I agree with NSA... character is about making a mini seem more than just whatever type of mini it is. Character makes a mini look like an individual, separate from every other mini of the same type. A barbarian with character will look like a very particular barbarian instead of just a barbarian cliché.
Defining Character in minis...
- Thread starter supervike
- Start date
Originally posted by Larre
a mini with character doesn\'t need to be well painted, but it helps.
the mini need a special face with an expresion. a senic base that shows where he is. that is character for me!
// Larre
RIGHT
character does not absolutely need a 7up paintjob. Its in the scene: http://www.coolminiornot.com/34882
No, sorry, I don\'t recall which one it was. I go through lots of comments and see lots of submissions....I do recall it was a Space Marine or something similar. I probably wouldn\'t want to mention it even if I did, in fear of embarrassing the commenter or the artist.
As far as my views on character...It\'s a thing that is hard to define, but I know it when I see it. I suppose, if pressed, I would say it is that quality that makes the mini become more than just a painted piece of metal...It immediately conjures up stories or settings or emotions.
vincegamer
Active member
ah, like obscenity.
you know: \"I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced . . . but I know it when I see it . . .\" Justice Potter Stewart: Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184, 197 (1964).
you know: \"I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced . . . but I know it when I see it . . .\" Justice Potter Stewart: Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184, 197 (1964).
Ok So we\'ve tried to define Character....
But what is it.....That makes you say I want to paint That mini
And just like Supervike I\'d love to see examples.
But what is it.....That makes you say I want to paint That mini
And just like Supervike I\'d love to see examples.
vincegamer
Active member
Lots of hats
I\'m probably not typical, but I want to paint a mini that can wear many hats.
For instance, I just painted Kage Dar by Spyglass. To most it\'s probably a barbarian hero. I painted it as a rabid sports fan. I could just have easily had him in a pub raising a pint and belting out a drinking song.
Generically speaking I guess that means clean lines and not a lot of gewgaws and pointy bits to clutter it up.
I\'m probably not typical, but I want to paint a mini that can wear many hats.
For instance, I just painted Kage Dar by Spyglass. To most it\'s probably a barbarian hero. I painted it as a rabid sports fan. I could just have easily had him in a pub raising a pint and belting out a drinking song.
Generically speaking I guess that means clean lines and not a lot of gewgaws and pointy bits to clutter it up.
My painting style and preference has changed alot as of late. I now want to paint simple uncluttered mini\'s, with large flat spaces where I can really practice blending and small freehands. E.G. i preordered the Avatars of War range, loved them then, and had loads if ideas for them. Recieved them today, and they just went straight into the unopened minis toolbox. They are fantastic minis, i just have no desire to paint them anymore.
Now when my Hasslefree order arrives
Now when my Hasslefree order arrives
In a twisted way, seeing an absolutely phenomenal paint job I can never hope to achieve is what makes me want to paint minis. It\'s probably why I never finish anything due to complete lack of satisfaction with my efforts too!
Other than that the thing that always gets me is a really good dynamic pose. If a mini looks alive then I feel more inspired to paint it.
Other than that the thing that always gets me is a really good dynamic pose. If a mini looks alive then I feel more inspired to paint it.
For me it\'s about thinking I would be able to make it look good. Thus, it has to be in tune with my sense of aesthetics, which means it either has to look very menacing or morbid, or it has to have a serene beauty to it. There\'s probably exceptions, but generally speaking, that\'s what I look for in terms of atmosphere. Then, of course, it has to be well sculpted and well designed.
Talking of dynamic minis, I just saw this one on the Spanish Team forum, by the insanely talented Freeman. This is begging to be painted.
I have no idea how he gets that kind of detail into a mini that small. I felt I had to put the pic with the hand holding it or you\'d all think it was another version of the 54mm one in the same scale. This is an insanely good sculpt as far as I\'m concerned.
I have no idea how he gets that kind of detail into a mini that small. I felt I had to put the pic with the hand holding it or you\'d all think it was another version of the 54mm one in the same scale. This is an insanely good sculpt as far as I\'m concerned.
funnymouth
Active member
no kidding, that mini is great for its scale.
Quite simply, I am most interested in minis that I have not already seen innumerable times. Hence my probably unhealthy fixation with older minis. It isn\'t that I dislike new minis, I just am not that inspired to paint something that I have seen done fabulously by many others.
Particulary bizarre or gruesome minis catch my eye, like Ritual\'s that he uses for his avatar. A humorous mini (original sculpt or conversion) is also good, like most of vincegamer\'s conversions, or cdukino\'s Waggamephs (sp?).
Particulary bizarre or gruesome minis catch my eye, like Ritual\'s that he uses for his avatar. A humorous mini (original sculpt or conversion) is also good, like most of vincegamer\'s conversions, or cdukino\'s Waggamephs (sp?).
Gilvan Blight
New member
Found one!
Okay been thinking about this since it was first posted and still can\'t think of a way to put it into words.
A few theories have come up, but nothing that quite fits. Figures that evoke an empotional responce? Figures that speak? Figures that exhibit some human quality? Figures that tell a story? Nothing is quite right, but nothing is totally wrong either. If I find the right words I will post them. For now, here\'s a mini that I think has Character:
http://www.coolminiornot.com/80857
Okay been thinking about this since it was first posted and still can\'t think of a way to put it into words.
A few theories have come up, but nothing that quite fits. Figures that evoke an empotional responce? Figures that speak? Figures that exhibit some human quality? Figures that tell a story? Nothing is quite right, but nothing is totally wrong either. If I find the right words I will post them. For now, here\'s a mini that I think has Character:
http://www.coolminiornot.com/80857
