Girathon's Project Log What What

Girathon · Post by **Girathon** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:19 am

The title explains itself.

First Painted He - Lord
Front
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee28 ... ELord1.jpg

Side
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee28 ... 010880.jpg

Side
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee28 ... 010888.jpg

Back
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee28 ... 010881.jpg

First Archer
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee28 ... 010898.jpg

Cheers,

Girathon

Dggrj · Post by **Dggrj** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:52 am

Pretty good, clean lines, some good shading in places, needs more in others. Too bad it's on a friggin' ape, though.

Yes, I am like that clip from the video game about "withering something something passion of a thousand suns" when it comes to our unwanted cousins.

Neves · Post by **Neves** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:48 am

Very nice! I like the way how you create the different shades and highlights, very clean. Gives a very professional feel! Good job

Girathon · Post by **Girathon** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:22 am

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

@ dggrj, what places in particular would you suggest saying I need to shade a bit more. I have a feeling the purple is one of them but if their are other please let me know.

Cheers,

Girathon

Lord adrianus · Post by **Lord adrianus** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:08 am

Like the others already said, clean and beautiful. Keep on going and post some more

Khel · Post by **Khel** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:52 am

Very nice, if you give the same attention to your other models like you did to your current ones, you shall have an excellent painted force.
On a side Note, Would of looked better on a Dark elf Noble of Highborn...Oh wait? We don't have any (Hint Hint).

Comrade igor · Post by **Comrade igor** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 3:54 pm

Looks great!

The colours aren't too exciting but the painting is neat.

Post by **Dyvim tvar** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:07 pm

I agree with Igor. You have nice technique and execution, but I'm not a big fan of the color scheme.

I think you need more contrast to create visual interest. Right now, everything -- even the skin tone -- is on the darker end of the spectrum. There is not a lot of contrast between the darkest and lightest parts of the models. And the main color choices of blue and purple are pretty close to each other on the color wheel, so you don't get a lot of contrast there either. You could build up your highlights a couple more levels on these models and they would improve markedly. You wouldn't even have to do it for every color--if every part of the model is highlighted to the hilt it can be almost as bad as if everything is too dark. But additional highlights on the purple and the skin tones would do a lot.

You obviously have a very clean technique and you could get some really spectacular results with it, but I think you need to apply some color theory to really recognize your potential.

Mdk · Post by **Mdk** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:34 pm

These two models are done in a suburb neat, clean though a bit uptight way (like HE's really are). But like others said before me, it lacks contrast. the shadings are all there (and very well done!) but it lacks highlights to create the contrast they really need. And by contrast I mean a real subtle highlight on the big pieces of cloth. Don't do anythig on the details. They are good as they are, but the big (less interesting) pieces of cloth, hair and metal might need some highlights. I however really love the gem on the Lord.
Cheers and keep 'm coming!

(oh, and we give comment because that is the reason you post the model, to boost your skills with the "critism" we give, remember, they look great).

Dggrj · Post by **Dggrj** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:27 pm

Did you use exclusively GW paints or others, also? If only GW, foundation and normal or just normal? If others, please list.

And I think Dyvim figured out what I didn't express well last time. Most of your highlight colors are mid-range tones. While this is fine for the most part to keep the cloth colors darker and such, there will always be a few brighter spots when in light, so just a few lighter highlights, used judiciously, would make the models "pop" (ugh I hate to say that) more.

Girathon · Post by **Girathon** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:03 pm

Wow alot of heavy-hitters responded, cool. Thanks again for a comments and ideas everyone. I think that some of the highlights were destroyed by my terrible photography skills, as the flesh is up to 50/50 Elf and skull white and the metals went up to pure mithril.
The area I totally agree with all of you on is the purple. I only did 3 layers (stupid laziness) and it has been bugging me sice I completed the mini, so sometime in the near future I plan on fixing that, as well as the hair.

@ dggrj: All GW paints, no Foundations (cheating in my opinion) and no other companies. I want to try so Vallejo paints but I dont know anywhere that sells them near to me....

@MDK: The point of this thread is too, as GeOrc would say, "Increase my own level (no comparison between GeOrc and me intended, his skills are unreal)" so Im glad you guys are giving your honest opinions. Please dont hesitate to tear into my work

So whats next on the agenda? I just got 20 archers, so Im planning on doing my first unit of 10, as well as working on a mage for the army as well. Im going to try to use the advice you have all given and we willl see where it goes from there.

Cheers,

Girathon

Mdk · Post by **Mdk** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:07 am

I have some Vallejo paints ordered here: http://www.modelsforsale.com/catalog/va ... charts.php since I was to lazy to go the the store near me.

Girathon · Post by **Girathon** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 3:20 am

Hey everyone. Just finished building the archer unit, so I decided to treat myself by painting a mage

Just a few bits done so far but I wouldnt mind some opinions. I'm Definatley going to go up too pure Mithril Silver on the gold, but the face is still bugging me. Its lightest highlight is 2:1 skull white to ELf Flesh, and Im not sure its an improvement or not. Either way let me know what you think.

Cheers,

Girathon

Dggrj · Post by **Dggrj** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:35 am

The face isn't bothering you because of the severe underbite that the HE model has? Well, maybe it just has, um, I-can't-say-on-the-forums lips.

Do you do wet blending on the model or lots of layering? About how many layers on things like cloth? I do like your style, just not choice of army/models

.

Comrade igor · Post by **Comrade igor** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:35 am

I think the model is a good start.

Again the bluish cloth is rather dull looking but if you can pick a good colour for the cape, the model will look great. Base coat blue highlighted up to white would be nice. Would look good with a red sphere and fire he is standing on.

Keep us updated

Lord adrianus · Post by **Lord adrianus** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:17 am

Again very good, I really like how you paint

Girathon · Post by **Girathon** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:48 pm

Quick update,

the red and purple parts are going to get another highlight, but Im stuck as far as the orb, the flames on the base and the staff handle are concerned. Im thinking blue blended up too white but Im not sure. Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Girathon

P.S. @dggrj: I do lots of layers on stuff. The cloak had 4 layers of paint total not including the glazes in between layers.

@ Comrade Igor: I was going to go with the white cloak, and I got halfway done and the white looked really chunky, so I covered it up and went with purple

Dggrj · Post by **Dggrj** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:34 pm

When you say glazes do you mean GW's idea of mixing paint and glue over a light colored coat (which I doubt you do) or what?

Very pretty paint job.

Girathon · Post by **Girathon** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:17 am

No when I say glaze I mean I take the darkest colour used on the area (in this case Scaly Green) dilute it with alot of water, and wash it over the area in between highlights. It really helps blend the layers together.

As far as the ratio I would say minimum 4 parts water to paint.

Try it out its amazing

Cheers,

Girathon

Girathon · Post by **Girathon** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:44 am

Long time no update:
Real life stuff like school, the gym, work and drinking have interfered with my painting activities but following my last exam this thursday, the painting will begin.

That being said here are some more of my half-assed attempts at photography.

Finished Mage:

6 Fully Painted archers !?!?! Yeah, Im a painting machine.

Tried a closer shot here for a little detail, but at this rate Im going to spend my holiday figuring out photography and not painting.

Either way thats all for now folks, keep watching this space for more, including a tester using some suggestions Elf-painting-god GeOrc gave to me.

CHeers,

Girathon

Khel · Post by **Khel** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:36 am

Cameras never do your models any justice, ey?
Archers look sweet
Is it just my computer or does the High elf mages skin look a bit dark. I know you can do what you want with them, though I wouldn't say thats a Asur's normal skin colour.

Girathon · Post by **Girathon** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:06 am

lol yeah Khelmor, camera's hate my models with a passion. And as far as the mage's skin, it looks like rest of my HE (actually its bit lighter) but he shuns proper light more then the rest of my mini's.

Perhaps when I do some tester's on a new DE scheme the camera's will stop hating me.

Cheers,

Girathon

Comrade igor · Post by **Comrade igor** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:15 pm

The mage looks like he isn't quite finished, allot of dark areas which, while keeping with your colour scheme, do not complement the model. I still believe that the cape needs to be lighter then it's cloths, if you have another go at painting it white i think it will look perfect. Also about the thing he is standing on, are those rocks?

The archers on the other hand are absolutely fantastic, incredibly neat, great highlighting and the colours are very nice.