I was delighted to be interviewed by the fantastic Vince Venturella as a part of his “Interview with an Artist” series.
Please click above to enjoy! It was a real pleasure to chat with Vince.
Be sure to visit his Youtube for lots of amazing hobby-related content, tips, tricks, news and more.
Interview with the Artist – Richard Gray and Vince Venturella
Vince Venturella: Hello everybody and welcome to another interview with the artist. Today we’re sitting down with a man I am incredibly excited to be talking to, truly one of my all-time heroes, Richard Gray. How are you doing, sir?
Richard Gray: Not bad, thank you. Wonderful to sit down with you and talk.
Vince Venturella: Richard has won a host of awards in painting over the years, including multiple Golden Demons, as well as many other competitions. You are well known as a master of many different things, particularly for the stunning freehand that you often incorporate into your models.
Richard Gray: Thank you for having me.
Vince Venturella: Let’s begin at the beginning. How did you come to miniature painting? What was the inflection point in your life?
Richard Gray: My starting point is fairly common. I started with HeroQuest and Space Crusade. When I looked at the side of the box and saw the painted models, I just thought they looked really cool and wanted to emulate that. I came across a White Dwarf magazine, which had some amazing painted models in it, and that really hooked me.
Vince Venturella: Did you do any formal training in art?
Richard Gray: Yes, a big part of my life actually. Originally, I wanted to do book covers and things, as I loved the covers on codexes and other fantasy books. Art was always my best lesson at school. I took a degree in visual communication, specialising in illustration.
Vince Venturella: Let’s talk about nonmetallic metals. Did your 2D background influence your approach?
Richard Gray: Yes, very much. In two-dimensional painting, it’s just metal. The nonmetallics term is very much a miniature-focused thing. Because of my background in 2D painting, I’m not that keen on painting true metals.
Vince Venturella: You have some really eye-catching flesh tones. Do you find your background in traditional art helps with this aspect?
Richard Gray: Yes, I do actually get very frustrated with people always asking for the exact colour combinations. A lot of the time, I just pick some random colours and see what I can come up with. It’s a lot to do with the application of the paint.
Vince Venturella: Did you ever have the “gap years” where you stepped away from miniature painting?
Richard Gray: I definitely had periods where I didn’t necessarily stop with models and painting, but it took a back burner, especially when I was at university. But I was always doing art, just not always model painting.
Vince Venturella: Let’s move forward to competition painting. What was your first win?
Richard Gray: My first win was a Warhammer Fantasy Monster category, painting a Keeper of Secrets.
Vince Venturella: You’ve competed in many different competitions using all these different figures. Are there any pieces that stand out in your mind?
Richard Gray: Once I’ve finished a model, I kind of ignore it. It’s interesting to go back to a model I’ve painted a while ago and then look at it with fresh eyes. I’m never satisfied with a project; there’s never a stage where I think I couldn’t have done that any better.
Vince Venturella: Do you have a painted army?
Richard Gray: Technically, yes. I have a small Adeptus Titanicus army. And from when I was younger, I have an Imperial Fists and a Death Guard army.
Vince Venturella: Let’s talk about your style. How do you choose what to paint next?
Richard Gray: There are a few things: Do I need to get something finished for tutorials? Is it for a competition? Is it a new model I’m particularly excited about? Or is it just something I want to try something out on?
Vince Venturella: Let’s take a look at some of your pieces and share some stories behind them.
Richard Gray discusses various pieces, including a Nighthaunt character, a Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig, Zarbag’s Gitz, a Warhound Titan, a Tzeentch-themed Knight, and Mortarion.
Vince Venturella: We’ll finish up with some questions from our viewers. First, do you varnish your pieces for competition?
Richard Gray: Sometimes, I use AK Interactive Ultra Matte varnish. It’s the best matte I’ve found.
Vince Venturella: Any favourite brands of paint?
Richard Gray: Vallejo Model Colour and Games Workshop paints are my preference.
Vince Venturella: Any advice for beginners with skin and achieving more blending and smooth colours?
Richard Gray: Use thin paints. Multiple layers of thin paint help achieve the translucency of skin. You can even put small veins in and then glaze over to soften those colours.
Vince Venturella: Best tip for someone starting out with freehand?
Richard Gray: Practice is really important. Learn how the paint works. Keep it simple and don’t go for something too complicated to start with.
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