FAQ
After six months of internautical presence I have been swamped with questions! So to avoid repeating myself too often I have made a list of the most recurring questions and have provided some answers. If your question does not appear here then please e-mail me. IF IT DOES APPEAR HERE PLEASE DON'T DROWN MY MAIL BOX! Thank you :)
Will you paint a
miniature for me ?
That can only be answered by saying “maybe”. I know adults
say this to actually mean “no”, but for me it does not mean that. I do take on
commissions occasionally. Before saying yes or no I need to know what you want
in detail: what model, what colour scheme, what effects, what type of basing,
do you want any converting done, etc. I need this information for two reasons:
1) I need to work out the cost and time of the project
2) I need to be able to “feel” the piece. This is usually where I say I won’t take on the project because I can’t see myself achieving it. I don’t mean to be snobbish by refusing projects, but if I can’t see the end result and don’t have a good feel for the project then I won’t be able to produce it correctly and this will make me sad and will mean you have wasted your money: I don’t think either of us want that!
1) I need to work out the cost and time of the project
2) I need to be able to “feel” the piece. This is usually where I say I won’t take on the project because I can’t see myself achieving it. I don’t mean to be snobbish by refusing projects, but if I can’t see the end result and don’t have a good feel for the project then I won’t be able to produce it correctly and this will make me sad and will mean you have wasted your money: I don’t think either of us want that!
But it will only cost you time to send me an e-mail to find
out if anything is possible J
tinypeoplestudio@gmail.com
tinypeoplestudio@gmail.com
Do you ever teach
painting or sculpting?
Yes I do! The Studio runs a Tuition Service to cater to your
desires in improving your hobby enjoyment!
Simply e-mail the studio: tinypeoplestudio@gmail.com for details!
Simply e-mail the studio: tinypeoplestudio@gmail.com for details!
Do you ever paint
armies on commission?
I have not yet painted an army on commission because I have
never painted an army for myself to see if I am capable of doing it. There is a
special talent and organisational skills in army painting which are quite
different from single model painting that I specialise in. However: keep
ckecking back here as I am going to test my capability at army painting very soon, and if
the trial is successful then maybe I will take on armies in the future as
commissions.
Will you sculpt me
a piece?
The answer to this is in all ways identical to the “Will you
paint a miniature for me?”. With the proviso that at the moment I am
concentrating my sculpting time on a big personal project that will be posted
to this blog when the time is right… If your project sounds fun and I can fit
it into my schedule then we can discuss options ;)
Once again: it all starts with an e-mail! tinypeoplestudio@gmail.com
Once again: it all starts with an e-mail! tinypeoplestudio@gmail.com
What paintbrushes
do you use?
I am a snob when it comes to paintbrushes. For my own
pleasure and showcase pieces I swear by Windsor&Newtons’ Series 7 pure
kolinsky sable brushes. They cost a fortune but I have never been disappointed
with them and they are a real joy to use.
For my everyday projects I use Raphaël 8404 acrylic brushes. These are very good and sturdy brushes that will last a very long time as long as you treat them decently and clean them regularly.
For all the weird and dangerous products that damage brushes (glues, pigments, enamel based paints etc…) I use a variety of cheap synthetic tipped brushes that are easier to clean. I could not recommend a specific brand, I just buy the cheapest brush that I can find when I need it.
For my everyday projects I use Raphaël 8404 acrylic brushes. These are very good and sturdy brushes that will last a very long time as long as you treat them decently and clean them regularly.
For all the weird and dangerous products that damage brushes (glues, pigments, enamel based paints etc…) I use a variety of cheap synthetic tipped brushes that are easier to clean. I could not recommend a specific brand, I just buy the cheapest brush that I can find when I need it.
What paints do you
use?
I use two main brands: Citadel (old and new range) and all
the Vallejo ranges. I will always buy a couple of pots from a new range to try
them out because only fools never change their ways! For bizarre effects I will
buy from any company that has what I need, OR I’ll make my own mixes and store
them in dropper bottles.
So in fact the most honest answer is to say that I use whatever brand has what I need for the project I’m working on. It is best to skim through the tutorials to see exactly what I used for a specific effect, otherwise the answer to this one question would become a book (now that’s an idea…).
So in fact the most honest answer is to say that I use whatever brand has what I need for the project I’m working on. It is best to skim through the tutorials to see exactly what I used for a specific effect, otherwise the answer to this one question would become a book (now that’s an idea…).
Do you use an
airbrush? Which type(s)? What for?
Yes I sometimes use an airbrush and will proabably use it
more in the future.
I have two airbrushes: an Evolution FX and an Infinity, both manufactured by the excellent German company Harder&Steenbeck. I have not yet tried any other brands so I do not honestly know how they compare, but I trust German precision engineering and I have always been amazed and never disappointed by the possibilities these two toys have afforded me. (For more on “airbrush insights” click here J )
I have two airbrushes: an Evolution FX and an Infinity, both manufactured by the excellent German company Harder&Steenbeck. I have not yet tried any other brands so I do not honestly know how they compare, but I trust German precision engineering and I have always been amazed and never disappointed by the possibilities these two toys have afforded me. (For more on “airbrush insights” click here J )
As to what I use them for: a lot depends on the project.
They are amazing for good basecoats, primary shadings and highlights and even
in some cases detailed highlighting and shading. Again a lot depends on the
piece I’m working on. Also I do not systematically use an airbrush: sometimes -
often - I like to stick to the “old ways” and work only with classic
paintbrushes. They can also be used for basing painting, again depending on the
project and effects wanted.
Can I send you
pictures of my work for help?
You can of course e-mail me pictures. However I cannot
answer everyone as I already get a LOT of e-mails of this type. The best I can
promise is to try and get back to you and try to help you or comment on your
work, but please don’t hate me if you don’t get an answer: I try to answer everyone,
but I’m a painter not a computer nerd ;)
tinypeoplestudio@gmail.com
tinypeoplestudio@gmail.com
How can I paint
like you?
The beginning of this answer will sound very haughty but
please read on before judging: you can’t paint like me. Not because I’m good or
special or anything like that but because no one paints like anyone else, and
no one will paint like you!
The reason is that I have spent twenty years trying different techniques, products, methods, tricks, tools etc… and this has developed what you can only call a personal style. You also have your personal style. There is no secret: if you want to improve yourself and your style then pick up your brushes, a fresh model, and try a new thing! I hope the tutorials you find here help you, there are many other excellent sources on the wide wide web! Test things, experiment, do silly things that don’t make sense: as long as you enjoy yourself it will never be a waste of time! Be self-critical but not over demanding: try something, see how it looks, compare it to what you were trying to create, note the good aspects (there are ALWAYS good things in a new attempt), be honest about what you need or want to improve: and do that next time!
Time, Motivation and Enjoyment are the secrets! All the rest is, in my opinion, useful stuff that you will naturally pick up along the way.
The reason is that I have spent twenty years trying different techniques, products, methods, tricks, tools etc… and this has developed what you can only call a personal style. You also have your personal style. There is no secret: if you want to improve yourself and your style then pick up your brushes, a fresh model, and try a new thing! I hope the tutorials you find here help you, there are many other excellent sources on the wide wide web! Test things, experiment, do silly things that don’t make sense: as long as you enjoy yourself it will never be a waste of time! Be self-critical but not over demanding: try something, see how it looks, compare it to what you were trying to create, note the good aspects (there are ALWAYS good things in a new attempt), be honest about what you need or want to improve: and do that next time!
Time, Motivation and Enjoyment are the secrets! All the rest is, in my opinion, useful stuff that you will naturally pick up along the way.
Where do you get
your inspiration?
One word answer: the World! (ok two words)
Everything you can dream of is in nature, in your head, or in the physical production of other living things. Look around you! I bet if you look around the computer screen you are reading this on you will see twenty different materials, hundreds of different colours, several shapes and objects, maybe an animal (?), you will see light playing in different ways on different items. It is all there: just open your eyes!
That said, like everyone I do look into artworks, comic books, games, story books, museums and many many other sources for inspiration. But it all starts from an idea, and usually the idea springs from what is directly around you: so open your eyes J
Everything you can dream of is in nature, in your head, or in the physical production of other living things. Look around you! I bet if you look around the computer screen you are reading this on you will see twenty different materials, hundreds of different colours, several shapes and objects, maybe an animal (?), you will see light playing in different ways on different items. It is all there: just open your eyes!
That said, like everyone I do look into artworks, comic books, games, story books, museums and many many other sources for inspiration. But it all starts from an idea, and usually the idea springs from what is directly around you: so open your eyes J
I’d like you to
paint a piece for me: how much would it cost?
That is a question with only a variable answer. It all
depends on the piece you want, the type of work you want and the time it will
take. The longer it will take, the more expensive it will be.
I work on two systems. The first is that I will quote you a price and if you accept this price I will deliver the agreed piece for that agreed sum. I only do this when I can make a decent estimate of the time it will take. The second system is this: I have an hourly rate as a painter, I give you an estimate of the time necessary, this serves as a base price but remains open if the piece takes longer. My aim is to give the customer his moneys’ worth, so I will never add on time just to earn a bit more money. Honesty is always the best policy.
In both cases once a commission is agreed I keep close contact with the customer and send updates as often as possible until the piece is delivered.
I work on two systems. The first is that I will quote you a price and if you accept this price I will deliver the agreed piece for that agreed sum. I only do this when I can make a decent estimate of the time it will take. The second system is this: I have an hourly rate as a painter, I give you an estimate of the time necessary, this serves as a base price but remains open if the piece takes longer. My aim is to give the customer his moneys’ worth, so I will never add on time just to earn a bit more money. Honesty is always the best policy.
In both cases once a commission is agreed I keep close contact with the customer and send updates as often as possible until the piece is delivered.
Is the Hobby your
professional occupation or are you a pure “leisure hobbyist”?
At the moment it is a "half-and-half" situation. Let us say
that I earn pocket money with commissions. I am however working on a project to
make this a full time professional activity within the coming year J
I like one of the
pieces in your Gallery: can I buy it?
I very very very rarely sell the pieces I have painted for
myself. Mainly because I always try something new on a piece, so I spend a lot
of time on personal pieces and if I had to cost them they would be far too
over-priced beacause of the time spent. But you can always ask, who knows I
might be in a good mood at that particular point in time ;)
I hope these answers cover most of your queries!
Keep on loving your Hobby!
