WELCOME TO THE SAGE BRUSH!

Hello, and Welcome to The Sage Brush!

This blog is intended to be a showcase of some of my best gaming miniatures, but more importantly, I hope to provide a guide for readers to improve their own painting abilities.  I will be providing tips, how-to's, and examples of the techniques that I use.

A little about me, as pertains to this blog:

I am HeadHunter - a handle I earned in the early days of Unreal Tournament, for my uncanny knack for scoring headshots on the run with a sniper rifle.  I have been a gamer since 1981, and like most people I cut my teeth on Dungeons & Dragons.  Back then, Grenadier released boxed sets of gaming miniatures, which were pretty good for their time - but they don't hold up so well compared to the state of the art today.

When I started painting minis 33 years ago, I used Testors enamels and nylon brushes.  Surprisingly, I got pretty decent results for an inexperienced teenager using low-quality materials.  About a year later, an eye injury impaired most of the sight in my right eye.  I was left with no depth perception and a limited field of vision for many years.  Still, I continued to paint, concentrating on ways I could improve my results in spite of my physical limitation.

For those who've never tried, it's damned hard to paint something that's only an inch tall when you have no depth perception.  After a couple of surgeries and specialized eyewear, much of my lost vision has returned, but it's not nearly 20/20 anymore.  So let's start with the first tip, one which may not seem obvious when we're talking about how to be a better painter:

RULE ONE: YOUR EYESIGHT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TOOL.

I've had to learn to paint with one eye closed, essentially.  You don't want to have to do that. 
You can always buy better brushes and higher quality paints, you can always learn new ways to prepare a mini or techniques for better results, but it's a sure thing that your eyesight will never be better than it is right now.

If you have 20/20 uncorrected eyesight, you have a tool that money can't really buy.  Preserve it!
If, like most people, your eyesight is less than perfect, make sure your eyeglasses or contact lenses are a good, current prescription.  You may want to get a special pair of glasses for close-up work.  I have a set that's designed for best focus within arm's length - so it's ideal for working on the computer or working with miniatures.

* Make sure your work area is well-lit:
     The best place to work is near a window - preferably one which allows the most daylight to enter.  Natural light is best for seeing what your final results will look like.  Supplement this natural light with adequate overhead lighting, and also use a smaller lamp (desk or table style) that can be adjusted to illuminate your immediate work area.  There are a number of hobby lamps that are ideal for this purpose - some are "gooseneck" style, others are adjustable in other ways.  The best bulbs to use are the ones that simulate natural daylight. Some lamps have a magnifier built-in; I have a small one that I use for extreme details.
    
 
* Take frequent breaks to reduce eyestrain:
     When you're focusing on something this small, this close, for this long, your eyes will get tired fast.  You're also probably not blinking as often, so they will dry out quickly, too.
    The "20/20" rule is a good rule of thumb - every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to focus on something far away (20 feet is suggested, but likely not possible where you'll be painting).  Basically, give your eyes time to adjust to a different focus than your work area.  In fact, use this short break time to get up and walk around - even young, healthy individuals can get a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) from sitting for prolonged periods - and having a pulmonary embolism or heart attack would put a damper on your painting real fast.
     Another very helpful suggestion is to keep your eyes moistened.  I use "artificial tears" - just lubricant eye drops.  Visine makes something like this, but you don't want the kind that reduces redness or allergy symptoms.  Those can sting, and they won't provide the kind of relief you need.  If you notice that your eyes are sore after a long painting session, a few drops of artificial tears in each eye every few hours should provide fast relief and help to preserve your sight in the long run.

If you find you're still getting headaches or eye pain in spite of the previous advice, see an optician or ophthalmologist immediately.  You might just need better glasses, or there might be something that's aggravated by such close work.  Treating it sooner rather than later will ensure you can continue to enjoy your hobby for many more years, and with better results.

Simply put, it's a lot harder to paint when you can't clearly see what you are doing! 
This is the aspect of painting that no one can teach, and you can't buy or learn from someone else.

I'd extend that advice to other physical aspects that can be controlled.  You'll find you paint better when you are well-rested, and well-nourished.  Stay hydrated!  Some people might do better after a cup of coffee in the morning, but for most people it will cause your hands to be a little shaky.  Try painting a model's eyes with caffeine jitters, it's not easy!  For those (like me) who are hypoglycemic, make sure you take breaks for meals or snacks.  Low blood sugar can impair vision, fine motor control and concentration - and it will show in your work.

SUMMARY

When we think of the tools we use to prepare and paint gaming miniatures, we usually think of brushes, bottles of paint, and maybe a hobby knife, some files and an emery board.  We don't often think of our bodies and our eyes as the most important elements of painting, but without them, the best equipment in the world won't matter.  It's YOU who will be holding the brush and seeing where the paint will be applied, and taking these simple and important steps will help you to achieve the best results possible.