JohnReid

Because I come from a different background than most modelers when it comes to painting figures my methods are a little different than you will see elsewhere.Not better,just different and very easy to do.Yes,I went through all the same problems that you may be having now but it was only when I stopped daydreaming about being the best figure painter in the world that I became an acceptable one.Some work a lifetime just painting figures,we dioramists should be so lucky! Figure painting is just one thing in a long list of skills that we must develop to become dioramists.We can't be the best at every facet of the game but we can be good at most.
Yes I have read most of the long winded explanations about painting and frankly I have found them boring, more geared to the trained artist than the ordinary guy just trying to do a nice job.Personally I have no training in the arts and I guess some would say that it shows! But I also don't have all the baggage of formal training to weigh me down and I like to think that I am a little more willing to experiment with new ways of doing things.
Yes,figure painting can be scary.Why? because all human beings are experts at picking up any flaws and mistakes and all the rest of our work can be judged upon how we painted our figures.The average Joe may not know what a horse really looks like but they sure know the human face.That is what frightens away most dioramists from adding figures to their work,they just don't look real to them and they spoil the rest of the illusion that they are trying to create.But what is a miniature world without humans around.Just that,a world devoid of humans and not very interesting to most humans.Imagine a movie with no actors or a book without human characters where they should be telling a human story.Sometimes in a small diorama or vignette we can get away with just suggesting human presence such as footsteps in the snow but most of the time they are essential to a good storyline.I have seen sailing ship models in full rig with nary a soul on board,not even at the wheel.Strange.........
I am not here trying to convince those who would prefer not to put in figures but for those who do ,I hope that my limited experience can help get you over the fear of giving it an honest try. ____________