AndyG WIP (pic heavy)
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BloodFather of Kharnath
Active member
Now that I think about it, the Chaos symbol would look pretty sweet on the elbow.
That at skin recipe sounds like Razza's. And seeing as he worked with 'Eavy Metal, it is no surprise that you got it out of WD. I really,really like it though and I'll have to try it sometime, though I struggle putting so many layers down on faces.
OK Bloodfather that sounds to me like one of a possible few things, so here goes;
1. Your paint isn't thin enough and you're losing detail shape as the heavier layers dry. (BTDT)
2. Wrong size brush so that you're overloading the underlying shape.
3. You are unconsciously struggling to see the detail you are working on and may need to consider some kind of non-prescription magnification. (But don't just rush out on this one.This is your eye health I'm talking about here so be careful. My own eyesight is "damaged" and I have to use reading glasses to see anything inside three feet and clip on magnifiers for mini's. I don't want you to risk straining your own eyesight just because I suggested it.)
4. Perhaps your approach to the painting is not conducive to what you are aiming for. (If you go into the Articles and look at the Faces with Expressions one I did, take a look at the Chaos warrior face I've used as an example. He is painted in the same manner I still use today.{OK not the same paints}
Eyes first. Get them 'structured' with VMC Ivory and a pupil in place.
Basecoat. For me that's VMC Brown Sand. Carefully go round the eye socket, missing the Ivory obviously, then do the rest of the face and into the hairlines, if any. This should take two to three thin coats.
Now this is where it gets complex, so think of this; the head shape is round but the sculpted structure isn't. Think of the face as sets of TRIANGLES which have to be highlighted (not just the nose).
For a start look at the eyebrow ridges the base starts at the eyebrows an the apex is at or towards the hairline.
The forehead has a triangle in between the two eyebrow one with it's base at the hairline an apex above the nasal bridge.
In between these two triangles is the darker skin tones.
Now applying the same principle you can define areas on the face to consider as triangles, eyelids, cheeks, nose, upper lips, chin.
So with this concept it's the balance between the triangles and the darker areas you need to work on.
For me I tend to use a mix of VMV Violet Red and Brown Sand as the darker skin tone these days making a very dilute tone and carefully shading the eye sockets and sides of the nose. DO NOT WASH OVER THE ENTIRE FACE.
(DR's Rule of Thumb No 1: if you can see the first tone of shadow you've applied at arms length..it's TOO DARK!)
Then using the same paint shape in the darker skin tones in between the identified triangles where you want to highlight. Alternate between placing a highlight shape and a darker tone.
(DR's Rule of Thumb No 2: You ain't gonna get it perfect first time, Practise is your mistress, and Patience is your Lover.)
So here's the advice I was given by Mike and Ali McVey:-
For our purposes the face needs to not be thought of as a face but Areas of Emphasis.
Think of a capital letter T pace it so the cross bar is on the eyebrows and the staff is down the nose and that is where the smoothest and highest emphasis of highlights should be.
Think of a capital letter V place the point on the chin and the arms running along the jawline that's your mid strength structure.
So why think like this? Because when we look at a portrait of someone our tendency it to look to the eyes first so those areas we've defined as T and V shape the rest of our visual impact response. Giving the model face "areas of emphasis" like this makes us respond subconsciously as we would to a real face.
So take a look at some photo's of famous people (Sir Sean Connery is a great subject for this) and try to identify the shapes and areas on the pictures as I've discussed. Perhaps that way you'll get into a painting way you'll become 'happier' with.
Here endeth today's lesson!
BloodFather of Kharnath
Active member
Much appreciated, DR. In fairness to Andy, I'm going to copy and respond on my own WIP.
AndyG
Active member
Don't have to do that BFK Dragonsreach is kind of like the fixtures and fittings of CMON he can post his pearls of wisdom here anytime. Being a great artist and a nice guy to boot we should all pay attention when he shares his wisdom because he has a lot of it garnered over a very long life and we should always respect our elders. 
I have my trainers on so I can run fast and as the Sweedish war has simmered down I can afford to open a new front Lol. Oh look mike pretty pictures of axes to distract you from your righteous wrath. Er comments other than mike is going to kill me would be nice Oh yeah did some work on the axe that's a why I posted this but got carried away being all smart Alec again!
I have my trainers on so I can run fast and as the Sweedish war has simmered down I can afford to open a new front Lol. Oh look mike pretty pictures of axes to distract you from your righteous wrath. Er comments other than mike is going to kill me would be nice Oh yeah did some work on the axe that's a why I posted this but got carried away being all smart Alec again!
Demihuman
Active member
What, no flames coming out of the axe runes?
Edge highlight on the biggest shoulder spike seems a little heavy
Can't wait to see some blood an on the axe! ...and maybe some spittle or blood on those teeth?
I think the forearm needs a little more work too. I think you could play with the shadow to make the long muscles look more bulgy and less ropey.
Edge highlight on the biggest shoulder spike seems a little heavy
Can't wait to see some blood an on the axe! ...and maybe some spittle or blood on those teeth?
I think the forearm needs a little more work too. I think you could play with the shadow to make the long muscles look more bulgy and less ropey.
Brilliant philosophical question?
AndyG, remember that the grey hair isn't just a sign of advancing years, it's an indication of a lifetime of conniving, scheming and nefarious plots and should give you cause to be afraid......VERY VERY AFRAID
Still that Axenarf is bloody lovely.
BloodFather of Kharnath
Active member
Right on,Andy! I know of DRs rep, just didn't want to distract from your WIP. But considering that my remarks with the Anti-Swedish Coalition were acceptable, I should have know that I'd be welcome to answer DR anytime! . DRs words were an unexpected treatise on painting faces, and he broke it down in a way I've never heard it described. Extremely helpful.
In regards to that lovely axe, can you show the other side, please? Just want to see if I did something right on my own. Also, your NMM on that axe has shown me that it's ok to have the midtone minimized. Your axe goes from very dark to very light quite abruptly, and this contrast actually helps sell the metallic effect. Looks like you did the same with your armor. I must say, I learn a hell of a lot from this WIP. Just visiting it every now and again has greatly increased my understanding of NMM, and my distrust for Swedes.
. DRs words were an unexpected treatise on painting faces, and he broke it down in a way I've never heard it described. Extremely helpful. In regards to that lovely axe, can you show the other side, please? Just want to see if I did something right on my own. Also, your NMM on that axe has shown me that it's ok to have the midtone minimized. Your axe goes from very dark to very light quite abruptly, and this contrast actually helps sell the metallic effect. Looks like you did the same with your armor. I must say, I learn a hell of a lot from this WIP. Just visiting it every now and again has greatly increased my understanding of NMM, and my distrust for Swedes.
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AndyG
Active member
Krulebear -Only on the Her Majesty the Queens Birthday God Bless you Ma'am!
Ritual I know I know but he's got to catch me first
Mike I'm very sorry no realy I am I too have started getting grey hairs strangely not on my head though!
Demi I seriously thought of doing glowing runes I still might though I'm not so sure it will go with the axe? Yes the skin needs some more work the highlite is a bit harsh I was thinking of doing a bit of hair. Yes to the spittle but I'm going to leave it till the end I think.
BFK not quite finished the back of the axe but here you go. Also with the midtone I'm doing the metal as if it's black or dark grey so the midtone is much reduced. If you do a more traditional grey steel then you would have a large midtone region. It all depends on what you want here I wanted a black knight type thing.
Ritual I know I know but he's got to catch me first
Mike I'm very sorry no realy I am I too have started getting grey hairs strangely not on my head though!
Demi I seriously thought of doing glowing runes I still might though I'm not so sure it will go with the axe? Yes the skin needs some more work the highlite is a bit harsh I was thinking of doing a bit of hair. Yes to the spittle but I'm going to leave it till the end I think.
BFK not quite finished the back of the axe but here you go. Also with the midtone I'm doing the metal as if it's black or dark grey so the midtone is much reduced. If you do a more traditional grey steel then you would have a large midtone region. It all depends on what you want here I wanted a black knight type thing.
chaos spawn
Member
Absolutely stunning NMM! The axe looks great! The runes on the axe also look awesome, much better than the standard "glow-in-the-dark" runes
BloodFather of Kharnath
Active member
Thanks Andy for taking the time to upload that pic for me. Was wondering if it would be appropriate to flip the light to dark direction on the opposing side of the axe. I'm sure it greatly depends upon the angle. Also, appreciate your description of how to do dark steel vs standard steel. It's like dark grey is your midtone and mid gray is just a short highlight. Was wondering about this for my
next project. What glaze medium do you use? And do you use it all of the time or just for certain blends? I use GW Lahmian medium and I absolutely love it. I use it on everything but washes, where I use a matt medium instead.
next project. What glaze medium do you use? And do you use it all of the time or just for certain blends? I use GW Lahmian medium and I absolutely love it. I use it on everything but washes, where I use a matt medium instead.
BloodFather of Kharnath
Active member
Also, with the runes on the axe: I think you should just edge highlight in white the side that the light would hit. That way it looks multi dimensional without you needing to add some gimmicky glowing effect. Just a thought, not sure if it would work or not but it lookalike you have somewhat done this already.
AndyG
Active member
Yeah the runes are getting the glints on the inside bottom bits. Started the shield got to do a little bit of glazing on it yet but we are into the home stretch on the mini. Got to glaze a bit more on th leather front of the shield to add a bit more depth.
Got to come up with a good base for this boy?!?
Got to come up with a good base for this boy?!?
Digganob
New member
Agreed to both So I have heard a lot of talk about glazing and I have a kind of idea of what it is but, can you (or anybody) offer some kind of picture tutorial on how its done. Like I said I have the idea of how its done but putting it into play I feel like I am missing something all together.
So I have heard a lot of talk about glazing and I have a kind of idea of what it is but, can you (or anybody) offer some kind of picture tutorial on how its done. Like I said I have the idea of how its done but putting it into play I feel like I am missing something all together.
AndyG
Active member
I will see what I can do about that digganob if I am allowed to paint tonight I will take a couple of pics of the process. Though there are lots of sites out there that go on about glazing that will be better than what I can do. In essence it just VERY thin layers of paint that have glazing medium in them that are placed over the top of your finished work to tint them with a colour. SkelettetS is the master of it.
