Wandering Adventures

Citadel Contrast Paints: What They Really Do and How to Use Them for Miniature Painting When Citadel first released Contrast paints, many hobbyists thought they’d finally found a “paint and go” solution. Brush it on, watch it shade itself, and your miniatures would be tabletop-ready in minutes. The reality? Contrast paints can save time—but only if you understand their quirks and how to use them properly. We’ve seen plenty of hobbyists jump straight into Contrast paints without realizing their nuances. With the right approach, you can get excellent results and speed up your painting workflow.   The Reality of Citadel Contrast Paints Contrast paints are pigment suspended in a medium that naturally flows into recesses. On a light, matte basecoat they can look impressive—but darker or glossy surfaces can give unpredictable results. Pooling, streaking, or uneven textures are common if you’re not careful. Getting the Best Results with Contrast Paints 1. Start with the Right BasecoatContrast paints work best over smooth, mid-to-light colors like white, light grey, or tan. Dark primers can muddy the color, and glossy surfaces make the paint slide too much. 2. Thin Where NeededSome Contrast paint colors are thicker than others. Add a drop of water or medium to help them flow on large surfaces. This prevents heavy pooling and gives better control. 3. Use Targeted ApplicationUse smaller brushes for details like armor edges, clothing folds, or straps. Contrast paints exaggerate recesses, so broad strokes can look messy. 4. Layer After ContrastContrast paints rarely give a finished look on their own. After drying, go back with standard GW paints to highlight edges, sharpen details, or smooth transitions. This hybrid method saves time while keeping miniatures polished. 5. Try GlazesThinning Contrast paints with water or medium lets you glaze areas subtly. This tints without darkening shadows too much, giving more control than straight application.   Practical Ways to Use Citadel Contrast Paints on Miniatures Snakebite Leather on straps and pouches Snakebite Leather is a remake of an old beloved color. Luckily the Contrast version is a great re-imagining. Use it on straps or pouches for a rich brown that finishes with yellow edges. Skeleton Horde on Bones or SkullsBasecoat skeletons with light grey or white, then apply Skeleton Horde. It naturally settles in recesses, giving depth. Finish with a dry highlight of Ushabti Bone or even a pure white. Talassar Blue for Magical EffectsApply Talassar Blue over a pale base for energy effects or runes. Pooling creates natural shading; touch highlights with lighter blue or white. Try it over white for best results, but a bright silver might work too. Plaguebearer Flesh for Muted Skin TonesUse Plaguebearer Flesh over pale pink or grey for undead or diseased skin. Brush into recesses, then highlight raised areas with a flesh tone. Magmadroth Flame for Flames Use Magmadroth Flame on fire effects or glowing embers. Apply over a white, and let it flow naturally into recesses. Add a small highlight of Yriel Yellow or White Scar on raised areas to make the effect pop. Finish it with streaks of black to recreate ash. Common Mistakes When Using Contrast Paints Skipping proper drying time – Rushing the next step while the paint is still wet can lift color or create streaks. Patience pays off. Using too much paint at once; let it flow naturally. Expecting Contrast paints to replace layering and shading—they’re a shortcut, not a miracle. Assuming all colors behave the same – Every Contrast paint has its own viscosity and opacity. Test on a scrap or hidden area before committing to a miniature. Citadel Contrast paints aren’t magic, but they’re a useful tool when used correctly. Think of them as a basecoat or underpainting to save time, then add traditional GW paints for detail and control. Understanding how to use Contrast paints properly keeps miniatures looking good while avoiding the frustration of “easy” painting turning into a cleanup nightmare. If you’re in the Vaughan area, stop by Wandering Adventures at 7766 Martin Grove Road, Unit 5 to see examples, get tips, or pick up all the paints and tools you need for your next miniature project.

One of the best parts about running a hobby store in Vaughan is that I get to share not only new releases and events but also my own projects. Right now, my painting desk is completely taken over by a very strange crossover: an Imperial Knight done up like a Toronto Maple Leafs goalie. The vision is simple (if a little ridiculous): a towering war machine done up like it just skated off the ice. I’m leaning into the classic Leafs look — white knee pads with “CCM” across them, some sharp white striping on the blue armor, and of course, the Maple Leafs logo worked into the design. The pièce de résistance will be the faceplate. I’m going to do my best (and I mean my best “poor impression”) of painting it like Felix Potvin’s iconic goalie mask. If it ends up even half as recognizable as I hope, I’ll call it a win.   Projects like this remind me why I love tabletop gaming. You can take a serious Warhammer model and spin it into something totally personal — a mashup that makes people smile when it hits the table. That’s what the hobby is all about. Riftbound TCG Coming Soon On top of the painting project, I’m also looking ahead to something new for our gaming community in Vaughan: the launch of Riftbound, a brand-new trading card game coming out on October 31st. We’re expecting to get trial decks in September, so players can swing by, test it out, and see if Riftbound clicks for them. If you’ve been looking for a fresh TCG in Vaughan, this could be one worth checking out. Lately, I’ve been watching Arcane to get in the right headspace for League of Legends, and it’s definitely fueling the hype. Between hobby time and upcoming releases, there’s no shortage of things to be excited about at the store. So that’s what’s on my desk: a hockey-mech mashup and the anticipation of a brand-new card game. If you’re local and looking to connect with others who love tabletop gaming in Vaughan, come by the shop — whether you’re into Warhammer, trading card games, or just need some hobby inspiration, there’s always something happening here.

Hi everyone! Just wanted to talk about a new adventure starting here at Wandering Adventures- Magic: The Gathering Commander Nights.Commander is a great format—but let’s be honest, it can get a little wild. Between 30 years of card history, tuned decks, and infinite combos, it’s tough for new or returning players to find a space where the game feels fun and fair. That’s something we want to help with. At Wandering Adventures, we’re putting together a new kind of Commander night—something structured, low-pressure, and most importantly, casual. The idea is simple: you start with a preconstructed deck from the store, and then each week you upgrade it little by little with a single booster pack. That’s it. No overwhelming deck building, no arms race of upgrades, just a shared journey where everyone grows together. When you join, you’ll pick up one of the Commander decks we have available—examples might include the 2022 Starter Decks, Duskmourn, Bloomburrow, or the new Tarkir: Dragonstorm. You’ll play your first week with it straight out of the box. Each time you come back, you’ll grab one booster pack (the set will rotate weekly—we’ll mostly be using Foundations, with the occasional Modern Horizons pack thrown in for spice), and you can only use cards from that pack to upgrade your deck. You can also trade with other players if that’s your thing. Basic lands are fair game—you can add or swap those freely. The goal here is to keep things grounded. This isn’t about finding the best combo or most efficient win condition. It’s about making a deck you love and slowly shaping it over time. To help keep things honest and low-maintenance, we’ll give you a free 400-count card box when you join, and your deck stays at the shop. You can show up, play, and not worry about having to remember what you swapped in or out midweek. If you miss a week or join later in the season, no worries—you can buy the previous packs to catch up. You can also come and go as your schedule allows. This is meant to be easy to jump into, not another thing to stress over. And if you’re not sure you want to join just yet? You can still drop in with a casual or precon-level deck and get in a game if there’s space at a table. No need to commit right away. Try it out, see if you like it. If you do, grab a deck and hop on board. This format is about building a healthy Commander community. One where the pressure to optimize disappears, and everyone’s on the same page. It’s a way to play regularly, try new cards, and support the store without breaking the bank or getting power-creeped out of the fun. We’ll be announcing the start date and weekly schedule soon. In the meantime, if this sounds like something you’d be into—or if you have suggestions—let us know. We’re excited to get this going and can’t wait to see what kind of decks grow out of it.   Keep an eye on our Schedule and Events to see when Commander starts!