Teach myself blending - a WIP
- Thread starter RobF
- Start date
Wyrmypops
New member
Gorgeous. It's tonally centred, with nothing leaping out as too highlighted next to a flat area. Solid colour choices for the bits supporting the whole, they reinforce the gritty realism angle.
Loving the smooth red. Though highlights could go a stage further on the most extreme areas. And a bit of weathering on the edge near the floor could be groovy.
The metallics are enriched by the subtle colours worked in there. Notably on the breastplate. Though, the picking out of the rivet/studs doesn't appear as clean as it could be. A strong dark tone worked around them, then picking out just the very top of the studs in silver would really make them pop.
The flesh is clean and smooth. Some cool colours in there too worked in various points. Looks quite waxy and ill overall though, rather than the yellowy-pink caucasian flesh they'd normally display.
That gore sure works. Looks, gory. Not sure about the bloody tendril though, doesn't seem to be falling quite right. Probably the length with a relatively weighty tip causing it to move just off the vertical. Reckon a short length could've worked better.
The scrolls around the arm could benefit from a mite more shading to give them definition. On the "from the back" shot, where they wrap under the arm to the gold studs and then hang down would be a good place to introduce some subtle darkness.
The writing didn't work out great eh. Pins and cocktail sticks can be useful in applying that kinda thing, though I've not had any success with them. Have used a technical pens for that, a cheapo disposable one at a 0.1 size.
Though a fine brush with ink rather than paint is what I go for. Ink just barely on the brush tip, so it ain't loaded allowing for a rush on ink to splurge.
Also, it ain't a bad idea to give it a go on paper first, so you can work out how much text and at what size can be written on.
For the big parchment sheet you can take inspiration from historical examples. Having a BIG initial in the top left starting the writing off, rendered with a complimentary colour aswell as the dark ink. Could also give it a decorative trim once you feel comfortable enough with that level of detail.
Overall, superb. And paint me jealous that you've achieved that level of mastery after so short a time and so few figures. Took me much longer and with many more embarassing figures I'd not let anyone see before I got near where you are now.
Loving the smooth red. Though highlights could go a stage further on the most extreme areas. And a bit of weathering on the edge near the floor could be groovy.
The metallics are enriched by the subtle colours worked in there. Notably on the breastplate. Though, the picking out of the rivet/studs doesn't appear as clean as it could be. A strong dark tone worked around them, then picking out just the very top of the studs in silver would really make them pop.
The flesh is clean and smooth. Some cool colours in there too worked in various points. Looks quite waxy and ill overall though, rather than the yellowy-pink caucasian flesh they'd normally display.
That gore sure works. Looks, gory. Not sure about the bloody tendril though, doesn't seem to be falling quite right. Probably the length with a relatively weighty tip causing it to move just off the vertical. Reckon a short length could've worked better.
The scrolls around the arm could benefit from a mite more shading to give them definition. On the "from the back" shot, where they wrap under the arm to the gold studs and then hang down would be a good place to introduce some subtle darkness.
The writing didn't work out great eh. Pins and cocktail sticks can be useful in applying that kinda thing, though I've not had any success with them. Have used a technical pens for that, a cheapo disposable one at a 0.1 size.
Though a fine brush with ink rather than paint is what I go for. Ink just barely on the brush tip, so it ain't loaded allowing for a rush on ink to splurge.
Also, it ain't a bad idea to give it a go on paper first, so you can work out how much text and at what size can be written on.
For the big parchment sheet you can take inspiration from historical examples. Having a BIG initial in the top left starting the writing off, rendered with a complimentary colour aswell as the dark ink. Could also give it a decorative trim once you feel comfortable enough with that level of detail.
Overall, superb. And paint me jealous that you've achieved that level of mastery after so short a time and so few figures. Took me much longer and with many more embarassing figures I'd not let anyone see before I got near where you are now.
Solun Decius
New member
This is a really good looking mini and your layering is great. Nice colors in the highlights and nice contrast although I'd recommend picking a few select spots to take the highlights even brighter, build them up to tiny spots just to make it pop that much more. Also colors in the shades can do wonders as others have said.
Regarding blending (and I'm no expert) you should read up on and practice ways to make your colors flow smoother from layer to layer. This usually means thinner paints and in turn means repeating coats of the same layers much more often to build up the color. The direction in which you draw the brush is also important, drawing the color towards where it should build up. Add to this methods like feathering (with clean water in a different brush) to smooth out the edge of what you're painting and you've got yourself plenty of stuff to practice on your next mini on this road to "teaching yourself to blend".
I think you're going for too large letters on the scroll on his back. You should just do the same size of letters as you did on the arm scrolls, just do more lines and more paragraphs. If you do like three lines for each one you have now you can also split the text into two columns and make it look like a proper ritual text.
The base is really cool and the blood on the axe, dripping onto the stone is a superb effect!
Regarding blending (and I'm no expert) you should read up on and practice ways to make your colors flow smoother from layer to layer. This usually means thinner paints and in turn means repeating coats of the same layers much more often to build up the color. The direction in which you draw the brush is also important, drawing the color towards where it should build up. Add to this methods like feathering (with clean water in a different brush) to smooth out the edge of what you're painting and you've got yourself plenty of stuff to practice on your next mini on this road to "teaching yourself to blend".
I think you're going for too large letters on the scroll on his back. You should just do the same size of letters as you did on the arm scrolls, just do more lines and more paragraphs. If you do like three lines for each one you have now you can also split the text into two columns and make it look like a proper ritual text.
The base is really cool and the blood on the axe, dripping onto the stone is a superb effect!
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