Looking for help & criticism

[infelix]

Long time lurker/member but never really posted much or put up photos but yesterday I decided that it would be a good way to get some constructive advice.

I've been painting for around 20 years but it's just the last two or three years I've really trying to improve my skills and finding it awarding. During those 2-3 years I have come quite some way but right now I feel that I'm stuck.

So I would like some good criticism to help me move forward from this stage. I'm not in it to get high scores here but being able to paint at the standard I want to

I have three miniatures on here:

http://www.coolminiornot.com/367170
http://www.coolminiornot.com/367168
http://www.coolminiornot.com/367166

I would really appreciate some help and pointer.

 

[Zab]

Welcome. First off: No. You need to stop improving. The last thing I need is more folks making me look bad. Second: What are you looking to improve on because those are pretty solid? Maybe a little more contrast here and there, but that's more style thing that a technical requirement.

 

[Bailey03]

Yeah, you're definitely doing some really nice work. The details are nice and crisp and good use of weathering pigments.

I think the metals look a bit flat. There's great oxidation on the bases, but the weapons and metal details on the figures (like the wing details on fulgrim) look like they're all the same shade of metallic paint. The metallic particles in the paint are a great start but you want to further emphasis or exaggerate the metal effect. Here's an article from Massive Voodoo on painting true metallic metal that might be helpful
http://massivevoodoo.blogspot.com/2010/02/tutorial-painting-true-metallic-metal.html

You might want to take a look at SkelettetS here at Cool Mini. He does some really fantastic metal work. Take a look at his thread in the Work in Progress section and this tutorial he posted over on his painting blog
http://5-th-dimension.blogspot.de/2014/06/painting-true-metal.html

While Skel starts with a bright metal and then layers on glazes and inks to create contrast, I approach it the opposite way. I like to mix my metallic paint with dark matte colors (so gold could get mixed with black, dark brown, or dark purple) to create dull shadows (mixing with matte colors helps take down the shine). Then I layer on brighter and brighter metallic tones (gradually using less matte color and more pure metal). At the end I will go back with some glazes just to reinforce the shadows. Below is an image I grabbed off my Work in Progress thread. I start with a dark base, the metal mixed with purple to create dark shadows. The third image is after I worked up to pure metallic colors. And the final image is after I've used glazes to emphasize the shadows.

I would love to paint like Skel, I've tried his approach but this way just comes more naturally to me. I recommend experimenting and seeing what works best for you.

Also, if you're looking for advice then posting here in the 'discuss submissions' section or over in the work in progress section should help. If you just post in the gallery you often don't get that many helpful comments. Nothing against the gallery, I just think the forum is a better place to get direct feedback and suggestions.

Hope that helps!

 

[Dragonsreach]

I'm going to second Bailey's recommendation about a WIP thread, says he who doesn't have one.
You'll get lots of "Helpful" advise and the rough humour we inflict on each other....just one thing do not wear "CROCS" shoes and admit or show them.
You lose Man Card Points if you do.

The only recommendation I can see to give you at the moment is preparation.....Fulgrim has a huge and easily visible moulding line on the sword. Everything else will be developed from all the fun you'll have with us.........??????

 

[AndyG]

The wearing of crocs will improve your painting with Samson like efficiency!!! Other than that they're very solid paintjobs; possibly pushing the contrast a little bit would help. One thing definitely will help is doing a wip that will help no end.

 

[infelix]

Thank you guys, that's definitely some good information and I absolutely agree with the metal being pretty flat and lack of contrast, it's probably the areas I have the least experience.

I'm going to take your advice and put up a WIP thread later tonight.