Arctica's WiPs

damnedfist · Post by **damnedfist** » 4 Apr 2009, o 18:28

Well Moo..., your work on the Eldar is the best of the best that I have scene from you. The figure itself is beyond any criticism I could ever conceive. Bravo!

As for your Rasputina entry..., I love the figure as well as the snowy-checkerboard base. The painting again is top notch.(Especially the free hand) My only difficulty with it was that I found the 'crystals' to be distracting from the model itself. Other than that- Great work

arctica · Post by **arctica** » 5 Apr 2009, o 20:31

Thanks, i agree with you DF about the base, im going to be rebasing the mini anyway. I kind of rushed it for a WAMP competition but by doing that i think i killed my chances, oh well.

Anyway the current piece i've been working on is this mournful knight from gamezone for another WAMP competition. A few thoughts while i've been painting this miniature, firstly the finish on gamezone models are very so - so, and needs alot of extra work to get smooth and the amount of detail on these models makes GW models look boring lol. But still alot of the detail is lost in the casting too.

The next thing i have found was working with metallics. It has been a while since i've worked with metallics and i need to definately work more with my contrast with it in general. After using NMM for so long my metallics look a little flat and maybe i need to introduce more use of inks and washes to the metallic surfaces. One other hindrance i've had is that since you know im lazy at taking photos and in general mine aren't the greatest but taking pics of metallics is even more difficult i have found.

I wanted to keep the model quite dull and not too shiney and bright so i tried to tone down alot of my highlights. Im fairly happy with the model in general and i think in the future i might experiment more with metallic paints.

Comments and criticisms are welcome.

Click to see full-sized image

ToMaZ · Post by **ToMaZ** » 5 Apr 2009, o 21:30

firstly the finish on gamezone models are very so - so, and needs alot of extra work to get smooth

Try Mr Surfacer if you want a smooth surface. I use it on poor casts (with holes, dents etc) and most of the stuff is smooth one go. (Google it for more info

)

After using NMM for so long my metallics look a little flat and maybe i need to introduce more use of inks and washes to the metallic surfaces

I think you need contrast, so why not try painting metallics as if you were painting NMM? It works great IMO

With NMM you're mimicking metallics anyway. If you use the same technique you get enough contrast and, with a bit of practise, good looking metallics.

Example of this technique on a sword I painted a long time ago: Thrall Warrior

Also, I would stay away from inks while painting metallics. They are too glossy IMO.
I'd rather mix in paint with my metallic color for shading. It knocks off the brightness but still keeps some metallic flakes in it for the 'shine'. If you use only paint, without mixing in metallic paint, you get a very dull metallic in the end when you're building up layers.

Neolis · Post by **Neolis** » 6 Apr 2009, o 00:18

I'll back up ToMaZ on the mixing the metallic with regular. Or if your set on using ink just really thin out chaos black and use it in a similar way as the ink. It will take a few more layers but doesn't rob the shine from the metal or gloss it like inks. It was a method that Allan Carrasco taught in one of his gencon classes. Still trying to get a handle on it myself though.

arctica · Post by **arctica** » 6 Apr 2009, o 00:23

Hmmm well im not sure inks etc are the way to go im always open to other options

Still while im contemplating more on metallics and how to improve my technique i decided to start my final model for my tsons model. A nice treat for myself a couple months back, a dread from forge world.

Not much to see atm but i'll update the wip fairly regularly:

Click to see full-sized image

Post by **Skrit** » 6 Apr 2009, o 09:46

If you feel ink makes the metallic too glossy than there's always the new(-ish) washes from GW. I think they work great!

OOw, pretty colours on the Dread!

Post by **Demi_morgana** » 6 Apr 2009, o 09:51

yeah, good to see the blue is back

Post by **Nameless** » 6 Apr 2009, o 09:59

OOw, pretty colours on the Dread!

yes, black primer is very cool

arctica, for now your (theoretically) table-top piece is looking better than the contest entry

arctica · Post by **arctica** » 6 Apr 2009, o 10:58

Lol well the contest piece was more for me to play around with metallics

, i think i've regressed back to what i know for now to refine my technique. Im going to try out some SE-NMM on this guy if i can too, it'll be a first for me

.

Black primer does look rather cool

arctica · Post by **arctica** » 6 Apr 2009, o 23:47

Anyway more work on the foot

lol not much more work since my eyes are tired but i've been concentrating on getting every detail smooth as much as i can, i think i still need a couple more layers to get them totally smooth but lets hope i can keep this up:

Click to see full-sized image

Click to see full-sized image

While im doing this i've been thinking about possibly doing some freehand work on the larger surfaces as this presents a good opportunity. Anyway comments and crits welcome.