A first attempt at Zenithal highlighting

[Ruleslawyer]

I tried zenithal highlighting this weekend. My control is somewhat lacking. I think I'm impatient working with translucent layers, but the shading effect is pretty dramatic, especially when you're holding it in your hand. I'm pretty pleased for a first try. So tell me how to improve!

 

[supervike]

To be honest, all that really ever matters is how it looks when you hold it in your hand.

But, for photography, it's a bit less forgiving....

It's a good start.

Something I like to do when trying for dramatic highlights is to do similar what you've done, but then tone it down a bit with a very thin glaze of your base color.

Red is a bearcat to shade!!

 

[Tommie Soule]

thats a good start fella, all your colours are in the right place.
unfortunately i feel you are taking the translucent layer thing too much and literal. for example the colour i presume would be your base colour appeares pastely and patchy, this tells me there is a lighter under layer is showing through inappropraitely. this may be due to shading layers being inaccurate and inconsitent, or basecoat layers not being solid enough, or both.
you are on the right track tho

Tommie

 

[Einion]

In addition to Tommie's comments above, another thing is I think you're taking the zenithal part a little too literally (e.g. the pools of highlight on the shoulder).

The concept of overhead lighting is perhaps best summarised by an old guide, called the stop-sign rule. Luckily Google books allows actually showing you this in one of Shep Paine's books, hopefully this link will work: see here.

Einion

 

[Ruleslawyer]

Well, the specular highlights got a little out of hand. Honestly it does look better on the table than in large photo. Tiny details get lost at distance where larger things don't. I've come from a long line of painting too flat though and I'm trying to push it.