Need advice on Space Marines for a new painter

[mini_kurka]

Halo, mini_kurka's here:brushlick:

I'm looking for advice for my figures, on how can I improve them. Here's one of my first minis:

View attachment 25411

All opinions, criticism and ideas are welcome

 

[Oktane]

It looks damn fine to me dude. Though ultimately it depends on what 'level' you want to paint them to. If you're going for a tabletop standard I would leave it there though you could add an extreme highlight to really make it pop, especially on the helmet. My only criticism would be the metallics on the plasma gun,the jump in highlights is a bit too strong, I'd start again from black (but leave the blue plasma accelerator) and do a very, very light drybush of your darkest metallic and then an extreme highlight of something like mithril silver or its equivalent, trying to avoid large areas like you've shown here like the stock and hand grip. You've managed to keep it neat and clean which is the first and best piece of advice you can give any newbie. Props on the eye lenses,they look really good. Looking forward to what you show next.

 

[mini_kurka]

I'm no dude, but thanks for your time and answer

I'm aiming for something higher than just tabletop. These will be good for now, it's a kind of practice, but I want to improve over time. Wouldn't extra highlight on helmet be too much? I know I made it too thick here....
I know the gun doesn't look really good, but I just didn't know how it should be done from the beginning. Thanks for telling me the way I'll try adding some more photos for comparison

 

[Zab]

The lenses are the best part :highfive: Try to carry those kinds of subtle blends right across the whole mini. It will require quite a bit of forced contrast, but given when you did on the lenses I think you have it in you. Space marines are perfect for practicing 2 brush blending since they have so many large smooth plates of armor. You are off to s very strong start as you show so great brush control here. Yo could also use glazes on the metallics to vary the tone and highlights a bit too. I'm sure others will chime in soon too - you are in the right place for feedback. Welcome aboard!

 

[mini_kurka]

Ahoy Zab
I'm glad you liked it. I already did some blending on the sides of the backpack as you can see here (a smaller picture though):

View attachment 25414

I'd rather keep those bigger pieces in one color, but I'll experiment doing this blending with highlights perhaps
I appreciate the welcome and your advice you reasure me it's the right place to ask questions

 

[Zab]

Yes it's much more clear on the backpack. It may be you just need to tone down your line highlights a bit then. Still looking good though

 

[Wombat85]

Go a little crazier on your high and low lights, try as an excerise taking them from black to white.

 

[Zab]

I'll second that. I've been trying ^^^this recently and it's hella scary, but lots of fun too

 

[Canny]

Nice job on the highlighting, its good you have got your shadows in there too, one of the things I have recently picked up is highlighting where you can use a lighter colour to diferenttiate from pannel to pannel too. eg a Higher pannel like on the back pack can be a ligher colour than a more recesed one.

Great start.

 

[Meph]

Looking good, man, I'm diggin' it.