Forum Newbie

[Anorontarien]

Hey everyone My name is Randelle, i'm new to the forums, and new to painting. Done about a handful of paints for my D&D table top group, and i'm looking for some constructive criticism and tips on what i can do differently. Any help would be great. Thanks!

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/album.php?albumid=167

 

[Rugne]

Looks like a good start mate, your photos look a little fuzzy through. What range are those mini's from?

Marc

 

[Anorontarien]

huh? Oh, the assassin is a reaper mini, Dark heaven legends. The gunslinger is also a reaper one, Chronoscope, i think. i bought them from a local comic shop and don't remember the figures' names, and unfortunately don't seem to be able to find those particular mini's on the reaper website.

 

[GreenOne]

Good start, you got the basics down.
I'd say, smooth out your surfaces prior to painting, prep work is often overlooked but makes a huge difference. Thinner paints, especially for skintones more contrast.... patience practice and study will do the rest
I also suggest mixing your own skin colors to get the right balance for the subject your painting.

 

[DXM]

Welcome Aboard

 

[funnymouth]

....more contrast....

interesting advice coming from you, a guy who is in the "low-contrast-fu scool":wink:
i agree though, id say up it a bit.
low contrast can be nice too - dont lose yourself in the fanfare. solid work.

rugene is right about the photos - they're *everything* on cmon.

my advice:
1) finish the bases! some guys are in to boobs, im in to bases (and boobs). IMHO everything is contextual, so a well thought out base can be the difference between a "meh" and an "ooooh!"
2) the details matter! when you can, sell the TEXTURE. hair is shiny (high contrast) and fabrics are woven (subtle cross hatching). think about this kind of basic composition beforehand - "why is the hair different from the jacket?" then incorporate it in to your painting. also, i always strive to bring out the emphasis intended by the sculptor. for example, on the gunslinger, youve painted the guns in a single monotone color, but there is detail left unexploited there; work with it! in a similar vein, depth is key! you are creating the illusion of a much larger object when you paint a mini, so you must exaggerate "hilights" from "lowlights" to fool the eye in to believing it is looking at something much larger. this goes hand in hand with greenone's comment. up the contrast.

 

[cheelfy]

Thinner paints, especially for skintones more contrast....

I second that.

 

[GreenOne]

interesting advice coming from you, a guy who is the "low-contrast-fu scool":wink:

'' Do as I say, not as I do ''
Just wanted to be the first one to tell him ''more contrast'', every time some contrast junkie will tell him, he'll think of me

 

[Anorontarien]

Thanks.

Thanks everyone for the welcome and the much appreciated advice. It definately gives me a lot to consider. (finally figured out how to change the avatar it gave me to start.. definately not a guy...lol)

 

[freakinacage]

interesting advice coming from you, a guy who is in the "low-contrast-fu scool":wink:
i agree though, id say up it a bit.
low contrast can be nice too - dont lose yourself in the fanfare. solid work.

rugene is right about the photos - they're *everything* on cmon.

my advice:
1) finish the bases! some guys are in to boobs, im in to bases (and boobs). IMHO everything is contextual, so a well thought out base can be the difference between a "meh" and an "ooooh!"
2) the details matter! when you can, sell the TEXTURE. hair is shiny (high contrast) and fabrics are woven (subtle cross hatching). think about this kind of basic composition beforehand - "why is the hair different from the jacket?" then incorporate it in to your painting. also, i always strive to bring out the emphasis intended by the sculptor. for example, on the gunslinger, youve painted the guns in a single monotone color, but there is detail left unexploited there; work with it! in a similar vein, depth is key! you are creating the illusion of a much larger object when you paint a mini, so you must exaggerate "hilights" from "lowlights" to fool the eye in to believing it is looking at something much larger. this goes hand in hand with greenone's comment. up the contrast.

aye what they said! welcome to the forums

 

[Anorontarien]

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for your advice and welcomes

 

[GreenOne]

(finally figured out how to change the avatar it gave me to start.. definately not a guy...lol)

Ha, well guess who looks silly now

 

[Onis Lair]

Actually, not to be a dick or anything, the "gunslinger" is Valeria Alvaro from Priviteer Press's iron Kingdom's line and the other "assassin" is Lola, Overlords Hero from Reaper's warlord line. I have both minis is how i know.

 

[Anorontarien]

k cool

thanks Onis.
and LOL @ green one. It's ok. it happens to any of us..

 

[Dragonsreach]

Anorontarien, Welcome Aboard.

I'll echo what funnymouth said; upping contrast on 28mm models does increase the visual appeal of a figure, so don't be afraid to take a leap in that direction.
Also Kudos for picking a couple of cool and complex figures to display your work. I too have Lola but she's in the "To Paint One Day Pile" other wise know as the "Lead Mountain".

Couple of things;
The WIP forums is great for getting suggestions on figures, some of us may be strong critics, but we are honest about it. And I suspect that one good honest criticism is worth more than a hundred fawning comments.
There are lots of Articles on various aspects of painting Automaton's (Sebastian Archer) are some of the best I've encountered in 4 decades of painting.

If you are interested in meeting up with other painters to swap ideas, but don't want the hassle of drooling males, we have two Ladies(+) who might not be too far away from you.(*) Lizcam & Wiccanpony.


(+ I suspect that they can be "Whirling Hell on Wheels" if let out together.)
(* I have no idea whatsoever of the distances involved in California, so I could be miles off track.)