Post: #1

Welcome my fellow undead!

Just wanted to share with you my work on a Farseer. This is my first painting log and the model will be entered into my local GW monthly painting contest. As always, comments, criticisms and thoughts of how to improve, change or enhance are always welcome.

I hope you all enjoy, and perhaps benefit.

The Model of Choice: Eldar Farseer with Spear
Reason: The model for this month's Brotherhood of the Brush painting competition at my local GW. I chose the Farseer with the spear as I loved the pose, feeling that the model had a greater sense of power and potency as an individual, with a more relaxed pose.
Inspiration: An artist on CMON who goes by the name of Kristo
Deadline: 27 July
After prepping the model it was given a soapy bath to remove the release agent and then primed with black spray. This was then washed with a watered down Chaos to fill and areas missed by the spray. I will be painting the model in the traditional Biel-Tan colour scheme of green and white, opting for a more weathered and washed out feel.

I basecoated the cape with a mix of Orkhide Shade, Fenris Grey and Chaos Black. This was roughly a 3:2:1 mix. The first highlight was Orkhide Shade and Fenris Grey at a rough 2:1 ratio. Each progressive highlight was worked up with progressive amounts of Skull White.

WIP SHOTS





I'm will eventually highlight the cape further and shade it appropriately probably using Orkshide Shade and Chaos Black, followed by pure Chaos Black or Badab Black.
Eventually I want to add a trim and include the Eye of the Farseers, utilising the split and gem in the back of the cape.

I'll be trying to update daily. Once again, thoughts and comments welcome.

Post: #2

Today I'm hopefully gonna have the cape finished for you all.

I also want to point out that haven't forgotten the guides Boo asked me to do. I'm currently doing a guide on the different effects you can achieve with snow basing. I've got them all gritted and will be painting them soon. Unfortunately as I have a few deadlines for various models, I have to give them priority

Cheers guys

Post: #3

Looking well so far Good luck painting all those brighter colours!

Post: #4

Thanks Mr Fluffy, shouldn't be too hard.

Post: #5

It's looking good so far, but there's a small flaw on the blending. As you're aiming to enter this in a compo I feel obliged to point that out.


Cheers, Wolfie

Post: #6

Much obliged Wolfie, I'd noticed it too. Thanks for highlighting it though, it's a really great idea and makes it easy for me to spot!

Post: #7

Thread moved to Dead Space

That is a truly great model, I must get that for my Eldar army some day...

good progress, will be interesting to see how this one turns out when it is done.

Post: #8

Cheers boo,

By doing a plog, it's a really good incentive to get it done! Oh thanks for moving the thread by the way. I really wasn't sure where I was supposed to put it

Unfortunately folks, I wasn't able to get the cape done today. Hopefully I'll be able to do a bit after sailing tomorrow and while my girlfriend is out on Thursday. In the mean time watch this space!

Post: #9

I'm loving the highlighting on the cloak...can't wait to see more

Post: #10

Hey folks,

Just thought I'd update you on the progress. I've finished the cloak. Ultimately I'm thinking of free-handing the Farseer's Eye on the back, but I like to do that kinda stuff at the end.

I've been working on the loincloth toga thingy at the front. I've worked this up from Adeptus battlegrey using Codex Grey and Astronomican grey as highlights before finishing with skull White. Firstly I'm not happy with the quality of blending but I'm also having second thoughts though, as to whether the Adeptus battlegrey was too dark. Maybe I might start with Astronomican Grey with a shade and highlight?

As always, comments and criticisms welcome.

Post: #11

As you said, your starting colour is to dark. Atm, the cloak and loincloth look to much alike. Maybe it's because you started so dark. I suggest using the midtone you have now as a dark tone. Flowing white robes don't have really dark areas. It's only where the cloth folds over itself that you get a dark dropshadow.

That being said, it's still nice work.

Cheers, Wolfie

Post: #12

I don't agree actually, I think the lower-tone colour at the moment is very attractive, & I would not have highlighted all the way up to white, stopping at Fort Grey or Dheneb Stone. It's a beautiful rich turquoise, & it'd be a shame to lose the depth you've already worked hard to get.

Post: #13

Cheers Wolfie, I appreciate it. I'm gonna have a fiddle later on today. I think you're right about the midtone. Maybe Astronomican Grey/Fortress grey?

Post: #14

I've just taken on board what Ophidicus has said regarding the cloth. The feel I was originally trying to aim for was a kind of ethereal shimmer. With that in mind I've used Chaos Black/ Regal Blue and Regal Blue washes to try and smooth the existing blending as well as to add a little more depth to the base and mid tones. Pictures to follow soon If all else fails I'm planning on using the Cape lining from Joe Tomaszewski's Chaos Lord in WD 353

Post: #15

Here is a picture for you all with the improvements outlined in the last post. What do you all think?



See I'm still not too convinced. I don't know whether it's a case of being your own worst critic but to me it just looks scruffy, then again, it is super close.

Thanks for your input folks, it's much appreciated!

Post: #16

The problem your having is that, although your highlighting up to pure white, you still end up with a dark piece of cloth. While it's okay to have a big contrast between shade and highlight, this does not work for White (unless it's dirty, but Biel-Tan don't get dirty).
I photoshopped your pic to show a possible solution to this. Try larger light areas and smaller shade areas. this will also make the tabbard contrast more with the cape.



To answer Ophi's post, I couldn't help but illustrate what a darker tabbard would look like.

There's clearly a lot less contrast that in the dirst picture and all of it seems to blend together. I can't stress the importance of contrast enough. While the second pictures looks like a blob of slightly different colors, the first catches your eye and makes the model more interesting.

Cheers, Wolfie

Post: #17

Ok Wolfie, point well made. I'll be working on that little bit tomorrow now I think. I think you're right though. I'm probably gonna use Astronimcan Grey Shading it using Hawk Turquois, Leviathan Purple and Chaos Black the working slowly up to the skull White. How does that sound?

Cheers

Post: #18

Well, here we are. I think I've more or less cracked it now.




Any thoughts guys?

Post: #19

Now that's more like it.
Very nice work mate.

Cheers, Wolfie

Post: #20

Cheers Wolfie,

I'm happier with it now. I will finish off the sleeves and get to work on the rest of the stuff. Anyone have a guide for painting marble? I can't seem to find one and thought of an idea for the spear.