Help with Color Theory

BloodFather of Kharnath

BloodFather of Kharnath

Active member
Painting a Wyrd mini for a contest. She is a red headed Ronin. Basically a samurai chick that decided it is best to do battle in lingerie. I painted most of her outfit in varying shades of purple. This is what I have so far:

http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/benjibaird/media/Mobile Uploads/image_zps013097c1.jpg.html

http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/benjibaird/media/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsce16113d.jpg.html

http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/benjibaird/media/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsde967e78.jpg.html


Trying to figure out what colors to use on the remaining areas. Her arms and samurai sword aren't attached in the pics, but she has a sheathed sword and elbow high gloves and....well, here is the box art:

http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/benjibaird/media/Mobile Uploads/image_zps38bb2ee2.jpg.html

Finally, here is the base I am putting her on. It's a dock overlooking the rocky shore of a pond:

http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/benjibaird/media/Mobile Uploads/image_zps0f724118.jpg.html


Having trouble deciding on what color scheme to do her gloves, the hat thingy hanging from her back, and her gloves. Maybe white gloves, yellow hat, black scabbard? I am really having trouble committing to anything, and was hoping some of you color theorists might have some advice. Also, the base will include a lot of earthy browns for the dock, and blue greens for the water. Will this be positive contrast? Or will the colors on the base being so at odds with those on the mini cause problems? Any comments and criticism on any area of this mini is appreciated tho!!!
 
Zab

Zab

New member
I'd go purple and black and keep the rest the way it is. the red is a nice spot color. That base is super nice, is it from wyrd too? Use lots of greens and redish brown washes on the wood to make it look old and weather beaten with just a touch of algae.
 
BloodFather of Kharnath

BloodFather of Kharnath

Active member
So you think black gloves and black hat thingy hanging from her back? The only reason I thought about yellow was because it is the complimentary to purple. However, TBH I have very little experience with it outside of gold. I hears it can be a bitch to shade and HL. I am assuming because it can be hard to darken yellow without it turning brown. But I see your merit in black.

The base is indeed a Wyrd one. I actually could have made the same thing from scratch very easily with some greenstuff and balsa wood, both of which I have on hand, but I am kinda in a hurry. I am completely with you on the use of colors too. Also, I am currently stationed in the Pacific Northwest, and so there is an abundance of different mosses growing on everything. Thinking maybe I could trim a bit into smaller consistencies and glue to the rocks. I really do want to glaze some algae onto the dock, however I want it to have a Japanese feel and I don't think they'd allow a dock to succumb to such disrepair. Maybe not tho. Thanks for the pointers.
 
Dragonsreach

Dragonsreach

Super Moderator
Staff member
Personally I'd say stick to the purple colour you've already used, my reason being that it's quite a "soft" colour an throwing in a 'heavy or dark' could unbalance the whole mini.
 
H

Humanitarian

New member
I agree about sticking with purple. Maybe a deeper bluish-violet for the scabbard, with warmer violet wrapping? The purples already on the miniature look a bit on the warm side to me, so maybe a cooler purple would add some interest.
 
Wyrmypops

Wyrmypops

New member
She's looking quite light and ephereal. Aside from the colour choices the weight of other choices would come in. Light shoes would keep her looking bouncy while darker shoes would ground her. Similarly with the jewellery and weapony bits, pearls and bone coloured scabbards/hilts would retain the airiness where dark metallics could give her an edgey gravitas.
 
BloodFather of Kharnath

BloodFather of Kharnath

Active member
Exactly what I'm looking for, everyone. Thank you. So I need to consider texture, temperature, and something I NEVER would have even considered, weight. First rate answers, no doubt....
 
Zab

Zab

New member
No need to add moss to the dock, but just a little algae around the water line and if you look at water logged docks they have a bit of greenish tinge in the recesses no matter how nicely they are scrubbed. I found this one helpful when painting my Rackham sword maiden

http://miniaturefairytales.blogspot.co.at/2013/04/how-to-paint-lichens-on-trees-rocks.html

This guy did some nice simple bases for his pirates too :p
http://almostperftec.blogspot.ca/2013/05/yeaaaarrrr-ere-be-pirates-1-giveaway.html
 
BloodFather of Kharnath

BloodFather of Kharnath

Active member
Zabtastic! I appreciate your examples and methods used. I will definitely go with this on the base. Your wood grain looked straight from the poop deck of a galleon (not an insult, looked awesome). I want to go with a lighter shade, almost like a fresh piney look to my wood. I'll have to experiment as I haven't seen any recipes for the shade I am seeking to paint. Maybe I'll use some skin tone?

She's highlighted and shaded. Retouched her face. Reapplied her green eyes (challenging on a Wyrd figure), and then set her on the table and stared at her. Still not sure where I am going to go on her gloves, hat, and scabbard. Maybe a turqoise to match the water that will be present on the base. No...that could be a disaster. I'm going to check out the link Rothskin provided-I forgot to look at it. See if that gets the creative juices spurting.
 
BloodFather of Kharnath

BloodFather of Kharnath

Active member
Me thinks that will do the trick. Not being much of a vallejo guy, I've never 'eard of it. But now you compell me to visit the local hobby store. As my man Zab would say, "The Lady Inquisitor will not be pleased."

While I am there, though, I've also got to pick up some PlastiCard. Someone told me it would be wise to get some to practice my freehand on before applying to mini. Dragonsreach, you are getting expensive...
 
BloodFather of Kharnath

BloodFather of Kharnath

Active member
Zab said:
Pretty sure he's heavily invested in plasticard companies ;)
Click to expand...

Makes sense. Even when I have had issues completely unrelated, it has a way of coming back to styrene. How do I clean up liquid greenstuff from hard-to-reach places, DR? Why that's easy BloodFather, cut a strip of styrene and glue a piece of sandpaper to it.

I'm having trouble with blending, DR. Oh, that's too easy. Tap on a piece of styrene three times for good luck.

I can't seem to please my wife anymore, DR. Styrene.

Well, maybe the first one never happened, but the others did. He's got stock, for sure !
 
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