Lysander Librarian

[damnedfist]

I decided to add this figure for C&C. It was my second entry into the GD Toronto last year in the open category. He also failed to make the cut, however, but was given a lot of consideration by Jarvis. (The other judge did not care for it at all)

Click to see full-sized image
Click to see full-sized image

One of just the base;

Click to see full-sized image

Again, I appreciate your honest C&C.

[damnedfist]

Instead of starting a new thread I'll also include a project that I am currently working on. It is an Inquisitor and his retinue for use in my table top army. Since the retinue is complete I'll post a group shoot of them.

Click to see full-sized image

[Nameless]

Inq - too busy, just like your ork. Perhaps this is your style, your taste. However, most of ppl (including GD judges) do not like too many ideas or colours squished on one mini.
E.g. you have a dark mini in a dark surrounding (I speak of general feel now, not colours) - through colour scheme, fire skull spell, mutated tree, but you also have quite funny mushrooms and light blue cloak which looks like take from another mini. You have chosen some specific colours for his armour, but armour on his left leg is painted in Legion of the Damned colours.
As for the technique - I believe that the inq lacks some final highlights. it looks like you were going in the right direction, just stopped the highlighting process too early. Also, details on the mini could pop out more. Some darklining for example would help to create 3D effect.

Finally - it is not a poor paintjob by any means, but you clearly want a detailed opinion to prepare for following contests. I hope I didn't sound too harsh.

Retinue - they look good and coherent as a group. If they are meant to be just a part of your army, I'd add some strong highlights. That would make them draw more attention on your gaming table, when you look at them from the distance.
What is the reaper bat supposed to represent? Sorry, I just don't know what characters should be included in the inquisitor's retinue

[Demi_morgana]

I'd rebase them - models are colorful but the grass-bases distract the attention from the models

[mahon]

- looks like you cannot decide if you want to make it funny and fairytale-like (the base, especially the mushrooms) or serious and grim (dirty armor, combat pose)
- too busy to focus attention
- lacks final highlights which would define edges and details. see how good it looks on the armor covering his crotch?
- face needs more work. read Morsi's tutorial in our tutorials section
- some parts like the wings on his staff bring the general quality down
- the grass is too bright and distracts from the minis. you could give it a wash of brown or muted green or even black or grey and then drybrush it with some muted color like desaturated green, brown, or sand color. this will look more natural

[damnedfist]

I hope I didn't sound too harsh.

By no means. This is what I asked for. The details in your C&C will help me quite a bit. For example; you're right about the models being too busy. I tend to try to do too much on one mini instead of choosing a theme and staying the course.

What is the reaper bat supposed to represent?

He can be either a mystic or a familiar. I absolutely love this model and I had to put him in my army somewhere.

lacks final highlights which would define edges and details. see how good it looks on the armor covering his crotch?

I am afraid that too much of this will make the model look like a cartoon. When I look at some of the models posted on this site there doesn't seem to be any 'extreme highlights' on them. The highlighting comes across as much more of a natural blending. Perhaps I'm just not too sure of what you mean?

some parts like the wings on his staff bring the general quality down

..., Paint too thick?

the grass is too bright and distracts from the minis. you could give it a wash of brown or muted green or even black or grey and then drybrush it with some muted color like desaturated green, brown, or sand color. this will look more natural

This I will have to try. I never thought about painting static grass before. Should be interesting.


Thanks for the direction. I will be reconsidering some of the ideas that I had for this years Games Day. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

[mahon]

I am afraid that too much of this will make the model look like a cartoon. When I look at some of the models posted on this site there doesn't seem to be any 'extreme highlights' on them. The highlighting comes across as much more of a natural blending. Perhaps I'm just not too sure of what you mean?

I don't know if it's good advice or not, but I tend to say: first learn to overdo it, and then that you CAN go to the extreme you will be able to CHOOSE how far you want to go.

usually painters are afraid to go too far with contrast, colors, etc.
so they need to learn to go bold, then they can be more moderate.

I would treat it as a kind of an exercise, practice...

..., Paint too thick?

probably..
or the paintjob was rushed.

[Skrit]

All the critisism above is valid. I must also say the the Ork Warboss is much better than this one.

It does remind me of John Blanche's work a bit I must say...

[mahon]

don't you like John Blanche's works? I find them very inspiring...

[Skrit]

I do too!

The colours and style DamnedFist used reminded me of Blanche's work, that's why I said it. It was a good thing!

I doubt however if anything painted in this style would win something at a GD. The last person to achieve this was Adrian Wink winning a Slayer Sword with a Minotaur Lord in the UK over 12 years ago...