23 replies to this topic

[ub3r_n3rd]

So here's my very first attempt ever at painting miniatures. I am breaking my teeth on the Ravenloft miniatures at this time and last night I finished painting the biggest of the minis who is the Dracolich. I only need to spray on the dull cote and perhaps do more with the basing at this point.

I obviously don't know many techniques yet, have been using really cheap brushed and really cheap craft paint, but I think it came out pretty decent. I took pictures from the left side and right side of him and using no flash and flash with my iPhone so the lighting isn't perfect either.

Let me know what you all think! C&C are welcomed.

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[buglips*the*goblin]

A lot of people must have this Ravenloft set - you're at least the third person I've seen, maybe the fourth, starting out on it in the last few weeks.

[ub3r_n3rd]

*nods* I saw a couple others on these forums have posted about them too.

They are all I have right now as I saw the Bones KS and couldn't pass it up. I saw a guy at a con last year had his painted up and used them for the board game and thought I should try it as well. I also figured that since these were pretty cheap minis that I had laying around that they'd be perfect to practice on before I get my bones. A few months ago, I saw and pledge to the Dwarven Adventurers KS, they are the metal minis that I'll get probably next month. Before even pledging the Kickstarters I had previously just purchased pre-painted plastic minis and had 1 mini custom painted for me to use in my PF game.

[joshuaslater]

First attempt looks good!! Kings to you for starting with a big beastie.

[recruittons]

I like the colors you chose, and the wing membrane looks really good (the toughest bit to paint, in my opinion).

One thing I would do is get some black paint into the recesses of his head. The eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Take some of that craft paint, put it on a plate, and start adding drops of water to it until when you're spreading it with your brush, it looks translucent. Then just brush it across his head and anyplace else you want to darken/emphasize those little niches and details. It's a very fast way to shade fairly neatly. Otherwise, the rest of his body doesn't seem to need it. It looks like his bits and bones came out very clearly.

Oh! And I based mine with a really simple, but odd, method. I had some acrylic gel medium, basically a tube of additive for acrylic paints dried thick, instead of reducing to just pigments. I spread it over the base and waited for it to dry. Then I painted it black, dry-brushed on some grey, and marked in the tile lines so it looked like he is on the dungeon floor of the game! It's a quick and cheap way to create his base. If you want to get a bit fancier, you can even fine little bits of rock and place them around his feet, like he steps are breaking the stone!

Anyway! Great job and thanks for sharing

[ub3r_n3rd]

@recruittons Thanks! I'll do that tonight with the shading to fill in those other places like the eyes and whatnot. Great advice. As far as Basing goes, I was thinking about using some milliput that I purchased to make it look like he's walking on tiles if I can get it right. Otherwise I might just put some sand and rocks down on it and call it good.

[ced1106]

Dragon wing membranes are a pain. See this tutorial:

* Wash in black
* Paint the membranes and zombie parts blue
* Highlight whites

http://www.legendgam...ragonqueen.html

[ObsidianCrane]

I'm guessing that you did not clean (with warm soapy water, rinse and leave to dry) the miniature before you started painting it. While cleaning isn't critical with the Bones minis it is recomended and it is critical for the Ravenloft minis.

It is also worth noting that by WotC designs the Dracolich is actually a former blue dragon.

Finally there is a bit of work to do still, maybe with a better brush.

There are areas where I can see the plastic showing through the paint (on the wings, on the right front leg).
All the reamining flesh on the back has been painted white, but should be either black or blue.

After that I recomend experimenting with a wash as described above over the whole miniature. Then you come back and paint the highlights on again.

I should have my version of the mini finished next week (he is base coated and washed at the moment) to give a better idea of what I mean.

[ub3r_n3rd]

I'm guessing that you did not clean (with warm soapy water, rinse and leave to dry) the miniature before you started painting it. While cleaning isn't critical with the Bones minis it is recomended and it is critical for the Ravenloft minis.

It is also worth noting that by WotC designs the Dracolich is actually a former blue dragon.

Finally there is a bit of work to do still, maybe with a better brush.

There are areas where I can see the plastic showing through the paint (on the wings, on the right front leg).
All the reamining flesh on the back has been painted white, but should be either black or blue.

After that I recomend experimenting with a wash as described above over the whole miniature. Then you come back and paint the highlights on again.

I should have my version of the mini finished next week (he is base coated and washed at the moment) to give a better idea of what I mean.

I actually did clean all of them in warm soapy water, even leaving them to soak for a few minutes prior to taking them out to scrub them gently.

Yeah, his wings are a dark blue, more of a navy color. The picture doesn't do it much justice.

Definitely going to start using better brushes soon. I purchased a set of the W&N 7 Series from dickblick.com and they arrived last night. I figured that on the rest of these Ravenloft minis I'll try to refine my techniques and practice on them before using the more expensive brushes as well. I wouldn't want unintentionally ruin the expensive good brushes because of my lack of knowledge as I continue to learn.

He's actually completely covered in paint, I painted him at first with an off-white color on the areas then painted others with a whiter white to give the feel of some of the areas being aged more. I didn't notice the area on his back should be the dark blue like his wings, I'll go over that and fix it (thanks!).

I'm still trying to figure out how to actually do washes, I need to watch some vids on it because obviously when I try it doesn't come out like I think it should.

I'd love to see yours because I learn better from pictures, videos, and hands-on than I do from reading what people are trying to explain.

Thanks for all the comments, as a new painter it's nice to get the feedback to make myself better!

[ub3r_n3rd]

@ced116 - Thanks for the link to the tutorial! I'll definitely look at it when I get home tonight. I was kind of going by that picture of the epic rare dracolich, but I didn't want it to be exactly like that one as I wanted to kind of create my own style or vision for the fig.

I've actually purchased the beginner kits that Reaper sells after reading about them and the highly touted recommendations on the forums. I think I might do some WIPs of the figs that are included when I get them in a week or two. Hoping that they help me learn more and get good enough to put the minis on the table in front of my friends when I get the Bones in March or so.

[ced1106]

The great thing about washes is that you can't screw up with washes! After precisely adding paint to a figure, it's *weird* to just apply wash all over the figure. But the best part of washes is that it's so thin that, even if you get a dark wash in a light area, the light area becomes more "natural looking" than "candy colored". Even if you do get wash pooling in the wrong part of the figure, you can use another brush to act as a sponge and soak up the wash!

GET AN EYE DROPPER ASAP! :D I have this old medicine bottle with this flow aid stuff (or just use water) and adding drops to paint or whatever is VERY easy with an eye dropper. I can even add it directly to the pot (I have old paints) to thin down the paint.

The Craft: Let it Flow
http://www.reapermini.com/Thecraft/15

You might try the Ravenloft gargoyle next to take on washes, drybrushing (?) and highlighting? A gargoyle doesn't have as many annoying details that *need* to be painted as clothed figures, although you can do so if you wish.

This tutorial isn't for the Ravenloft gargoyle, but maybe you'll find some tips for gargoyle painting.

[psyberwolfe1]

I wouldn't want unintentionally ruin the expensive good brushes because of my lack of knowledge as I continue to learn.

Truth is short of getting paint in the ferrule (the metal part of the brush) or drybrushing with your good brush you aren't going to ruin them. That is the mark of a good brush. Don't be afraid of your brushes. And painting with them now will help you in the long run.

[ub3r_n3rd]

@ced1106 - Thanks again! That tutorial is amazing. I had already purchased an eyedropper, it's just a matter of getting used to painting now and figuring out all the nuances for me. I am going to order some of that flow improver right now and I'll definitely take your advise with the Gargoyles being my next project. I am currently working on the Zombie Dragon, but my attempt at the wash was frustrating to say the least so the tutorial should help me out tremendously.

@psyberwolfe1 - Thanks for the advice! As you know those W&N 7 series aren't cheap that was why I was afraid to use them right now as a beginner after dropping over $100 on the set and not wanting to ruin them.

[psyberwolfe1]

That's what Winsor Newton Brush restorer is for.

[ub3r_n3rd]

That's what Winsor Newton Brush restorer is for.

Bought that stuff already when I got those brushes after reading about how to care for brushes