23 replies to this topic

[dks]

I posted a Work-in-Progress thread to show how I painted this figure from start to finish:
http://www.reapermin...llborn-paladin/

And here is the finished version (identical with #11 in the WIP thread).



Enjoy,
Derek

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks again for the SBS. It is greatly appreciated! The freehand on the shield looks excellent and the texturing is amazing. Thanks agian!

[Duliniel]

Just gorgeous. I can't figure out how you get such expression from a pupil-free eye.

[Darkstar]

Very in depth WIP thread just read it all this afternoon. I like the way the little rivets in the shield look like real metal, very convincing colors for a brassy effect. Besides that little detail I think all those hours spent glazing really paid off in terms of the richness and depth of color. A pleasure to look at the overall smoothness of everything and warmth of tone across the mini. Sweet stuff.

[Orionjp]

I have never seen work you have done that isn't utter perfection. This is no acception.

[Nameless]

I sure like all of your works Derek, but this paintjob is one of your best. very, very nice.

[Bumble_B]

Another amazing piece. Truly sick.

[dks]

Thanks, all!
@Duliniel: True, although the iris and pupil do a lot for a figure's expression, remember that a lot of expression comes from the size and shape of the eyes -- whether the eyelids appear to be tensed or relaxed, wide or narrow, following the gaze up or down, etc.
@Darkstar: I didn't expect to spend so much time on the figure, especially not so much time glazing, but I'm also pleased with the results. Next time I try a copper or bronze effect, I hope I don't forget my lessons from this one! And I also like the rivets. I guess I find it easier to get a convincing metallic effect in a small area like that; on a bigger area with that much contrast, the blends would have to be smoother for the effect to be convincing!

Derek

[dks]

"Rise, O dead thread!"
In case you're curious, I entered this figure in the Open category of the Master Series Open painting contest at ReaperCon -- since I sculpted the figure, it counts as a Scratchbuild for the Open category -- and it won a Gold Medal and the golden Sophie Trophy (the top prize among Reaper entries in the category).
Thanks again to everyone for the views and comments here and in the WIP thread.

Derek

[TheBucklandBrewer]

Love the warmth of this miniature!
The gold is so beautifully smooth!

Well done!

[cookjimjr]

Derek,

Another amazing piece! Very inspirational. I missed the WIP, but now I am going to have to spend some hours going over it to see if I can learn something that will help with my transition smoothness.

[Sentient Bean]

Thanks for posting and the WIP is very handy! Bookmarked.

[themudhead]

"Rise, O dead thread!"
In case you're curious, I entered this figure in the Open category of the Master Series Open painting contest at ReaperCon -- since I sculpted the figure, it counts as a Scratchbuild for the Open category -- and it won a Gold Medal and the golden Sophie Trophy (the top prize among Reaper entries in the category).
Thanks again to everyone for the views and comments here and in the WIP thread.

Derek

I'm not a sculptor. I may do a mod here and there but for the most part I only paint (and not even that well). I have learned my lesson, I cannot compete against pro sculptors for Sophies. I won't ever enter the open again. Only the painters division for me from now on.
:(

[Duliniel]

I'm not a sculptor. I may do a mod here and there but for the most part I only paint (and not even that well). I have learned my lesson, I cannot compete against pro sculptors for Sophies. I won't ever enter the open again. Only the painters division for me from now on.
:(

Whoa...don't throw in the towel on the Open Category! I'm not a sculptor by any stretch of the imagination and the conversions I do have to be extremely simple for me to be able to make them work, but I still managed to win a silver medal in the Open Category and the very same mini won a bronze Sophie in the Diorama Category. Keep taking classes and work towards expanding your skill set. That's what I'm trying to do, and it's paying off (in smallish increments, anyway).

[dks]

Whoa...don't throw in the towel on the Open Category! I'm not a sculptor by any stretch of the imagination and the conversions I do have to be extremely simple for me to be able to make them work, but I still managed to win a silver medal in the Open Category and the very same mini won a bronze Sophie in the Diorama Category. Keep taking classes and work towards expanding your skill set. That's what I'm trying to do, and it's paying off (in smallish increments, anyway).

Good points, @Duliniel, and congratulations again!
Until a few years ago, I probably wouldn't have expected to enter anything in an Open category, either -- I didn't do many conversions or complicated basing. I had been painting for 15 years before I sculpted anything.
Remember that in Open, the scoring breakdown is roughly Difficulty 15%, Creativity 10%, Workmanship [sculpting/conversion and composition of dioramas] 30%, Painting 30%, Presentation [basing and overall effect] 15%. In Painters, it is Difficulty 10%, Creativity 0, Workmanship 10%, Painting 70%, Presentation 10%.
Whatever level your painting or sculpting may be at, with the open system of judging (at ReaperCon, GenghisCon, KublaCon, MMSI, etc.), you can still enter your best work in whichever category suits it, get the certificate or medal that it earned, ask the judges and other painters to critique your work, and practice and improve; then repeat.
As Homer Simpson said to Bart after the family dog had run away, "Well, crying isn't gonna to bring him back ... unless your tears smell like dog food. So you can sit there, crying, and eating can after can of dog food, until your tears smell enough like dog food to make your dog come back, or you can go out there and find your dog!" So ... the miniatures equivalent of that.

Derek