Paints for Minis

I just put up my paints and cleaned the brushes and the studio area.

It’s a pleasure to work with great paint. What is a great paint? A great paint has several key characteristics: ample coverage, color retention, leveling, and easily thinned. Well, those are my points of consideration. In other words, great paint ‘works for me’.

Ample coverage means I do not have to ‘force’ the paint but I guide the paint. Color retention for me means when I thin the paint with air-brush thinner or my favorite secret-mix I do not lose the color in the thinning. Leveling means my naughty brush strokes are minimized or eliminated. Easily thinned has be partially addressed; no one wants their paint to blotch when thinned, even to a milk like consistency. The paint should hold up to common-sense thinning. These descriptions are meant to be descriptive.

On the first batch of Parliament Infantry by Warlord Games. I am using Vallejo Model Color and Game Color I purchased a few months ago. The Vallejo paint is comparable to Golden acrylics and Liquitex soft body paints. Thin appropriately and its all good.

I have maintained a collection of Golden Acrylic paints for three or more years adding replacements for my favorite shades and tones. I like that the older paints keep so well.

I started painting with Liquitex products and moved to their soft body acrylics. The wide range of colors and easy access make them part of my “reliable” mediums.

For acrylic inks I enjoy Daler-Rowney FW acrylic water resistant inks.

Great paint is what works for me and I am sure it is the same with other people. Paint does not have to have a pedigree or a high price or a fancy package. Great paint simply must work for me, or if it does not, then I have no use for it.