My first mini posted

[Drake Farstrider]

Hey y\'all here is my first picture posted anywhere. PLEASE VOTE! I would really appreciate any comments and suggestions as how to improve my skill\'s painting and on how to take better pictures. I took this using a Nikon Coolpix 5200 and edited it in Microsoft picture it! 9. This is the first time that I have used my camera and I have as yet been able to mess with all its features.

 

[Ritual]

Your link doesn\'t work...

Try this instead... :]

 

[Ritual]

Now I have had a look at your mini and voted on it. The painting is quite neat and the facial features are accurately picked out. The eyes are very good. You seem to have a good grasp of most basic techniques.

I think you\'ve been a bit too careful with your highlighting and that makes the mini a bit dull and not very striking. The same goes with shading in certain areas, like the skin, hair and wings. Some details would look better if you did some dark-lining, the leaves and berries in her hair for instance. As for photography I advice you to read the articles on the subject in the articles section. Basically everything you\'ll need to know is in there.

You do have a good start here. Good work!

 

[Drake Farstrider]

Thanks Ritual. I wonder why my LINK did not work? Well here it is now: http://www.coolminiornot.com/73106

 

[donga666]

Good basecoating, its neat and tidy. Everything Ritual said if fair and I agree. One tip would be to water down your paints a bit more, they look a little thick and could do with better \'flow\'.

But what we thing does not count, its what you fiance thinks that counts

(warm glow smiley)

 

[Drake Farstrider]

Thanks for the suggestions. Would bringing the highlights another notch make it more striking? I thought that I did water my paints enough, hmm, well maybe I need to add a little more. I did just start using Vallejo\'s Slow dry, so maybe that with a little water will help my \"flow\". How would I go about darklining the leaves and berries?

But what we thing does not count, its what you fiance thinks that counts

She loves it.

Again thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Ritual]

Yes, further highlighting would make the mini more striking, but avoid applying the highlights uniformly over the whole mini. Concentrate the brightest highlights to areas where an imagined light source would illuminate the mini. I use to concentrate my highlights to upper parts and edges where light coming from above would hit the surfaces. Thin sharp highlights along edges will pick out details and softer highlights on larger surfaces will give a more realistic look.

The best way to darkline small details is to base coat it in a dark colour before applying the proper base colour. Then you can leave a thin line of dark colour.

Hope this helps!

-Anders

 

[BunnyPuncher]

Just ooc...

Are you thinning your paints enough or is the roughness caused by the sculpt or primer?

Good color blocking overall, just a bit rough (like she\'s wearing a lot of foundation or something), and a bit flat.

I\'d be quite happy with it (despite the fact it has no horns, fangs, blood red eyes, spikey bitz, etc.)

 

[Dr.Morbius]

Voted and commented.

 

[Drake Farstrider]

Thanks for the votes and comments. I will endevour to hone my skills as a painter. I know this gets said alot but it does look better in real life. I do notice some spots on it know that need to be fixed.

 

[Trevor]

Looking at it I think its maybe the model more than thick paints, but generally its better to be too thin than not thin enough.

I voted and commented.

 

[Drake Farstrider]

Thanks, I think that part of the problem I had with this mini is that I only used water to thin my paints before wet blending and I do not rinse my brush enough.

 

[airhead]

Drake - good job, nothing to be ashamed of in this mini. Nice first post.

Highlighting - think if live actors on stage, they have to overdo their makeup to make it visible to the patrons. Much as a 1\" tall mini is like an actor from half way back in the theater, you have to punch up the levels of contrast between light & dark. Overdo it too much and it looks cartoony. Yours could stand a bit more in the \"hot spots\".

Hope this helps. keep posting.


@bunnypuncher, welcome to the funny farm.