In one of my previous posts I outlined my ideas about painting up the beautifully sculpted and designed Iron Duke mini's to a wargames standard. Well, I decided to go one better and try a new style of painting, one that would be more suitable for 15mm painting than that of 28mm but it has the advantage that the mini's stand out more on the wargames table as they are usually viewed from arms length at least. So, how is this achievable?
Quite simple really, when painting 15mm mini's it is important to have bigger jumps in the highlighting process. Larger steps between hues. It makes the 15mm mini's look right if you're with me? Well, I've got to admit that, even though these figures are in the early stages of painting I'm quite disappointed in the overall look of the mini's ie that the stages are more staggered than they would normally be. I'll have to see if this improves later as more detail; I certainly hope that it does!! The other draw back to painting in this style is that it hasn't really saved me that much time as I'm not used to painting 28's in this manner so it's been a learning process. Personally, I think that I could be a lot more free with the brush and not worry too much about where a particular brushstroke lands. I know that this sounds counter intuitive but it's something that great emphasis is put on in Art Schools (unless you're the graphics type, which I'm not).
OK, time to bare all, let me know what you think?
I should add that this is not how I normally paint and will not be how I paint my other projects nor indeed anyone else's mini's!!
Bye for now.
They look great, to be honest like my 28s. A photo a arms length would help to show the effect better
ReplyDeleteMartin, they are 28's LOL :>)
ReplyDeleteDarrell.
[I'll copy this so that non-forum readers can read my erudite and knowledgeable words of wisdom here too, and then disagree with me :P ]
ReplyDeleteI can't see anything wrong with it and I'd be happy to pay you to paint to that method for me. I'd bet a lot of other people would too!
I call that style the high-contrast method (though to be honest your standard is far less 'high-contrast' than the majority of gamers who use that style). But that's just it, gamers use the high-contrast approach because it produces good tabletop results in a relatively quick time (obviously, as you say, you're taking longer due to the conflict of 'unlearning' and learning). Working this way will go against the grain of your education and prior standard, but those of us who know your levels of ability recognise that this is to a self-imposed gaming standard to get the figures painted and onto the table in a reasonable amount of time. Those who don't know you will look at the figures, see the painting standard is good even if the technique is to a high-contrast standard (though they'll probably not give a hoot!), and will still be impressed.
Once the units finished, based and on the tabletop amongst the flying dice nobody will be paying any attention to the finer levels of painting anyway. They're to be played with, not sat on a shelf in a cabinet and worshipped as fine art. Look in any wargames magazine at the close up game shots and you'll see that the figures are painted just the same. Same goes for (95% of the*) games at the shows. It's the overall spectacle not the tiny detail that makes the picture.
* I put this in as you'll show me a picture of you L&LB Society Salute game to prove me wrong
Look great to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat,
DeleteI'm going to finish them off and see what's what when they're done.
Darrell.
I see nothing wrong with these figures.
ReplyDeleteI see nothing wrong with these figures.
ReplyDeleteI've got to say that at the moment they look perfectly fine to me. As the unit grows and the bases tie them together I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know guys. I'm just not happy with the amount of time my supposed Wargames Standard has taken me. I would have usually blasted my way through a 24 man unit painted to Wargames Standard in the time it has taken me to get this far with the new method!
ReplyDeleteStill, I can only get better and as I get used to the technique I'll certainly start painting at a higher rate.
Thanks to all for your positive comments :>)
Darrell.