Chest of Colors forum

So, it just so happens I'm alive. There's a surprise. Not sure if anyone really remembers me, I was around for a while, but stopped checking here when I went off to college and ended up taking an (accidental) break from the hobby. A whole semester passed and I realized that the extent of my painting was my having basecoated a single mini. I resolved to do more over winter break, but personal stuff came up and left me in a particularly unproductive mood, so that flew out the window. Then the Reaper Winter Painting Contest came about, and I decided that this was my chance to get back into the swing of things. I even had the perfect model! I conferred with a friend of mine on the best methods to use, and even started painting.

And then promptly procrastinated such that I was left with a half-painted model the day before the contest finished. For once, however, I was in no mood to just give up, and thus the painting blitz began. It ended with a finished model two hours before the contest closed. Then, I remembered about this wonderful place, and decided that I could really use some constructive criticism.

As it stands, the only part I'm really unhappy with is the axe, as I couldn't get the metal to look right, and even though I tried covering it in blood it still doesn't look that great. Ah well, live an learn, ect. ect.. There are other places that I had to take shortcuts to finish in time, which bugs me, but not nearly as much as the axe. I also need to fiddle around with my damn camera at some point and figure out how to adjust the focus length, I can't seem to get the whole mini in focus. Other than that, just point out anything (good or bad) that stands out.

Click to see full-sized image

Click to see full-sized image

Click to see full-sized image

Any chance of taking another picture with a higher F:Stop?

Anything above F:8 usually works well to make sure everything is in focus, your pictures of the axe are only visible in the third pic whereas an F:8 pic would have it in focus in all three pics

I generally it's painted neat. A step darker for shading and a step lighter for highlighting I think would be a great next step for your next mini.

Cyberpaddy66 wrote:Any chance of taking another picture with a higher F:Stop?

Anything above F:8 usually works well to make sure everything is in focus, your pictures of the axe are only visible in the third pic whereas an F:8 pic would have it in focus in all three pics

I'll give it a try when I get the chance. I'm not sure how much adjustment I can do in the Macro mode on my camera, but now that I know what I need to be fiddling with I just might find it, so thank you. And I'll keep at the Step Lighter/Darker thing for my next piece, whatever it may be. I've been told it before, but I never seem to go far enough, so I suppose all I can do is keep experimenting.

Sarrazon wrote:And I'll keep at the Step Lighter/Darker thing for my next piece, whatever it may be. .

generally speaking, while minis are ofcourse 3D creations, small scale means that they look better when a painted builds up and improve the 3D effect. the easiest way to do this is to increase contrast between shadows and highlights. take any mini for a practice and try to go to the extremes with that contrast practice. make darkest parts of every element really dark, and lightest - really light, obviously. as you paint and see the contrast improving - don't stop. when you get to the point you think the contrast is sufficient - don't stop, as it is most probably insufficient you need to break through that psychological barrier, don't be afraid to overdo... as most probably you won't.

as for this mini - it's pretty tidy, paint is where it should be now try to improve your skills on next minis - work on a proper dillution of paints, aforementioned contrast issues, try to add different colours to mixes...there's so many things a painter needs to learn an practice