Sproket's WIP
- Thread starter Sproket
- Start date
Sproket
New member
I've been steadily working on my frog mini over the past two weeks since I posted my last pictures. He is now finished. I think NMM would look too cartoonish for what I'm trying to achieve on this particular mini. It's a long time since I've used metalic paint and it's just as tricky as I remember. But I'm pleased with how it has turned out on the frog's harness.
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I've also made a start on the base. The core of the base is a wooden cube that I have carved with a dremmel. I built up the under-structure with cork. To introduce a bit of character, and texture, I glued pieces of bark (picked up on a country walk) onto this sub-structure. Next I filled in the gaps with milliput. The tree and branch elements, made from assorted plant roots, were then glued onto the base and blended in with more milliput. Like Squarg, the mushrooms and toadstools come from Blacksmith Miniatures. There is still quite a bit of work to do, I want to build up more and varied textures before I paint the base. But I think I've made a good start.
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I've also made a start on the base. The core of the base is a wooden cube that I have carved with a dremmel. I built up the under-structure with cork. To introduce a bit of character, and texture, I glued pieces of bark (picked up on a country walk) onto this sub-structure. Next I filled in the gaps with milliput. The tree and branch elements, made from assorted plant roots, were then glued onto the base and blended in with more milliput. Like Squarg, the mushrooms and toadstools come from Blacksmith Miniatures. There is still quite a bit of work to do, I want to build up more and varied textures before I paint the base. But I think I've made a good start.
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wargamesculptor
New member
How did you get a real frog to sit still while you put a harness on him and photograph ! Amazing painting as always so realistic, a pleasure to watch
Zab
New member
He clearly impaled it on a pin vice :excruciating: Honestly, that is pretty insane work there man!
dogfacedboy uk1
New member
You will be the perfect person to show this off. AFter trying to go light on some dark layers and it not working some time ago, I was thinking "Just use the same technique as is used in watercolour, leaving the white of the paper for highlights". Very tricky in watercolours, very easy in mini painting! Haven't got around to trying it yet myself, so I watch you with baited breath!
dfb
Gandalf the Grey
New member
How about some flowing water running underneath that real frog you somehow got to sit still, and have it cascading down the rock face ?
Digganob
New member
Yeah. If your going to glue a real frog to a base the very least you can do is give it some real water to drink.
wargamesculptor
New member
One thing I would ask is are you going to make the frog look wet, as they have a sheen to them due to the mucus they exude ?
Sproket
New member
Thanks for all the comments guys!
I've made some tests sponging on gloss acrylic varnish to try and give the look of patchy water droplets but it didn't work out. The moment I started to dab on the varnish it went frothy! It dried to a very interesting (and slightly unpleasant) effect that I've mentally stored away for later use.
I've seen that done with resin portrait busts and the final effect is stunning. It would suite a subject like the frog very well.That frog is just unbelievable.For larger scales you should try a similar technique but casting it first in a semi-transparent resin whose you use instead of a base layer...
Yes you are spot on it's just like water colour painting! I think it's a quicker technique than traditional shading highlighting but it takes a light touch. You need to progress very carefully to avoid building up too much paint and losing the translucence.
The base does cry out for it doesn't it. So I think that will be a yes to the flowing water!
How could I not include mucus! I'm experimenting with some different finishes to get just the right wet sheen. I also want to include some water droplets here and there but that is proving tricky. I'm going to see if I can do something with glass microbeads.
I've made some tests sponging on gloss acrylic varnish to try and give the look of patchy water droplets but it didn't work out. The moment I started to dab on the varnish it went frothy! It dried to a very interesting (and slightly unpleasant) effect that I've mentally stored away for later use.
Demihuman
Active member
As always really incredible. Sprokets you should seriously consider publishing a book. You have great skills, in painting mini's obviously, but also in communicating your technique and thoughts. Also seems like you have a pretty good handle on photography...
I am really interested in the transparent base coat stuff. Is there a link Avelorn? I saw a long time ago a site where they painted ultra realistic life size infants (and you thought mini painters were creepy) but I think they did it with multiple layers of latex. I would love to do a project like that.
I have had really good luck thinning Vallejo gloss varnish (not gloss medium) with water and building up coats to produce different degrees of shininess. I guess blending from matte to gloss. Not sure if that helps for water droplets. Maybe very small slices of fishing line glued into place like modelers do rivets? or droplets of clear resin?
I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
I am really interested in the transparent base coat stuff. Is there a link Avelorn? I saw a long time ago a site where they painted ultra realistic life size infants (and you thought mini painters were creepy) but I think they did it with multiple layers of latex. I would love to do a project like that.
I have had really good luck thinning Vallejo gloss varnish (not gloss medium) with water and building up coats to produce different degrees of shininess. I guess blending from matte to gloss. Not sure if that helps for water droplets. Maybe very small slices of fishing line glued into place like modelers do rivets? or droplets of clear resin?
I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Demihuman
Active member
Ah, here is a little sample of what I was thinking of:
You might want to put on your meat hat before you click the link, it's different.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.222653694443800.52089.204718992903937&type=1
Thickening Gel Medium is the product she uses. looks like it might be a neat effect for an amphibian.
EDIT: She uses Genesis Heat Set Oil Thickening Medium.
EDIT #2: She bakes it at 275ºF - might be a deal breaker.
You might want to put on your meat hat before you click the link, it's different.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.222653694443800.52089.204718992903937&type=1
Thickening Gel Medium is the product she uses. looks like it might be a neat effect for an amphibian.
EDIT: She uses Genesis Heat Set Oil Thickening Medium.
EDIT #2: She bakes it at 275ºF - might be a deal breaker.
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