Wandering Adventures

Over the past little while we've had a lot of new painters walk through our doors at Wandering Adventures, which has been amazing to see. The hobby is growing and it's genuinely exciting to watch people pick up a brush for the first time. But one question comes up almost every single time — "which paints should I buy?" After answering that question more times than I can count, I figured it was time to write it all down. What follows is the same advice I give every new painter who comes into the store: an honest breakdown of the three main brands you'll encounter, based on 20 years of painting everything from grimdark sci-fi to fantasy warbands to detailed scenic bases. No fluff, just what I've actually learned from using all of them. Citadel: The Gateway Drug Most painters start with Citadel, and for good reason. Games Workshop has built an ecosystem around their paints that's hard to beat for beginners — every pot is named after something that sounds cool, the app tells you exactly which colours to use for your Space Marines, and the range is enormous. But after two decades, I've developed some strong opinions. The Contrast paints are genuinely brilliant. If you haven't tried them, they're a game changer for getting fast, striking results on models — one coat over a light primer and you've got shading and basecoat done simultaneously. I reach for them constantly, especially on infantry where I need to batch paint efficiently. The Shades (washes) are equally indispensable — Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil live permanently on my desk and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Where Citadel loses me is white. Their white paints have always been inconsistent — chalky, grainy, prone to clogging. I stopped buying them years ago and haven't looked back. If you need white, there are better options elsewhere. Vallejo: The Unsung Hero for Colours Vallejo doesn't get talked about as much as Citadel online, but serious painters know how good they are. The dropper bottles alone make them worth considering — no dried crusty rims, no accidentally knocking a pot over and watching $$/ paint spread across your desk. Where Vallejo truly shines is their greens. I don't know what they put in them but the greens in the Game Color and Model Color ranges are some of the most vibrant, well-pigmented colours I've ever used. Whether I'm painting forest bases, ork skin, or elvish robes, Vallejo green is almost always my starting point. The coverage is excellent and they layer beautifully without becoming muddy. Their flesh tones are also solid, and the Game Air range is fantastic if you work with an airbrush. The consistency across the range is reliable — you know what you're getting pot to pot, which matters when you're mid-project and need to restock. AK Interactive: My Personal Favourite I'll be upfront — AK Interactive is my go-to brand, and has been for a while now. What won me over initially was their approach to realistic, muted tones. Their neutral colours — the browns, the grays, the earthy tones — are simply unmatched for painting realistic textures. Whether I'm painting weathered armour, muddy boots, rocky bases, or aged wood, AK's neutrals give results that just look right in a way that brighter hobby ranges sometimes don't. The brown and gray ranges in particular are incredibly well thought out. There are warm browns, cool browns, desaturated mid-tones that work perfectly as zenithal highlights — the kind of nuance that makes a model look like it actually exists in a physical world rather than a cartoon. But the thing that genuinely surprised me was their red gradient range. Getting smooth, rich reds has always been one of the harder things in miniature painting — they're notoriously hard to highlight without going chalky or orange. AK's reds have a depth and richness that I haven't found anywhere else, and the gradient range makes smooth blending far more approachable. Whether it's blood angels armour, daemon skin, or a dramatic cloak, I reach for AK reds every single time now. The 3rd Generation acrylics also have excellent flow straight out of the bottle, which means less fiddling with medium and more actual painting. So Which Should You Buy? Honestly? All three — but strategically. Here's how I think about it: Citadel for Contrast paints, Shades, and technical paints. Their ecosystem is unbeatable for those specific products. Avoid the whites. Vallejo when you need rich, consistent colours — especially greens and flesh tones. Great all-rounder for traditional layering. AK Interactive for realistic neutrals, browns, grays, and the best reds in the hobby. If you paint gritty, realistic, or heavily weathered models, AK should be your primary range. After 20 years the honest answer is that no single brand does everything perfectly. The painters I respect most all mix and match — and so do I. But if I had to pick one brand to keep if the others disappeared tomorrow, it would be AK Interactive without hesitation. All three brands are available at Wandering Adventures in Vaughan — come in and ask us anything, we're always happy to talk paint.

Hi everyone, just wanted to show off some of what I've been working on recently.With our Star Wars: Legion learn to play and tournament around the corner, I have been madly dashing through completing some squads and commanders to use.First we have Anakin and friends. These were given to me second hand, built and sort of primed. I'm pretty happy with the way they came out, considering I didn't get to work on them right from the start. The Sabre Tank was probably the hardest to work on. I primed it white, then pinwashed a ton of black. The problem was I wasn't using a thin enough brush for the pinwashing, and made a lot of smudges. So when I had to go back and fix them you can see a different tone of white.  Luke was fun because I like working on solo models, and flesh tones are always a treat. I have to figure out my formula for lightsabers though, as this one is a 5/10 for me. I really rushed through the Stormtroopers but I think they came out ok. Prime white, pin wash black, Black Legion contrast on weapons and some belts. Second coat of pinwash for under armors. Minor white cleanup.  Lastly were the wookies, which were a joy to work on. Contrast the fur, add some extra tones and drybrush a bit. Thinned out Black Legion for the belts, Snakebite Leather for the satchels, and quick-gen metallics. Fast and effective. Now lets see if I can finish some Rebels in 4 days...

The holidays are the perfect time to surprise the hobbyist or gamer in your life with something they’ll truly enjoy. Whether you’re shopping for a painter, a card player, or someone brand new to the hobby, this guide will help you find the right gift. Everything here is available at Wandering Adventures, 7766 Martin Grove Road, Unit 5, Woodbridge. Stocking Stuffers (Under $20) Small but thoughtful gifts that every gamer can use: Dice sets – Always a favorite; you can never have too many. Card sleeves – Essential for protecting trading card decks. Paintbrushes – Good quality brushes are a must for miniature painters. Playmarkers- A unique was to paint miniatures Trivia/ Card Game- quick games to enjoy around the holidays Perfect for: Stockings, add-ons, or quick thank-you gifts. Hobby Essentials Great tools, paints and puzzles that make the holidays more enjoyable: Contrast paints – Speed up painting with vibrant results. Paint handles – Makes holding miniatures easier while painting. Wet palettes – Keeps paints fresh for longer sessions. Puzzles- Enjoy a cozy evening creating amazing images with family Dice Bags- Carry your dice in style with these beautifully handcrafted dice bags Perfect for: Painters and hobbyists who want to upgrade their toolkit, or those that want to make a memory with family. Starter Sets  For someone new or curious about a game, starter sets are the best way to begin: Warhammer Starter Boxes – Everything needed to begin exploring the Warhammer universe. Flesh & Blood Armory Decks – A great introduction to this fast-paced arena card game. MTG: Commander Decks – Easy entry point for new players or great variety for veterans. Perfect for: Beginners and anyone looking to explore a new hobby. Big Gifts  Impressive gifts that make a lasting impact: Board games – Great for family or group play over the holidays. Army boxes – Perfect for Warhammer fans wanting to expand their forces or start a new one. RPG Books – Roleplaying game sourcebooks for expanding a collection or starting a new one. Perfect for: Dedicated hobbyists and collectors. Special Deals We will also have a few specials going on in-store:Mini Painter Starter Kit3 Paints, 1 Brush, Gamer's Grass Tuft- $32.99Advanced Painter Pack6 Paints, 2 Brushes, Wet Palette for $79.99     Gift Cards Not sure what to choose? A Wandering Adventures Gift Card lets your gamer pick exactly what they want.   Visit Us This Holiday Season Stop by Wandering Adventures (7766 Martin Grove Road, Unit 5, Woodbridge) to find the perfect gift. Our team can help you choose based on who you’re shopping for. Make this holiday season fun, creative, and memorable with a gift they’ll actually use.