Comments please

digbaddy72

digbaddy72

Member
Ok, let me start this off by saying first that I have never posted about this in the past. Not sure why I am now. I am just wondering how this mini http://www.coolminiornot.com/79210 is currently scoring a 6.8? I would appreciate some other\'s opinions (yes I am asking for CREATIVE criticism) about what they may see as displeasing to the eye or in need of improvement. By no means do I consider myself one of the \"greats\" of the hobby, but I also don\'t put out minis that look like they were painted with a synthetic Testor\'s brush either.

So I ask my fellow mini painters here to either post a comment on the mini or here in this thread. I am always looking for improvement. The photo, a technique, etc.

Thankshttp://www.coolminiornot.com/79210
 
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EricJ

Active member
Ok, I\'ll do my best, here is what I take from this one.

Immediately what struck me is that there is no where on the mini for the eye to settle, no focal point. The reason for this i think is that you basically have a background which is your bronze and within the bronze you have points of many different colors, blue, red, green, yellow. None of which really grabs your attention more than any other. So the mini lacks a \"flow\" and doesn\'t feel very dynamic.

Ok, that\'s enough of the theory section of the critique, on to technique. The bronze which dominates the mini seems a bit flat. It doesn\'t have much shading or highlights. Similarly with the silver metalics.

I really like the greens, you show a lot of blending ability there, especially on the back. however you don\'t show the same care with the red or blues.

I also think you did an excellent job on his eyes.

I hope that gives you a little bit to work on. Right now I voted 6, however I think you aren\'t very far from 8\'s.
 
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Trevor

Brushlicker and Freak!
I gave it an 8.

I agree with eric that the metallics are a bit flat, also the pic seems a little blurry, but it is a solid mini to my mind and currently underscoring.
 
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Drake Farstrider

New member
Over all a good mini, and just need a few small things to make it a great mini, IMHO.

The metalics are a little flat, as is the red on the morningstar handle. What I do like are the gems on the stacks, they are very well executed. The other thing that I noticed was on the pouches they look too similar to the bronze. I would take them up a notch highlight wise.

As it sits right know I would give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for the score. I will round up and give it an 8. :D
 
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Ritual

New member
I pretty much agree to what has been said here. The mini looks too muted and lacks something to make it striking. The bronze has a very good colour, but it needs to be more dynamically shaded and highlighted. Edges need to have sharp highlights to make them look sharp like metal armour should. Also the blue patterns and the red handle looks a bit rushed and not very exciting. The green gems, however, look great!

Overall, the mini has a very good colour scheme and there\'s proof of good blending, but you should take it a bit further and exaggerate certain highlights and details. This will make the mini catch more attention and break the muted and anonymous impression it has at the present.

You could also experiment with coloured washes over the bronze. Some green on certain areas could make it more interesting.

I hope this is to some use for you! I voted 7 on your mini. It\'s good work, but it could be even better with not too much effort.

Anders
 
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tidoco2222

Active member
Got to agree with the comments already made, the metallics need a bit more work on them. Also painting Rackhams minis in metallics will hurt you as well as most people see them as looking better in NMM but I voted you a seven.
You may want to try adding a touch of silver to your bronze and place it on some of the exdtreme edges this will lift it and make it look a bit tarnished as well.
 
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donga666

Guest
Zombie voice: \"I agree with everyone\".

Seriously though, what everyone has said is dead right, the highlighting & (to a lesser extent) the shading dont have that \'zing\'. It looks like you have got the basics, equal to a 7 (IMHO). But in order to push things any futher you need too make the highlights more obvious.

On a technical level, what I would do is: Give every colour an appropriate wash/thin glaze of ink. THEN go back in and really work on the highlights and bring out the shape.

But that\'s me, not you ???

Andy- maybe talking Crap?
 
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Legacy Account

Active member
A better quality and bigger photo, so that people can see ecery nuance of the paintjob and judge for themselves.

I think this one is about right at a seven - still a decent score nowadays! The jump between what you have, and an \'8\' quality mini isn\'t that great. You are obviously well in control of the paint, it\'s just a matter of giving the mini some \'Bling Factor\'.:D
 
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Propaintjob

New member
Can\'t really say much different to what has already been said. The biggest thing that struck me has already been said, the pouches are too similar to the bronze. Maybe a complete colour change on the pouches wouldn\'t go amiss?
 
Dr.Morbius

Dr.Morbius

New member
I think you\'re getting screwed by the NMM/Rackham fanboys.

In contrast, this figure is very similar to yours in color selection and skill level, but because it is a Rackham fig in NMM (inferior NMM at that), its score skews higher. I\'m not suggesting you should abandon metallics (quite the opposite, in fact), just that if you want to paint in metallics, get used to your scores coming in below where you expect them to be.

There is nothing in particular wrong with your miniature (I voted it an 8), though some weathering of the silver metallics might improve it some.

Keep up the good work.
 
digbaddy72

digbaddy72

Member
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! This was exactly what I was looking for. I will use these suggestions on future projects as I have already shipped this one out to my customer.

I did rush the reds and the blues. I didn\'t think it was that noticeable but looking at it now, it is.

Thanks for the tips on improving my metallics. They are a great help.

Thanks everyone again for the critique.
 
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Itchy

New member
i gave it a 7. If you put the same attention to detail into the whole mini as you did the rope on his shoulder, it\'d be a no brainer 10. Obviously you can blend and have great brush control, but i\'d guess you were in a hurry to get this one out (and to be fair, i don\'t know what stardard was paid to have this painted). i do disagree with Dr.Morbius though. The blending on the NMM on the mini he linked is very smooth and nice IMHO. And if you did the same with metalics (yes you can blend and highlight metalics) then i\'d vote you all the same on your skill. The rest has been said, the great green glass and the colors (or lack of) on the pouches... whole thing gives the feel of seeming flat. i\'d also suggest taking the things you\'re most proud of in the mini and putting a closer view shot of just that in the picture.

Hope this helps.:)
 
Dr.Morbius

Dr.Morbius

New member
i do disagree with Dr.Morbius though. The blending on the NMM on the mini he linked is very smooth and nice IMHO.
Click to expand...

Let me ask you this... If we can agree that the point of NMM is to make the surface look like metal without using metallic paints, do you think that the surface of the gunbarrel on the figure I linked to LOOKS like metal? There are a lot of NMM painters out there who are able to accomplish this, but, to my eye, this particular figure does not. Yes, it\'s \"smooth,\" but so what? It\'s an utter failure in tricking the eye into seeing what it wants the eye to see. The technique is there for the sake of technique, but the end result is not.

While parvusmachina\'s figure may not be as highly polished as the figure to which I linked--a subject that is open to debate, web photography being what it is--to an extent it is more convincing in its depiction of its subject matter.

But to each his own, I guess.

Bottoms up.
 
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supervike

Super Moderator
ok then.

I think I slightly disagree with many of the comments here. I like your mini because of it\'s subtleness. Nothing is \"overexaggerated\", which seems to work more into the character of the mini. The metal has a dirty flat feel that only adds to its realism. The eye/face is definately the focal point.

I too am a big fan of the overexaggeration on minis, but I can\'t say that it is the exclusive way to paint.

Alot of times a mini will have the \"pop\" that will really catch your eye, but then on closer inspection, doesn\'t seem to be all that special. Yours, on the other hand, while it may not have that initial \"POP\", it does hold up well under more scrutiny.

I vote a solid 8.

;)
 
digbaddy72

digbaddy72

Member
Originally posted by Dr.Morbius
I think you\'re getting screwed by the NMM/Rackham fanboys.

In contrast, this figure is very similar to yours in color selection and skill level, but because it is a Rackham fig in NMM (inferior NMM at that), its score skews higher. I\'m not suggesting you should abandon metallics (quite the opposite, in fact), just that if you want to paint in metallics, get used to your scores coming in below where you expect them to be.

There is nothing in particular wrong with your miniature (I voted it an 8), though some weathering of the silver metallics might improve it some.

Keep up the good work.
Click to expand...

Funny thing is I have painted that mini as well using metallics HERE. Looking at this mini now I realize I could have added a few more highlights to some of the details.

My thing is that some people like NMM some like metallics. It is nothing personal. Whether or not one style is better is relative to the person voting on the mini. It\'s like people who like chocolate ice cream and those who like vanilla. It just so happens that NMM has been \"the thing\" for awhile now. I don\'t have a problem with that. I try to achieve an affect that looks realistic when you have the mini in your hand or on the table. I think NMM is better if you are trying to paint a mini that looks superb in a photo. But that\'s just me

Oh darn...I think I just highjacked my own thread....
 
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