So despite being a hell of a lot busier due to Project Bloom, I've not only managed to get some painting done, but have (in my opinion) greatly improved my process for painting my Eldar (I really need to think up a name for their Craftworld).
One of the first decisions I made was to cut back on using strong colours as base colours. For example, black now isn't pure chaos black, but 50/50 chaos black and codex grey. The step after is then to wash the above in Badab Black and then highlight with 75/25 Codex Grey and Black. It takes a little more time, but is more pleasing to me.
The other decision was to stop thinking that the new washes are necessarily the be all and end all. Rather, I've gone back to finding more natural wash colours for each base colour. For example, the purple cloth above (painted originally in 50/50 Hormagaunt Purple and Skull White) was washed in a 33/33/33 mix of Hormagaunt Purple, PVA glue and water (the glue was a trick I learned from a GW staff member whose work I've always appreciated).
The same approach was taken with the grey armour, which was then soft brushed using the technique that Gobsmasha taught me.
I'm really pleased with this Banshee and it's really inspired me to start trying to paint properley.
It's the last point above that led me to make 2 further decisions with regards to the hobby:
The first was to place less stress on myself with regards to having to get an army painted. That pressure I've often put on myself has taken some of the joy out of the past. I still want to play, of course, so the approach I'll be taking is construct the armies I have in mind and just take my time painting what I want and doing it well. I'm much more comfortable assembling prior to painting than I used to be when I first started the hobby - now I get the best of both worlds.
The second decision was to write everything I do down. Once I've found a scheme/approach that I'm happy with, I'm noting it all down, from colours for base/shades/highlights through to the method of execution and basing. I have a horrible memory and since I may not come back to a particular army for a while, it's important to do what I can to keep things consistent. I've done this with my Eldar and Dark Elf army and will be doing the same with any other army I have an interest in painting/playing (which is nearly all of them!)
Finally, Project Bloom has forced me to re-evaluate my work place - as peaceful areas around my small as it is house are decreasing at an alarming rate. So the above shows how I've re-arranged things. A while ago, I purchased one of the GW hobby stations which I thought might have been a little extravagant at the time, but it has come in very handy.
Going from left to right, on the bottom tier first, you'll see a larg magnifying glass that I picked up in Japan on my last trip over - I use this for all my fine detail work. Combined with this you'll see a recent purchase - a twin flexible LED light globe (originally for illuminating music) that I only just recently picked up at Borders for about $25.00. That, combined with the larger flexible lamp to the right have been a real life saver - now I have reliable light at all time - right where I need it.
Further to the right, you'll note a large ceramic tile I use for mixing paint and general work duties. Looking closely, you'll see a large gob of blu-tack which I use to hold open my paints at an angle so there's no dripping into the rim of the paint tins.
I keep whichever model I'm painting at the moment blu-tacked to an empty mixing pot as it gives my chubby fingers something further to hold onto. On the far right, you'll see my paint container which I've sorted from top to bottom in the following order: foundation paints, inks/washes/warm colours/cold colours and finally metallics, black, white and varnish. It's good to have these things sorted.
On the top tier you'll note the various tools of the trade as well as other works in progress.
*phew* Hopefully there'll be more updates in the days to come. I feel like painting an Iron Hand.
