BloodFather's Axis of Chaos

[Meph]

Well, by choice, doing a push-up in anger is better than firing a gun in anger, no?

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

Yes, indeedy. Tis true...

C&C on how the brickwork looks would be appreciated!

 

[Meph]

Hmmm. Whilst looking good, there's a little voice in the back of my head that says that bricks should, at most, be a variation of the same colour of the base material. i.e. terracotta variations, or slate-coloured variations. This might be over-thinking it, but wouldn't bricks in a 'primitive' society be coming from the same local source of clay, with colour variations coming from differences in curing and baking?

 

[KruleBear]

Concept is great and I think weathering will help with Meph's color concerns. For future work, an area that is off to me are the bricks in the third and forth row up of the indented area. It look looks like you formed the indent, then carved out the bricks leaving trapezoidal bricks instead of rectangular. My brain tells me that that bricks would have been typical rectangular bricks when the wall was payed and the damage would have simply pushed them in or chipped the surface off. You could still modify it by cutting off the pointing corner of the roughly six odd looking bricks. Adding weathering via Sand or dirt in the cracks followed by pigment (maybe a little moss ) would take it to a higher level.

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

Hmmm. Whilst looking good, there's a little voice in the back of my head that says that bricks should, at most, be a variation of the same colour of the base material. i.e. terracotta variations, or slate-coloured variations. This might be over-thinking it, but wouldn't bricks in a 'primitive' society be coming from the same local source of clay, with colour variations coming from differences in curing and baking?

Ok thank you. Sound advice. What I'll do then is stay with the red brown, but I'll mix it up by doing a light glaze over some of the dark bricks here, or a drybrush of the red-brown there. Thanks for the pointers, we shall see how it works out.

 

[Bailey03]

Yeah, basically what they said. The idea of variation in the bricks is a good one but the amount seems like a lot. Of course you can always turn to google image search for some reference. Perhaps it is reasonable. You can tone it down with some glazes. Or, if you plan to weather it with pigments or something like that it could help tie them all together more closely.

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

Yeah I hope this is a little better. It may have gotten too darkened overall with some washes I used. I feel like it'll tie together much better once I put dirt on the sides as planned.

Im no automaton, but if you look at his brick bases, they are very often two tones, and this is what I was after. But after you all pointed it out, I realized that it would look better as you say with variation of the same tone.

I experimented with some pigs but not sure how to tackle it. I just dry dusted and it's very hard to hit a single brick in this manner, so it tends to collect in the cracks. Not sure if that what I want. So I tried a pigment fixer on single bricks and it was just too much, or too thick, for each brick.

Also trying for the first time the whole black contoured background on the base. I simply cut some blister pack plastic to a rough shape. Pretending like I know what I'm doing.

 

[dennis.]

With the colour suggestions i think that's nailed, what bothers me more is the bricks themselves. The corners of some are pulled out, showing how you've marked them out and the surface face are all much too rounded, more like a cobble. i'd take a craft knife along the face of them, reduce roundness, and sharpen the corners of on a great amount. a wall leaning in wouldn'yt change the bricks to rhombuses...2p

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

I think it may be helpful to show what I am after. This:

notice that his bricks are many shapes and sizes. Though I will say that there are much more rectangular shaped ones and they are smaller. Some of my bricks are jutting out because I intentionally popped them out. But clearly I'm not pulling it off so I'll probably just scrap it and go with an easier idea

 

[Digganob]

Don't make me slap you. Once you get some dirt and weeds coming out the cracks it will look BANGARANG.

 

[BloodASmedium]

Award winnig!!' Just sayin

 

[dennis.]

Naye, don't scrap it, modify it, it'll be better than your inspiration, I don't care how great that mini is, the wall is not a great example to copy. Also seeing it between your fingers gives me an idea of scale, there are just a few too rounded at that size... hmm.... of to PS...


View attachment 31286

I think the cumulative effect of these bricks is that they aren't solid, more like sandbags under pressure... subliminal influences? if u shatter some, a bit more difference it'd really be a crackin job imho, and bricks under pressure would fracture rather than bulge..methinx

 

[Scherdy]

Looks great. I also think the major difference between your bricks and the example photo are some of your catch they eye for having soft edges which doesn't sell it quite right. I think you could either try to sell them as sharper with the paintjob being more contrast-y at the edges to compensate and make them look sharper or actually going back and doing a little cutting/chiseling But side by side to the original it looks great so far!

 

[KruleBear]

Don't make me slap you. Once you get some dirt and weeds coming out the cracks it will look BANGARANG.

BFoK, remember we all have opinions but you are actually getting it done. And to Digganob's point, once you dirty it up and through the beautiful mini on top we will be too awestruck to notice the real world inconsistencies of the base. Just like your reference mini is given a pass. Besides, who isn't to say these are not chaos bricks. Lol. i would definitely you the base you have created. The suggestions we are giving are just pointing things out to help you improve...we are living vicariously through you since we are impressed with you skill level and constant improvement.

-Mike

 

[BloodASmedium]

First off guys thank you for wanting to make the best come out of BFOK . Now it's time for my two cents. Lol I do understand about the structure of the bricks and although I agree I really feel the only thing missing that will HIDE the improper shapes is the vegetation. I really feel that once the tall grass and the EXACT USAGE of the flock that was used for the original is used. To cover more or less the bricks that have went a stray. When I find a flash line for example , and I find it well after the mini is painted. The last thing I want to do is scrape away and reprint. SO INSTEAD OF TAKING AWAY I CAME UP WITH A TECHNIQUE OF ADDING THINGS TO COVER UP THE STRUCTURAL MISTAKE. You see I ADD instead of taking away. Ill use some blood maybe some pig Etc. so I think all you need to do BFOK is add grass vegetation weeds etc. literally covering up or hiding the misshaped bricks. Any problems email me. Even maybe some IVY ON THE BRICKS. Glue some flock to simulate moss.
Let's also remember that bricks in the middle ages were all different shapes and sizes. The best masons charged let's say a gold coin for the bricks which were perfect and let's say you could buy cheaper bricks (bronze piece) for the bricks that were uneven. I really like that Lil wall thing if you scrap it I'll buy it from you at top dollar and use it as is. Don't let me whip you with a wet noodle. That Lil piece of modelling is amazing at the least.

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

Thank you everyone, for the advice...the vote of confidence, the kind words and the honest criticism. It always drives me to better and better things. Honestly, at times on a project I find that I hit a snag, and really it takes me days of obsessing over what move to make next. Sometimes I know in my mind what is wrong, I just need others to point it out and point me in the right direction. Often, many artists are of the opinion that you just need to know when to put the project away and work on the next one. If you haven't noticed, for me I tend to just keep attacking the problem until I find a solution that is at worst passable to me. Then I can move on. Maybe it's OCD.

Anyway, Bloodasmedium sent me a PM that was really encouraging, and really helped me talk through a plan that I otherwise was struggling to commit to. Maybe he corrected a bad attitude I was having because things weren't working out the way I wanted. Regardless, thanks to BaM and many others for helping through my latest snag.

I think it is coming along very well. I still need to highlight the brick pile with a rust orange, and then stick a sheathed sword into the same bricks to balance out that bush on the other side. Among some other things. Comments, as always, are welcome:

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

And with the star of the show...he is still WIP also, but close to complete.

 

[Meph]

Well, it's looking very good. You got through the issue and prevailed.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Let's also remember that bricks in the middle ages were all different shapes and sizes. The best masons charged let's say a gold coin for the bricks which were perfect and let's say you could buy cheaper bricks (bronze piece) for the bricks that were uneven.

I'm sorry but that's a common misconception.
Even going back to Egyptian dynasty times bricks were formed using a four sided wooden pattern, (a last) the Romans brought the same techniques back into Europe and dispersed the knowledge. (Ever wondered about the size of bricks? Started off as the size of a small mans foot pressing the Last into the clay)
Brick buildings in Britain were the reserve of the wealthy in Middle Ages so they would be employing people to make quality 'Statement' buildings so random sizes wouldn't be acceptable. A lot of the larger brick building were made by travelling groups setting up camp and making kilns close to where they were working so they'd have 'consistancy' in the materials.

 

[Darthmarsh]

Good to see you tackling the situation head on rather than downing tools and moving on to something else (like I'd do) the result was worth it mate. He's looking very nice indeed