Grimgor Ironhide My first painting competition...

Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
So I finally got access to my camera (housemates camera) so I post pics. Im not very good with the settings so the pics arn't the best im afraid.

In short I went into my local GW store and the guy asked me if i've ever entered a painting comp before and I said no. He managed to talk me into it with the category if "Any single miniature any size" and you win a nice trophy (which ive never won a trophy in my life) so thought screw it why not.

Now im under no illusions, im not good enough to win, but figured what a great opportunity to learn some new things and get inspired. I've decided to paint Grimgor Ironhide which I took from my step-dads collection (sorry Jon). First things first I painted the skin...didn't like it so redid it. and based the armour and washed it.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj518/Pedropowers/P1020126.jpg

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj518/Pedropowers/P1020125.jpg
 
S

shakes

New member
Hey there, hard to see much due to the low light in the pics but he is looking quite good! I'd love to see a couple more pictures with some brighter light.
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
Yeah couldn't agree more. its night time here so only have the florescants on!! GRR. Its usually dark by the time i get home from work too. Im painting the armour at the mo, once i've done some of that i'll try take another under a better light...easier to see the flaws...eeeek
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
Ok tempted some photo's with more light. Its so difficult without natural sunlight but I did my best. Also started the first layer of yellow over the wash. Looks a little messy at the moment but hopefully can smooth hings out later

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj518/Pedropowers/P1020135.jpg

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj518/Pedropowers/P1020134.jpg

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj518/Pedropowers/P1020133.jpg

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj518/Pedropowers/P1020132.jpg
 
S

shakes

New member
lookin good! will throw out a small suggestion that may help with the pictures. it looks from the way the natural shadows are falling (paint pot shadows etc) and the way the glare is coming off the model as though you have the light slightly above and on the opposite side of the miniature from where you are taking the picture. this is causing light to reflect up into the lens of the camera creating glare. if its possible to set the light up so its coming from behind and above the camera it may make your pictures much clearer. super super mental diagram is as follows. in a line there is the model, then you, then the light. so you and the camera are in between the light and the model. you facing away from the light and towards the mini. thats a whole lot of writing to explain something so simple but i was finding myself hard to understand and if i cant understand myself im damn sure no one else would be able to either, so my explanation ran on longer then it maybe should :p

Shakes
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
hahah that all makes perfect sense :) I will do what you suggest tomorrow and thanks. Im quite pleased so far. My first mini in 2 years and im more inspired than ever before. especially now I have found a good community as this.

More updates tomorrow on the armour...also ned to do the tongue and teeth and hopefully better quality pics :p
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
Ok, another night of painting. Going to start the NMM tonight. Ive never done them before tho..... Just the metal boots, chainmail and axe. Im sure I did see Grimgor's axe painted on this site in NMM but couldn't find it. will have to improvise and see how I go
 
boubi

boubi

New member
Drunken Elf said:
Ok, another night of painting. Going to start the NMM tonight. Ive never done them before tho..... Just the metal boots, chainmail and axe. Im sure I did see Grimgor's axe painted on this site in NMM but couldn't find it. will have to improvise and see how I go
Click to expand...

Hi Drunken Elf, I have did a NMM Grimgor few months ago but far to be really good http://www.coolminiornot.com/288973 , but maybe still a good start for you. This was my first NMM... Don't hesitate to ask me if you want me to explain how it was done! Good luck for the competition.
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
boubi said:
Hi Drunken Elf, I have did a NMM Grimgor few months ago but far to be really good http://www.coolminiornot.com/288973 , but maybe still a good start for you. This was my first NMM... Don't hesitate to ask me if you want me to explain how it was done! Good luck for the competition.
Click to expand...

Thanks boubi, your model far exceeds mine, I could only hope to be half as good as you are. This is my first attempt here http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj518/Pedropowers/P1020144.jpg I just cant seem to get it smooth. Yes please, if you could explain how you did yours OR how I can fix mine :messed:.

Im going to attempt the empire soldiers helmet now too. More of the same I guess, probably easier as the deepest shadows will be in the recesses so hopefully easier to nmm:glasses-nerdy:
 
boubi

boubi

New member
I just looked at your picture, it is already a good start, you have different way to achieve your NMM. To be honest I have started this NMM again and again maybe more than 5 times until I found something which was just OK. So I started with a codex grey basecoat, then shadow with some glaze with codex grey+chaos black you apply few layers of really diluted paint (milky texture) by pushing the paint to your shadow area, then you add chaos black and you decrease your area of application, you go until pure black on a really small area. Then you start your highlight on the area which was not covered by the dark grey, you can use light grey mixed to your codex grey with same technique than shadow by going to pure white for extreme highlight. At the end and depending on the color scheme of your mini you can apply some really diluted wash (either blue, or green, or..) to colorized your NMM and give it a different aspect that fit the mini.
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
boubi said:
I just looked at your picture, it is already a good start, you have different way to achieve your NMM. To be honest I have started this NMM again and again maybe more than 5 times until I found something which was just OK. So I started with a codex grey basecoat, then shadow with some glaze with codex grey+chaos black you apply few layers of really diluted paint (milky texture) by pushing the paint to your shadow area, then you add chaos black and you decrease your area of application, you go until pure black on a really small area. Then you start your highlight on the area which was not covered by the dark grey, you can use light grey mixed to your codex grey with same technique than shadow by going to pure white for extreme highlight. At the end and depending on the color scheme of your mini you can apply some really diluted wash (either blue, or green, or..) to colorized your NMM and give it a different aspect that fit the mini.
Click to expand...

Ok wow thanks for the tip. I'll go back tonight and try and redo it the way you said. I am happy with my first attempt but feel I can do better.

U have decided to not enter it into the competition but to just hand it back to my step dad fully painted as a gift. I feel like im adding too much pressure on myself as the competition looms over me. Its all about having fun, not being competetive for me i think heehee
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
So, haven't got round to redoing the NMM on the axe yet. I have done the leather straps scorched brown with a small hight light so far, also base coated the boots and a finger I left off...whoops. Also the red plate is now painted....not entirely sure how to deepen it. thinking of a very thin black wash...

Still need to do the nmm knife, axe and the empire soldiers helm. More photo's tonight
 
Willdorling

Willdorling

New member
Looking good Drunken. Badab black will make an OK wash for the red. You can also add some more complex depth to the red by using a very very thinned down glaze of regal blue as a final shade. red works well with both a blue and green tinted shade. You want about 1 part blue or green/10 parts water. Only apply it to the very shaded areas where the black is strongest and make sure you blot a lot of the glaze out of your brush before you apply or it'll run everywhere. Sounds tricky but its quite simple and looks great. You could use Dark angel green too.

Good luck. Like the flesh ;-)
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
Thanks for the tip Will. Just gave it a wash with Badab Black and instantly looks better. reckon its worth a tiny blue glaze now? Im turning in for the night, attempted the nmm mentioned above on the axe and faled miserably. I didn't realise the glaze is LITrally [retty much water wih a hint of colour.... certainly a technique I need to master. may have to resort to just boltgun metal and mithril highlight :(
 
G

GreenOne

I paint my thumb.
Coming along nicely. I don't think this is a model that really calls for NMM and the overall painting style is more fitting for TMP; that's just my opinion tough. If you're aiming to paint this for comp it's better to stick to what you know best;)
I would suggest going deeper on the shading for the yellow armor at places (ie the greaves.) Yellow shades very well by adding purple in the mix' then switching to some black before it gets too saturated.
Keep it up.
 
Drunken Elf

Drunken Elf

Member
GreenOne said:
Coming along nicely. I don't think this is a model that really calls for NMM and the overall painting style is more fitting for TMP; that's just my opinion tough. If you're aiming to paint this for comp it's better to stick to what you know best;)
I would suggest going deeper on the shading for the yellow armor at places (ie the greaves.) Yellow shades very well by adding purple in the mix' then switching to some black before it gets too saturated.
Keep it up.
Click to expand...


Thank you. Would you recommend I use purple and wash it down to a glaze?

I really want to get this mini finished now and move onto another project. Going have a huge session tonight so expect photo's. and given the advice, im going to stick to metallic paints for now.
 
Willdorling

Willdorling

New member
Good luck. Interested to see pics, especially the yellow! Also to answer re blue glaze on the red, I would do that towards the end of the highlighting stage. Drop it in there before your final highlight. Be very careful not to allow any blue onto highlighted areas and focus on the most shaded area.

Re glazes - they are very thin and you will not notice the effect after your first brush stroke. You apply several strokes allowing each one to dry before applying the next. It's essential to use a tissue to blot out most of the paint from your brush tip before applying to stop paint washing into all the shaded areas. It's not a wash and as such you only want the blue in select areas.

cheers
will
 
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