Dissatisfied!

[SundayTaco]

Alright gentlemen (and ladies)
Recently I've been working on improving my painting (as many of us are) and I really liked the Dark eldar warrior models and have been wanting to start a new DE army. I think, well, I know, I ofeten have problems with picking colorschemes that look good, So i think, though the painting is pretty good, the scheme is lacking... maybe too many colors, maybe, not enough contrast, either way It doesn't look as good as I want it to be, Keeping in mind the colors I want is to aim for an autumn theme, hence the leaves and tree stump etc (oj, yellows reds browns dark purple (blacks)). Annnywhooooo, let me know what ya'll think and how you'll help me

 

[TrystanGST]

Depends on your goals. More contrast on the browns and greens, and blending the highlights in would go a good ways to bringing the mini up.

 

[MAXXxxx]

what I'd do:
- get rid of the green things on the base
- make the red armor more brown (as in similar to dark-flesh)
- make the yellow parts more muted (old Ilyanden Darksun would be a good for it) and shade it with a bit of purple

- altough the green gun gives great contrast, but I'd make it more a yellow green (bile-green) or make it more of a pastel-green (dead flesh), both shaded with browns instead of greens.


this: http://www.coolminiornot.com/276577 was my take on an autmn color scheme. I painted it originally for a tutorial I wrote (it's in hungarian, so I don't think it will help, sorry) and one of the first minis where I really did plan out the colors based on color-theory before painting them on.
Basically the whole is red-orange-yellow browns shaded with purple and highlighted with pastelgreen (the blue trouser was made to counter all the orange I had in there, but even that is shaded/highlighted with the same colors ), hell even the skin was highlighted with a pastel-green (dead flesh)

 

[ten ball]

The thing with Eldar or marines is the edge highlights. Well its all about the edge / extreme highlights. They must be crisp and sharp, this will really make a difference.

 

[Trevor]

For me the green is too bright. Either use a different green, or wash with black or brown (the GW washes would be good for this). Then the base to too 'busy' simplify it, try to stick to using 2 main colours on it (although you can use weathering pigments or chalky pastels to add hints of other colours). The red/yellow armour works fine for me. You could add a small (in extent) edge highlight to the most raised edges of the armour to make it 'pop', but this could be more effort than in is worth for an army rank and file.

 

[Demihuman]

SundayTaco, I am so with you. I am really having trouble trying to bring all the technique and theory together all while still having trouble keeping my paint "in the lines".

I think MAXXxx has it right.

On this guy what is going on with the icon on his head? Do you think you could shade that up and down? like maybe a little silverey NMM? My eye is drawn to his knees in the first pic. It looks like the highlights there are brighter then on his helmet so maybe some more work on the helmet will help.

Since I am sitting at my desk at work with nothing to do I 'shopped your image a little, I hope that is okay.

I lightened your picture a lot.
I added transparent pure white highlights and some purple shadows to the helmet. I also added white highlights to the helmet icon
I added a brighter, more yellow green and warm brown shadows to the green on the rifle.
I added the same brown to the mid/shadows on the red.
I added a tiny highlight to the top of the rifle blade.

View attachment 22611

I think it moves the focus more to his eyes than before. What do you think?

 

[SundayTaco]

I truly appreciate all the advice given. I think my problem is I don't really know how to shade, really only highlighting, and maybe a wash or two. I probably lack the basics. I'm mostly self taught, never really watched any vids or read many articles. Maxxxxx thank you for the detailed list, and Demi, thank you for helping me to visualize it. I'm doin basecoats for my next warrior, so once I'm done it, ill put it here with the advised improvements.
Thank you gents

 

[Tommie Soule]

No drastic fixes here really. As the model stands the focal point is contested. The focal point being the head/face.
the contender is the orange bush on the base. you will see if you just put you finger over said bush on screen
to see if you agree....or not.

T

 

[Demihuman]

No drastic fixes here really. As the model stands the focal point is contested. The focal point being the head/face.
the contender is the orange bush on the base. you will see if you just put you finger over said bush on screen
to see if you agree....or not.

T

/Slaps forehead. Obviously. It even has red eyes.