nmm - metals

[scottjames]

Hi,

I am new to the forums, having returned to mini painting after a hiatus of several years.

What a wonderful site, there are so many techniques I never knew existed, I have much to catch up on!

In the past, I have always treated metallic areas by either painting a metallic paint, and building up washes on top - or by simply dry-brushing. I think NMM is slightly different? What does it stand for and what is it?

 

[DaN]

NMM stands for Non Metallic Method, and is a way of depicting metals without using metallic paint.

(Think of Gustav Klimt if you know your art)

Use the forum\'s search function to find more threads on this subject, or you can browse the gallery.

Welcome to the site and the forums.
(NMM is one of the most frequently asked about techniques) lol

 

[freakinacage]

Originally posted by DaN

(Think of Gustav Klimt if you know your art)

i don\'t please explain. i have had a quick google and wiki look but can not see any metallic stuff

 

[Dragonsreach]

Yeah I don\'t get that either.
Gustav Klimt is best know for his incorporating Gold Leaf into his works. (AFAIK).

Personally I\'d suggest looking at any artist (Rennaisance and Pre-Rennaisance) who painted Armour clad figures to get the basic concepts.
Also have a look in the Article section of Coolmini. There are a number of Good Articles, some technical some not so technical, about this technique.

Don\'t forget though that it\'s just a technique and not the Be All and End All of painting. Basically learning to do NMM will teach you a lot about the placement of Light and Shadow on a miniature.
Once you get the hang of NMM It\'s application to non metallic surfaces is just as easily adapted to provide accurate rendition of highlights and shadows on clothing skin etc....

 

[DaN]

Not sure if that\'s gold leaf or not - didn\'t know he used that, I just know a lot of his paintings had gold in them - I thought they were all painted in NMM, but maybe not! lol

 

[Einion]

Scott, NMM = Non-Metallic Metals. Basically think of how a canvas painter depicts reflective effects on metal (e.g.) but applied to the surface of a miniature.

Just to say, there are a couple of different types of NMM, it\'s not one style. The technique is not often as realistic as canvas painters do it (although it can be) and for minis it\'s often quite stylised, as for example in the work of the staff painters for Reaper like here and here.

Originally posted by DaN
Not sure if that\'s gold leaf or not - didn\'t know he used that, I just know a lot of his paintings had gold in them - I thought they were all painted in NMM, but maybe not! lol

Yeah, he\'s very much the opposite in fact - he was one of the few painters of more recent times who used metal instead of painting it exclusively, similar to how it was used in tempera panels for altarpieces.

Einion