Hello there, I thought I'd post up a list - with pics - of my current best works. I paint a lot and do so enjoy it and so I put alot of my effort into the models, I am as of yet to actually enter into any sort of competition (re: GD) or anything but I will be soon with a couple of the mini's you see here.
I just wanted to know what people think of my works overall, all comments and feedback welcome - I'd like to know how to improve myself alot more.
I can't take pics for anything, I seem to get ok ones and then the editing looks ok but alot of colour bleeds out of them so they look rather different than IRL. This means lack of visible highlights and such. Also as to actual painting I can only truely do a few things, I am yet to learn advanced techniques and so it maybe painfully obvious to people such as some on here.
Anyways these are the most recent and best of my works -
https://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1314/completeb8rf.jpg --- Orc Boyz
https://img52.imageshack.us/img52/2459/f ... der8jv.jpg <---- Space Marine commander (DIY chapter)
https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1474 ... hed7vg.jpg <--- Josph Bugman (GW HQ Edition)
https://img32.imageshack.us/img32/89/val ... hed2do.jpg <---- Valten MKI
https://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8607 ... ix35az.jpg <--- Gotrek and Felix
https://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8962 ... ist1um.jpg <--- Garagrim Ironfist
https://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6310 ... son0vz.jpg <-- King Alrik Ranulfsson
https://img415.imageshack.us/img415/7557/arulricc4db.jpg <-- Ar-Ulric
https://img351.imageshack.us/img351/2663 ... dal9mz.jpg <-- The White Dwarf
https://img419.imageshack.us/img419/8092 ... ine7jz.jpg <--- Techmarine
So.. Anything you can say? Suggestions, comments, tips.. anything? Thank you muchly.
KU
My current works...
Forum rules
Post pictures and discussions regarding finished models here, please. If you have WIP (work in progress) photos, feel free to post them to the right section and feel free to add the link in your post about the finished work.
Post pictures and discussions regarding finished models here, please. If you have WIP (work in progress) photos, feel free to post them to the right section and feel free to add the link in your post about the finished work.
RE: My current works...
TBH I really enjoyed these pictures. The orcs remind me of the GW studio paintjob , which is a good thing IMO. The other works are ranging from pretty good to really nice. Not GD winners, and still could be improved, but something one could be proud of.
Generally I could put them in chronologic order judging by their quality and IIRC this is about the order in which they were painted, indeed. This means you are im proving your skills.
You improved your ability of painting skin and faces quite a lot. The king on the shield has a pretty basic paintjob on his skin, while Grombrindal or Ar Ulric have really good faces! What I would advise is:
- trying to limit drybrushing even more (Alrik's wings)
- try to add another highlight (when you learn to paint with high contrast and keep the transitions smooth, you can limit the contrast again and you will have improved your skills)
- maybe try washes and glazes of some not-so-obvious colors over metallics: greens, purples, blues, oranges -thin them a lot, stipple or paint them over the surfaces, let them dry, and add a different color
- practise taking photos... you will eventually master it
I will try to write a simple article about it - maybe it will help, but I think it's also the matter of the camera...
- paint paint paint
Generally I could put them in chronologic order judging by their quality and IIRC this is about the order in which they were painted, indeed. This means you are im proving your skills.
You improved your ability of painting skin and faces quite a lot. The king on the shield has a pretty basic paintjob on his skin, while Grombrindal or Ar Ulric have really good faces! What I would advise is:
- trying to limit drybrushing even more (Alrik's wings)
- try to add another highlight (when you learn to paint with high contrast and keep the transitions smooth, you can limit the contrast again and you will have improved your skills)
- maybe try washes and glazes of some not-so-obvious colors over metallics: greens, purples, blues, oranges -thin them a lot, stipple or paint them over the surfaces, let them dry, and add a different color
- practise taking photos... you will eventually master it
I will try to write a simple article about it - maybe it will help, but I think it's also the matter of the camera...- paint paint paint
-- Mahoń
Back in the garage with my bullshit detector
Back in the garage with my bullshit detector
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KingUlrikFlamebeard
Thank you. I know I can improve and there is lots of room to do so, especially the bases and metallics - those I have problems with doing well. I recently seen something on using greys with metals to make them dulled (silver metal) and I intend to try that at some point. I never really considered using other colours with them, but will consider them - I think I'm gonna need some spare stuff and random models to paint up.
It is close to the order painted in, though I King Alrik was an earlier model and I do take your points on his flesh - it is very basic. I have had comments on my painting of flesh and I found it became easier later on. I have more or less stopped drybrushing, apart from on like beards, as I find it messy and hard to control but can be useful. Highlighting I never like the ultra-highlights many do - to me they look garish - but I will try going that one step higher if it'll help me. Though I do lack the ability to blend, something I hope to practice at some point.
My photo skills do lack, I try but they either come out bad or ok. The camera seems ok, 3.2 megapixils; 2x optical zoom; macro; tripod etc. It maybe just me, and how I edit them as well I fel has a bearing on this.
Thanks for the comments, I will be trying to improve more. My next project is some Night Goblins, I'll see what I can do with them. Maybe I should think about getting a website of my own just to show the minis.... hmm...
KU
It is close to the order painted in, though I King Alrik was an earlier model and I do take your points on his flesh - it is very basic. I have had comments on my painting of flesh and I found it became easier later on. I have more or less stopped drybrushing, apart from on like beards, as I find it messy and hard to control but can be useful. Highlighting I never like the ultra-highlights many do - to me they look garish - but I will try going that one step higher if it'll help me. Though I do lack the ability to blend, something I hope to practice at some point.
My photo skills do lack, I try but they either come out bad or ok. The camera seems ok, 3.2 megapixils; 2x optical zoom; macro; tripod etc. It maybe just me, and how I edit them as well I fel has a bearing on this.
Thanks for the comments, I will be trying to improve more. My next project is some Night Goblins, I'll see what I can do with them. Maybe I should think about getting a website of my own just to show the minis.... hmm...
KU
KU, I am not trying to persuade you into changing your style. Many a painter painted with low-contrast style and their minis looked great and natural. I also don't think that extreme highlights look weird...
I just think that it can be a good exercise. I found peple are often afraid of highlighting this 'one tiny step further' - check our own el_kornikus's works - I definitely believe that it's not a lack of skill but rather lack of courage to try going a bit further.
When you manage to pull it a bit further, you will surely feel more confident, you will have a bit more experience under your belt, and you will be able to tell if you liked this or not. Well, just broadening your horizons
I just think that it can be a good exercise. I found peple are often afraid of highlighting this 'one tiny step further' - check our own el_kornikus's works - I definitely believe that it's not a lack of skill but rather lack of courage to try going a bit further.
When you manage to pull it a bit further, you will surely feel more confident, you will have a bit more experience under your belt, and you will be able to tell if you liked this or not. Well, just broadening your horizons
-- Mahoń
Back in the garage with my bullshit detector
Back in the garage with my bullshit detector
KU, how you light your models for pics is also very, very important. I have the stuff to build a better set up, but just haven't done it yet. I had a photographer friend explain about difusing light, and then saw it in practice at GenCon. Light difused through white cloth instead of light directly shining on the minis makes a big, big difference.
PM me if you want to talk about editing your pics or if you want more info about the set up my friend described to me.
Also, if you're wanting to do serious competition, I hate to say it, but you're gonna have to do more freehand work on things. Its something that vexes me, but seems to be one of the things that takes competition pieces from really good to award winning.
PM me if you want to talk about editing your pics or if you want more info about the set up my friend described to me.
Also, if you're wanting to do serious competition, I hate to say it, but you're gonna have to do more freehand work on things. Its something that vexes me, but seems to be one of the things that takes competition pieces from really good to award winning.
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KingUlrikFlamebeard
Mahon - Truth be told I don't think I have a set style, most of these have been painted using GW photos of the models as a guide; so you could say they have been copy painted. I will attempt the higher highlights as you said I can then see if I like it or not and hopefully I can improve and see how to get there and such.
And I'm all for broading my skills, tis why I'm asking.
LE - Thanks. I don't actually have space for such as light boxes at the moment but I think it maybe to do with my lights and I take pics rather quickly. I have never taken them with natural lighting either - always indoors and often at night but with two lamps on them. I may well send a PM your way, I suck at doing this properly and I feel it lets my models down alot too.
As to freehand, I am starting to do a little crappy bits - see orc banner and Aquilla on commanders lightning claw - but I hope to improve overall on colour choices and such before attempting freehand. Though I will be trying some throughout the process.
KU
And I'm all for broading my skills, tis why I'm asking.
LE - Thanks. I don't actually have space for such as light boxes at the moment but I think it maybe to do with my lights and I take pics rather quickly. I have never taken them with natural lighting either - always indoors and often at night but with two lamps on them. I may well send a PM your way, I suck at doing this properly and I feel it lets my models down alot too.
As to freehand, I am starting to do a little crappy bits - see orc banner and Aquilla on commanders lightning claw - but I hope to improve overall on colour choices and such before attempting freehand. Though I will be trying some throughout the process.
KU
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Corvus
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most of your work is like I call it "good army quality"
but the last two images really show you also have talent for more detailed, single minis
I think you have come to the phase that you need to start painting miniatures by other manufacturers, and try out new stuff.
And practice practice practice practice practice practice practice
but the last two images really show you also have talent for more detailed, single minis
I think you have come to the phase that you need to start painting miniatures by other manufacturers, and try out new stuff.
And practice practice practice practice practice practice practice
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KingUlrikFlamebeard
Yes I have been thinking about expanding into other stuff but I have no idea where I can get anything else from. I live in a small rural area of England and I doubt any shops nearby stock anything like this and so I have to order off the net. Any sites where I can se what's on offer would be nice, I'd like to give other stuff ago just to see.
I paint as much as I can; I have no life.
But meh, I enjoy it.
KU
I paint as much as I can; I have no life.
But meh, I enjoy it.KU