fundamental would you like to see us cover? the most liked comment (not a reply to this) will win a set of their choosing! Referenced in this video Tommie Soule's book: elementgames.co.uk/paints-hobby-and-scenery/books-and-publications/the-art-oftommie-soule Brushstroke's 'How to Thin Paints': kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXOnh4Olg72sjKs

[@mitch3384]

I'd love to see a video on your personal projects (either enjoyment or competition if you enter them) and your own personal style of miniature painting. I get the impression that your style is quite rooted in dry brushing, though I might just have watched mostly drybrushing on your channel and not got to the other techniques.

[@matt-rx6hi]

not sure where to ask this and i knonw its not a fundamental.........................buuuuuuuuuuut, could you advise ( or even better do a tutorial) on how to paint like an iridescent black to go on wings, like a magpies wings? ive got the corax mini which ive had for near 3 years and know just not sure how to get thee ffect i want without making a complete arse of it. And as for a fundamental, i have no background in art or anything and i always seem to struggle and stress over colours and schemes for models, so i usally just try to replicate videos i watch, would be nice to be confident in applying that i guess.

[@millemi21]

I'd like a video to cover the paints best suited to dry-brushing, no matter the range or paint manufacturer.

[@dtrailescu]

I would love to see a tutorial on the fundamentals of planning a paint job, things like which order to do which parts of the miniature at, stages of painting etc.

[@ArtisOpus]

I have wanted to do this for a while, our '10 rules' is close-ish, the main difficulty is doing it and making people want to click it 😅. I just need to pick a sexy enough model to demo on!

[@dtrailescu]

@@ArtisOpus I get it, that's always the challenge, right? Thanks for all the content you put out, really helped me get back into the hobby after over a decade :)

[@samsowden]

I love how this channel keeps just vindicating all the things I've been doing instinctively for years, it's so good for my ego!

[@ArtisOpus]

That's what we're here for buddy, weekly affirmation! 😅

[@chrisstabile3243]

Glad you mentioned Tommy Soule's book - he's an amazing guy. He's been my teacher for a couple of years now and I'm grateful to have him as a teacher and friend in my life.

[@theminiaturepaintingtutor7885]

Aw thanks Chris 😊 Tommie

[@princesspixel]

I think a video on Blending Techniques & Layering with Opaque Paints would be useful. Thank You for sharing your knowledge with us, you've helped me a lot already

[@ArtisOpus]

No worries dude, it's what we're here for!

[@toastmang]

Id like to see your paint brush cleaning routine in full. The drybrush cleaning is great but your brushes get coated and i'm curious if there's anything i'm missing when cleaning mine.

[@vladimirpotrosky7855]

By far my fav painting channel! Can't believe your techniques don't get talked about more, especially for beginners. I've been painting less than 2 years, but artis opus methods and philosophies have catapulted my results into looking Incredible!

[@robsmith4500]

Love a fundamental video on thinness of paint, for normal layers to blending.

[@ArtisOpus]

Noted! For now check Brushstroke's out, is really solid :)

[@saskikojiro3214]

Could you do a good funamentals video, such as color, composition, value, form, brushwork, and perspective and how to apply these techniques for speed painting?

[@DeleteControl81]

Oh yes! And be as cheeky as possible!!! Cheers!

[@saskikojiro3214]

@@DeleteControl81 that'd be awesome

[@SaltyNationalist]

Oi mate..🙋‍♂️

[@BBQRebs]

I have always thought that a good idea to convey a variety of methods would be to paint a starter box or army bundle and show how you pick your colour scheme and start from the troops and work up to the hero/centre piece that comes with it. Using the Stormcast starter set as an example you could use the Liberators to show how to get to a battle ready standard, the Prosecutors and Retributors to show how to take them to the next level and then the Lord-Celestant on Dracoth and Lord-Relictor and make then as great as possible. I feel that a gradual increase in skill and how important the model is would definitely help convey what it is you are doing especially if they are all following the same colour scheme.

[@yotamys8405]

I would like to see a video about different blending techniques.

[@SanderDecleer]

This will really help me get through a bunch of reaper plastic since every spray paint I've found leaves them sticky. I was honestly dreading painting them, but this video has given me hope.

[@ArtisOpus]

Oh wow, that's strange, but I'm glad we can help... This should work a treat on them! You could always use a brush-on primer with the same method, too.

[@SanderDecleer]

@@ArtisOpus They say regular paint straight from the pot should stick and not need a primer. While that is true, I only feel safe with a full base coat 😂. I primed two pretty big models using this technique in no time. This combined with slapchop and your drybrush video are keeping me sane in the face of my backlog.

[@amoryburgess]

Awesome tutorial, been applying these techniques too, but encapsulating them in these steps was great. These are workaround experience teaches you that become instinctive, but this is super helpful for teaching those that are newer or just haven’t figured it out…yet.

[@Steven-uk7uf]

Metallics for armour would be great. About to start a large project with City Guards and mounted knights and feal dry brushing armour could be an option for me.

[@ArtisOpus]

It's the best man, we have a tutorial on an IK Arimger, it turned out really well! I've got some full big-boy Imperial Knights started which I should always finish, currently there's only paint on the legs 😅

[@HappyDuude]

In a strangeway this has made me interested in breaking out my airbrush more, for a far more even basecoat! I have just picked up the series D - been too wary to break them out, as dont want to ruin them - but deffo need to try this approach. I guess the other part here is with this approach, you dont worry about painting out of the lines, and just clean up in later layers.

[@ArtisOpus]

100% my man, I tend to use the fast and loose 'high quality' messy work first, you do it better when you don't have to worry... then you go in and do the more fastidious tasks that require precision. The only downside is impatience at the second part, it goes so much slower, always ^^

[@jsharples01]

Good techniques and good overview 👍🏼

[@Woodard126]

Thanks Byron for actually getting me interested in trying to improve my painting again as opposed to just slogging through 'because it needs doing'. My request would be a detailed look at D series maintainence both mid and post session.... I've just picked up the 5 brush set and am paranoid about killing them!

[@AegisEditing]

Incredibly helpful video

[@ArtisOpus]

Thanks, buddy!

[@matthewdavenport4030]

I'd like to see a fundamentals video on finding and applying inspiration to your paint job. How do you replicate specific styles, take inspiration from the real world, and apply that to a miniature? How can you mimic natural colors and shades?

[@AlazarBurrowell]

Fundamentals Video on the best technique to apply a matte varnish whilst living in a high humidity region and not have the varnish fog over, the best varnish to use, and methods for applying said protection when a rattle can and wet winter weather can ruin your work.

[@davidhayes6550]

Your videos are inspirational. Thank you.

[@StubbsDK]

How about a fundamentals of priming? Both rattlecan, airbrush and brush?? I think that’d be neat!! Many folks dont have an airbrush, or the room for it, and doing it with a rattlecan can be difficult in some areas because of either weather, humidity or if you live in an apartment, so I think a lot of people could use a proper video for that sort of thing!

[@ArtisOpus]

We actually have a can one! I should have linked it in this video, and mentioned it *facepalm*! Great call

[@StubbsDK]

@@ArtisOpus oh, cool!! Too bad I’m not in the running for the texture pallette then! Well, Christmas is only….several months away…

[@Jamgeoso]

Would love to see some tips for heavier weathering to create a dramatic effect

[@Siege181]

I love Byron’s little tips! I have learned so much about what I can do with mixing paints, different base coats helping different colours, brush care…. It seems silly but I would not have tried half the stuff I have paintingwise (some successful experiments, some less so!) if I hadn’t had a painter of Byron’s quality basically giving me the confidence to try new things by saying it’s ok to try things and to experiment! As for more fundamental videos, could we have a video of 10/15 little tips ? Maybe have a mini series where it’s 10 tips for starters, then one with 10 tips for intermediates, 10 tips for experienced painters etc?

[@darrenj3720]

This is cool to read. Always great to see these videos have had a positive influence.

[@rexhurley4380]

Thanks Byron, an interesting twist on old techniques...now the challenge time to give it a go on some Red Copper Design Minis done in 18mm....will be interesting to see how well it goes to get at the deep cuts on those sculpts.

[@scotthancock8225]

OMG just caught the Big "D" is always better text watching this through for the second time, almost spit my coffee out!!

[@ArtisOpus]

I prefer to teach in ways that can't be easily forgotten, that's in your head for life, now :D

[@daverobert7297]

I would love to see you discuss how different "types" of paints compliment each other. What paints combinations create better "Smoothness"?

[@Kasimeran]

Neat! I did something like this already and found it out myself :D I´m Painting my Necrons with Leadbelcher and Runelord Brass for base colors. It´s sooo goopy. Real nice to see the technique being used by a pro, so I know I´m not the only one with those problems ^^

[@ArtisOpus]

:D experimentation and necessity!

[@kendo5862]

Fab detailed vid... just what I wanted for a similar tower project 😀👏

[@avantasiaftw]

A fundamentals video on the best techniques for edge highlighting would be great.

[@antoinea3660]

After doing a bit thick (and ruining) base coat on a pair of Amazon BB miniatures, thank you for this. I should have kept using big brushes like I always did. Thanks!

[@ArtisOpus]

No worries dude :). You can always strip those minis - if you search our channel I used 'Biostrip' quite nicely in the past

[@antoinea3660]

@@ArtisOpus It's 3D printed, so I asked for new prints, but I will know next time not to base coat too thick (in white), and keep black + D-Series :)

[@antoinea3660]

I know you are mostly Warhammer / W40K, but any hope for tips to quick paint a Blood Bowl team?

[@stefanocarli5030]

Really helpfull advices, TY so mutch! BTW that mini exposers you have in the backgroud are astonishing! Where have you found them?

[@ArtisOpus]

Thanks! We actually designed and built them ourselves :) you can late-pledge here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/artis-opus/cabinets

[@Mad.player]

​ @Artis Opus 1:56 what are those shelves behind you? Can you give us a link to them?

[@kmykz]

what about smth along the lines of 'shadows don't always need to be black' with some deeper insights on creating more interesing contrasts :) see you at WHF

[@darrenj3720]

Great idea. I swear contrast white in white recesses is the way to go.

[@EnokIsAwesome]

Fundamentals of using the various brush sizes when drybrushing and how to care for them. I always find I ruin small drybrushes or struggle to get into some tight spaces on certain models, particularly pushfit that can't be sub assembled.

[@diplomatNSTAR11]

Love all the videos. Would really like to see one on the basics of building a smooth transition. Similar to how you would from more labor intensive techniques like glazing.

[@AdamWhitehead111]

I've been adding black to other colours to improve coverage for 25ish years. I actually do it less now than I used to as I tend to work WITH the translucency of acrylics rather than against it.

[@NoskcajLlahsram]

I'd like to request fundamentals on stippling

[@jymloke]

Great video Byron. One thing I haven’t been able to find anywhere is priming texture palette. For your palette did you just spray say chaos black on it to prime ? Or does it need primer paint?

[@southpaw5483]

Hi Byron, Understanding the video is sped up, when applying the Basecoat, are you stippling or quickly wiping up/down? A little hard to see the exact motions we should be using. Your thoughts are welcomed.

[@ArtisOpus]

Closer to wiping :) NP buddy

[@BlacksaberYT]

Would love to see a blending fundamentals video.

[@Nebuchadnezzar6]

I'd love to see something on how to help make better/easier smooth coverage, transitions, highlights over large flat surfaces such as vehicles, mecha, etc...

[@jedi9935]

And where is the rest of this paint job? 😊 I just picked up this tower and would love to see you paint the whole thing, or at least one side. 😊😊😊

[@ArtisOpus]

:D I have 1/6th of it done, it separates itself nicely into sections. Painting has been recorded in timelapse, but it's definitely somewhat 'experimental' currently!

[@Abaddon1590]

For Fundamentals how about types of paint and their uses? For example, when to use inks or oils over standard matte acrylics.

[@darrenj3720]

Loving this content. Basics are very often overlooked by people. But we all had to start somewhere. May I suggest an episode on metallics? The coverage and shade/highlight can be tricky when first encountered. Great vid 👍👍

[@MarshallMills]

Would you take us through why and when to use matte v gloss paints? Especially with base coats. Thank you.

[@willowtreedb]

​@Artis Opus If you were to use this technique for a whole project, how would you achieve consistent colour match when mixing a layer with black?

[@rb4551]

Few questions: -Do you need to prime before doing this? Or could you do this instead of using primer? -Where did you get that brush? -Where did you get that little foam and glass thing that you use to wet the brush?

[@meerjt11]

It’s primed black, all his brushes are in the description and in the video

[@coppershark1973]

Sponge Damper Pad - They are about £4

[@toogreytogame]

How about a beyond acrylics video? Oils, enamels etc.

[@ArtisOpus]

Very good call, I actually used an oil wash on the tower to put the lines back between the bricks post-painting.

[@jinxsD]

Fundamentals video for combining different techiniques and their pro's & con's. Or an video using other materials like glitter on new seraphon/lizardmen scales (adding it to paint etc) 🌟🦎😍

[@southpaw5483]

Hello Byron, May this technique (and Series D Brushes) be used with Enamel Paint?

[@ArtisOpus]

Hey buddy, that's a very good question, I know some people have showed me with oils, to great effect, all of that stuff is a little heavier on the brushes though, so maybe some experimentation with a slightly older brush would be warranted first.

[@JonathanUsmar]

I would live to see detail like this on priming. I always feel like when I prime with a rattle can, the spray doesn't want to get into the recesses. And all the standard advice on priming (short bursts, thin coats, etc.) Seems to make this problem worse. It seems like I can only get the recesses primed by overspraying, but I know this is costing me detail and limiting the effectiveness of washes later in in the painting process. Will an airbrush fix this? Is my technique just wrong? Should I try priming with a giant drybrush???

[@kevinc9741]

How about one on shade and washes then highlighting back up?

[@hungrymatador213]

I'd like to see a guide on how to apply the weathering effect to lumber that has been painted and then worn off, like the Hulls of ships and flying ships please! thanks for all the help

[@southpaw5483]

Thank you for the content and sharing. What size "D" Brush may you recommend? cheers.

[@CalAndAly]

Love this vid! What if I’m basecoating metallics like say sanguinary guard - makes me nervous to put metallics in my Artis Opus dry brushes. Do you do metallics the same way and clean them the same way?

[@OliverBack]

How to use dry brushes for object source lighting

[@ArtisOpus]

You will get this wish as soon as I understand clearly how I get to my results a little more! Just a little way off 'teacher', it's coming though!

[@OliverBack]

@@ArtisOpus amazing! You're the best

[@johnbenn1235]

I'd like to see the fundamentals of washes. When I first started painting I got advice to nuln oil everything. Clearly that isn't the case. I have dark angels so should I wash dark green over green? I want to do those wing effects on daemons, how do I use washes to make some effects there? Should I base, wash, layer, drybrush or is a different order more appropriate?

[@rizen_89]

Thank You! 😊

[@ArtisOpus]

[@Zhoyzu]

Artis Opus, would you also recommend this method for priming models with brush-on primer? I've had more than enough disasters with a rattlecan and am searching for solutions. And as an extension, would you use this method with a gloss/matt finish to seal?

[@ArtisOpus]

As long as you're diluted correctly absolutely, primer gets thick a little more easily, that's all you have to worry about, though! No reason why not with the finish, main potential problem is flecks leaving the brush if it's the same one you've just used, but with a clean brush there's no issues, having said that I'd break my normal cleaning patterns to make sure none of it stuck around in the brush, varnish is strong stuff!

[@Zhoyzu]

@@ArtisOpus Should i use a thinner or will water work well enough? Also, thanks for all the work you put into your videos and tutorials. I wish i could show you my painting before i found you and after i watched all your dry brushing videos lol.

[@ArtisOpus]

@@Zhoyzu I would love to see! If you're on Instagram you could tag us in a pre-post picture :). If you're involving thinner then I would probably use an old brush that is in retirement :)

[@rhodrimalin1301]

Would you use the same technique for applying a brush on primer?

[@ArtisOpus]

100%! Some of them are a little 'wet', make sure you shake thoroughly, and don't over-saturate the brush, still carefully take/mix on the palette, you should get wonderful results :)

[@garypatterson2857]

I'd like to see a video about colour selection. We can all pick the colours that a miniature is 'meant' to be, from the box art, website or the magazine we first saw it, but if we're making our own colour scheme it's a lot harder. What colours work well together? What if you want metallics for edging, does that change the scheme?

[@Gawl88]

What about a wash/glaze foundation video?

[@bevanwilson8820]

This may be odd and not quite worth a whole video, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on how to motivate yourself to use expensive brushes and how to stop "saving" them for when you won't ruin/waste them. I've had some series D for a while and I keep finding excuses not to use them >.

[@trevorsmith4881]

Fundimentals of painting true metallics, dilution, shading, highlights. Armour and weapons.

[@321k8]

Hello can you please make tutorial on how to paint custodes Shadowkeepers

[@howardcoates6985]

for fundamentals.. i would like to see how to plan and where to place highlights

[@ArtisOpus]

This is such a core-skill, great idea!

[@weekendwargamers]

butter to toast reference. thumbs up. If I haven't subscribed. I would :D

[@ArtisOpus]

These things are important, you are never forgetting that one now!

[@RobTheWarGaymer]

A white undercoated model with black edge highlights. This might be a totally stupid request, but I really struggle with knowing where to put highlights, so end up putting them on every single edge on the model. When watching videos of how to edge highlight, the highlight colour is often too similar for me to tell where the paint has been placed. So would it be possible to do a tutorial just on where highlights are placed with colours that make it easy to see?

[@NothingVisible94]

It might seem silly but how to pick the right size brush for what your painting, face vs armor cracks, etc.

[@izap-ch1449]

Those are some beautiful turquoise themed minis behind you. Are they from some sort of a set? I'd love to see you paint something in this color theme or maybe you could share the colors used, pretty please.

[@southpaw5483]

Hi Byron, May this approach be used to Prime our model by hand?

[@ArtisOpus]

Hey buddy, it actually can, just make sure your primer isn't too thick. Test elsewhere, the normal stuff :)

[@southpaw5483]

@@ArtisOpus Thank you Byron; Ordered an X-Large D-Brush and Palette.

[@XxXchrisXxX78]

This is a great technique but how do i apply it to something small like say an imperial guardsmen i feel like your forced to layer since your basecoating multiple colours on small details and cant risk hitting your other basecoats.

[@Lou_Tennant188]

Could you do a video to add battle damage and blood/dirt Extra details that give the impression these models have been through a war? Every time I try I over do it or it doesn't look remotely like it!

[@EspenShampoo25]

2:39 i see what you did their, i dont think it was a coincidence in the way you r holding that bottle of black paint. There is something written on the left side wich it seems your hiding

[@meerjt11]

I know this is instead of an airbrush, but how about what you would do an airbrush prime as a comparison to this technique?

[@ArtisOpus]

Great question, and one I do every so often, two layers. But 'thick' airbrush layers, so not thick = bad. But thicker than normal, making sure to hit edges and extremities

[@TheMichaellathrop]

I don't know if this counts as fundamentals or not in mini painting but what about making your own paint from different pigments and medium, especially how to use things that may not be marketed as artists pigments for making paint such as the graphite powder used to lubricate sticky locks.

[@ronmcnally868]

What Tower are you using for this video?

[@Abaddon1590]

Actually, how about a fundamentals of linework video?

[@amorbavian]

How long can that pad survive?

[@ArtisOpus]

Mine are a couple of years old :). Contamination doesn't matter, you just have to let it dry out open, the foam is pro-sterile, but it helps keep it fresh.

[@amorbavian]

@@ArtisOpus oh it's foam? I thought it was some kind of wood...MDF maybe.

[@amorbavian]

@@ArtisOpus yes you were talking about the dampening pad and I was talking about the texture pallette (had to Google what you guys call that thing! 😁)...

[@antoinea3660]

Hello, me again @artisopus. How can we manage matte paints, like AK 3rd gen? They seem more chalky than CItadel? Thanks

[@ArtisOpus]

You just need to go more carefully buddy, it can be done, but there's a few things that really help: 1.) Don't 'overwork' stuff (spend too long, too many stages) 2.) Thin paints more, especially in early stages 3.) Don't make big aggressive jumps up to final highlight colours, missing intermediates, they tend to contain more white, this one makes a huge difference. Archive X are super-matte, and we used them here, it might be a good resource: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYXNlaCnfceknck Hope that helps!

[@antoinea3660]

@@ArtisOpus Thank you very much for your reply, I will watch this vid next. 👍

[@etherdemon]

Beginner question, can you mix acrylic drybrushing techniques with oil paints? I'm just starting out and all I really have for paint is oils from art school and some craft paints... I've already tried painting with watercolors and the results were...strange.

[@Dre0oq]

I'm also just starting out and have consumed a TON of videos like this one. Most hobbyists emphasize the importance of using acrylic paints specifically formulated for mini painting. Citadel, Vallejo, Pro Acryl - which brand you choose is less important than using paint meant for minis.

[@sweatilaa5325]

my dude, please explain more things in terms of food! my monke brain doesn't understand all that art theory or weird terms like "consistency of skimmed milk" for which ever coat it is meant for. But examples like "butter on hot toast" is just what I need.

[@ArtisOpus]

Haaa, this we can manage! A good comparison is magic :) 🌯🌭🍉🌮🍉🍇🍊🍇🍋

[@jimeccles]

I’ve been trying this technique, but keep getting a lumpy coat. I suspect my paint isn’t thin enough. Should you thin the paint slightly on the palette, or is the dampening pad the only source of moisture?

[@ArtisOpus]

Hey dude, is your paint old? (It does thicken over time). Especially if the old brush you 'scooped' the paint out with had some water in the bristles, I don't generally find the need to add moisture. Other considerations: Are you putting the paint on an absorbent surface? What size D are you using? Let us know in a separate comment, not a reply, they get lost :)

[@nuazak]

justice for the sad old brush!

[@marranden]

I'd like to see something on glazing or wet blending

[@3clipses]

Fundamental: It would be nice to see how to do a zenithal prime with brush and work in highlighting with shadows. I'm new to this and learning how to contrast with highlights and shadows would be a game changer 😅

[@nickdavis5420]

I mean plenty of things I do aren’t exciting but important for goodish results.

[@ArtisOpus]

True that, my man! That's why we try to do them as fast as possible 😁

[@MisterTingles]

kinda been doing this a few times just instinctually since coming back to the hobby, just seemed feasible to get a smooth base coat done. I assure you however, there's plenty ways to make it go wrong, if you get sloppy or lazy and ignore (somewhat common sense) steps to ensure your paint doesn't get too tacky for example. Also, don't use this for minis with a lot of spindly sticky-outy parts, that's a ticket straight to snap off city... Ask my AoS Killaboss how I know...

[@TunneLVisioN42]

What is this giant tower?

[@ArtisOpus]

It's recent LOTR scenery, it's badass!

[@TunneLVisioN42]

@@ArtisOpus thanks bud!

[@DukensteinA1]

Thanks for this. I noticed that when I do a lot of drybrushing in a batch, the dry brush starts to become gummy and I have to go rinse the brush out with brush soap. Any tips for this?

[@ArtisOpus]

Oh sir. So many, #1 is not touching that soap mid session. We will definitely get to this :)

[@kainoctis7724]

"Change my miniature painting life forever" *looks down* Nope, i still suck

[@ArtisOpus]

That's not the spirit! PMA :)

[@TheHumblePaladin]

I don't understand how this large brush technique is applicable to actual miniatures that need multiple colors for basecoats with all of the detail. If this is aimed at miniatures, why did you choose the absolute largest tower possible?

[@ArtisOpus]

Size: to prove the speed (in terms of volume), this is still how I basecoat minis, I pick the majority colour and do this fast and messy, then 'block in' other areas as needed (see our 10rules Necron lord as an example). Good points though, I will make sure to cover this stuff more explicitly in the future

[@p3nna]

Go

[@marmosetfreund8506]

Not sure this qualifies, but fundamentals on using browns and other drab colours to create paint schemes. Another way to look at it would be a basics guide to painting peasants and NPCs.

[@jasonprince8016]

True metallics scenery with dry brush….

[@ArtisOpus]

Oh Sir, this is basically my favourite thing in the hobby, I am down!

[@Wargoat6]

Hobby paint vs fine art paint.

[@JoeFlamenco]

Can a British person make an analogy without using food such as butter? Let’s see!

[@ArtisOpus]

Urm, crumpets? :D

[@JoeFlamenco]

@@ArtisOpus crumpets indeed! Thanks for all the great videos, I love your drybrushes and use them constantly!

[@TheGamerZapocalypse]

So...there is no close up end result view of this entire demonstration... You tell us what a great finish this technique gives, but failed to actually show that result... -_-