What am I doing wrong?

[airhead]

Here is my latest Mage from Reaper\'s Warlord line.

link

I think that this is the best blending I have done to date. (I am not saying it is great, but MY best to date.)

Yet, he is not even scoring a 6.

Maybe a shot of the back where you can see the nicely blended cloak ? (where I should have done lots of freehand, but did not have the nerve).

 

[frenchkid]

I\'d give you a 6,5. Nice blending and choice of colors but the face is definetly bringing it down, it need a cleaner look maybe highlight it a bit more. And that brown greenish thing on is waist is also bringing it down, I can\'t even tell what it. For the blending I think you\'re on the right track.

 

[vincegamer]

Well, I can\'t say why other people mark what they do, but I can give my opinion of the piece or what I thoink would improve it.

Best bit of blending is on the strap around the weapon. Very smooth and nice color transition. Unfortunately the rest of the weapon is left dull and flat. I can\'t tell from the pic if the shaft has any lighter parts or grain marks but some would help if they aren\'t there. The blade is where you could really use work though. Large areas of metal need blending just as much as large areas of cloth. Start with black then add a little of a dull metal like bolt-gun metal and then do the dull with lighter metal like mithryl or vallejo silver, then do a tiny point of white at the hottest spot. For gold do the same thing but start with a dark brown and work through tin bitz to bright gold. The spot is optional.

It looks as if you used a lot of inks. The middle of his chest looks very dark and blurred so it\'s hard to make out what the details are.

The skin is a bit yellow and plastic looking. Put a little more ashen elements like greys or blues and then matt it out (lotsa water/very thin paints = flatter finish).

Nothing critical to say about the cape. It looks great to me.
I like the pommel stone very much.

 

[Legacy Account]

It\'s not bad at all, but could be improved with just a little more work.

1. More contrast - esp. on the face (sort the eyes out too, they\'re one of the most important parts of the model)
2. Build the highlights up in much thinner layers, and use a smaller transition between the tone of each layer.
3. There are several areas that aren\'t defined enough - the belt and brooches in particular.
4. You have used blacklining that is quite heavy. Make it finer and perhaps use a dark tone of the colour you are lining.

It really just needs a clean up and some fine detailing. It is not far off at all!

 

[Calavera]

Yup.. I think you need to layer a few more highlights on the face, especially cheekbone, nose and brow. Looks as if there\'s no white in the eye. And also attack that base rim with a pair of scissors, there\'s some grass over it.
I think maybe a back shot would be nice to see.

I\'d give it a 6.5

 

[Dragonsreach]

Grumble Grumble always the last to see a thread!

Ok most of what has been said on the previous comments is what I would have said.
I must agree that the face is the weak link in this mini. It could be enhanced with a bit of work. I would suggest that you use a thin wash of Beige Brown (Vallejo Model Colour) around the jawline and up to the ears.
Turn the mini upside down and run a very fine brush with Beige Brown across the upper eyelids This will help to strengthen the shadows above the eye and below the brow ridge.

Using thinned Beige Brown once again move the brush in a downward motion towards the moustache starting just below the cheekbone. (In the hollows of the cheeks and the creases beside the nostrils) The action of the brush ending in the recess will \'wick\' the paint down so that the most pigment will be deposited where the brush stops. (Hygroscopic action if I remember my high school science).

You can then very lightly apply a little highlighting to the cheeks and forehead.

One thing that seems to be apparent is the strength of the Blacklining. You could wash a little dark red over that on the thing that looks like a \"sporran\". (sorry don\'t know what it is.)


HTH

 

[Klute]

Got to do the eyes,I reckon most minis will struggle these days without painted eyes.

 

[ZaPhOd]

The blends aren\'t bad, but you need brighter highlights to pop the color more. Also, the face. Gotta work on that as it is usually where folks look first IMO.

 

[Propaintjob]

hrrmmmph!

all been said already

I\'m a natural cynic so these are the first 3 things my eyes were drawn to:

1: Flesh, definitely needs more work to get the shading right

2: Belts etc round the waist, careful highlighting needed as it\'s not possible to see the detail at the moment

3: Strapping round the weapon, maybe a further bit of blending with yellow to give a brighter look

Then, I saw the good stuff:

Colour choice
Blending on main clothes
Neatness of painting in general
Red cloak looks good
The actual blending on the weapon strapping

So, IMO there are more good things about the mini than things which detract from it. Just a small amount more work should see you getting better scores.

Heh, I think I managed to repeat what everyone else said quite well there

 

[supervike]

I know exactly what you are doing wrong!

..you are worrying about the votes too much.



Each submission of yours is an improvement over the last, so that has got to be some great satisfaction for you.

Following the advice of the other painters who posted critics is a great idea (especially when you look at thier collective galleries!)

I know it is frustrating, I have seen it happen with my minis as well. I get excited to post them, and then quickly deflated as the votes roll in....

Just keep at it you are definately getting better.

 

[Cerridwyn1st]

DO add a picture of the back of the cloak, especially if you\'ve done a nice job of painting that row of buttons running down the middle. That\'ll wow `em.

 

[airhead]

@all, thanks for the tips. Next one will be better. I promise.

@supervike, that is probably what I really needed to hear. Thanks (kicks the dog and grumbles off)

 

[Propaintjob]

supervike - international man of wisdom

It\'s very true what supervike says. We\'ve all posted pics of what we consider to be our best work, only to see the scores come tumbling down because of either a poor picture (that happens to me the most) or just getting unlucky with how critical the first 10 people to vote are.

I spend a lot of time reading the comments people leave about mini\'s and the advice given by the great painters on CMON, there\'s always something that can be applied to your next mini.

Thing is, everyone in the forums is friendly and willing to give good, sound advice. I think that the main thing is to make sure that you are happy with the result. The votes are subjective but your own opinion of your own work isn\'t.

Just re-reading what I\'ve typed and can I just say thanks to everyone who\'s helped me out with opinions, advice & votes etc. There\'s a long way for me to go yet but you\'ve all certainly helped me to improve.