my models how to improve??

[Thecadian]

i have painted a few models and put them on cmon.My first model got a 6 but after that they have gone downhill.i was wondering do any of you people have any ideas on how to improve??Here are the models

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics10/img44400696b4ba6.jpg

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics10/img44453a68e5865.jpg

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics10/img443bcbb8d95db.jpg

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics10/img4432d2174bb1f.jpg


they are in no particular order.thanks in advance

james

 

[misterjustin]

Before I offer suggestions let me say that your work shows a lot of potential and a keen eye for expression. Even where there is room to improve I think you have a very clear picture of what you\'re trying to accomplish.

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics10/img44400696b4ba6.jpg
Again, great work on trying to capture expression in the face. Overall I think there\'s not enough distinction, however, between colors. I cannot, for instance, differentiate between what appears to be a beard and what might be chest armor.

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics10/img44453a68e5865.jpg
Same problem with distinction on this one. Consider using a different color for the cloak/cape. With the detail on the cape consider using a color only slightly lighter than the base if you cannot get the lines thinner - this will help blend the detail in with the background a bit.

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics10/img443bcbb8d95db.jpg
This one is hard to comment on for me because it lacks a lot of the detail you\'ve given your other work. The paint is also very thick, which washes away any expression or highlighting.

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics10/img4432d2174bb1f.jpg
Good work and, again, great facial expression. The colors on this one are seperated well enough to be distinct as well. Some of the highlights, such as the elbow joints, are a little too harsh however - consider making these a little closer to the base color to assist with blending. Consider also going back to straighten some of the thin lines, such as the white \"belt\" on the waist, by using the brown of the fur to conceal the smudge.

Overall good work and good progress, especially as you get in to the last miniature. Keep it up!

 

[Rodnik]

James---
\'Improving\" comes in several different flavors---

My first questions would be:

Are you wanting to paint competition quality models? Or are you just wanting to improve the look of a figure for the table-top? These two goals are, for the most part, mutually exclusive---with very few exceptions.

To put it in CMON terms--
Are you wanting to produce steady 7+ models, steady 8+ models---or are you going for the elusive 9+s and 10s?

I\'m more than willing to offer my advice, but I don\'t want to discuss painting potential demon winners only to be met with \"I don\'t want to paint demon winners\".

Kev

 

[Starks333]

i noticed you seem to have that style of painting that coincides how many people do paintings(like on your wall paintings)

brush strokes and such are used

while stylised i personally think it looks good on a wall, but not on a mini

try to do more subtle highlighting/blending, instead of etches(like you would with a pencil while sketching)

to me it looks like you are sketching rather than drawing, to simplify it...i notice it more with your browns than anything

also in some places it looks like your highlights are a bit extreme, ranging from
quite bright to very dark, it takes a lot of light to do that, so unless you were trying to do source lighting, id try to tone done the extremes(dwarf model reference)

also on the dwarf, i notice your highlighting etches, sometimes cross over several details(the beard) and instead of identifying the individual hairs you are displaying them as you would in many paintings, as simply a block of hair rather than individual strands

however i will say the NMM looks quite good, the helmet face piece looks like dull metal

in the archer picture your paint seems a bit thick, and not layered enough(isnt covering well) also the green i think is highlighted too extreme again


Starks

 

[Thecadian]

well i have given up trying to collect a army so i am just trying to paint the models as well as i can.Thanks for all help keep \'em coming
james

 

[misterjustin]

Originally posted by Thecadian
well i have given up trying to collect a army so i am just trying to paint the models as well as i can.Thanks for all help keep \'em coming
james

I know the feeling. I got back in to the hobby when I started putting together an Emperor\'s Children army. If you check the WIP thread you\'ll see three of my projects... only one of which is army related.

At this point I\'m considering selling the squads I\'ve finished and just getting back in to the hobby itself.

 

[funnymouth]

all of those are good points. very general though.
first off, they\'re solid.

my suggestion: you have freehanded lines on 3 of these minis (at least).
1) shade/hilight the lines they need to have depth too. in its extreem form this can be done as nmm.
2) practice smooth line edges. tidy them up.

 

[airhead]

two things will help you quickly.

1. thin your paints. Many of the minis shown look like the paints are straight out of the pot - the archer in particular and bits of the space marine.

2. Your highlighting technique looks like it jumps from shadow to light. More layers of intermediate colors. The dwarve\'s face is very nice, dramatic stark lighting. But I\'m not sure that was the intent? Keep the dark, more midtone, then the highlight. This could be a matter of not enough colors? Jumping straight from shadow to highlight? Mix the two paints together and paint an intermediate layer.