Peter is a very talented and successfull commission painter, who has really dedicated himself to painting tabletop armies in record time. His main 'ingredient' is the airbrush, and he handles it with great skill. He is mainly self-taught, and that is what holds my respect. He knows a lot of tricks for painting armies in a quick way but with awesome results. even I was able to learn a bit or two.
We decided to combine our two disciplines: his tabletop airbrush techniques and my display oriented brush techniques. Our focus was on painting armies, both with techniues that get you results faster, but also with techniques that can get your single characters stand out more.
It was a good try, to see how this would combine. It is hard to combine fast tabletop quality painting with display quality painting, and maybe just one day is not enough to really get everything out of it as I would have liked.
But I guess we have been able to show the participants a hell of a lot of techniques, tricks, tips and short-cuts that can be used in all kinds of disciplines. Now it is up to them to take from it what they want and need.
Good points (as I see it):
- lots of easy-to-use information, but also some challenging excersises
- two mentors means twice as much attention for everyone
- two mentors also means that some participants that are on a different level or path can get the individual attention to still enjoy the class.
- great venue to work at
Points for improvement:
- More detailed list of "what do you need to bring yourself" to all participants
- In that pre-mail, also make more clear what the class really is about (it was less a 'how to airbrush' and 'how to brush'- class than some thought it would be).
- I should have practiced more with combining Peter's airbrush techniques and my own, as I found I had to improvise a bit how I would continue after airbrushing.
- create a handout with all major information that was used in the class
Did we have fun? Well I did anyway, but considering the remarks and manners of farewells affterwards, I'd say the participants did as well. It was a good crowd, really eager to try out our excersises, even though it sometimes did not come easy. These guys did not get bummed by it, but realised that the learning would only come after the class.
I have seen them create really good results in just one day, and it's another class I can be proud of. I liked working with Peter, him and I being complete different kinds of tutors, but that just makes it interseting I guess :)
Yes, Peter and I will be re-evaluating this class and see if we can perfect it and do it again later this year.
In the meantime, one of the participant has taken it up to see if I can come to the Venray region to host a (display painting) class there. Cross my fingers...
