So I've backed a couple Kickstarters before without really covering them here, though I wish I would have. Specifically Studio McVey's Sedition Wars and the Free Mars graphic novel from Dave Pauwels and Nic Giacondino (better known as Aerion the Faithful to those who are a fan of his artwork). Honestly, the only reason I didn't cover them is because of my own unthinking excitement to be a part of them, without thinking of promoting them here.
So why preach the word about Jim's Kickstarter? Well, beyond the fact that him and Cathy are some seriously nice folks and amazingly talented painters…
I wanna learn how to paint like he does!
Seriously. I've had multiple conversations with him, and by the way he talks, he makes some of the more complicated ideas I have about painting seem so simple. I want to learn from him on how to push my painting past where I am now and into that next level of quality and eye-popping detail.
He's got this philosophy of the "Painting Pyramid" in how he looks at levels of not just difficulty, but really how he progresses from a primed figure to a finished one. He picks apart those key painting methods and how-tos that we all want to know, and is showing us his techniques in how they work.
What makes this different than, say, some of the other painting DVDs that we've seen from CMoN? For me, it's the fact that I've met Jim. He teaches regularly at Adepticon in seminars, which I would encourage any of you to take by the way, and learning first-hand from someone is key for me. The ability I would now have to pause, rewind and watch him do something, while explain how he is doing it, over and over is an amazing tool for improving and learning. Especially since if I did that in person, I wouldn't blame him if it put a brush in my eye ;)
Go check out his blog, James Wappel Miniature Painting.
Then go check out his Kickstarter, Discover the Painting Pyramid with James Wappel.
Throw money his way folks, many already have, and pick out your reward. You will not be sorry.
- Tim