bgcdazzler's first ever mini WIP (a confusion of cockups and learnings)

[Digganob]

If you split his beard and gave him hair we could call him WGS hahaha. Dwarf looks awesome. You have incredible sculpting talent, far better than me, and dam your fast. Tree came out great too an those ears on the dwarf...I tip my hat to you sir. Now I am going to enjoy my tea and wait for more progress.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Thank you guys, very kind of you to say. So far he looks a bit like real people- I'll take that as a compliment!

digga, you're very kind - but I doubt my sculpting can match Chuckles. And I'm not sure about fast - just impatient.

Here's some beard decorations on him. Unless I do hair or a helmet, it's on to the neck and shoulders. And that means armour... Ugh. I'm useless at armour.

 

[ArchArad]

The hair in his moustache seems quite fine - could you give it a similar treatment to the eyebrows and beard? My thinking is that it may be difficult to cast or see at any distance.

 

[Teronus]

I have no idea how I can even try to give you advice on how to sculpt. the only things that is crossing my mind right now is that you seems to enjoy yourself a lot and that you improve rapidly and one more thing, I feel and this is just my feel that you should use more sculpting tools, I guess it will come in time or maybe that is just the way, like I said I am out of my league here I am a total ignorant when it comes to sculpting. I guess every artist is different some may use just a tooth pick and some may have a vast elaborate set of tools.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Thanks for the advice guys - Tero, my mind couldn't be more open to new ideas, and I like your thinking about using new tools. In fact...

I wanted to add a tiny bit more volume to his head, to smooth it over and blend it into a roll of fat around his neck. And I was just thinking about what you had written, and figured 'why not add some stippling to his head, like it has been shaved rather than just being bald?'

so I grabbed a standard diy paintbrush and tapped the bristle ends against his head. Instant stubble!

i appreciate this might not be what you meant - and yes, I could probably benefit from some 'proper' tools, but honestly I'm having enough learning experiences with the crude tools at my disposal. It's a bit like painting: I'm starting to think I will benefit from 'proper' paints, but until then there's lots to learn. Maybe after I've been at this for 6 months I might treat myself...

Arch, you're completely right about the moustache. Because I am learning more with each bit of hair I'm finding that the latest bit never quite matches up with the last. For the second time I scraped it off and redid it more like the eyebrows. I think what was missing was the sense that it was coming out of the face - it looked fake before - and needed to be a bit more unruly. You are right to highlight the different textures too - it needs to be as interesting to look at from three feet away as much as three inches.

Hopefully you you approve of this version?

 

[Teronus]

Here you go man! You will build your own arsenal with time I guess just like painting.

One thing bother me and it's the mouth, it looks to much like a "smiley" then dwarfey a more rectangular shape will make him more serious in my mind. The beard rocks! Or maybe he his just drunk LOL Anyway good job man it's nice to look at you'r advancements.

 

[bgcdazzler]

I know what you mean about the mouth: it was one of the first bits I did and I think the lip is too uneven. Not sure I'm brave enough to carve it off and redo, though... Something to think about while I paint my barbarian. So far Pig is living up to his name!

 

[KruleBear]

The lip on his right side is a bit thicker, so you may be able to do some carving and shove a cigar or pipe in there.

This keeps getting better. And iirc it sounds like most mini sculpters use a lot of home made or improvisional tools.

 

[BloodASmedium]

This is really really a display of magnificent amount of talent,patience and just plain good ol fashioned miniature modeling hobbying.

 

[ArchArad]

The ArchArad approves of moustache 2.0 :good:

Imho the mouth gives him a great maniacal edge. I guess it'll come down to personal preference.

 

[SaintToad]

The changes you have made all seem to have improved things as you intended. The shaved-head stubble looks great.
Are you going to have the shoulders join right at the ears (sort of neckless, which I think would look strong)? If not, I think you need to add volume in the cranium.
Keep up the good work!

 

[bgcdazzler]

Thanks BaM, Tero, Arch. I'm still undecided about the lip. If I redo it, I'll also redo the teeth.

Saint: I'm glad you think I'm going forwards and not backward! Always a relief to hear.

Here's where I am with the neck. I'm going to add shoulders/armour to each side so the body will be wider. Hopefully this shows how the neck and body join.

The final model will be a bit taller just so I can finish the bottom of the beard and add a bit of chestplate.

The back view- I've roughed in his musculature so I know where his spine/shoulder blades/ centre line are. I'll cover most of it with armour or maybe a shield (suggestions welcome!)

I also haven't baked it yet so if you think the shape is off let me know. I haven't baked it because I'm thinking of making it a chain mail vest: no idea how to go about it though.

and the holes at the top will have stitches added after the bake. I remember Russell Crowe saying there was a fastening to the nape of his neck on his chain mail when he was being undressed by Cate Blanchett (lucky Russell) in that rubbish Robin Hood film, so figure it is 'authentic'. Honestly, I should probably do more research...

happy new year all!

 

[bgcdazzler]

400 posts!

And ArchArad finally got there. Normally I would draw a celebratory picture for the poster based on what they had written in the winning post... But Arch seemed very specific about what she wanted - a Painting Panda.

So in honour of reaching 400 posts here is a picture for Arch, a panda painting a mini. I went with a micron pen to add extra fluffiness... And now I need a shower to wash away all this unbearable cuteness.

thank you all for your continuing support and advice: such a pleasure to be here.

 

[KruleBear]

Awe, so much cuteness in this thread!

 

[SaintToad]

That's sort of how I imagined he'd shape up with the shoulders. Looks good.
If you want to try chainmail, it's pretty much how you'd imagine: poke things with a pointy bit a million times. The main questions you want to answer before you commit (might want to test out the technique before you start and then get on the real model with a plan) would be about the pattern you'll use. You can do 1) nice even rows with a tiny gap between pokes (tons of models use this, but I think it might look unconvincing at this larger scale), you can 2) overlay one row on top of another slightly (work from the bottom up, to it looks like the rings are hanging semi-free below the row above), and you can 3) alternate the direction of each row (you want to overlap the rings below and beside for this one; I think Scibor uses this type of mail most of the time).
Can't wait to see more progress on this guy!

 

[bgcdazzler]

Yes, the scale worries me: it can't just be 'fake' chain mail, it has to look good. I'll definitely practice on some spare Fimo and see what works.

Krule: yes, awful, isn't it?

 

[ArchArad]

Thank you so much! He's perfect!

 

[bgcdazzler]

Right, time for a painting update I think - been too long.

And before I start: holy banana, it's been too long since I've painted anything, hamsters aside. I'v never painted one of my own models. Never painted skin either, so please be gentle with me.

Here are some stages for Pig, who of course isn't finished yet.

1. Base coating skin. I can now see all my modelling cockups, ugh.

2. Working some shadows in.

3. Basecoat for other bits.

4. Yet more work on the skin and other areas.

5. An arm. Not really much more to say about that.

6. Darkening everything down a bit, as he's going to be pretty much hiding under a rock. This is where I'm perfecting the art of dabbing randomly at bits I see that are wrong as I turn him around and around in my hand, in despair.

7. More grime. This is about where I am up to.

8. the face... Sort of near.

ill finish him and add more details, but all I can say is I'm glad he's not the main focus of the base...

 

[bgcdazzler]

Speaking of the base...

And here's where we are with the rocks and stuff.

1. Basecoat in brown. Looks awfully like an uncomfortable poo at this stage.

2. Darkened brown. Gah! Even worse!

3. Some black, slightly better.

4. And finally a bit of rock colour - a sort of blue grey. Not everywhere, I've kept the brown in about half of it, and grey for the other half. Sort of playing around at this stage.

5. Then stippling in some green and yellows.

6. Then some drybrushing contrast into it. Ah, is there anything more immediately satisfying than drybrushing a base? The detail seems to come out with so little effort.

There's also some reds and purples in here to tie it to Maulgy and Pig. You can't see it, but it's there.

7. More highlights, plus I painted the tree. I quite like the tree.

8. The tree!

Next up: let's see where we are...

 

[bgcdazzler]

Ain't I've dry-fitted the main elements together (I'm impatient like that), and here's how it looks so far. Lots more to do, obviously, but I'm quite pleased with the composition. The trio of Maulgy, Pig and the tree all seem to complement each other, and there are some nice viewing angles.

All criticism and feedback very, very welcome at this stage...