Ayla the Amateur... You asked for it!

[Ayla]

Well, you've all been so welcoming and so encouraging, with heart in mouth I am gonna post some pics of my current WIP's.

Please bear in mind that I have only been painting two weeks, and have a VERY limited selection of paints!

Any comments, critiques, hints tips and pointers will be very,very welcome.

Firstly, this is my first attempt at flesh/ a face... ignore the rest of it, I've literally only done the face, haven't even done the hair and beard!

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/Aylas-Miniatures/Clairesminis095-1.jpg


These three photos are of one that began as an exercise in brush control, hence the random bits that have been done in no particular order, then became also an exercise in blending hi lights and an attempt at gems, and now I think I might even try to finish ithttp://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon12.gif

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/Aylas-Miniatures/Clairesminis089.jpg


http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/Aylas-Miniatures/Clairesminis086.jpg


http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/Aylas-Miniatures/Clairesminis080-1.jpg


So, there you have it, Amateur Ayla's second and third ever minis! Hoping that you guy's advice will help me improve... a lot! http://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Hinton]

Thanks for posting, Ayla.

Overall, they look ok. You've got some good brush control (always very important). Some parts look a little glossy, but that can usually be fixed with some matte sealant.

The gem work looks really good (better than my first attempt at it) and you've got come good color choices. You might want to try going for deeper shades or higher highlights. The swords on the second one are brown, so I'm assuming that you were going for a rusted look (?). If so, great work.

Overall, it's really good for your second and third minis. Keep it up.

[Nathan Caroland]

Better brush control than on my first dozen or so that's for sure. I particularly like the colors and the gems that you've used on that second one.

Interesting take on the colors of the swords, look almost like they are made out of wood and works for me believe it or not. I would suggest straightening out the left sword, though that could also be the angle of the shot. I usually take a moment to go over a miniature to straighten or tweak anything that comes out of the mold slightly kilter or gets squashed in a package (or dropped, etc).

Looks to me like you are using inks if the shading and the slight gloss are anything to go by which is really a good idea, particularly if you are just starting out which means you've got the concept of pulling shadows and detail at the very least. Inks have their uses, but I find that they tend to be glossy and more trouble than they are worth so you might want to look into doing washes, which is essentially really wattered down paint. I tend to cover a miniature in that fashion and then use another dry brush to take off the excess, leaving the crevesis and the like to take the paint. Might have to do it a couple of times though to get the look you want.

Looks like you started highlights on the bottom one - though it could be the light too. :D If you have, great! You've already grasped a concept that took me a bit to get ahold of. Otherwise, I always tended to start with the darker base colors first and then work my way up two or three highlights progressively moving it along the edges, etc.

Blacklining might be a good way to start things out for you as well for blocking off your colors, details and particularly your eyes. WAAAAY better than my first few times about - mine mostly ended up crosseyed or fisheyed and the fact that you've got yours in the right place gives big points. Try blacklining the eyes, or look at a past post where folks were talking to Hinton about his eyes and that'll help you out as well. Some great tutorials out there as well.

Good stuff Ayla, looking forward to more and seeing your progress.

[james sequeira]

Miles better than when i started, well done

[gi6ers]

Great start, you've got brush control and tidiness sorted and I think those are the hardest things to master - the rest is technique and practice.

[DrEvilmonki]

Wow for two weeks painting that is really good!
A quick suggestion would be when painting gems turn your highlights upside down. Basically highlght so the top is dark and the bottom of the gem is light then put a small white dot on the top of the gem. This makes it look like the light is shining through the gem.

[Duende]

Wow, I wish my first minis looked that good!

Well, hell, I wish my current minis looked that tidy!

I think you're off to a great start! Keep practicing and posting, and heed the advice of the much better painters above!

:D

[jondalar]

Remember she has a good teacher guys!!! Lol, on a serious note, really proud of what you've done Ayla, just keep it up, keep practising and dont lose heart!!

[Ayla]

Thanks for all your encouragement and advice folks- some really helpful tips there, and I promise to try them all! Have been checking out some of the tutorials already- can't wait for my next week off work, when I plan to try loads of stuff outhttp://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon10.gif

@Hinton and Frustrated Father- I'll let you into a little secret on the swords... I've done nothing to them at all! http://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon12.gif Haven't got that far yet- these are still WIP's. The effect you see is just from the initial wash, which was already on the mini when I 'aquired' it. Might just leave them like that now though! With regard to the higlights- I have started them, having followed advice picked up right here, planning to do some more work on them though.

@Jondalar- Indeed I do have a truly fine teacher, with a truly massive head!http://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon12.gif

[gi6ers]

with a truly massive head!http://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon12.gif

Is it painted half-blue by any chance??

[Ayla]

Is it painted half-blue by any chance??

Not yet, but it might be...very soon if he's not careful!http://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon10.gif Small spiral tattoos on earlobes in blue too, I think!http://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Ayla]

Well, here it is folks, my first ever finished mini- appologies for the crap base, my 'tutor' (and his kit!) has abandoned me for his sick bed, so I had to do the best I could with what I had to hand... cat litter!

Photography is not a strong point of mine, but hopefully you can see well enough to comment!

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/Aylas-Miniatures/FirstFinishedMini/Clairesminis2164.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/Aylas-Miniatures/FirstFinishedMini/Clairesminis2160.jpg http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/Aylas-Miniatures/FirstFinishedMini/Clairesminis2150.jpg



Comments, suggestions etc very welcome!

I'm moving on to something I actually want to paint now, so hopefully will make a better job of the next one!http://wyrd-games.net/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Hinton]

Looks pretty good, Ayla. Maybe a bit more shading and/or highlighting on some parts, but very nice. Nice work on the swords; much better than the brown. :)