Lighting directions

[Mose]

Good evening all.

I seem to be having a problem as to where to place the highlights. My mind just can’t grasp the subtleties of highlighting. I look at all your wonderful miniatures and the art of highlighting and just can’t do it. It’s so frustrating. Any ideas on what I can do?

I so want to paint as good as the greats but if I cant do something like light placement then were am I?

Mose

 

[green stuff]

It\'s mostly a question of observation. This article, alhough it deals of NMM, can give you an idea on where the highlights and shadows should be placed on your minis :

http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/339

 

[Ritual]

A very easy thing you can do is to hold your mini under a bright lamp. Look at the mini from straight ahead and see where the light from the lamp reflects on the mini. Try to remember that, or take a photograph of the mini to use as a guide. Turn the mini around and observe it from the rear and each sides as well.

 

[matty1001]

ANother way, is prime black or grey, and sray white from directly above, the white will fall where the light would, then you just use it as a guide.

 

[EricJ]

I actually think that learning the art of highlights starts not at the paint table but out in the real world. I noticed when I was really trying to learn how things should look highlighted, I would just really be observent of the world around me. Of course this doesn\'t always directly translate to minis, but it did help me a ton.

Of course the sugestions of GS, Ritual and Matty all are valid also!

 

[johnboyjjb]

Post in wips - you\'ll get answers

 

[Aidan K]

There is always the stop sign rule:

From \"How to Build Dioramas\" by Sheperd Paine and bought to my attention by Numbat over at the OzPainters forum. Certainly helped me get a grasp of where to place highlights.