Dave Taylor Miniatures - The Art of... Volumes 7 to 9 review Wi alumni Dave Taylor has taken his hobby knowledge and layout talents to a different realm over the last few years, showcasing the skills of incredible miniature painters in his The Art Of… series. This collection of coffee-table books has grown into a vibrant, nine-volume collection (with three more on the horizon), and each is packed with beautiful photos, insightful commentary, and useful advice from some of the world’s best painters. Every volume is an encapsulation of the creations, methods, and ethos of a particular painter; these entries in the series explore an assortment of projects from three very different artists, whose varied aesthetics and techniques ensure each volume will intrigue painters differently. Erik Swinson Flipping through Volume 7, readers will have their eyes frazzled by the bold work of American painter Erik Swinson. Beyond the visual flair shown in the fantastic quality photographs, much of the written guidance from Erik skews to colour palettes and their application. Common colour schemes are presented - complementary, analogous, triadic, and more - before Erik explains how different colour choices can bring different responses from viewers. A gallery of his projects shows the theory in practice on fantasy and sci-fi models of larger scales. Not the sort of thing you’d put in your tabletop army, but the skills are all applicable to any figures you fancy. The finale of the book is a section called ‘Featured Work’, where three projects are given a more in-depth examination. The advice is inspirational and informative, rather than explicit, but the finished pieces show Erik is an artist well worth learning from. Bjarni Dali The Art Of… books aren’t painting guides in the traditional sense. While they present suggestions and show off some processes, strict step-by-step guides don’t feature. In Volume 8, a few of Bjarni’s projects are discussed through their different stages, so this is perhaps the title to pick up if you want guidance that feels a little more familiar. This miniature painter from the Faroe Islands (the books take in talent from across the globe) discusses the ethos and background behind his extensive conversions and impressive final projects. There are interesting asides, such as the pros and cons of imposing deadlines on miniature painting, and it’s great that this volume showcases the work of a painter and convertor who is also a keen gamer. The focus is on the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000, with skirmish warbands, dioramas, and bigger scenery projects all included. There’s a copious amount of building and weathering ideas that will be transferable to historical terrain and vehicles here. Katarzyna Górska Katarzyna Górska is the Polish artist showcased
