WIP please help me get this mini in order.
- Thread starter Smoth
- Start date
The only advice I can give is move on. The best way to improve is to practice lots, and study the top 100. I found I improved my scores immensely by studying what scores well at CMON.
Here are my tips for getting high scores.
1) The picture has to be perfect, better pic = better score, also use the picture to hide the flaws in your painting and play to the strengths.
2) Do something different (be it colour scheme, mini, base, whatever). I\'ve been having good luck with doing really small things, it gives you that elusive \"wow!\" factor which is essential to get 9s (which is what you need just to scrape into the 8s). Going big can work as well.
3) Be perfect. Everything has to be perfect, if its not, you\'ll be voted down.
For example, Cyrils blending, its flawless even when magnified 10 times there are NO brushstrokes, or Johnny KS\'s freehand, its tiny and its perfect. Yet look at their galleries and even they are only just getting 8s on some of their stuff.
Also CMON is kind of weird in that even technically excellently painted minis can score low if they aren\'t cool. I usually take the score I think the mini is worth and subtract 1 to get my CMON score, seems to work pretty well.
Now how can you improve?
Well there isn\'t enough contrast on the blade, it needs more shading and highlighting. Rackham minis tend to score lower if you use metallics (unless they are absolutely perfect). It really need to be NMM.
It also looks like there are mould lines along the handle and the blade has static grass on it, makes it look messy.
Your blending is pretty good, but its not got enough contrast, you need to go slightly higher on the highlights.
The base is boring, it needs cork and brass etched foliage and a little mouse in a burrow and flowers with butterflies on them! That would get you a 10!
Your freehand is good, but its just not perfect, the black lines are of variable thickness and on CMON you will be rated down because its just not as good as Johnny KS\'s.
Here is an example of simple but perfectly executed freehand (the NMMs awesome as well).
Don\'t get down hearted, study and practice, its the best way to improve.
Here are my tips for getting high scores.
1) The picture has to be perfect, better pic = better score, also use the picture to hide the flaws in your painting and play to the strengths.
2) Do something different (be it colour scheme, mini, base, whatever). I\'ve been having good luck with doing really small things, it gives you that elusive \"wow!\" factor which is essential to get 9s (which is what you need just to scrape into the 8s). Going big can work as well.
3) Be perfect. Everything has to be perfect, if its not, you\'ll be voted down.
For example, Cyrils blending, its flawless even when magnified 10 times there are NO brushstrokes, or Johnny KS\'s freehand, its tiny and its perfect. Yet look at their galleries and even they are only just getting 8s on some of their stuff.
Also CMON is kind of weird in that even technically excellently painted minis can score low if they aren\'t cool. I usually take the score I think the mini is worth and subtract 1 to get my CMON score, seems to work pretty well.
Now how can you improve?
Well there isn\'t enough contrast on the blade, it needs more shading and highlighting. Rackham minis tend to score lower if you use metallics (unless they are absolutely perfect). It really need to be NMM.
It also looks like there are mould lines along the handle and the blade has static grass on it, makes it look messy.
Your blending is pretty good, but its not got enough contrast, you need to go slightly higher on the highlights.
The base is boring, it needs cork and brass etched foliage and a little mouse in a burrow and flowers with butterflies on them! That would get you a 10!
Your freehand is good, but its just not perfect, the black lines are of variable thickness and on CMON you will be rated down because its just not as good as Johnny KS\'s.
Here is an example of simple but perfectly executed freehand (the NMMs awesome as well).
Don\'t get down hearted, study and practice, its the best way to improve.
Smoth
New member
Hmm, all tips worth looking into. Honestly though I want him to look good because I really like the mini. I think you are right though I need to move on.
As for the grass on the sword it isn\'t permanent as this was just something to show what I was frustrated about hoping someone would be able to better see what was wrong with him.
I will try those suggestions though.
As for the grass on the sword it isn\'t permanent as this was just something to show what I was frustrated about hoping someone would be able to better see what was wrong with him.
I will try those suggestions though.
P
praetorian0_1
Guest
Yup, cork is the easiest/coolest for bases, just pin and go. Its disturbing, but I look at bases as much as most minis- sorry terrain freak here. Looks like an easy 7-8 for me though alreay. Oh yeah and editing some kind o\' background helps set the mood as some other cool folks have told me.
Looks like an easy 7-8 for me though alreay. Oh yeah and editing some kind o\' background helps set the mood as some other cool folks have told me.tabithatan
New member
actually I dunno wat is wrong about this mini cos I would vote a 7 for it. 7.5 for a nicer pic that shows off its features.
its nice as it is......
perhaps you might wanna create more definition and colours in terms of using multi washes on the metallic surface and a more interesting looking base. Thats about all I can think to improve it at this moment without radically changing ur painting style.
its nice as it is......
perhaps you might wanna create more definition and colours in terms of using multi washes on the metallic surface and a more interesting looking base. Thats about all I can think to improve it at this moment without radically changing ur painting style.
tabithatan
New member
green? well.... actually you gotta think about what kinda washes go well on silver metallics..... I kinda like the red of the cloak... so perhaps you might wanna wash the silverwith warm colours.... warm brown and black wash.... but dont overpower the figure with the washes.. try to keep it controlled...... treat brown as lighter wash and black as the darker shade... highlight later if you have to.
I tried greenish/bluish washes on metallic silver... hard to get rite... really...... Perhaps purple? if you can afford to experiment on this figure that is.
I tried greenish/bluish washes on metallic silver... hard to get rite... really......
Perhaps purple? if you can afford to experiment on this figure that is.i have to agree with the others here in saying that it needs to be smoother and it needs more contrast to the highlights.
as much as i know that you hate NMM it seems to work best in digital photography on minis . but....i must say that MM can be done so that it films correctly w/o glare.
IMO your mini isn\'t bad but it would onlly get a 6 from me because i (as well as a lot of people here ) compare submissions to the top 100 as well as my own work.
rackham minis lend themselves more to NMM than MM.if you\'re gonna do MM it has to be absoulutly perfect (not like my spellinglol).just spend some time in study and practice..it\'ll all come to you.
good luck
as much as i know that you hate NMM it seems to work best in digital photography on minis . but....i must say that MM can be done so that it films correctly w/o glare.
IMO your mini isn\'t bad but it would onlly get a 6 from me because i (as well as a lot of people here ) compare submissions to the top 100 as well as my own work.
rackham minis lend themselves more to NMM than MM.if you\'re gonna do MM it has to be absoulutly perfect (not like my spellinglol).just spend some time in study and practice..it\'ll all come to you.
good luck
