Improvement advice

grunts1175

grunts1175

New member
Hi there everyone. Its not the first time I've posted a mini to the gallery, but this is the first time I've been brave enough to ask for some honest criticism and comments about a finished mini. I'd really like to bring up my game, but not entirely sure what elements I need to improve on. The link to my latest mini is below, any advice at all would be very appreciated.

http://www.coolminiornot.com/275511

Cheers
 
S

supervike

Super Moderator
I was looking at this mini the other day, when I was approving submissions! I really liked it.

I just love this style of painting. You have very subtle contrast, but that makes for a more realistic model. The metallics are well done, and the paint overall is very neat and smooth.

If scores are hugely important to you, you'll need to force the contrast up more extremely....but if I could paint like you, I'd not really worry about the scores.

Things I think you could do to improve it slightly....

Adding a bit of interest to that yellow power glove...ie some battledamage, a motif, etc. etc..
Those toenails don't look finished...

Please please show us more!
 
grunts1175

grunts1175

New member
Thanks for the comments supervike, its very much appreciated. I'm not really all that concerned about improving my scores, I mostly want to improve my painting ability.

When I started painting this model I was planning on trying out some freehand paint chips on the glove, but when it came time to paint them I couldn't decide if I wanted to do it or not. It was something I hadn't done before and I was worried about having to repaint the glove if it didn't turn out. I suppose I should have stuck to the plan and just done it. Maybe I'll go back and try after all. As for the toenails...yeah, I got lazy lol. I guess I can fix those while I'm at it.

Cheers!
 
S

supervike

Super Moderator
I went through your gallery. You've improved immensely from your first upload to this current one.

It's awesome to see people improving their skill.
 
BPI

BPI

New member
Hi Grunts, for that one I'd suggest a final white dot in the eyes to draw more attention (a very soft glaze of green over the top if needed). Then the silver in the middle of his chest is a bit loosely defined. If you can sharpen up the shading on the sides to help bring out the star shape. Then the toenails ;)

Afterthought: I think perhaps that red on the gauge (?) is a bit distracting. Dull it down a bit? If it's not a gauge with a need for "red for danger" then switch it for another colour. I'm tempted to say the same for the floor too. Actually, looking at the back, where that green in the vent sits alone, I'd suggest green :D

I like it :good:

Cheers, B.
 
grunts1175

grunts1175

New member
@ supervike - thanks again, happy to be improving.

@ BPI - thanks for the comments. I'll see what I can do to define the chest gear better, as well as the toenails. The light was a bit diffuse when I snapped the pic, so the eyes don't show as well as they should. They have a fairly bright dot of VGC flourescent yellow. I've attached a pic below with daylight looking straight on. The red on the gauge is supposed to be a "red for danger" so I'd like to keep it the way it is, but perhaps I'll do it in a darker shade to be less distracting? When you suggest green, are you suggesting it for the floor or the gauge or both?
NewImage-1-1.jpg
 
S

ScottRadom

Shogun of Saskatchewan
I'd suggest, a simple little bit of edge highlighting on some areas. The glove comes to mind. A little bit of bleached bone on the ridges I think would look nice. Very good work!
 
Einion

Einion

New member
Interestingly, I usually score things lower than the CMON score but it's currently 6.7 when I'd say it's a solid 7. Voting does seem to have become tougher recently.

I like the mini and your paintwork, and I think the style of painting suits the sculpt which is a big part of it for me. From what I can see, my main advice would be to sharpen up a bit, but pics at this scale do tend to make things look a little more 'blobby' than the mini would look in the hand anyway, so you really might not need to focus on that.

You could aim for more weathering or dirtying up, but that's just a matter of taste.

Einion
 
cassar

cassar

BALLSCRATCHER
your not alone there vincegamer lol, i just gave up on the painting lol too many annoyingly depressing good painters out there.
 
grunts1175

grunts1175

New member
@ ScottRadom - Much appreciated advice. Thank you.
@ Einion - Thanks. I looked at the photo to see where I should lay some edge highlights, but when I picked up the actual model I realized how small it is in comparison to the photo. I may try some paint chips on the yellow parts just so I can get some practice, this scrap thrall is only worth 1/3 of a point :D
@ vincegamer & cassar - SkeletteS is right. Seeing all the good paint jobs out there should be inspiring, something to aspire to! Just keep at it!
 
BPI

BPI

New member
Hi Grunts, I was thinking of switching all of the red out for greens. But not necesarily actually doing it! The mini looks fine, move onto the next one. It was more just a ponder on number of colours in place, I've been trying to reduce my habit of reaching for a new colour on every element of a mini whilst still keeping things clear. Bumping into things like Red For Danger always throws a spanner in the works though!

The eyes look a lot brighter in that new shot. My preference would still be for a finer speck of light/glow in the middle but see less need for it now :D

Cheers, B.
 
M

Mannahnin

New member
Really nice model. I agree that the blending and color selection are excellent. VERY nice and realistic. The only areas I could consider changing would be a) adding a bit more weathering/wear/dirtiness. In the form of some tonal variation/rotted/bloody appearance to the flesh (right now it's a bit monotone and looks a little more like clothing than rotted flesh) and optionally some wear/battle damage on the fist, and b) maybe a shade brighter edge highlighting, particularly on the metallics. The latter is really more a matter of taste, though.
 
grunts1175

grunts1175

New member
Thanks for the continuing comments everyone, its very appreciated. I do intend to go back to this model, but unfortunately I'm up against some painters block at the moment (and not having a desk right now isn't helping either). Hopefully I'll have something for next week to show off.

Cheers.
 
grunts1175

grunts1175

New member
Hi all. Hopefully this isn't old enough to be considered threadomancy, but I've finally gotten the time to work on improving this guy. I've done a glaze of VGC Smoke mixed with GW Baal Red wash to all the skin, focused mostly around the metal to flesh joins, and the flesh to bone joins. I've also highlighted the edges of the metal areas with a very light metal colour, and added an edge highlight of bleached bone to the yellow areas. I tried battle damage on the fist, but was really unhappy with how it turned out so I went back over it with the original colour. I think it looks quite a bit more "finished" than it did before. Thanks again all for the advice.

http://www.coolminiornot.com/277745
 
S

Synthet

New member
It looks really good. if I would give you some advice (since it easier to give advice to a mini you havent painted yourself (Can´t see the woods for all the trees). I Would do a final highligt on the eyes to make them "pop", since it´s the first thing I see on the mini. Then I would do a bit more shading around the toenails. Apart from that, consider it a great paintjob!:) You actually inspierd my to do that mini myself (have had it on my shelf for to long now):)
 
grunts1175

grunts1175

New member
Damn toenails! I knew I forgot to do something. Grr. I can fix that. I can also try a dot of pure VGC Florescent Yellow to the centre of the eye, but I can't promise it will work. I have very shaky hands, and my brush is only so small :D

Cheers!
 
Bloodthorn

Bloodthorn

New member
I have to say I like this alot. Nice highlights and contrast. The only thing that seems to bug me is the copper areas seem bland compared to the rest of the mini. Maybe it is just the picture killing the shades/highlights on the copper. A little rust colored wash over it with a slight highlight would bring it in line.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back To Top
Top