Artimis_Dreamer Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 See, the thing is, I'm wondering wether the quality and type of work area that is used for a miniture effects the outcome of the miniature in any noteable way? I ask because when I paint, I use our old wooden kitchen table, with a cruddy old eco-friendly desk lamp and just a palette and water. No fancy setup and no specialized lighting. Would I achieve better results if I invested in a fancier, higher-quality work area? Is it worth it? And of course, the all-important question: What do you[u/] use? Thanks, Artimis_Dreamer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilvish the Deliverer Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 You don't really need much. A flat stable surface (old kitchen table) and a good amount of light. A lot of people like daylight bulbs so they can see true colors. It can be helpful to have a dedicated space so you don't have to put everything away after every session, but a lot of people I know paint on TV trays in the living room while listening to a show on the tube. As far as what everyone else uses: Show us your work area! I have a dedicated space when it isn't covered with other "stuff"; kinda like it is now. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artimis_Dreamer Posted July 26, 2009 Author Share Posted July 26, 2009 Thanks (again ). That really does help me out. I'm still trying to set up a dedicated space, but the apartment I'm in is so small that it's impossible to find room! I appreciate the link as well. Perhaps my thread is just a wee bit redundant. That's what I get for not checking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilvish the Deliverer Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Don't worry about it, how were you supposed to know? It took me a couple of minutes to find it and I knew it existed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Yeah, all you really need are a stable, flat surface with enough area for you mini and a pallet, and decent lighting. Everything else is just for comfort or convenience. I'm lucky enough to have a room to set up a permanent table with storage shelves and dedicated lighting. It makes it easier to just sit down and start painting, but it does not really make my painting any better. Before I had this set up, I did plenty of work I am proud of on a TV tray in front of boob tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenova Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 It effects the quality of my paintjobs a lot. For a long period of time after I moved I didn't have a good lamp, but my minis turned out much worse than usual. The blends were not as smooth and the overall look was not as defined. I definitely recommend getting a good lamp with daylight bulbs. The colors and transition look so different under different lights. If you can get natural light from a window that is great too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted July 27, 2009 Moderator Share Posted July 27, 2009 I'll second Jenova here. Without the enough of the right kind of light, you just cannot see the details good enough while painting and you may not bea ble to see the colors right and they will not look as good later. At the very least, get Reveal bulbs as they give a pretty good spectrum. Other than that, your work surface and area really won't affect your minis, but it will affect you. Consider ergonomics and such in your work area so you don't get repetitive stress injuries. Also, if you have a predefined space where you can leave you stuff setup, you will be more likely to paint more since you can just sit down for a half hour and paint. If you have to always drag everything out and setup, you may be more likely to just pass on it. TS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutebutpsycho Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I find that when I'm painting at home under my two lights at my higher topped table, my results are DRASTICALLY different than when I'm painting elsewhere with a lower table. Find what works for you-I'm sure everyone has a different 'ideal'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artimis_Dreamer Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 I suppose I'll try working under a variety of different conditions to see what works best for me. Thanks for sharing. I suppose it would be a great help if I had a daylight lamp - I'll see what I can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Hooray! Another Canadian joins the ranks... Welcome! Yeah, good lighting makes an unbelievable difference. After that gets sorted out, just try and make sure you have room to lay our your mini, paints, palette, and any other gear you may want to have close at hand, and you'll do OK. Although if you can find space for a dedicated work area, that would be ideal. Kang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artimis_Dreamer Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share Posted July 28, 2009 Hooray! Another Canadian joins the ranks... Welcome! Yep, I am Canadian! Anyway, I've made some progress - I scavenged an old wooden table about 2' by 3.5' at my neighbour's garage sale that would make a great permanent work space... Now to find a place to put it! I'm looking further into lighting, but the prices for good daylight lamps are rather high - Any good and affordable suppliers known to any of you? Artimis_Dreamer (Sorry for the frequent replies - just want people to know that I value their opinions ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixminis Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 The biggest paint-area factors for me are: Having a place that I can paint comfortably for X amount of time. Having a place that has adequate lighting. Having the appropriate eyeglasses/magnification goggles There are other factors -> brushes, paints, additives... but I'm trying to stay in topic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haldir Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 It's funny, a couple weeks back I brought my modeling stuff outside & worked on a model out there on a table I normally use when I'm spray painting stuff. Weather was great, the heat laid low so to speak the week & I had a blast. I even finished the kit I was working on. So I went & cleaned off the kitchen table, which sadly had double as a massive junk store room for me. Anyways I cleaned that off & I'm working there now. The family & I eat in front of the tv, so no worries about clearing off each night. I've complete anther kit since my outdoor build & I'm close to a 3rd & this is all this month too. Something I've never done, heck it hard for me to even build 1 model a year!! I guess being able to paint the parts & glue them up really has spurred me on so to speak. Normally I'm in my chair in the living room just sanding mold lines or gluing parts together. I'm hoping that maybe after my 5th build or so that I'll have filled my interest in models for awhile & garnered enough interest to get back to painting minis for awhile, as there are some that I really want to paint, just right now I'm not up to doing that. RM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilvish the Deliverer Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Hooray! Another Canadian joins the ranks... Welcome! Yep, I am Canadian! Anyway, I've made some progress - I scavenged an old wooden table about 2' by 3.5' at my neighbour's garage sale that would make a great permanent work space... Now to find a place to put it! I'm looking further into lighting, but the prices for good daylight lamps are rather high - Any good and affordable suppliers known to any of you? Artimis_Dreamer (Sorry for the frequent replies - just want people to know that I value their opinions ) i don't use an actual daylight lamp (Ott lamp ect.) I just have a couple of gooseneck desk lamps and I put Reveal bulbs in them. the Ott lights are just too expensive (even witht the 50% off coupons you sometimes can get) and I don't like the fact that they have a propriatary bulb. Just get a cheap lamp and some decent bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted July 29, 2009 Moderator Share Posted July 29, 2009 I tried the Ott lite once too, but really do not like it. I use a couple of clamp lamps (less than $10 each at Wal-mart) and some Reveal 60 Watt Flood Lamps. The light really isn't that much different that the Otts for a fraction of the cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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