Alidee, Female Bandit (Reaper)- WIP

[Hinton]

I got my latest shipment of minis in and as I was looking at them, I decided to paint Alidee first. As I sat looking at her, she just screamed to be painted with directed lighting/OSL instead of the normal "sun as a light source" method.

"No," I said to the mini, "I'm not that good yet."

"Paint me with OSL!" she screamed back "OSL! OSL!"

After much debate I decided to take the plunge and do it. Then, I decided to go ahead and try NMM on this one since it seemed to fit with the OSL theme. (think I'm crazy yet?). I debated whether I should do a WIP post or not, but I figured I probably should since I'm trying so many new things. (gotta be out of my mind)

So, here she is, primed and ready to go. I shot her with only one light to get an idea how the light and shadows would fall.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8901/006tc9.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9018/007ic3.jpg

I've already decided on which colors I'm going to use for the cloak, clothes, etc. I'll try to keep this updated at regular intervals, but sometimes I get started painting and just keep going.

So, if anyone wants to toss in their ideas and opinions (like trying to talk me out of this insane endeavor), please, by all means, jump right in.

[DrEvilmonki]

Well the single light source photo is a great first step. Other than that I would suggest checking out Shawn.R.L's thread on OSL over at CMON for some ideas.

Good luck.

[supervike]

Another thing that helps a bit is to prime the mini a grey color (or black if you prefer) and then once dry, use white spray paint as your 'light source' and give it a quick burst or two. It really helps to 'see' where the light falls.

[Duende]

I got my latest shipment of minis in and as I was looking at them, I decided to paint Alidee first. As I sat looking at her, she just screamed to be painted...



My minis do the same thing!! Whoever's loudest gets painted first!

Nice to know there's somebody else in the crazy "my minis speak to me" boat!

:vb_cheers

[Eastern Front Studios]

Vikey thats one good tip ..the backside of the mini would always be darker hitting it from the front with a burst of grey or white would help in the process((possibly both..maybe with a airbrush would be good more controlled?)) ..a osl I wanted to try was some adventurers descending some steps, with say a flickering torch....yes Shawns how to and some of Victorias are really helpful..course Eric j's is a good inspiration also for closer up lighting. Hinton look forward to seeing what you come up with ;)

[Hinton]

@DrEvilmonki: I thought it would be best to at least have an idea of what I was looking for/at. I'm posting over at CMoN in shawn's thread since he's agreed to help me out and I've read his tutorial on OSL several times now.

@supervike: Oh sure; now you tell me. :laugh: It's cool, though. At least I know to do that next time.

@Duende: At least I'm not the only one that's crazy. :wacko:

Okay, here's a small update. I always start with the eyes, face and skin areas. Very little of that with this one (pardon the slightly messy painting).

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1114/009mr8.jpg

[Eastern Front Studios]

Hinton will the source of the osl be from the sword or other light source?

[Hinton]

Hinton will the source of the osl be from the sword or other light source?

It'll be from another light source, specifically from a window to her right side. It's kind of a mini-diorama.

[Eastern Front Studios]

Hinton yeah from the way shes standing that would work well.depending on how close she would be to the window which would make the light larger or smaller..perhaps cobblestones and barrels crates in a alley?sounds like a cool little project ..I am interested in seeing it come together.not only the light on her but the shadows trailing off is always interesting also.

[Hinton]

I've done the back of her cloak. However, it's just not looking right to me. I know what I want to do, but it seems like it just won't come out right. Suggestions?

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1293/010fe6.jpg

[gi6ers]

it seems like it just won't come out right. Suggestions?

I'd give it a glaze of the midtone and re-highlight.

[Nathan Caroland]

Seeing that you did the eyes first this time around and it was something of an issue for your sixth miniature, how do you feel it came along this time? From what I can see, it looks pretty good but I can only make out so much as well.

[Hinton]

I'd give it a glaze of the midtone and re-highlight.

You're not the only one that's suggested that (although, you are the first). I'll be going back and doing that later today, along with a couple other things and then post more pics.


Seeing that you did the eyes first this time around and it was something of an issue for your sixth miniature, how do you feel it came along this time? From what I can see, it looks pretty good but I can only make out so much as well.

The eyes seemed to go much better than usual. I wasn't nervous about screwing up since I knew that I didn't have anything else painted. Normally, I have quite a bit (if not all) of the mini done, so it's going through my head: "Don't screw this up!", which, of course, only makes things worse.

Unfortunately, the shadows do take away or even cover up some of what I did, which kind of upsets me; I finally got some decent eyes done with what looked like the perfect amount of darklining and everything and I had to cover it up! Aaarrrggghhh!!!

Oh well; at least I know what I did this time and should be able to apply it and perhaps even improve upon it with the next one.

[Ritual]

Maybe you can do an occulac next time, then! If you really want to show off the eyes! :laugh:

[Hinton]

What the heck is an "occulac"?

Progress report:

Just putting up a picture of where I'm at right now. Of course, suggestions or comments are always welcome if you have any.

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2051/wip1tp7.jpg

[gi6ers]

The cloak is looking a lot better, good job.

[Ritual]

An occulac (sp?) or beholder is a large eyeball with lots of smaller eyes at the ends of tentacles.

[Ritual]

And yeah, the cloak looks much better now.

[Hinton]

Thanks.

Oh, ok; I know what beholder is. Searching for "occulac" didn't return any results.

[Ritual]

I may very well have mis-spellt it... :)

[gi6ers]

Google for Occulak and the heresy version should pop up for you

[Hinton]

I may very well have mis-spellt it... :)

No worries. :)

@gi6ers: Yep, that worked. It's a Beholder.

[Ritual]

Somewhere in all this confusion the joke I was trying to make got lost... :rolleyes: I should have written "beholder" instead...

[Hinton]

No, Ritual; I got the joke. Ocular means eye; occulac (or occulak) must mean many eyes.

I just never heard of one before. Trust me, I did laugh.

[Hinton]

Hey all. Just posting another update pic. Getting closer, but still a ways to go yet.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1755/wip2bb9.jpg

[callumrice]

Its a good paint job, really nice. Your highlighting is not as smooth as it cood be on the cloak but this does not hinder the model, it actually enhances it in my book. Its a distinct style of highlighting and really looks like the light has caught it, especially on the back. Good job so far!

[Hinton]

Thanks, callumrice.

Okay...as far as I'm concerned, unless there is a glaring error (and if you see one, please, for the love of pants, point it out) I'm calling the directed lighting/OSL done and moving on to the NMM parts - the sword and belt buckle.

Comments and critiques always welcome.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5482/wip4bb3.jpg

[Hinton]

Well, I've called her pretty much done and I've started in on the base/diorama.

Would someone please be kind enough to come over to my place and beat me with a very large stick? It would probably be a lot less painful.

Comments and/or critiques most welcome.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3753/030sy7.jpg
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4441/032ov2.jpg
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3411/031ot0.jpg
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9637/033ev2.jpg

[matty1001]

That looks nice! Just remember to paint her shadow onto the floor to add to the 'illusion'

[Nathan Caroland]

Good call on the shadow ..

[Hinton]

Oh yeah; the shadow will go in as soon as I have all of the "dirt" in place. I'm also going to put in a small rock or two and add shadows to those to help the illusion as well.

[Hinton]

This will (hopefully) be the last WIP shots. I'm still trying to track down some Dullcote to get rid the glossy shine on her that's screwing up the pics.

Of course, if you see something that seems out of place or whatever, please don't hesitate to say something.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1213/001gn0.jpg
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/5193/002tz1.jpg
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/4359/003nq3.jpg
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/193/004ou2.jpg

[Nathan Caroland]

I like it, and I find it interesting that with you only being in this hobby fairly recently that you are taking on some of the harder techniques. Very cool.

[matty1001]

I really like it, the shadows certainly add to the illusion.
Iv just thought of a really great way you could have produced the shadows. Shone a torch through the window and traced the shadows with a soft pencil.
I don't know how i come up with all these amazing suggestions....i really don't!

[Hinton]

First, I want to thank everyone that gave their input, advice and encouragement while I worked on this. I couldn't have done this without you (or at least, it would have been an extremely bad attempt). You're the best!

Second, I'm calling this one done even though there's probably a ton of stuff that I could have done - or could have done better - to improve on this. However, there does come a point where you just have to stop or go crazy. Since Crazy is a very short drive for me (walking distance, really) I'm stopping here.

I would still like to hear any advice, comments or critiques on where I went wrong or where I could have improved. I can always use that information on future minis. Thanks!

So, after two and a half weeks, here's Alidee:

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3766/alideeji4.jpg

[Nathan Caroland]

This looks real good Hinton! I think some of the highlights/osl are in the wrong spots here and there, but overall well done and ambitious project. What did you use to do the window/paint it? Looks almost like you have a light actually behind some rice paper giving off a glow.

[Wren]

I think you've done a super job! I remember quite well when I was starting out how much doing even moderately involved bases and scenes intimidated me at first, and my attempts to try out a few advanced techniques did not fare nearly so well as your lighting has here. The combination of the painting and the scene makes the light effect very convincing here. The only thing that I really spot as 'off' is there's a bit of a bump around her feet where the integral base is, and that's not hugely noticeable.

[Hinton]

@FF: Thanks. I can see those "off" areas as well. Just something for me to watch out for in the future. Saying that the window looks like that is, for me, the ultimate compliment. I used a piece of 1/2 inch polystyrene foam (which is what I also used for the base) cut to fit the window and painted. Thing is, I think the window turned out better than the mini! Oh well.

@Wren: Thank you. I don't have the tools to remove integral bases yet, so I've had to find ways to either cover or hide them somehow; kinda aggravating.

[Wren]

It looks like you used sand/gravel/talus for the ground, and to blend in the base. That method can work pretty well to hide an integral base, it just looks like you needed to build up a few more layers. If you use superglue, you can build up pretty quickly around them. I've also used wood putty for larger bases, and a product called Paper Clay I found at the art store. But yeah, they're a pain to deal with sometimes!

[cdukino]

the window and lighting effect looks brilliant. Very convincing. Great work all over but that lighteffect is top. When I hide an integral base under sand, I always first thin the base bottom up by moving it a truckload of times over coarse sandpaper layed down on a table (hold the mini firm at the ancles if they are thin... don't want the mini to snap there). That will thin it down and keep it flat... helps a lot against the little "mountain" forming. could well be you did this ofcourse.

[Hinton]

Thanks, Cindy. And thanks for the tip; I'll try that next time.