BigBadGarou
New member
Good morning all. So, I entered the Crystal Brush but didn't win. I was wondering what suggestions, websites, youtube videos, etc you have on taking your painting from a hobby to the professional level.
Taking it to the next level - Competition painting
- Thread starter BigBadGarou
- Start date
BPI
New member
Hi BBG, welcome to the Forum. There's an awful lot out there but starting by browsing around CMON itself would be a good start, the tutorials section...
http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/5760-Articles-Index
and the forum sticky...
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums...Sticky-Thread-Links-to-Tips-Threads-Tutorials.
Anything more specific than that is going to require knowing where you're up to. Post a pic of your CB entry here!
Otherwise, practise, you are painting every day yes? A WIP thread can be good incentive and as long as you ask specific questions should also generate useful feedback from other members
Cheers, B.
http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/5760-Articles-Index
and the forum sticky...
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums...Sticky-Thread-Links-to-Tips-Threads-Tutorials.
Anything more specific than that is going to require knowing where you're up to. Post a pic of your CB entry here!
Otherwise, practise, you are painting every day yes? A WIP thread can be good incentive and as long as you ask specific questions should also generate useful feedback from other members
Cheers, B.
IdofEntity
New member
To add on to what BPI said, there are several DVD's for purchase that might be helpful.
For instance: Hot Lead is a great DVD for any hobbyist looking to improve their painting. There are plenty of other ones, and you'll probably find a few in the CMON shop.
For instance: Hot Lead is a great DVD for any hobbyist looking to improve their painting. There are plenty of other ones, and you'll probably find a few in the CMON shop.
10 ball
New member
You need to post some of your minis so people can advise you from what level your up to.
BigBadGarou
New member
I will be adding a couple of my minis to the site as soon as I get my camera. My entry was http://crystalbrush.coolminiornot.com/cbartwork/index/id/66
Thanks!
Thanks!
Einion
New member
Well that looks competently if unexcitedly painted; trying to factor in the comments about the standard of photography at Crystal Brush, I'm sure it's actually better in the flesh. From just this to go on I think contrast (more highlighting and shading) and lighting direction are the main things to initially focus on.BigBadGarou said:
Mini choice can be very important in any first-past-the-post competition, since you can't make a sow's ear look like a silk purse no matter how well you paint it (not that there's anything wrong with that mini, just mentioning it for future reference). This is about the quality of the casting as much as it is the sculpt itself. If you have a rougher casting and you don't tidy it up to make the surface more pristine you're already skating uphill. Paint looks best when applied to a flawless surface; this can be particularly true for photos which tend to exaggerate defects.
Einion
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nels0nmac
Member
The mini looks nicely painted. Clean lines and some shading/highlighting. As Einion says you could do with pushing the contrast some more so that it stands out better. The base...... to my mind it looks like you have thrown some paint at it and left it. It may be the way the model was photographed but it looks like it's at a much more basic level than the mini itself. I am not familiar with where the mini comes from or it's fluff but I am sure that it could have a more interesting design than it currently has.
Good work so far and you've come to the right place to get help and advice to raise your game.
Good work so far and you've come to the right place to get help and advice to raise your game.
Competition painting boils down to a simple formula: Practise, Practise & Practise.
Take look a Cmon's gallery at the highest scorers this is the minimum level to be looking at to 'Knock em dead' at a competition.
But for the Figure itself
1) Preparation, make sure ALL molding lines are removed, even if they only show up once you've primed the mini.
If the cast has imperfections in any area, Fix them. Milliput paste is a great way to smooth air bubbles in the metal.
2) Colour scheme, plan your colours in advance make sure that they work together.
3) Take your time to paint. If it means you only have got the face done in a painting session, fine. Doesn't matter, take the same care over every area.
4) Focus. As was very nicely pointed out to me last weekend(*) you need to get a point of focus on a mini, mostly this is the face.
Get that right and "Oooh Boy" you're well on the way.
5) Lighting. Everything has a highlight and shadow. For a miniature these are easily defined in the sculpture, but don't think that every raised area has to be highlighted at the same level. It's an accepted constant that most figures are painted as if the light is striking the mini at roughly 45 degrees from the right. (when looking at the mini).
This means that the lower and left hand side should look slightly (not much) darker than the lit area.
6) Contrast. People forget that they are looking at something which is roughly 1/56 th the size of a human so you need to force the contrast up in order to compensate for the scale. Sometime that means making a decision to paint a highlight crease almost to white even when you think you shouldn't.
7) Basing. Painting competitions aren't about gaming with your minis so a standard gaming flock base isn't going to cut the mustard against a good story telling scene. Paint the base with the same level of attention as the miniature. Learn to make the most of how your mini looks, if its a static pose then a base with lots of fine detail might not go amiss. However a dynamic action pose will work better with less clutter.
One thing you must remember, Make sure you mini can be seen. No good painting a mini to almost reality levels if you bury it behind too much foiliage, also (another good tip I recieved) always make sure that the base/groundwork darkens slighly away from the mini (as if he or she is standing in a pool of light) this helps focus the attention on the mini.
8) Failure. To quote Adam Savage "Failure is always an option".
You aren't going to win every competition, some people are going to "kick your ass" in painting competitions. Good get used to it, no matter how disappointing it is, consider it the challenge to raise the bar on your own work and get to the point where you can make others consider you a 'threat'.
Always remember however that its people you are up against, when you win and one day you will win something, be nice about it.
(*Many thanks to Mike and Ali McVey for some Simple and Very Helpful insights. Much Appreciated. And when you get to Bolton the coffee is definitley on me.)
Take look a Cmon's gallery at the highest scorers this is the minimum level to be looking at to 'Knock em dead' at a competition.
But for the Figure itself
1) Preparation, make sure ALL molding lines are removed, even if they only show up once you've primed the mini.
If the cast has imperfections in any area, Fix them. Milliput paste is a great way to smooth air bubbles in the metal.
2) Colour scheme, plan your colours in advance make sure that they work together.
3) Take your time to paint. If it means you only have got the face done in a painting session, fine. Doesn't matter, take the same care over every area.
4) Focus. As was very nicely pointed out to me last weekend(*) you need to get a point of focus on a mini, mostly this is the face.
Get that right and "Oooh Boy" you're well on the way.
5) Lighting. Everything has a highlight and shadow. For a miniature these are easily defined in the sculpture, but don't think that every raised area has to be highlighted at the same level. It's an accepted constant that most figures are painted as if the light is striking the mini at roughly 45 degrees from the right. (when looking at the mini).
This means that the lower and left hand side should look slightly (not much) darker than the lit area.
6) Contrast. People forget that they are looking at something which is roughly 1/56 th the size of a human so you need to force the contrast up in order to compensate for the scale. Sometime that means making a decision to paint a highlight crease almost to white even when you think you shouldn't.
7) Basing. Painting competitions aren't about gaming with your minis so a standard gaming flock base isn't going to cut the mustard against a good story telling scene. Paint the base with the same level of attention as the miniature. Learn to make the most of how your mini looks, if its a static pose then a base with lots of fine detail might not go amiss. However a dynamic action pose will work better with less clutter.
One thing you must remember, Make sure you mini can be seen. No good painting a mini to almost reality levels if you bury it behind too much foiliage, also (another good tip I recieved) always make sure that the base/groundwork darkens slighly away from the mini (as if he or she is standing in a pool of light) this helps focus the attention on the mini.
8) Failure. To quote Adam Savage "Failure is always an option".
You aren't going to win every competition, some people are going to "kick your ass" in painting competitions. Good get used to it, no matter how disappointing it is, consider it the challenge to raise the bar on your own work and get to the point where you can make others consider you a 'threat'.
Always remember however that its people you are up against, when you win and one day you will win something, be nice about it.
(*Many thanks to Mike and Ali McVey for some Simple and Very Helpful insights. Much Appreciated. And when you get to Bolton the coffee is definitley on me.)
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BigBadGarou
New member
Thanks everyone! I look forward to posting some of my work for you guys to judge ^_^
Chaplain_Aerion
New member
I'm in the same boat as you, Garou, so welcome!
One thing I've noticed since I got here is the complete lack of feedback. I've had lots of views, a fair share of votes, but nobody is saying WHY they voted the way they did. Is there something I can do to enhance this? I've stated clearly that C&C is welcome. Short of begging for it, how can I get voters to say a few constructive things?
One thing I've noticed since I got here is the complete lack of feedback. I've had lots of views, a fair share of votes, but nobody is saying WHY they voted the way they did. Is there something I can do to enhance this? I've stated clearly that C&C is welcome. Short of begging for it, how can I get voters to say a few constructive things?
Ask in the forums, The galleries are getting missed for comments and more people are willing to spend time writing criticisms when the owner is more likely to respond in the thread.
Asking for help in the Work in Progress section on a mini you are working on will normally get you feedback.
