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

[ArchArad]

*applause* Nailed it. Lord Sprogrot (awesome name suggestion by Digga) looks seriously amazing. And you should know me well enough by now to know that I don't say it if I don't mean it. I would definitely paint him!

My only concern is that the fur seems to be lifting up off his back and creating almost like a shelf - but I'm sure that that can be easily rectified by pushing down on the edge a bit or adding a few pieces of fur below.

Keep it up my friend!

 

[Teronus]

Thanks for the SBS really cool stuff, I think the Orc looks fantastic, look forward to see more of your stuff sculpting and painting alike.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Thanks Tero, hope it's useful/interesting/amusing.

Arch: Yep, definitely agreed about the fur. Here it is with more added:

And this just arrived in the post this morning, so you never know: you might get one to paint after all!

 

[Maenas]

Super cool. Congrats on the adventure

 

[ArchArad]

The fur looks much better. :good: I'm still keen to see what your idea is for a base/plinth for him.

Who knows - maybe we could have a paint-a-long if the casting works out. I'm sure I'm not the only one keen to put a brush to Lord Sprogrot! :brushwave:

 

[bgcdazzler]

The base is just a plain cylinder to lift him up a bit, get the angle of his pose right, and make sure he stands well. Nothing exciting I'm afraid...

as always I'm up for a paintalong! Unfortunately the catalyst leaked in the post so I can't attempt a cast for a while (to which I'm a little relieved...). But once I do no doubt I'll keep you all updated with progress/disasters.

In other news I returned to Maulgy, and had a go at the axe head. Don't think I like it; but I'm struggling to mix freehand with metallics. Anybody got any tips?

 

[Teronus]

The paint does not stick as well on metallic and it drives me nuts as well. Other than patience and layers i don't know what to say. I tough the axe is pretty good tho but hey you'r the artist if you don't like it there's nothing to do than change until you do like it.

 

[Digganob]

Oh man oh man oh man.! Lord Sprogrot is amazing. Where does the line start to get one cause I want to be first . Truly awesome job bud, and great sbs.

 

[SaintToad]

I'd echo what Teronus says, but I wouldn't abandon the course you're on without first trying to visually incorporate the parts of the axe-head that fit around the pole into the rest of the weapon/mini. I have a feeling that the axe will look both more subtle and more impressive once the gold, in particular, is brought in line with what you have.
I am really liking this version of Maulg. The colors are very bold without being goofy. The small but confidently-applied areas of purple look great.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Thanks guys. I think the thing that's bugging me is that it's hard to get fine, crisp lines with metals. I'm going to try outlining the motif in black to get the edges finer: we can just pretend it's a buildup of grime in the recesses of the pattern... Right? Right? Er... Maybe.

In other horrifying news the mini dazzlings got hold of Maulgy this morning and knocked his head clean off. Third time they've done this to my models. I need a painting studio or something.

The he paint is fine apart from a couple chips - I still needed to highlight his mouth anyway - but after the gluing the join needed greenstuffing to make it seamless.

I could get mad, but instead used it as a chance to practice modelling with leftover greenstuff. So I made a bunch of skulls. Any good ones might make it onto Maulgy's base.

after Lord Sprogrot I realise now a) how much harder greenstuff is to work, and b) smaller scale takes infinitely more effort.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Oh, and seeing as the little monsters are so keen on modelling, I put their skills to good use...

so we made frosting-filled gingerbread men. Not my neatest work, but certainly the tastiest!

 

[Teronus]

Hah lovely, now I want a bite. Did you say you want to do free hand (with) metallic paints or (on) metallic paints, I am not sure I understood correctly.

 

[SaintToad]

I'm not gonna beat around the bush here, dazzler: the cookie on the left has an obvious mold line right on his face, his left hand is poorly cast, and the contrast on both the pastries is inadequate. Real disappointing after a nice run of work, dazzler.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Agreed: a poorly cast piece (must be fine cast). I'm disappointed with myself - but if it helps the whole lot have been demolished now...

Tero, I was hoping to do metal on metal, but it just comes out too blobby (like the gingerbread men's faces).

 

[Digganob]

Aww I changed my mind, I want to be first in line for those things. What can I say I have a weakness for cookies

 

[Maenas]

Mmmm smells good ... I always loved when you bake some cookies and the scent goes all over the house ^^

The motif on the axe is very cool! I am sure that blacklining it (just as if it where scratches) as you commented will help it became crisper. You can go for a 3D effect if you don't black line on both sides of the line if you understand what I mean.... then treat it just like a 3D lightening up and shadowing down on some spots and areas.
Oh! and I'm really sorry for that head pop... keep him out of reach!! if it is unseen it is not reachable..

 

[bgcdazzler]

Sorry Digga... they're gone (om nom nom). I now have replacement catalyst coming in the post, so you might need to give me some casting tips soon, though!

Maenas, that trompe l'oeil thing is a great idea. I'll give it a go.

Unfortunately nowhere is safe from my monsters. I once caught my daughter swinging from the light fitting - she'd climbed up onto a chair, then the table, then a stool she'd put on the table, and was just dangling from it. She's four.

It's a relief that only Maulgy's head came off, to be honest.

 

[Digganob]

Hmmm I dont know how much help I could be now that the hope of cookies has left my soul, lol just let me know bud

 

[ArchArad]

The dazzlets sound like very busy and enterprising little people!

You definitely need a cabinet or something to put "daddy's little people" in.

Hope the Maulg fix won't be too painful.

 

[bgcdazzler]

I think I need a cabinet to put the little monsters in, yes...

oh, you meant the minis. Yes, that makes sense.

Here's a repost from the paintalong. Maulgy is still alive!

...

Quick update from me: tried to fix the axe. It's now a grimy, well-used thing. BaM would be proud!

i've shaded the knot in purple to give it some depth and dimension. Does this work, folks?

Also done a different design on the reverse: because I couldn't face doing that Celtic knot again. Hopefully that would be acceptable...