Stupid question I guess

[PStafAllen]

Hi folks.

I\'ve recently put up a new mini, number 25409, and it\'s recieving lower scores than I expected.
Don\'t worry, this won\'t be another whine about how the scoring\'s unfair. I realise that I\'m getting the scores people feel I should get (that being the whole point), but I\'m looking at it through a creator\'s rose tinted specs and I genuinely can\'t make out why it\'s scoring lower than my other efforts. I guess it\'s a lighting or photography thing, since the mini\'s definately as good IRL.

Anyone who can shed some light on anything I\'ve done differently or incorrectly, even if it\'s really obvious, I\'d really appreciate a comment, either here or on the pic.

Thanks.

 

[Sand Rat]

I really think that it is the picture - plus the fact that its only been voted on about 20 times - give it a while longer or repost the pics - they are very dark, but that could just be my monitor.

 

[-Percival-]

Actually not a bad paint job...

Here\'s my critique...

Good Color choices. I like Tan and Grey. Think it goes well together.

Shading on clothes is very well done. Color blending on the tan works.

NMM on the Halbred is not pronounced enough...Need to have more play of the light effect.

I\'m also not a big fan of Brown/Red Shades in flesh...Needs to be more shading in the flesh tones. Now this may just be a problem with the picture quality. But it looks like you have 2 shades working on the flesh tones. Red/Brown with a natural Flesh Tone.

 

[dauber22]

I\'ve just gone back and looked at the picure again as well as your other posted stuff and I\'d agree with Steelcult: it is, at least in part, due to the picture. Compare this one with your earlier Keratis Warrior. The other one is a much brighter picture with warmer light. It shows the details much better than the current one.

 

[Chrispy]

I agree, the pic is too dark. The paintjob also looks good but I think it\'s too monochromatic. All that\'s there to offset the browns, greys and fleshtones is just a tiny speck of blue in the goggles. I know this is totally up to you, but I would add more greens and blue, maybe to the blade, or even those vials on his skirt. Hope this helps!

 

[DELTADOG]

I had the same problem....

..its the picture!
the mistake is that you have photographed the mini in a position where the spear comes out of the picture. this brings up trouble for the camera especially a digicam with autofocus ... it simple can`t fix a point to make a sharp picture.

 

[VLRM]

My 0.02€ as well: besides what has been said, I think you also suffer from the \"nothing spectacular\" syndrome. Your Keratis look very good, solid, tabletop quality, hence I\'d make them solid 7s. The problem, I think, is that they are simply a very good, but neutral paintjob. Don\'t get me wrong, I like them a lot, and it seems to me a logical colour pattern (they live in an arid desert!), but logically it\'s drab!

I know it\'s unfair, but nowadays there are so many people churning out minis that I just click on the browse minis button and check the most appealing thumbnails. I have occasionally missed some good but otherwise non-spectacular paintjobs because of this, but I simply haven\'t the time to thoroughly page through all the day\'s submissions!

What you can always do is exactly what you\'ve done: open a thread and shoot away...

P.S.: regarding the minis, I\'d also try to go a step further away with the NMM, as Percival said... And Chrispy\'s suggestions are always good!

 

[PStafAllen]

Many thanks to all of you for the advice. I think it\'s pretty conclusive that I need a better pic.
In reference to the NMM, I think people have it right, I need to make it more pronounced. This was my second attempt at the technique (the other keratis warrior being the first })
I\'ll take on board the comments about colour choice, and if I can get a better pic, I\'ll post it and then report the change on this thread.

Once again, may thanks.

P.

 

[Infidel Castro]

If I\'m not too late to throw in a comment...

I suppose I echo what VLRM says. To take a piece up to the next step, the painter has (among other things) to create more contrast to render the mini eye-catching. Whether that contrast is between colours/areas or if it\'s the same area but having more extreme shading and highlighting (though smoothly executed) on the one colour, the dramatic impact is important. The blade does need more work, and I\'d suggest looking at taking the tan and grey through another level or two of highlight near extremities. That flesh certainly needs more as well.

The point is that the painting is clean and efficient, but to get a seven the reality is that you need to take on the next level of highlighting to make it look more exciting. But the very good news is that you\'ve the base there to work from as it is, the mini you\'ve painted being very competently done.

Further to what VLRM said about browsing through the images here, I also find myself limited in what I can view (time, patience, all that) so I generally look at all new entries of 8 and above. That\'s not snobby, it\'s just that I\'m an habitual 7\'s scorer and my listed average is pushing on for 8 slowly. I need to see what some are doing that can emulated (got a few good uns on the way I think!). Then, when I have more time, I\'ll look through for 7 and above because there are some humdingers not quite at 8...new artists, unknown artists, sometimes they get lower scores initally, you know?

Sheesh, I\'ve bored myself now lol

Point being, your work is good, but get in a few more highlights/contrast and you\'ll be laughing! But maybe the new photo will show that you\'ve done all that already? ???

Take care!

Revelations! Scary book...

Rev :innocent:

 

[mouse]

pretty good piece ...

I believe its pretty well done. Agreeing with the rest, the pic is too dark. However, disagreeing on the color choice. Jenova suggested a limited palette idea. It\'s just that your colours aren\'t complementary enough.
Your NMM (not that I can do any better) isn\'t pronounce enough (check out Arjay\'s) and your flesh wash is too thick.

Hope these comments are constructive.