Dave Taylor Miniatures is back on Kickstarter bringing the next triptych of 'The Art Of...' series of books, with Volumes 7-9 that highlight the miniatures work, the approach, and the philosophies of a broad spread of miniatures painters that Dave has come to admire over his three decades of participating in this incredible hobby. These artists will cover various genres and they all have something valuable to bring to the wider miniatures painting world.

The Art Of... Vols 7-9 // Dave Taylor

These books are both a celebration of the artist and their art, as well as an opportunity for them to present their thoughts on particular topics and let the world know why they approach their art the way they do. They will not be “How To” books but may include some “how to” examples. These books also are not formulaic, instead following the path determined by each artist to better showcase their unique outlook on their art.

Volume 7 – THE ART OF... Erik Swinson

Erik Swinson is an amazing miniatures artist from the US who has built an incredible portfolio of pieces, many of which grace the box covers of the miniatures painted. Erik's precision, speed, and eye for the unique set him apart as one of the world's premiere miniatures artists.

Volume 7 will include:
• Light and Volume – Bringing wonderful levels of depth to miniatures with tonal contrasts
• Color Choice – Using tried and true methods, as well as switching things up and pushing boundaries
• Collaboration – Creating truly unique pieces through working with other wonderful artists

Volume 8 – THE ART OF... Bjarni Dali

Bjarni Dali is a fantastic artist (and engineer) from the Faroe Islands who has made a name for himself with his elaborate Nercromunda terrain builds and skillful, grimdark miniature conversions for Inq28 and other cool gaming approaches. His weathering and detailing skills are amazing to behold and every project he works on receives a realistic finish.

Volume 8 will include:
• Work on Weathering – Weathering is best applied in layers, but how do you get the order right?
• Planning out Terrain – How you can plan out elaborate modular set-ups
• Creating a Moment in Time – What is everyone in your scene doing? And how does that support your overall story?

Volume 9 – THE ART OF... Katarzyna Górska

Katarzyna Górska (aka KAHA) is a spectacular miniatures artist from Poland. Over her many years of painting, Katarzyna has developed a very personal style that is recognized the world over. Light, Volume, Color, and Texture are all brought together in surprising ways to create miniatures and dioramas unique to her.

Volume 9 will include:
• Textural Painting – Looking at ways to create texture and emphasize elements in your work through deliberate brushstrokes
• Ethereal Lighting – How you can create a sense of light and volume while giving solid objects an ethereal quality
• Sculptural Basing – Applying wood carving skills to the world of miniatures painting

The Art Of... Series

If you missed the first cohort of books, you can officially get your mitts on Volumes 1-3. featuring the art styles and ethos from the Miniature Monthly Team, alongside Christof Keil and Ana Polanscak, and Volumes 4-6 feature three wonderful artists to showcase, including Chris Suhre, Tommie Soule, and Seyni N’diaye.

There are various ways of getting your hands on the books, PDF for the kids, physical books for adults, or both if you can't make up your mind. With books like these I think the pleasure of flicking through a physical book can't be beaten and when you're looking for inspiration randomly coming across an image is generally how it happens so I don't need text searchable scrolling ones and zeros.

The level of work from the various artists is amazing and I was especially happy to see Baine Bloodhoof in here as I remember when Erik won best in Monte San Savino 2022 with it against some amazing competition. As someone who doesn't do the instant grams or twits being able to see these artists' work in detail is a massive plus. It's also nice that while there are tutorials the books themselves are not a step-by-step guide instead blurring the line between aspirational work and tutorials.

What do you make of this series?