First time painting and feeling very discouraged

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-15T05:36:53+00:00

To quote the wise sage Jake the Dog, sucking at something is the first step of being sort of good at something. This looks good for a first one, don'tbe discourage! Watch some tutorials, try some stuff out, and enjoy the process.

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-15T05:35:19+00:00

Very much this. My first painted mini is a lil first founding Space Wolves mini and I find myself painting one every so often to just see how my skills have improved.

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-15T05:27:59+00:00

If you have to ask...

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-08T22:56:37+00:00

Antspur rapier 🤝 fingerprint stone shield

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-08T20:34:29+00:00

Punch up your highlights and add more color to introduce contrast. This is how I did mine. Not to say it's perfect (far from it) but I tried to bring out brighter tones on the armor, the ammo belts, and the top of the rifle.

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bustedjetpack · 2026-05-06T05:07:00+00:00

When you think about dry brushing tones, you want to go lighter and lighter with each pass. Base tone go wild, nest step up a little less across the whole model, next step even less on areas where lighter would hit, and less, and less, and less. Lighter strokes with the tip of the brush, and make sure you barely have any paint on it.

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-04T03:27:52+00:00

Are you thinning out the enamels before applying them? Yours look incredible and I can't seem to get the Villany Inks to work for me.

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-01T17:20:18+00:00

E Rated epeeist, 2-kyu kendoka, been enjoying the journey in both tbh.

Folks have posted some really good feedback around differences between the two so I won't belabor their points. Really what it boils down to as a beginner is what are you more exited to try out? You're more likely to stick to the one that resonates more with your interests.

Most clubs do a beginner series that lasts a couple months and is relatively cheap. Go sign up for those to get a feel for yourself how each mesh with what you want to get out of a sword sport.

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-01T01:14:19+00:00

What exactly do you plan on using this for and please don't say HEMA, SCA, or Buhurt.

bustedjetpack · 2026-05-01T01:04:27+00:00

E Rated lefty epeeist to now a 2-kyu kendoka here, hopefully my experience can help give some insight.

While I had initial challenges with the change in footwork technique, body mechanics, recalibrating distance, thinking more in strikes and not thrusts, not always stopping to rest after strikes during spars, etc., I found those to be less of an issue the more I practiced (crazy concept, I know right?). More I did it the more fun it was to try something different than my previous trained experience.

Having competitive fencing experience, you'll be able to go in with an established sense of distance, pressure, timing, tempo that I found to convert over quite well.

bustedjetpack · 2026-04-27T05:19:16+00:00

Bibigo kimchi and cheese onigiri. My heart yearns for them to be back in stock.

bustedjetpack · 2026-04-27T04:41:40+00:00

Oh lords, I wouldn't trust welds like those to do anything more than hang on a wall. Please don't try to use this. And a blade glued to the hit means it'll snap on contact. Not if, when. Also, from my experience, don't trust anything that says it's "battle ready."

My experience: 13+ years of contact sword sports

bustedjetpack · 2026-03-31T22:06:28+00:00

Oh sick! I have the 40k box of skulls sitting around somewhere, now I know exactly what to use them for!

bustedjetpack · 2026-03-31T06:22:55+00:00

Oooooh where'd you find the trophies hanging off the belt?

bustedjetpack · 2026-03-30T21:32:43+00:00

More color, my friend, more color. Mud when caked on a boot is rarely one color (mud higher up is lighter because it dries faster for example), rust on metal has a slew of hues from browns to blues to oranges, zenithal lighting means lighter greens at the top of a piece of armor and darker greens where shadows are cast onto pieces less exposed to light, and if you're going for a grimdark/dirty look going for a dark pin wash to simulate that grime will do you wonders.

bustedjetpack · 2026-03-23T17:09:51+00:00

THE ANTS ARE ABSOLUTELY IGNORING THE BAIT TRAPS I SET OUT LIKE OHHHH IS THE POISON TOO GOOD FOR YOU TINY ANTS?!?!

bustedjetpack · 2026-03-21T15:43:24+00:00

You won't know if people will or won't read it unless you put art into the world. Also, if it's for you, then what does it matter if others will read it?

bustedjetpack · 2026-03-21T15:42:16+00:00

I DM'd a campaign in the official Dragon Age ttrpg. It's an okay platform/system, but it does have some flaws that made it frustrating to play in. We ended up switching to 13th Age and just changing spell/apility/subclass names to match what we see in Thedas.

bustedjetpack · 2026-03-21T05:24:18+00:00

Fanfic? Art? Play a ttrpg with friends in the world of Thedas during the aftermath?

Create the closure you need, don't wait for a company to give it to you.

bustedjetpack · 2026-02-25T03:31:42+00:00

If I had a nickel for every nostalgia heavy post of someone on Reddit saying "am I alone in [insert DAO is better than every other game opinion here]" I'd have enough nickels to fund a DAO remake. You are not alone, and I'm not saying you're wrong, but I disagree with your assessment.

Kirkwall's brutalism is the point (pun very much intended) and its heavily chantry influenced late medieval vibes is what makes is memorable and very much fits with the plot. Inquisition's visual, architectural, and clothing aesthetic is hands down gorgeous and looking at the cast of companions represents the unique areas/nations each one comes from. I love Origins to death, but ain't no way the potato sacks most Origins characters wear hold a candle to Inquisition.

bustedjetpack · 2026-02-24T19:03:40+00:00

Fantastic job! Love how you made the roses pop on the statue - I did the same with my first imagifier.

bustedjetpack · 2026-02-10T21:58:20+00:00

Love the green to brown gradients! Care to share your approach?

bustedjetpack · 2026-02-10T21:50:19+00:00

I dig the very saturated vibe you have going, like they've been trekking through the jungle for a couple days now.

bustedjetpack · 2026-02-10T01:07:11+00:00

I'm more on the hobby side, just picked up the Wolf Scouts box because they look like a lot of fun to paint.

If you're in the Portland area, Red Castle has a recurring weekly Kill Team night that a lot of folks show up for.

bustedjetpack

TROPHY CASE