Dance Morko Dance - A reflexion on Crystal Brush

[alextheartist]

It hasnt been useless alfonso, we have been talking about this over on Platoon Britannica and I have spoken at legnth with Chris and in my opinion it is nice to see the techniques and theories you demonstrated at Figostock last year.

One question or comment I have is that the left arm in the picture below seems to have differnt hues of yellow compared to the right arm and face in the picture. Also the stomach area seems to have differnt hues to the skin further up on the giant, which makes sense because less light would get there, but lower down on the right leg in the picture the skin is more of a simelar colour the the right arm and face, rather than darker like the rest of the legs/feet.

I really like the miniature, but part of me thinks that the painting isnt as smooth and precise as your recent boxarts for knight models, perhaps this is because it is much more of an expressive peice, I know how passionate you are about painting (and Spanish football ) and this is very apparnt in this piece.nI look forward to seeing more of your work.

Alex

 

[JRN]

Back on the web after a weekend without communication access...

A great and grand model. Scaly, dynamics, and complexity are off the charts.
And congrats on the reward!

Having had the chance to see the model in person I am stuck by both the size of the model - it was really huge for a miniature, but I am also impressed with the size of the pictures you are showing here. You are certainly showing everything.

I find the colours used on the skin of the giant quite interesting. How do you decide where to blend in the warmer colours and where to do bright and light in the highlights. When I look at the pictures it looks as if you are not using zenith approach all the way, but more something of a mix between zenith and a more free-flowing expressive approach? Can you tell us a little more about the decision regarding the skin?

 

[GunjiNoKanrei]

To quote skraal's earlier post:

Thanks for sharing the project with us. I always think that it's nice to be able to read about and get to know a little better the thought process that goes into works like this. I think that being able to see how you go about these things, both at planning stages and realization stages, are a great way of getting closer with the rest of the community. It allows us all to grow so to speak.

As for questions or things I'd like to know? Personally I wouldn't mind an explanation of the different techniques used for painting the model. What types of techniques for which types of textures for example.

Maybe also a little bit more depth into how you work around colour theory and how you integrate the theory into the piece?

Over all I think it's a very very well done piece, keep them coming!

This echoes my thoughts. Thanks for taking your time to create such an in-depth article. As far as technique is concerned ... could you share a bit more about how you create texture? This is something I am really struggling with as it often just looks messy and as if not knowing how to blend. So how do you do it?
I am especially interested in hearing how you achieved the texture on the cloth on the Giants right leg and the leather textures.

 

[Torn blue sky]

I wouldn't say it was a waste at all, i'm sure a lot of people have read the article and gone off to scratch their heads full of inspiration. Half the fun for some people is trying to replicate something without asking the "hows" and "whys". Don't take it too badly, after all, art is probably at least 90% inspiration and 10% addaptation

 

[dieguete]

Hi , first of all I want to apologize for my bad English, so I'm using a translator to help me, and perhaps some phrases are not well understood.

wanted to say thanks for the comments on the figure. We concern was whether people would like or not the thumbnail, after all the work behind it.

from us about questions on the overhead light, and why sometimes we use it and not another within the same piece. I have to tell you, we raised the thumbnail as if it were an illustration, if we take into account their size, required a different illuminations meccla to give more importance to parts like the face, belly, beef ,.... ., so in those areas use daylight, and the rest generally more expressive to some areas of the figure. If we had painted all alike, have lost character.

for paint job will use many techniques of painting, depending on which area we are looking, the type of texture and brush stroke is different, sometimes using stitches, some shredded, some as in the skin work with the wet paint mecclando directly on the piece, trying to create that effect of real meat. Despite being so big, approximately 25cm high, if you include the stand, just use the airbrush, and 90% of the work was to brush. To create all the textures. 're Crazy.


I read a comment that alfonso painting is not as clean as artboox painting for "knight models", but as I said above, what we wanted was to work the miniature as if it were an illustration, with parts as face, or in the gut, the technique which is exquisite, is more expressive work with different finishes and not all alike, is another technique of painting, which is not normally represented in the figures, but if used in illustration, and that this time we decided to use to classify areas that were most important to us.

I hope my explanation helps you, and do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions or comments are always welcome.

greetings and thanks

 

[alextheartist]

Thank you for the reply, I thought the reason for it not being as clean was as you explained. You guys did a really good job

 

[Banshee]

diego explained.

i am so used to paint another kind of paintjob..as some of u could see in person in the crystal brush i have to make a clair, and smooth detailed work for my artbox in knightmodels.. but for a contest i want to do something more personal. thats why, being able to do something more perfectly finished as me or diego have shown previously in other works.. tgis time we wanted to do an illustration..maybe we achieved maybe we dont.. but that kind of inspiration could not be erased from our intention..and we loved to do in that way..everything is thought and valued . it is just a different way to interpretate a 3d scene..why should we paint always going to the smoothest result0.. sometimes it distract the attention from the focal points of interest and also, somethings the worst part of miniatuyre painting tradition is that it looks like it is only going through the technical perfection.and for us miniatures should go to many difrerent ways oif interpretatrion..this is only our humble try to do it.

 

[TrystanGST]

Frazetta - that's a good inspiration right there!

 

[ScottRadom]

I love your article on this mini guys. I'm not on here all that much anymore but I can answer Banshee's post regarding the lack of response to the article froma critical and inquisitve standpoint and just give my thoughts if I could...

Everything you guys have shared in this article is gold. I love it quite a bit, appreciate your incite into the event and really love seeing the glimpses of the process from sketch to final execution. There is no critiscism from me personally at all on any aspect of the final product. It's wonderful in technical detail and flavour of the story of the mini. I have no comment to post other than "thanks for posting".

Do I have any questions for you guys past what you've posted? Yes and no at the same time. I would love to know everything you guys did in terms of this project technically and any insight you care to share about the other aspects. So I don't really have any questions worth posting because my question would just be "Tell me everything" and that's not much of a question.

I'll get a little sidetracked and say that I really enjoyed JRN's mini and accompanying thread posting his work. From a mini painters perspective who did not attend the crystal brush I am very grateful to see top talent like you guys sharing whatever you feel like on the event and your own entries.

I can also very much appreciate Banshee's desire to get some accompanying critique on the project but I just don't have any to give. If it helps you at all I will say that of all the elements in the project the one I love the most is the butterfly. A small touch in the piece that I didn't notice in the pic's during online voting and I think it's just a great piece of character to the mini.

Oh wait!!! I do have a minor critique on the piece after all. I know the mini is adorned with skulls and such that are scaled to regular human types in 28mm but I think the piece could've used something else to hammer home the fact that this is a giant dancing. Dunno, maybe a road sign, something else that might've helped me mentally instantly identify it as being such a large miniature (if I wasn't familiar with the base of the sculpt anyway).

So again, thanks to you two for posting this thread, and special thanks to the translator. Hat's off!

 

[Lost_Empire]

I think everything that is positive about the mini has been said. The work is amazing and I think the painting and sculpting of the miniature is perfect. The problem here is I didn't catch the concept you were attempting to create. Like Scott said it needed some sort of sign or something to give away the fact that he was indeed dancing. Not only were you attempting to show a Giant dancing but perhaps you trying to show that because he was a "shaman" that should be part of a spell. Now the biggest problem besides the fact that I wasn't really sure if he was dancing to begin with is the fact that you state he is a shaman. How am I supposed to know that?

When I look at a giant, I don't shaman whatsoever. I don't think I have read any story or fluff for a game where a giant is a shaman and you just can't change that sort of stereotype with an amazing model like this. If you wanted me to understand perhaps you should have put a savage orc shaman on the base where there were magical components and other dancing orcs and the like. Otherwise it is just a good looking miniature that was not properly expressed and you failed to capture your main goal of a magic casting giant. I honestly had no idea he was a shaman until I read the entire article and I think you need to have more input during the creative process and ask non involved miniature lovers and perhaps people who just like fantasy to tell you what they see. Because all I see is a Giant who is aligned to an Orc tribe of probably a savage nature and that's it.

I'm sorry if I come off rude but I am not a painter nor am I a sculptor. I come to this site to see the very best of those ideals because I don't do them. But I can comment on games workshop products and the way they are received because I own a giant myself that has been remodeled to look like he is an intelligent swordsman. The difference is you did a much better job in every way except for the fact that the concept for my Giant is immediately seen while I couldn't tell while looking at yours until you wrote an article on it.

 

[Banshee]

scottrandom:

Do I have any questions for you guys past what you've posted? Yes and no at the same time. I would love to know everything you guys did in terms of this project technically and any insight you care to share about the other aspects. So I don't really have any questions worth posting because my question would just be "Tell me everything" and that's not much of a question.

start for the first and finish with the last question you have and we can answer everything.

;P

Oh wait!!! I do have a minor critique on the piece after all. I know the mini is adorned with skulls and such that are scaled to regular human types in 28mm but I think the piece could've used something else to hammer home the fact that this is a giant dancing. Dunno, maybe a road sign, something else that might've helped me mentally instantly identify it as being such a large miniature (if I wasn't familiar with the base of the sculpt anyway).

really a good ponit. yes you are right. at the beggining we thought on doing some goblins dancing arround it would make the sing that makes him being a giant, but we didnt have time to do .. a real pity. you are right.


lost empire:

'm sorry if I come off rude but I am not a painter nor am I a sculptor. I come to this site to see the very best of those ideals because I don't do them. But I can comment on games workshop products and the way they are received because I own a giant myself that has been remodeled to look like he is an intelligent swordsman. The difference is you did a much better job in every way except for the fact that the concept for my Giant is immediately seen while I couldn't tell while looking at yours until you wrote an article on it.

i am totally agree with u. at the beggining our idea was to show him dancing arround a totem with some goblins dancing too. but we couldnbt make on time. that's it. really. so as we didnt managed to do it is like if we didnt thought about it although it was exaclty our idea.. but from the picture we are showing..yes.. you are right. good comment.

you doesnt soudns rude. you sounds analytic. we are not a prideful stupid people. what u say is logical and very well explained,.

so finally it was good to make an article..jejejejejejejej ;P

next time will be better!

 

[MightyChad]

First I want to say thanks for putting together such an article, your work never ceases to inspire me. I feel that I have no right to give you any critiques, but you have asked for it and I will oblige, as I understand how frustrating it is to put up a miniature and not get any feedback at all.

My first critique would be the absence of a wing on Morko's right arm, I think it would help reinforce the look that he article said you were going for. Why did you choose to leave it off?

Second, the butterfly on the Giant's hand takes away from the dynamic movement that is going on in the rest of the mini. It makes him look stationary. As I have stated, a novice like me has no right giving critiques to a master, or a pair of masters as the case may be, have a look at my gallery and you can see what I mean!

And a question from the painting side, what colors were used for the tones of the shadow? They really add a mood to the mini, and I would like to try something similar, since, as I stated I am very inspired by the piece.

Thanks again.

 

[Lost_Empire]

Well now that I know you had a different idea on what was perfect could you go back and make the base look the way you want? I would really like to see the giant complete the way it was in your vision. I just think that savage orcs would be better because of all the skulls, bones, and the sort of of tones you used. Like it is some sort of magical dancing circle of ancient magic. Whenever I see goblins I just think silly dancing. So if he is actually casting a spell perhaps the orcs but if he really is just dancing the goblins would be better.

 

[JRN]

btw, you mentioned spending time and enjoying Chicago...
Did you see the Rembrandt in the Art museum in Chicago? "Man with golden necklace" if I remember the title correctly.
I went to the museum on the Sunday and was struck to silence by the painting. Suddenly, painting toy soldiers seemed so silly...

 

[Matt Cexwish]

It always does after seeing the Great Masters Paintings, dare going to the Prado before or after the Spanish GD, you will be completely amazed... And hopefully inspired other then demotivated... If you ever think that Painting "Toy Soldiers" have reached it´s pinnacle you will have to see the Masters and you will know that there is still a Long Way To Go......

This Project here, that I saw in Person in Madrid not so long ago, it must be very frustrating for you, Banshee, and I think that you can read a lot from ScottRadoms Answer... A lot of people think that they are not worthy commenting on it, because they look at it somewhat paralyzed from appreciation... Whilst you are looking for some Serious Feedback in Order to Improve, to get an Reaction, to have something more from it... I think it´s a very interesting discussion that might occur from this Thread since everyone has the right to say whatever he or she thinks and feels about any part of this Project...

For me, personally, I have tried to tell you already, I very much enjoy it, love the Movement and the Paintjob, absolutely stunning Skintones and 360° Miniature Painting... The only Point to be raised are Details that again are up to personal preference... I would have emphasized the Dance by influencing the Ground a bit more (Ruffled, more Foot Prints, maybe telling a little Story from the Traces he Danced...), then the Butterfly as beautiful it is, it is sitting on a Dancing Maniac...?... It interfers a bit with the Dynamic Movement and reminds the Viewer, that it is "only" a Miniature, a Frozen Moment... I would have been interested in seeing the Air around him move... The Ground underneath him shake... More, because you can feel it already... More... Then Again, You get more of everything in a Traditional way... For me this is really a Spectacular Miniature and I think it is not really fair being the one to Judge on what Miniature is better then the other when such diverse Projects Clash onto one another...

So Yes, thanks for the Article... Very Interesting...

 

[ScottRadom]

Yeah definitely as Matt as said I personally offered all (very little) critiscism I could offer onthe piece. I think I understand the total kind of critical feedback you'd like to get but I am not just feeling unqualified to give it, I just simply don't have the ability to see anything to critiscize. I wish I could help more. I very much enjoy what you've shared fromyour experience on the process of the mini and the event. Hopefully I can meet up with you someday and shake your hand! Goes for the rest too of course...

 

[Banshee]

btw, you mentioned spending time and enjoying Chicago...
Did you see the Rembrandt in the Art museum in Chicago? "Man with golden necklace" if I remember the title correctly.
I went to the museum on the Sunday and was struck to silence by the painting. Suddenly, painting toy soldiers seemed so silly...

I am so sorry kaclkob for our delay. i have been out of this thread. i thought noone else commented.. apologies.

i was with diego in the art mueseum. enjoying the impresionism. specially monet , and seurat.. discovering the american impresionist taht i didnt know and we found a sorolla's most famous pictures in the middle of nowhere and noone knew him! .. but we didnt saw rembrandt! where was it! fuck! the light master is one of my favs...

about your last comment.. that's why i think that we should try to stop painting toy soldiers and try to go towards something else... you know what i mean? try to bring to the miniature world a lot of thecnics, effects and ways of understanding the painting ..as other big artist did.. i eman ..there are a lot of things that can be done.. but to do that, the public should try to be more openminded.. in my humble opinion of course.

 

[Banshee]

It always does after seeing the Great Masters Paintings, dare going to the Prado before or after the Spanish GD, you will be completely amazed... And hopefully inspired other then demotivated... If you ever think that Painting "Toy Soldiers" have reached it´s pinnacle you will have to see the Masters and you will know that there is still a Long Way To Go......

i am totally agree with u matt...but insisnting..we should go this way. in my opinion this is our debt to this great world.. to take it to another level..or at least die trying..

I would have emphasized the Dance by influencing the Ground a bit more (Ruffled, more Foot Prints, maybe telling a little Story from the Traces he Danced...), then the Butterfly as beautiful it is, it is sitting on a Dancing Maniac...?... It interfers a bit with the Dynamic Movement and reminds the Viewer, that it is "only" a Miniature, a Frozen Moment... I would have been interested in seeing the Air around him move... The Ground underneath him shake... More, because you can feel it already... More...

completely agree.. the most interesting critic i have read. thanks . i am agree in each point. i am gonna throw it to the trash right now..jejejej ;P.. ah! no, it is already sold! shit! jejejejje thanks !

Yeah definitely as Matt as said I personally offered all (very little) critiscism I could offer onthe piece. I think I understand the total kind of critical feedback you'd like to get but I am not just feeling unqualified to give it, I just simply don't have the ability to see anything to critiscize. I wish I could help more. I very much enjoy what you've shared fromyour experience on the process of the mini and the event. Hopefully I can meet up with you someday and shake your hand! Goes for the rest too of course...

jejeje..invite me to canada and i will shake yours! jejejej . thanks for apreciate it.