Gatti's Painting Log

[Gatti]

Hey all!

So I recently transitioned from a mass battle system (warhammer) to a skirmish game (malifaux). I decided to use the opportunity to take my painting to the next level and push myself. And what better way to push myself than to put pictures up on a website frequented by artists who's tutorials basically taught me to paint! So yes I'm starting a blog. I'll post WIPs for you all to critique and make recommendations.

At the moment I'm working on resurrectionists. I have two models mostly finished at the moment and a test base finished. First up is a rotten belle, who's skin tone was recommended to me by a few members of this forum (thanks so much for your recommendations!).

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The next is a nurse, with WIP base (going for Med floor).

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Base seems kind of dull though, even with the model on it.

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So yeah, I'm working on livening up the base and making it less bland. So that's what I'm starting with for this new game. Expect update pictures, and let me know what you think/where I can improve!

Thanks for reading!

 

[Webmonkey]

Welcome to the site!! It nice to see new faces. Now, for beginners work, you have a nice, solid foundation. But if you don't mind a critique,... Photo wise,.. try using your macro function on your camera, and set the model in front of a backdrop. It helps the camera focus by limiting the "depth of field" the camera sees. Paint wise, cleaner lines. (by this I mean making sure the colors start/stop in the proper places. For example,.. the belle model, some of the blue from the glove is bleeding over onto the flesh of the arm. Clean color lines make for a much sharper model). After that,.. some smoother transitions on your shades and highlights.

Just doing these two things will help a lot.

(take it with a grain of salt,.. after all,.. I'm a total hack, and my work sucks out loud!!! :laugh: )

 

[Dr. Bob]

Nice work! I like their backsides in particular!

 

[Sigmar3]

Hey welcome. I made a similar transition a few years ago, GW to Malifaux, and I enjoy the fact that each model is an individual. You have a good start, I'll echo Webmonkey and agree that (and this comes with practice and time) being a little neater in a few areas would help, but mostly it's good. Also maybe keeping your paints a bit thinner, adding water to them, could help with a slightly smoother coverage and would also help with the blends and highlights.

But so far so good to be honest! Do you have the whole Shadows of Red Chapel crew may I ask? I recently painted up that box so if you want a gander I wouldn't get a shotgun and chase you away from my wip thread haha

 

[Sigmar3]

Forgot to say I think the undead skin tone is good, she looks suitably horrible (in a good way). Also if you maybe want to see some more Malifaux stuff go check out the Wyrd/ Malifaux site
http://themostexcellentandawesomeforumever-wyrd.com/forum/256-the-hobby-room/

 

[Gatti]

Thanks guys! This is exactly the type of feedback I was hoping for! I'm not quite a beginner painter, but this is the first time I'm really focusing on one-off models rather than getting an army on the table, and there is a BIG difference between painting stuff to look good as an army vs painting things to look good individually. I definitely need to work on brush control and I see your point on more gradual transitions. I am still planning to do an oil wash for black lining (which is usually how I black or brown line) after I varnish them, but wanted feedback for touch ups before I do that.

About thinning paint, I have heard the whole "skim milk" thing, but what is your opinion on using matte medium in some combination with water? I usually add between 1-2 drops of matte medium and 1-2 drops of water (depending on what colors I am using and the thickness of the paint), but I guess I should go for more water? What is your opinion of using some matte medium in the mix for thinning? For reference, I use mostly Vallejo game color and some model color paints.

Oh, and I'll work on my cameraman skills and get a backdrop .

@ Sigmar3, yes I do have shadows of redchapel. Currently, I have McM box, Seamus box, Nicodem box, Molly box, plus extra constructs, extra dogs, and the simularcum 29 (I may have a purchasing problem, but it seems to cheap compared to Warhammer). I am trying to get the bare bones of a McM crew done first (the puns) then I am moving to Molly or Seamus (haven't decided).

 

[Sicks]

Thinning is a bit of a complicated subject, it varies by brand and I don't have any vgc or vmc so I can't help much there, the only real advice I can give is find what works for you, some people use just medium, some use just water and others mix water and medium so its basically finding what you can comfortably work with.

I've only painted a few malifaux minis and I found them more difficult than gw models, much thinner limbs and finer details, you're off to a good start and you've come to the right place to learn more IMO

 

[KruleBear]

Welcome to the forum. For thinning it helps to watch youtube videos to get ideas.

And you make me feel like an idiot--I have been buying big expensive corks when I could just be taping several together. So simple I feel dumber for not doing it.

 

[Gatti]

@ KruleBear: Hehe glad I was able to give you new ideas! It's amazing what a little tape can do!

Anyway, I am in the Flesh Faire painting competition, and this is where I am at the moment after 1 day:

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I applied a base coat and then used a series of colored glazes to add some hue variation. Turns out I didn't thin my glazes enough though, so I had to go back and add some glazes of Khaki in order to knock down the color a bit and return it to looking somewhat like a flesh tone. I will be highlighting it up and then add some color back at the end with some inks and really thin paint.

So this is my starting point. Any comments or tips will be greatly appreciated, I am trying to learn!

-Gatti

 

[Webmonkey]

much better photo!!

 

[Gatti]

Thanks Webmonkey! I dug out an actual camera (instead of a iphone) and set up a back drop. I am going to (one day, eventually) set up a photo area near my painting desk and make myself a light box for the purposes of taking pictures of these minis.

I did a little more work on my model today. No more paint, but I was able to get the base sorted:

I think it turned out okay. I used card stock for some of the tiles, namely the ones overhanging the edge of the cork base and the ones that are shattered from the construct jumping off his restraints. Rest is just greenstuff and patience.

Let me know what you think!

 

[Gatti]

SO I stripped my flesh construct and decided to restart for the Flesh Faire. I wasn't happy where it was going. I went back and did a different series of glazes, working from an orange to red to green to blue undertone. I applied the glazes a bit too thick (need to get the hang of that), so I am going to go back over with some glazes of various flesh tones to decrease the intensity of colors in the recesses before I highlight. If anyone has some pointers of what to try, please let me know!

Here are some pics:

Let me know what you think/what I can do better!

Thanks all!