My mini\'s,do they suck that bad?
- Thread starter jdmchaos
- Start date
Dragon Forge Design
New member
How about you supply a link...
http://www.coolminiornot.com/artist/jdmchaos
NOThey don\'t suck that bad.
Your mini\'s appear to be normal Table top quality and as your profile says you\'ve only been painting 3 years I wouldn\'t get yourself upset about scores on here.
Don\'t forget that there are some of the worlds finest patinters appearing on this site and therefore the Standard is set very high because of that.
There are things that you could do to improve. Mainly hang about in the W.I.P forums and get help from the loonies that inhabit there. (I\'m including myself in that group)
Concentrate on neatness as a primary goal and you\'ll find that the rest starts to come together.
NOThey don\'t suck that bad.
Your mini\'s appear to be normal Table top quality and as your profile says you\'ve only been painting 3 years I wouldn\'t get yourself upset about scores on here.
Don\'t forget that there are some of the worlds finest patinters appearing on this site and therefore the Standard is set very high because of that.
There are things that you could do to improve. Mainly hang about in the W.I.P forums and get help from the loonies that inhabit there. (I\'m including myself in that group)
Concentrate on neatness as a primary goal and you\'ll find that the rest starts to come together.
green stuff
Active member
If you haven\'t, you might also want to check out the article section :
http://www.coolminiornot.com/article
Photography is also an issue. Some pics are blurry, and neutral backgrounds with more lighting would give a cleaner effect.
PS : please no l33t sp3qck.
http://www.coolminiornot.com/article
Photography is also an issue. Some pics are blurry, and neutral backgrounds with more lighting would give a cleaner effect.
PS : please no l33t sp3qck
.Thanks for the nice words drapon search but,i have seen minis on this sight that i thought could be better and they have scores like 7ns and 8s.That is why i asked.Im in no way putting any bodys work down cause i know how it is to put your best into a fig.i guess i just need to suck it up and give it more time.greenstuff i dont understand your p.s,thanks guys.
Torn blue sky
New member
lol lol Says a lot about Greenstuff doesn\'t it!
He\'s uber l337, knows all the lingo ya know XD
He\'s uber l337, knows all the lingo ya know XD
Pictish Mini Painting
I'm actually a man!
Your paintng is clean and tidy i.e. you are not just splashing paint on and you have started to add shading and depth, these are the fundamentals that every painter has to get right before they go near the more complicated stuff.
From what i see you are on the right path, all it takes is a bit of experimentation and trial and error. I have been painting for a long time but i can still trawl out some right tripe if i am trying something new, it takes a wee while to implement new techniques alongside your more comfortable zones of painting.
Good work and keep posting.
From what i see you are on the right path, all it takes is a bit of experimentation and trial and error. I have been painting for a long time but i can still trawl out some right tripe if i am trying something new, it takes a wee while to implement new techniques alongside your more comfortable zones of painting.
Good work and keep posting.
green stuff
Active member
@jdmchaos : titles like \"dwarf,captain kuttin yo headof\" tend to piss some people off. They make the search engin useless because of their spelling. Ratings on CMON have to do as much with painting skills as with a whole bunch of other details such as photography, image compositing, initial comment, and titles .
@Torn blue sky:
.@Torn blue sky:
darklord
New member
had a look at your stuff and you have a good base to build upon. don\'t get caught up on the scoring on here, i have stuff that i think is overated and then others that are underated, its just choice and some people will rate stuff higher just because they happen to like eldar or its their friends work. post some links in the submission section of the forums and the feedback you will get there will help more than the voting.
PegaZus
Stealth Freak
Looking through your gallery, I noticed two that I\'d already voted on. One was a 4 (CHAPLIAN TOMAS) and the other was a 5 (templar champion rizza).
An affliction of both is that you\'ve used glossy paint. This is good for durability, but not so good for pictures. Get some matt finish as well, and put that over the glossy. That will take the shine down and let the work present itself better.
The photography needs work, but that is a pretty common problem. A sheet of background paper will help give it a neutral background. I believe there\'s something in the articles about making the backgrounds. Then work on the lighting a bit, but that\'s not as hard once you\'ve the first problem solved.
So those two right there are probably most of the problem. Both lead to the voter not being able to see clearly the work you\'ve put into it. Personally, if both of those problems were solved, I probably would have given one, possibly two points higher depending on the level of work.
An affliction of both is that you\'ve used glossy paint. This is good for durability, but not so good for pictures. Get some matt finish as well, and put that over the glossy. That will take the shine down and let the work present itself better.
The photography needs work, but that is a pretty common problem. A sheet of background paper will help give it a neutral background. I believe there\'s something in the articles about making the backgrounds. Then work on the lighting a bit, but that\'s not as hard once you\'ve the first problem solved.
So those two right there are probably most of the problem. Both lead to the voter not being able to see clearly the work you\'ve put into it. Personally, if both of those problems were solved, I probably would have given one, possibly two points higher depending on the level of work.
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
OK, thicken your skin and lets go for a ride:
I see shading and and highlighting - that is a good thing. It looks like you are layering?
The skin tones are not bad and the one eye looks pretty good (for that mini). I\'d like to see the other one to see that they are pointed the same way.
Color selection is not great - the axe handle blends into the beard and gets lost. The helmate wings came from the same pots of paint as well? Limited pallet is tough to pull off without looking like you only own 3 pots of paint. Try a different base under the wings with the same mid tone and highlight to give them a different feel.
Photography: Ouch. You need to work on your photo skills a lot. Sorry, but a great mini with a bad pic won\'t score. A poor mini with a great pic will get the score it deserves. Read the articles section here, there are a couple of good tutorials there. Does your camera have a macro mode (little flower icon)? Are you using a tripod? Try my sig for a link to a photo tent and a background you can print out - although your background is not bad.
Basing - if nothing else, paint the top of the base to look like cobblestone or brick. Spend a couple of bucks on some flock or gather some sand from the local playground (sift out the cat bombs). As DR said, there are a lot of great painters here that are used to seeing a finished base that accents the mini.
All-in-all: not bad. I\'d score the mini between a 5 or 6, minus 1 for no base, minus 1 for the poor pic so it looks about right to me. You\'ve got lots of the basics down and should improve with pactice. Much like playing the piano or the x-box, you generally only get better by doing.
I see shading and and highlighting - that is a good thing. It looks like you are layering?
The skin tones are not bad and the one eye looks pretty good (for that mini). I\'d like to see the other one to see that they are pointed the same way.
Color selection is not great - the axe handle blends into the beard and gets lost. The helmate wings came from the same pots of paint as well? Limited pallet is tough to pull off without looking like you only own 3 pots of paint. Try a different base under the wings with the same mid tone and highlight to give them a different feel.
Photography: Ouch. You need to work on your photo skills a lot. Sorry, but a great mini with a bad pic won\'t score. A poor mini with a great pic will get the score it deserves. Read the articles section here, there are a couple of good tutorials there. Does your camera have a macro mode (little flower icon)? Are you using a tripod? Try my sig for a link to a photo tent and a background you can print out - although your background is not bad.
Basing - if nothing else, paint the top of the base to look like cobblestone or brick. Spend a couple of bucks on some flock or gather some sand from the local playground (sift out the cat bombs). As DR said, there are a lot of great painters here that are used to seeing a finished base that accents the mini.
All-in-all: not bad. I\'d score the mini between a 5 or 6, minus 1 for no base, minus 1 for the poor pic so it looks about right to me. You\'ve got lots of the basics down and should improve with pactice. Much like playing the piano or the x-box, you generally only get better by doing.
Braveheart712
New member
Welcome to CMON
Most of my thoughts have been covered but I still will summarize:
1) You are a decent painter. Your models seem to be painted and assembled with care. You have greenstuffed varous modifications and attempted freehand, nice work.
2) Your photography sucks. You need a better camera and you need to refer to the various articles posted explaining how to photograph minatures well.
3) You place too much emphasis on what your score is and what others think. As Dragonsreach pointed out some of the finest painters in the world regularly post here. People get accustomed to seeing there work and they have defined the new standard. Your tabletop or better quality models get slammed scorewise because some people compare them to these artist\'s work. Also, this is not a friendly site for newbs or people seeking to improve through constructive critism of their gallery. It just doesn\'t happen like that, too many people log on here and pass out low score cause it somehow makes them feel good. Asking a question in the forums like you did is the best way to get feedback.
4) Ask specific questions when you are stuck or having a problem. There are many helpful people in the forums that share tips when asked directly.
5) Keep painting because you enjoy it and because it makes you happy. Look at the photos here and the tips and try to encorporate them into your work. Grow as an artist but stay focused on having fun, not on what others think.
Most of my thoughts have been covered but I still will summarize:
1) You are a decent painter. Your models seem to be painted and assembled with care. You have greenstuffed varous modifications and attempted freehand, nice work.
2) Your photography sucks. You need a better camera and you need to refer to the various articles posted explaining how to photograph minatures well.
3) You place too much emphasis on what your score is and what others think. As Dragonsreach pointed out some of the finest painters in the world regularly post here. People get accustomed to seeing there work and they have defined the new standard. Your tabletop or better quality models get slammed scorewise because some people compare them to these artist\'s work. Also, this is not a friendly site for newbs or people seeking to improve through constructive critism of their gallery. It just doesn\'t happen like that, too many people log on here and pass out low score cause it somehow makes them feel good. Asking a question in the forums like you did is the best way to get feedback.
4) Ask specific questions when you are stuck or having a problem. There are many helpful people in the forums that share tips when asked directly.
5) Keep painting because you enjoy it and because it makes you happy. Look at the photos here and the tips and try to encorporate them into your work. Grow as an artist but stay focused on having fun, not on what others think.
EldinTux
New member
It\'s virtually all been said before, definitely look into better photo\'s & definitely base you work. I\'ve been painting for over 20 year & the first time I posted on CMoN I was very disappointed in what people thought. But has been said it\'s the nature of the site. Ask for feedback in forums like this one or (blantant plug here) try out WAMP on ebay. We\'re friendly but give honest criticism.
WAMP
WAMP
Looks like you have a pretty solid foundation of skills there. From here on in it\'s mainly practise and trying new things when you feel brave.
Keep things clean, smooth and pay attention to your color combinations. I find color selection can make or break a model very quickly. You can search for similar models here if you ever get stuck. They should give you an idea of what will work and what won\'t. You can even sort your results by score, so you can start with the best if you want.
Using Dullcoat or another matte varnish might help your scores a bit, since presentation is everything on Coolmini. You can\'t just assume a model is painted well, you have to be able to see it clearly in the photos!
Keep things clean, smooth and pay attention to your color combinations. I find color selection can make or break a model very quickly. You can search for similar models here if you ever get stuck. They should give you an idea of what will work and what won\'t. You can even sort your results by score, so you can start with the best if you want.
Using Dullcoat or another matte varnish might help your scores a bit, since presentation is everything on Coolmini. You can\'t just assume a model is painted well, you have to be able to see it clearly in the photos!
I would rate your mini\'s at or below table top level, depending on the game... I see tons of Battletech minis that look like crap, and same with Urban War... its seems that GW minis usually look better, but there is tons of pre-made schemes for people to follow...
Just keep trying to get better and you will get better... but who really cares how your minis are judged or look so long as they please you? I mean, I look for advice just so I can manipulate my miniatures into my own vision... not so that I feel good about myself for a higher rating.
Concentrate on what matters. If you liked your mini\'s before they had bad ratings... then you\'re letting things get to you and taking away the joy of the art. In fact the title of your post makes me believe you care too much what others think and you are therefore taking away much fun from the hobby.
Just keep trying to get better and you will get better... but who really cares how your minis are judged or look so long as they please you? I mean, I look for advice just so I can manipulate my miniatures into my own vision... not so that I feel good about myself for a higher rating.
Concentrate on what matters. If you liked your mini\'s before they had bad ratings... then you\'re letting things get to you and taking away the joy of the art. In fact the title of your post makes me believe you care too much what others think and you are therefore taking away much fun from the hobby.
I would agree that the reason you are not getting better feedback on each mini is the photos. Sure there are techniques you could try, but it\'s hard to tell you whatthey might be until there is a better view of what you have done.
There are a few things you should try.
1) Macro mode - already mentioned here, and it will help remove some of the pixellation that is showing up in the pics
2) Tripod - also mentioned, will remove the blurriness that is so easy to get with such a small piece to photograph.
3) FLASH! - If you do not have enough light around the miniature and need to use a flash, you should at least cover it with something slightly opaque (piece of paper towel or napkin) to dull the direct light. A direct flash will \"white out\" your colors and make it look like you painted a lot brighter than you may have. If covering the flash makes it too dark, you migt try extending your exposure time to allow the true lighting to show (only if you are using a tripod).
4) Back up - Sometimes closer is not better. If your camera is not that great, try moving it back a little. That may remove some of the pixellation you get by having a lower resolution. Most cameras actually take a picture that is too large and has to be reduced in size before you can post it anyway. Cropping and resizing are things you have to do anyway. I would not suggest stretching the picture however, as that will distort the pixels.
I\'ve been known to take a dozen photos of a mini before I finally get one that I think is good enough quality to post because I don\'t have a great setup for photography.
Good luck! Keep going. You have some great attempts here.
There are a few things you should try.
1) Macro mode - already mentioned here, and it will help remove some of the pixellation that is showing up in the pics
2) Tripod - also mentioned, will remove the blurriness that is so easy to get with such a small piece to photograph.
3) FLASH! - If you do not have enough light around the miniature and need to use a flash, you should at least cover it with something slightly opaque (piece of paper towel or napkin) to dull the direct light. A direct flash will \"white out\" your colors and make it look like you painted a lot brighter than you may have. If covering the flash makes it too dark, you migt try extending your exposure time to allow the true lighting to show (only if you are using a tripod).
4) Back up - Sometimes closer is not better. If your camera is not that great, try moving it back a little. That may remove some of the pixellation you get by having a lower resolution. Most cameras actually take a picture that is too large and has to be reduced in size before you can post it anyway. Cropping and resizing are things you have to do anyway. I would not suggest stretching the picture however, as that will distort the pixels.
I\'ve been known to take a dozen photos of a mini before I finally get one that I think is good enough quality to post because I don\'t have a great setup for photography.
Good luck! Keep going. You have some great attempts here.
wow, those where some good comments you guys rock.I have been on this site now 4 about 4 months now and im hooked.I love the work that is done by alot of the artist on it.I was really asking about my minis because ireally just want to get better.I really dont care much about the score,its just i get props where im from for my painting.?When i saw the scores that i got on this site it just made me wonder what the people i know where on that day.lol,but really i know in my heart that im not all that at painting but when i start a project i do try and put my all in it.sometimes i get halfway thru and i hate what i have done but dont want to start over.I still say that this site rocks and i am a lifer,so dont think im one of those once in a while people i respect cmon and the artist here.I will take all of your advise and hopefully i will be super painter one day.thanks guys,joe
Dude, why do you think people are out to judge you so much?
Besides, ain\'t a lifer like someone who\'s going no where... in a negative sense? Like working McDonald\'s or something...
but really... you should um... just paint and ask advice and quit worrying about gett a crappy rating.
Besides, ain\'t a lifer like someone who\'s going no where... in a negative sense? Like working McDonald\'s or something...
but really... you should um... just paint and ask advice and quit worrying about gett a crappy rating.
