Duncan Rhodes – 1 Game Workshop Employee Made Famous
Games Workshop has had a number of recognizable employees, including Duncan Rhodes. While there are certainly bigger names – such as John Blanche, Bryan Ansell, or the Perry brothers – they all come from a different era. He is one Game Workshop employee who became famous.
The Warhammer authors wrote the rulebooks and sculpted the figurines that we have come to endear. However, Duncan Rhodes introduced a new generation to painting with YouTube tutorials and books.
Known as Warhammer’s painting coach, he was always there to answer your questions. He explains why he left Warhammer in order to become his own boss.
“It’s a constant run of being in the right place at the right time,” he explains.
Duncan Rhodes – 1 Game Workshop Employee Made Famous
He spoke for an hour about Games Workshop and the Duncan Rhodes Painting Academy, about his favorite model (a regular Bretonnian Knight), and his favorite tutorials (Nagash, Maggoth Lord, Magnus, and Mortarion – the big guys).
He comes across as modest and down-to-earth, but there’s no hint of deception. When prodded about his painting and presentation skills, he credits them to being “willing to learn”.
Rhodes worked in retail alongside Chris Peach before joining Games Workshop as a painter. He dropped out of his Archeology degree after realizing it wasn’t for him. He discovered that he loved teaching people, but his ascent to Warhammer stardom was more than that.
“I’ve always been a very introverted person,” he explains, recalling a story from his childhood. “And when I was a kid, I was really shy, and I remember asking once for some advice and a painting technique from one of the staff members [at a Games Workshop store]. And for me, it was a big deal to work up the courage to ask
“He replied in a really condescending way and it stopped me from asking. So when I was there in retail I didn’t want to be responsible for that sort of thing to happen. So, anyone who asked me any questions on how to do something, I was utterly committed to try and teach them that thing. This then formed the guiding staff of what my career ended up being. I always wanted to help people access stuff and not have anyone feel like they couldn’t do it and end up moving away from something they otherwise would love because they didn’t feel they had the confidence or the skill to do something.”
This interview was conducted by The Gamer.
