Some Initial Pics

So every mini blog needs pics, so without further ado I'll get to it. Please note the first pictures are hideous, but I put them here as a baseline for my (hopefully) developing skills.

When I used to wargame / D&D as a teenager, I rarely paid much attention to the painting side of the hobby. Very often my games would be played with bare plastic / metal, and if I took the time to paint them they'd be rush jobs, or done with entirely the wrong brushes. Such as this:

A Genestealer Magus. My first ever painted mini. ~1994

Then a few years ago I decided I'd take up painting on a much more serious level. Back then, though, serious painting meant a neat base coat. No shading, no highlights, just put the paint where it was meant to go, tidy up and varnish.  

 Delaque Gangers. 2009

My interest in painting gradually grew, and I started taking more time over the models. I splashed out on more paints (still sticking to GW at this time), some semi-decent brushes - Kolinsky-sable was still way too expensive for what I'd considered the lesser part of the hobby, so I was content with red sable blend brushes from Rosemary & Co (I highly recommend them as good starting brushes, excellent for those those on a budget). I learned semi-basic techniques like drybrushing and washes, and began to turn out better models.

GW OoP - Witch Hunter. 2010

    Nowadays I've learned the importance of good brushes (Kolinsky-sable from Rosemary & Co are awesome), I've expanded my paints into Vallejo & P3, and learned even better techniques like layering, wet-blending and the basics of colour-theory. Also, basing, though the mini pictured below seems sadly lack of it.

Reaper - Prince Denethorr. 2012

Reaper - Prince Denethorr (rear)

 Now I have the history done, I'll post some proper minis shortly!