New Paint This Weekend

This weekend (July 16th) Games Workshop is releasing their expanded line of Contrast Paints, as well as their re-formulated Shades.

They have a great article showcasing 10 of the new contrasts, and some uses for them:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/07/08/10-more-stunning-new-contrast-paints-and-how-to-use-them/

I wanted to address some of the concerns and fears that people have shown, as well as talk about why I like the direction their paints are going.

So to start things off, there are a million ways to paint. So many techniques and ways of manipulating paint to get amazing results. This, of course, takes practice but once you get the hang of a technique or a certain way of painting, there is a great satisfaction.

Now, one thing I have noticed, is that glazing  is one of those techniques that is slowly starting to take over. Using heavily thinned layers of paints, washes, and the like, to slowly build your desired results. It's just starting to take over. It's nice because once you get the hang of it, things can go pretty easily, and the transitions between colours looks much more natural than the typical base, shade, layer, highlight technique.

The contrast paints lend to this. They create an amazing gradient that you can leave in one coat, or build off of easily. The new range really diversifies their palette, and certainly offers a nice bright, vibrant set of colours. I see contrasts used more and more (follow the Facebook group of Contrast painters, some of the results are incredible) and I personally use them a ton for my own personal painting and commissions. Now sticking to this point, does anyone remember when the contrasts were first launched? I avoided them for a year, I just didn't like the feel. People scoffed, called it a shortcut, and now I bet most of those naysayers use them religiously. I think you are just doing yourself harm by avoiding paint because of what some may say or just simply being resistant to change. 

Try the Contrast paints out, they are worth your time.

Remember these bad boys!? Talk about a tint!

Secondly, the Shades. Yes Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade of old are gone. But let's really quickly talk about the point of shades. Shades are meant to fall into the recesses and add depth. The problem with the old line of shades, is that they tinted your mini like crazy, and there was almost no point of putting a lighter colour underneath because you have to build that colour back up so much. Me personally, I've been thinning the crap out of my shades for a while. I don't want to have to build up some layers multiple times after a shade is put down, and I also don't want to have to clean up staining after I meticulously (try!) to put the shades just in the recesses. Now with GW's new line of shades, a lot of those earlier issues (thinning down shades, cleaning up overpainted recess lines) are gone. 

I hope this little chat helps a bit, and if you want to discuss the new paint lines more, come by and see them in person!