I think they’re right that painting has come a long way from the early days of Games Workshop, but you must also remember that was 35+ years ago and many other things have changed..
I’ve a book issued after the 1988 Golden Demon with a painting guide included. This guide is very basic compared to what you would see as basic in a current White Dwarf.
I believe in the 1980s many painters were using enamel paints rather than acrylic. Enamels were/are easier to use than acrylic particularly for blending but they take so long to dry and you need chemicals to clean brushes etc. so parents are happier with water based paints. GW, of course, only recommended their Citadel paint range and pushed a three colour system with a shade and dry brush highlights. Also at this time colour reproduction in the White Dwarf was not good and the lack of social media meant many painters only saw real life work from a handful of painters in their local area.
Over the years paint has also been improved, look at the number of times GW themselves have changed their ranges (I still think the old Citadel paints I inherited are their best though). GW also introduced inks, coloured metallics, washes and now contrast paint all with the aim of helping painters to develop and improve.
There is also the increase in the numbers involved with the hobby so by a simple law of averages there are more good painters now than in the past. Judging by the prices GW charge for their sets and the way they sell out so quickly there also appears to be a fair number of people with a lot of money to spend on the hobby. Money encourages the commission painter, social media and podcasts and gives greater opportunity for some to spend most of their time painting, and have a ready audience.
It might also be due to a slight change of hobby – I’ve been told that back in the 80s the best figure painters were of the historical 54mm type figures and specialist shops and shows for these were quite common. I have never seen a shop selling this scale or heard of a show specifically for them. The ‘good’ wargame painters spend their time making dioramas and display figures rather than a gaming army so has the easier availability of wargame figures, drawn them into our hobby rather than historical model soldiers?
As Zygmund says you only see the top% of painters online, after all you have to be happy with your work to show it on the net. Members on this site have been very helpful to those that do but there are some nasty trolls out there in the wild.
From my point of view
Despite a few eye problems I’m happy with my current level of painting. I enter the odd competition at local stores, and have had some success. The standard of other competitors tends to vary from year to year but I’ve noticed that the use of Contrast and washes has produced very worrying good results for those I would say were like me and average (I cannot get the hang of washes or contrast – but then again I try to avoid using them.)
As for yourself,
Basically it comes down to how you feel about your work. They say practice makes things better. You only registered in 2019 but your comments suggest you’ve been in the hobby much longer. Have you improved over the years. Have you compared your current work with past efforts. Do you paint for yourself or do you enter competitions; and if so how do the results compare?
If you are still happy with your style, (whether or not that is in vogue with the current fad), and it is to the same or a better than past standards I don’t think you should be worried about where you fit in the league tables. Painting should be done for pleasure, if your happy with what you produce all is fine, if you’re not it’s time to look for another hobby.
