Raising the standard

[Dr Death]

Hello, im new around here and after admiring the vast number of supurb peices of miniature artwork on this site and realising quite how uninspiring my own were when held next to them ive decided to attempt to remedy the difference. I am a two time golden deamon finalist first in youngbloods in 2003 and this year in the single miniature catagory and have 6 years of painting and to a lesser degree modelling under my belt but i now feel the need to ask for aid as to how to cross the gap between finalist standard and winner standard.

I am just about to embark on what i hope will be the \"perfect\" space wolf force which in time i hope to expand to a full great company, but as it stands i dont feel my rather meagre conversion skills and emotionless painting style is up to doing the culturally rich Sons of Russ justice enough to be called \"perfect\".

As an artist i greatly admire the work of Matt Gubser and Brother Sinear for their modelling skills and style. As far as paintings concerned i favour a dark approach with rich colours and clear definition.

This post is a request for any general or space wolf specific painting and modelling tips from as many talented artists as possible.

To any who reply many thanks and my own personal gratitude

Dr Death

 

[Dragonsreach]

Welcome to the forums Dr Death.

As to your request; You\'ll find that there are many people willing to give advise on the way to paint (and/or paint better). It would be helpful if you could post up a figure (or two) to give us an idea of the starting point that your standard of painting is at.
Being a GW Finalist myself I know that trying to get out of the rut and onto the top tier is very difficult, especially when we are now having to compete against the French & Spanish painters in the UK GD.

 

[t_haye2]

well, it sort of depends wher you wnat to go with your force. classic blue/grey, or maybemore in the way of the 13th company(codex), or, maybe, even a subsidiary chapter, say, black?(i always thought thyat would be cool)

what DR said is your best option, post a test model, and that way we have more to go on, it\'s not like we can give you advice not knowing your level....

 

[tidoco2222]

Firstly welcome to Cmon.Secondly as already mentioned you should show us some of your work and the advice will surely flow. I can say from personal experience that I have improved alot since joining the Cmon community.

 

[Dr Death]

I intend to go for a more 13th company grey. Plans are to make it the great company of Lokyr the fenrisian lonewolf, simply because it hasnt so far been done (to my knowledge).

The picture is of last years youngblood entry which i must confess was rather rushed (ie half being done the day before) but the flesh got some time and care, and as ever it looks better in the flesh

(if the picture doesnt work the url is- http://groups.msn.com/Spacewolves/spacewolves.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=9275)

Dr Death

 

[frenchkid]

Actually I think your picture\'s too big to go on the forum, it did take me quit some time to load, you should try to size it down a bit.
And for the mini well it looks good, I think it could use a few more highlights, and a bit better blending but you\'re of to a good start

 

[albinosoldier314]

One of the primary things judges look for is originality. Try and avoid a strictly codex color scheme- either throw in an icon of your own, or a new type of unit eg. a couple of tanks which are all heavily converted. Maybe those old pointy-nosed chaos dreads with space wolf decoration and some conversions...

No one ever accomplished anything new by doing the same thing as someone else.