My undead host

[Martin Q Blank]

Hi guys, decided to post pics of my troops I've painted so far. I'm looking for tips as I consider myself a "solid" painter. I would really like to elevate that to "good" =) these have taken over a year to paint up (I'm so unmotivated)

Thanks

 

[benvoliothefirst]

Hey Martin! Welcome to the boards! Always nice to see a new face, and possibly have a new opponent or ally to game with! Where are you located?

I'm probably at about the same level, painting-wise, that you are... good but always looking to get better. It's the desire to improve that eventually makes us pros, so good on you for that. Not sure how much help I can be but I like everything I've seen so far. I'm mildly color-blind so take my advice with a grain of salt, but that purple-ish(?) terrorgheist is the bee's knees. And your skeletons look great.

Now, if I can offer you a bit of constructive criticism, one thing that will DEFINITELY get you some more comments will be making your photos a bit more accessible. By that I mean, put them INLINE in your posts so they show up full-size, rather than attaching them. Here's a quote directly from the forum rules:

"Image size: keep all images smaller than 800 pixels horizontal and 600 pixels vertical. We recommend uploading all pictures to photobucket, and then using the IMG link to directly post the pictures into threads."

There's definitely how-to's all over the web about how to do this. Having to click through to see the images is oftentimes more trouble than speed-browsers are willing to do. Also, if you check your camera you may find that there's a "macro" mode, the image of a flower is usually how it's represented. If you put your camera/phone in macro mode it helps with FOCUSING on little things like minis. And cropping your photos to include JUST the mini rather than the background will also help save space. All these things will make people more likely to take a look at your stuff and offer more helpful advice than I can.

Good luck, and welcome again to the boards!

 

[con-fusion]

The thumbnails and links did make it a bit harder to look through, but I'm glad I did.

I'm not necessarily the best person to ask for help on painting, but one thing that would assist people in giving advice is a sense of your painting style. Looking at everything, it appears that you might prime white and wash over basecoats. I also see some drybrushing. Does that some up the techniques you mainly rely on?

In relation solely to your spirit hosts, they do look a bit like statues. Part of the problem is that the minis have very little movement in their poses, but that can be gotten around if the paint is more "etherial-ish". You have plenty of depth in your greyscale, but some glazes might fix the vibe. Say a green glaze followed by a yellow glaze on the high points, or, maybe, glazes leaning more toward the blues and purples. It depends on your tint preference.

 

[Martin Q Blank]

Thanks guys, I "normally" use my mobile so it's easier to upload. Will re-load all pics properly once I get home from work.

Thanks for the tip on the SH, I was worried about them, especially using my spare dwarfs lol. May try putting a green glaze over. Sounds good!

 

[Martin Q Blank]

OK, so i washed teh hosts with Nihilakh oxide, but they then looked like rusted metal statues (weird for an oxide paint i know! =) followed with a Athonian Camoshade finished with a Etherium Blue highlight.
Then certainly dont look like statues no more!

what do you guys think?

 

[Martin Q Blank]

now, ive got hundreds of these buggers to paint, so want to get this right, but conversely i need to be quick.
They were undercoated in Celestra Grey, highlighted in Etherium Blue abd then heavily washed in Reikland Fleshshade. eyes and teeth done skull white and washed in green.

 

[Martin Q Blank]

I'm sorry for my lack of photographic skills. Didn't realise it was a prequisite. Thank you, I will go to photography lessons just so you can judge my painting.

 

[Melle]

martin q, you are taking mintys words wrong.

he is right, every pic of the zombie is blurred in some part. putting all together might show the whole model.

its very hard to give c&c on blurred pics

im far from a photo expert but ive found that holding camera or phone too close to the mini blurrs it.
MANY cameras cant handle such close ups.

put model on flat surface. stand camera on tripod or books in right level ( movement blurrs, more on cheap ones but even on expensive ones)

experiment with different lamps.
broad daylight outside is prolly best.


but first and all in your case i think taking a step back magnifies quality by hundreds.

 

[Martin Q Blank]

Seeing as I posted for feedback on my painting not my photography skills I think ill just stop this. Thanks for all the help.

Can a mod delete this thread please?

#wasteoftime

 

[Emicrania]

wow man relax,how can u get a feedback on your painting skill if is impossible to see how you paint?