How to SKETCH and BLEND - a comprehensive guide

References mentioned in this video:
Betty Edwards - Drawing on the right side of the brain
Alphonso Dunn - Pen and ink drawing
Draftsmen podcast from Proko:
• Drawing on Both Sides ...
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Amazon affiliate links:
Pigments:
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Indian yellow: amzn.to/3r1slfU
Ultramarine blue: amzn.to/3qZHeiV
Titanium white: amzn.to/3Zo32Sd
Lamp black: amzn.to/484yVmq
Medium:
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Dilutent : amzn.to/3ZokXbr
Chapters:
0:00 intro
0:54 Bob and Susan
2:50 My reason for telling you
3:25 My promise to you
5:03 skills we can learn from drawing
5:25 drawing from observation
6:13 the constructionists
7:40 the method
8:51 drawing a cup from reference
13:10 drawing exercises you should do
13:24 pen and ink
14:23 how all this applies to miniature painting
15:16 sketching the space marine
16:47 blue mid tones
17:07 samurai green + ice yellow
17:52 sketch is finished comparison
19:00 Blending techniques
21:18 glazing
22:03 gold trim
23:49 painting OSL
26:32 basing
27:07 painting the base
29:19 reveal and outro

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

Video referenced on the importance of community and a teacher when learning miniature painting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGGanINrrNWLjNU

[@IIItiberius]

Probably one of the most needed and helpful videos on miniature painting I have ever seen. Thank you for taking the time to really teach this process and cover the "whys" and "hows" that are so very important. I also love that it is all brush work - at least the main components

[@qix1t]

You have absolutely hit the nail on the head. “THIS ULTIMATE HACK THAT CHEATS THE UNDISCOVERED FIX WHICH I WISH I KNEW WHEN I STARTED IN MY TOP TIPS TO WIN GOLDEN DEMON IN JUST 5 MINUTES. But first a word from my sponsor.”

[@edwindaughenbaugh2939]

This is the first video I've seen from you and WOW. Thank you so much for this, I genuinely want to show this to everyone I know that paints minis. It feels like one of the most comprehensive videos, encompassing so many topics all put together in a way that makes so much sense, simple to understand and follow.

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

Thank you so much! That makes me very happy to read. And i wouldn't mind if you share the video ;) also, if you like what I do, consider supporting me on patreon - i have tons of exclusive content and the support i get over there helps me make more videos 🙂

[@AlitarS]

I really appreciate the near shots of the completed mini. So many pictures online show perfect blends, and I get so frustrated I can see my own brushstrokes because I'm looking at my mini with 300% magnifying glasses, but here I can see a mini that looks great, but then at close I can also see all the brushwork.

[@owmycheek]

Clocked the snippet of this from Instagram, and stayes for the whole thing. Youve articulated so much about how i feel my painting has plateaued. Really excited to try out this sketching technique on some test models, thank you!

[@Gwenichou]

This video is the best argument for your Patreon wich Im going to check right now

[@dannnn5451]

I need to get better at trusting the process. Great vid, thank you =)

[@mightbemonsters]

These are such valueable tips! An excellent video!

[@JRB33]

Your channel wont be on 3k subs for long my guy some of the best content ive seen, will be heading over to your patreon soon for sure. Just started mine painting and began with a Dreadnought (which i regretted pretty quickly) Already learnt a lot from it though and been looking for a more sytematic way to learn that jumping around on youtube. Sounds like your patreon offers just that!

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

Thank you so much! I'm happy to have you. Hope you'll enjoy the content on patreon!

[@Carbide-1]

This is some of the best mini painting content on this platform! Great close up photography married to your studious approach to every aspect of the hobby, really brings the process to life. I started sketching a little while ago, and it definitely helps with our understanding of shapes and light etc. I haven't really pushed on in with yet, but there's only so many hours in the day and my new job is taking most of my energy; but one day, i'll get round to trying some OSL.....honestly!! Big love from Texas bro!

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

Thank you so much mate. I really appreciate this comment! Thank you for your support!

[@Dresden76]

First the positives: There is so much great information in this video from a light and composition perspective. The fact that you took an approach to make it longer than a 15 minute snip is great as it didn’t feel constrained. Opportunities: The first 5 minutes comes across as condescending and was really an effort to make it through without turning it off. At the point you start talking about sketching (drawing), I had to stop the video and skip ahead just to make sure I that I was watching a video on painting miniatures. In the first seven minutes, there is a lot of pontificating that just doesn’t need to be there. Great if that’s your style but be aware of it. Solution: Trust that your viewers have a learning mindset and speak to them in a concise and structured way that doesn’t lose them along the way. As you transition, you may want to consider titling the transitions in some way to bring the viewer along and keep them aligned with your method. There’s good stuff in here but you need to tweak your approach and it’s not about “KZbin not being a good platform for learning.”

[@jigglywiggle]

Literally the most comprehensive feedback I’ve ever seen delivered. Well played sir 👏

[@omegonedge]

Great Video, there’s definitely some excellent subjects covered ij this video. Under standing how to create shapes and volumes. And to be honest, asking miniature painters to consider drawing is a challange that many will take for granted. For me, ive focused on sketching just through miniature painting but for its definitely true that sketching on a piece of paper will help. Good stuff homie, i think you could probably have just made two videos out of both of these topics. Either way good stuff looking for more

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

I appreciate it. Thank you mate!

[@joshbernal4864]

I think Susan is less of a nerd because she's learning the sax instead of the clarinet. I was Bob as a child.

[@Jampire]

This type of cross-training is so important for growth, no matter the medium! I am a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and the number of people who don't want to lift weights or run and become stronger with better cardio is frustrating. It will help you get better at the thing you want to get better at! I love your content brother!

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

Mad respect that you're bb! I'm glad you like the content! Appreciate it!

[@JEANPIXBN]

Amazing video! I’ m def gonna try as this also seems such a liberating activity. I also love the idea of being able to learn a skill I thought you had to be “born with” !!! Quick question, what kind of mechanical pencil is that? Very interesting looking

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

It's the faber castell tk9400 I have one in HB and one in 2B. Really nice. But you don't need any special pencils to start drawing. I'm glad you like the video!

[@wolf-xf6hf]

Love the video this was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before it was awesome. Also what is the song at 18:14 it sounds awesome

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

This is just some royalty free track that i've used in a bunch of my videos :) Glad you like the video!

[@tannerchristensen5761]

If you were to use oils for the final product would you approach the sketching stage any different?

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

I'd use a brighter color for the lights since they'd blend with the darker shadow tones. Otherwise not really. The thought process is the same.

[@samuelmcl.9474]

What’s the music during the drawing segment?

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

You can see the titles of the music in the video description.

[@highlordalcadizakyr1479]

do u prefer schmincke inks over others like liquitex?

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

I don't use a lot of inks in my painting so I don't have a ton of experience. But i know that liquitex has some issues with colors fading over time (think 10-20 years). So I think schmincke is a good alternative

[@danielcrandell7533]

9am what time zone please? im in texas

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

Should be your time zone that youtube shows

[@triisgaard2699]

Hello, Susan here. My peak bar is slapping oil washes on.

[@HereticsHeroes]

Lots of great info here, but don't knock the 15 minute video too much. I think there was quite a bit of "fat" in this vid that could have been trimmed to get across all the essential info in a much shorter time, thus making it more palatable to the average viewer. Which is a shame because I think the overall message of this is something every miniature painter needs to hear; that they aren't actually working in a fundamentally different field from traditional artists and that those skills are transferable.

[@Watchpaintdry_minis]

There's nothing wrong with the 15 minute format - I've done many of these types of videos and will continue to do more. What I'm trying to communicate is that the lack of structure and relying on 'tips and tricks' with no theoretical context is not going to help you in the long run. And what I hear most often from people is that this type of approach leads them to have good skills but not know how to adapt or change their way of painting. There's absolutely lots of fat in this video. But at the same time i feel that sketching is such a corner stone in my approach to painting that it needed a proper argument for why and how to do it. So I wanted to make this as a reference point, so i'm not explaning different nuancens my case for for sketching in each video but rather can refer to this one whenever i use sketching in the future. Thanks for watching and i appreciate the feedback!

[@HereticsHeroes]

@@Watchpaintdry_minis I very much agree with that. I've been trying to pepper my videos with theory as best I can too, because I also feel the current state of KZbin content is a little too focused on "hacks". The problem is when you make such a dense video, how far is it going to actually reach? As you said yourself YT is not a great medium for rigorous educational content, so perhaps trying to marry education and entertainment as best we can is the right approach.

[@trentonbaird8956]

6:51 …if you’re Alex Ross, you would…