Another Commission WIP and one for fun.

[kathrynloch]

Thanks William!

I hear ya hun! Sometimes you have to make yourself sit down and other times you can't force the issue. It's a fine line to walk.

 

[William T.]

Yup like tonight, I chose not to paint. I paint in the morning after my meeting.

 

[TrystanGST]

Hmm Kath - I think the highlights are going to make or break that gold. No pressure

 

[kathrynloch]

Yup like tonight, I chose not to paint. I paint in the morning after my meeting.

While I'm not a morning person and probably never will be a morning person, I read an article a long time ago that your creative brain is at its best first thing in the morning. Apparently dreaming (even if you don't remember your dreams) recharges the creative batteries. I wouldn't have believed it except when I was working on my novel, I decided to test that theory and changed my routine to write in the morning. And yup, it worked. Creativity was definitely better first thing in the morning even when I could barely get the eyeballs to focus on the computer screen. For me, that's also translated to painting. If I can get myself to sit down and paint not long after waking up, I generally do a lot better.

Hmm Kath - I think the highlights are going to make or break that gold. No pressure

lol! I think you're right Trys but no worries, I expected that. That's why I'm holding off and doing all of the NMM first. I think I'll have a better shot of getting the highlights right that way. :fingers-crossed:

 

[Stewsayer]

Hi Kath the Naga/medusa is looking good so far. And your start on Monique looks good. The gold could maybe do with some deeper shadow areas. Though my opinion on that may change once you start popping the highlights on it.

I agree with morning creativity. I find it much easier to get into the groove if I can start a session in the morning. That said I've had a couple of afternoon/evening sessions on the Blood Thirster lately where I never felt good about the work but it still came out very well in the end. I think for me the frustrations of non cooperative paint or loads of time for small visible progress get to me a lot more of an evening thatn they do in the mornings. Its also much easier to say "stuff it I can't be bothered" after a long day at work. I've been pushing through that and getting more done and doing it better, during this last month or so.

 

[kathrynloch]

Hi Stew!

On the NMM, because I have such a tendency to over-highlight, I'm inclined to agree with you. Although deeper shadow areas - do you mean darker or larger or more of 'em? Or all of the above? :laugh:

 

[kathrynloch]

Okay commission update!

After awhile, having her entire upper-torso all gold started irritating the crap out of me. :laugh: So I got the copper out and did the thing around her waist, her bracers and her boobs. It's kinda hard to see in the photo but the red color does help a lot.

The gemstones need some touch-up work, and the flesh tones aren't cooperating and need more shading. I gotta do clean-up work, especially on her hair where her hand is and the black on the snake underbelly.

The purple on her shoulders and on the ribbon on the spear is being a PITA. I got to thinking though, I don't have a lot of stuff that requires purple so I hardly ever use it. I'm a bit out of practice with that color.

But once I get that stuff done, I should be able to start work on the base - which should be some sand and a bit of grass.

 

[William T.]

She's looking good!

I just can't bring myself to wake up early in the morning to paint! If I'm off work I'll sleep all day!

 

[Stewsayer]

Hi Kath,

I meant darker. But larger probably wouldn't hurt either. Remember there's shadows cast by the location of the part (facing away from the light source) and "shadows" that are darker objects reflecting in the surface. I find for my style the more of the second lot I can get in the more like metal the surface starts to look.

 

[Dragonsreach]

I wasn't feeling so hot today so I only did a little work on Monique.

Kath What colour are you using for the "Gold NMM"?
Because to me it isn't working, it's looking too much of a dull brown and not enough yellow.

Although I use Vallejo Yellow Ochre Or Gold Brown as my base, I still refer to third finger left hand for the effect I want to achieve.
Much as I hate to point it out Gold don't go black in shadow more Burnt Umber brown.

 

[kathrynloch]

She's looking good!

I just can't bring myself to wake up early in the morning to paint! If I'm off work I'll sleep all day!

Thanks William! lol! Same here - but once I figured out what a difference it made, I looked forward to getting up early. It's amazing hell didn't freeze over and pigs didn't grow wings on that day!

Hi Kath,

I meant darker. But larger probably wouldn't hurt either. Remember there's shadows cast by the location of the part (facing away from the light source) and "shadows" that are darker objects reflecting in the surface. I find for my style the more of the second lot I can get in the more like metal the surface starts to look.

Okay, thanks Stew!

Kath What colour are you using for the "Gold NMM"?
Because to me it isn't working, it's looking too much of a dull brown and not enough yellow.

Although I use Vallejo Yellow Ochre Or Gold Brown as my base, I still refer to third finger left hand for the effect I want to achieve.
Much as I hate to point it out Gold don't go black in shadow more Burnt Umber brown.

No worries Mike! I'm using the same "color formula" we used in Michael Genet's NMM class at ReaperCon. All of these are Reaper paints. Walnut Brown, Muddy Brown, Chestnut Brown (and/or a mix of Muddy and Chestnut), Orange Brown, Palomino Gold and top highlights are going to be Buckskin Pale and maybe, maybe a touch of white or Linen White.

Now, as I work my way up through the colors, I'll hit Palomino Gold and it's seriously yellow. I don't like that color at all because I can see some green undertone. So I back up to Orange Brown which knocks that green tint right down then go back and hit it with Palomino Gold again.

I'm not using black, although it may look like it. You might being seeing where I had to adjust the contrast in the photo. If my photos are a little dark and I lighten them, it washes out the color. A quick click on one of the Contrast Adj buttons puts it right back (faster than jacking with the Saturation) - so maybe that's the problem?