Zab's Damn it to hell! WIP

Zab

Zab

New member
Thanks! I am once again surprising myself with this celtic thing. Letting go and just painting without a real plan on a tight timeline is actually kind of fun. I wouldn't always like to do it but lack of time to think and just quickly research and lay down paint seems to take the fear out of messing up. As does not really trying for realism, but just a cool look.
 
Chrispy

Chrispy

Active member
Why you no try sponge technique before all the highlights, Zab? But still good work so far! I would push the brownish dirt a bit more since in some shots it's very faint- I know, the color looks a bit more blue in some and that knocks it back.
 
Zab

Zab

New member
I may still push the highlights on the stone further. Maybe...If I'm not too chicken...which I am. Also, there will be texture to the lichen so I'm gonna have to try a bunch of crap from toothpicks to sponges to stippling (I may have actually found a use for those crappy stippling brushes GW sells :shock:) I'm kinda out in the dark blundering around on this one - it's actually really fun:claply: I may push the dirt more too, but I want to see if the lichen brings out some of the greens and blues that are in there already before that.
 
Demihuman

Demihuman

Active member
What Chrispy said.

Plus some Vallejo smoke just to give it some more texture and dirt? And then come back in with some blue grey to purple? That larger lichen picture is actually really great. I wish i could get my photos to show colors like that! Do you have access to Reaper paints? Their olive green triad and maybe military blue triad might be nice. the blue is Templar blue, Breonne blue and Ashen blue. the Olive green is muddy olive, olive green, and pale olive. Pale olive its the one you want for that green LICHEN. I am awaiting 'Old Death' for Australia. I should get my own WIP going. And quit lurking in yours, lol :)
 
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Chrispy

Chrispy

Active member
Eh- I wouldn't invest the money in a GW product that can be made from a worn brush, cutting and a bit of glue. Sea sponges are pretty cheap and can be found in most hardware stores now. Failing that, ripping bits off of an old foam blister insert will come in handy. I know they have makeup brushes for stippling, but I think those would be big for mini work, but maybe spot on for this. Sounds like you've got a lot of trial and error ahead of you- THEN you get to paint a fianna to top it off! :D
 
Zab

Zab

New member
Oh yeah, there is more texture and dirt coming! I will be making a trip to Curry's for some water based oils and I have the whole range of the new GW paints which thank god have tons of greenish browns and greys. Also some nice blues and blue greys and even some of those red/orange browns. By the end of this project i will literally be able to say i have found a use for all 145 paints in their range this year. As for the stippling brush; I got one from them a long time ago during a local competition and found it too stiff and clumpy to use for stippling but this may actually be a great use for it (well, for the clumpy texture anyway). I have tons of foam and sponges to rip up and even some very small disposable makeup sponges on sticks for really fine sponging - like on 32mm space marine armor (The wife keeps wondering where the hell they keep going - teeheehee). I snagged the Fianna on a lucky late night bout of insomnia.
 
KruleBear

KruleBear

Active member
GOod start Zab and some nice suggestions coming in. One thing to think about is the inset diamond shape on the forehead. The texture in that area seems to scream for something more as it seems rougher than the rest.
 
Zab

Zab

New member
Thanks Tommie. Krule the internet seems to have swallowed my previous comment (I'm sure it will show up later and make me look like an ass). It was something to the effect of: those recessed areas will get more blue/purple or more dirt like behind the cheekbones, but I am open to other suggestions. I may also push the final highlights all the way up to almost white on this one like i see being done everywhere else. I just want to wait until after the lichen is placed so i don't do a bunch of work only to cover it up with moss. I did some shopping today and got some tamiya smoke, clear green and clear yellow to go with my clear red. Those last 2 are for a lictor diorama I have planned in the future based on Helion Rain. I also got some reeves water based oils 12 x 10ml tubes for like $7 CAD and finally managed to pick up some testors dullcote since i want to seal some of my display minis and have a fear of frosting since krylon changed their matte formula and betrayed me. I have never heard of anyone getting betrayed by testors. The lichen tests will commence tonight!!!!


***Edit***
Let Test Number 1 commence! Bring forth the victims of the Texture test...:sinister:
View attachment 23351
Show them the implements...
View attachment 23352
And let them taste the palette of doom...
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Show them what they will look like when we are done.
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BEGIN with the BASEST OF TESTS!!!!!:shout:
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Now let us view the full horror of Test Number 1.
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WAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!:bulgy-eyes:

Can you tell it's late and I'm punchy? I'll review in the morning with more sleep. I think they started weak, but got good after washes and all that. The best textures to me are the toothpick and the blister foam. Best colors are the green and the orange.
 
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Dragonsreach

Dragonsreach

Super Moderator
Staff member
Zab, looking a nice effect, but before you go "Weapons Hot" on the skull do a check on where lichen grow in real life.
Some like shaded areas some like light, but few grow on areas where wear and tear occurs.
Also mineral staining' aka Oil washes, be very frugal and careful with them remember that you're emulating water runs, which always finds the path of least resistance. So don't be tempted to make straight lines going over sculpted areas when the water would flow around the edges.
 
Zab

Zab

New member
Agreed. Given the nice pattern on the skull the less is more approach may be employed to most forms of weathering. Now to try some tests without texture...
 
KruleBear

KruleBear

Active member
The stipling brush doesn't look bad either. I can see all the colors working for different bases. But agree the orange and green are the nicest. You may want tolook at the colors you used on the mini before deciding which lichen/algae you want to add. I.e. carry some of the minis colors into the base.
 
Chrispy

Chrispy

Active member
I'd have to agree that the olive greens look good oranges are nice, but I also like that Gauss blaster green for some reason. When I was little and living in Germany I remember the stones would have a whiteish, dry lichen that was easily broken. But for the most part, I remember the green moss/ fungus that was really green and slippery to try and walk on. Also remember that some lichens have more texture to them. Maybe some crushed leaves or flock could help create that texture? Something to consider.
And you've probably googled a lot of stuff already, but:
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljan98b.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen
:D
 
Zab

Zab

New member
You two made good points. Krule, i do need to bring some of the color from her onto the base. I constantly overlook that when i do bases and minis separate so thanks for reminding me. I was going to make her clothing (minimal though it may be) a pale blue or green so maybe i should have some patches of the gauss blaster green that you like, Chrispy. And Yeah, I think some of the lichen need to be more like thick moss in certain areas. Here are my 3 main reference pics:
Wet,Clumpy,Colorful.
View attachment 23363
Dry,Fine,Muted.
View attachment 23364
Pretty little flowers.
View attachment 23365
If i have time i may do something like this last one in one of the eye sockets and make some tiny flowers out of wire and paper. Just for a touch of life.
 
Zab

Zab

New member
Ugh. That was a surprising amount of work. Here are a few more tests. Think I'm almost done. I do have one more test rock but I'm not sure i need to test further. May just play with the tamiya smoke and oils on that one for fun.

Here are the smooth samples with no texture, most were sponged on but one use a brush...
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I still don't fancy the citadel stippling brush. Much prefer my old cut down sable hairs to whatever that one is made of. I like the blue and the brown from the smooth batch.
And here are the moss like heavily textured ones...
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I like the texture of the green the most from these. The blue is okay, but lends itself best to the smooth application. The red and brown would be good for hanging moss if i could the fibers all going the same way. I'm anal retentive enough to do it, but not for this project. The texture isn't right for this type or moss/lichen. SO I think i am ready to start on the skull tomorrow or Tuesday. Need a break first. :yawn:
 
Chrispy

Chrispy

Active member
I like how that Zandri Dust is looking, Zab! Also, to get the fibers all one way, maybe all you have to do is use a stiff brush?
I applaud your rigorous testing, me- I'd have probably gone straight to the project and had to start over 2-3 times. :doh:
 
Meph

Meph

Cat-herder Extraordinaire
Lichen Approved! :D Indeed, thorough testing should be applauded, I would've gone at it just like that, using mostly weathering powders. :)
 
Zab

Zab

New member
Oh man Chrispy, how would i start over on this? No, best to be OCD about this one. Meph funny you should mention powders, I was playing around with my new water mixable oils and powders that i got from earth pigments last night. I'll post some more pics tonight ;)
 
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