First 10mm; looking for feedback!

[KingofStones]

Hello! Here are some knightly fellows on 2mm bases (actually keys off a keyboard) and a small fantasy diorama on a 2x2in tile.

Sorry if I'm overdoing the images, but I'm looking for feedback before starting a larger project, and I would greatly appreciate any comments, critiques, and/or tips! Not happy with the ground color choices (dark green in particular doesn't match the color temperature of the grass) and the shading on the troops did not come out as clear as I would have liked (the light is blowing it out a bit in some images), but I am liking the 2mm base size. Thanks again to all who helped me with that previously! There may be some dust and flock flying around, easy to miss some of that stuff, but I like the look of the brand I'm using so far. I know getting as close as I am in some images is not the best approach, but again I'm after critique so I'd rather show all the hideous errors!












I am doing a project that includes a sort of modular use of troops so I'll be basing individuals on 10x10mm squares or two troops on a 10x15mm base, and then forming those into larger blocks. It will be a bit cramped but those bases above with two guys are about 10x15mm, and I was able to conceal the round base of the models sufficiently I hope. What do you think?

Here's one more that was so dramatic I couldn't resist, thanks for taking a look!


EDIT: Pics resized

[Techno]

I think they look really, really good !

Cheers - Phil

[d_Guy]

I'm jealous of you skills, actually! 

The basing is clever. Until you mentioned the ground contrast I was seeing it as a green-black. Just argue that they are fighting over a deposite of azurite and be done with it. 

I like emphasized shading so, again, no problems I can see. The faces are very well done. 

[Leon]

Looking good to me!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I would say, a few cuff highlights for the posh blokes, but otherwise pretty awesome.

[Norm]

I like them - good colour contrast makes them eye catching.

[Shedman]

Very good

[lowlylowlycook]

Yep, I agree with the masses.  These look nice.

[mollinary]

They look brilliant, and there is no doubt as to your talent as a painter. As others have said, the faces are perfect. All I would tentatively suggest is perhaps looking  to lighten your palette. With such small figures, there is very little space in which to bring a figure up to the viewer, and going with lighter colours is one way of maximising it.

Mollinary

[fred.]

I like them.

One suggestion, which is a personal preference more than anything, I would perhaps go for a darker shade on the mail. Saying this I would still take mollinary's advice above about lightening  colours in general.

[Subedai]

Yep, another advocate of a lighter palette here. Also, I would change your base colour to one that is lighter as it definately make your nicely painted chaps look even nicer. I always think dark next to light next to dark and so on, all the colours then 'pop' as they say.

MickS

[Glorfindel]

These are really nice - well done.   I would also echo the suggestion of
adding a lighter highlight on the sleeves, shields & banners.

A great start.


Phil

[Womble67]

Very nice indeed

Take care

Andy

[KingofStones]

Wow, thanks everyone for the encouragement! And many, many, many, thanks for the feedback!

Great tips on the sleeve highlights and palette changes! I did most of the highlighting coming from the top, had not considered that I needed to include a "fill" light to enhance their character/detail just like you would for portraiture. I'll have to play around with the colors and balance a bit. I like them grittier but they do look a bit flat when I look at them with those tips in mind. Again thank you everyone for the insight and taking the time to take a look, and for creating the awesome inspiring work around here! I've been lurking for far too long, and all your posts and photos have helped me jump in!

[paulr]

We are always happy to look at pictures of figures painted as well as these, so you are definitely not overdoing the pictures

As others have said a slightly lighter palette is needed for 10mm figures. I would definitely go with lighter basing.

I also like the grittier look

Perhaps a few brighter high lights on the mail, just a few.

I would also suggest using a lighter colour for the spear shafts, but not as light as the leather straps, for the armoured types. Not as necessary for the skeletons as they are lighter over all.