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!
(http://i.imgur.com/iSg8GQT.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/sYropt0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/dxZtzFO.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/8Su7qii.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/7vpgyzx.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/wsD1DSO.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/2g0VcZZ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/USZgoAF.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/RwbgJO7.jpg)
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!
(http://i.imgur.com/q6BSlJc.jpg)
EDIT: Pics resized
I think they look really, really good !
Cheers - Phil
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. :D
I like emphasized shading so, again, no problems I can see. The faces are very well done. :-bd
Looking good to me!
I would say, a few cuff highlights for the posh blokes, but otherwise pretty awesome. 8)
I like them - good colour contrast makes them eye catching.
Very good
Yep, I agree with the masses. These look nice.
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
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.
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
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
Very nice indeed
Take care
Andy
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!
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.
Lovely work 8). I've found that generally I've gone with lighter colours than first thought, just to make the figures stand out more on the table.
Looking good - excellent work on the mail - that'll start something :d
If the figures are simply to game with, then I would be very happy with that standard of painting. The (dark) basing I would be happy with too, as it helps to draw focus to the painted figures.
If you wished them to be entered into competition, and be in with a good chance of winning, or be of a display quality, then they require more shading and contrasting paint layers (the amount of detail that some chap's can paint on so small a figure is amazing, as seen in the competition threads of this forum if you haven't already seen them) and possibly the use of artistic designs on the shields centres and banners. From what you've shown of these figures you should be capable of this type of additional painting work with experience of the scale. However, all this additional paint work isn't necessary if they're just to be played with - as you'll never see the extra hours of painstaking painting when playing, unless your nose is level with the figures or you're using a zoomed-in camera.
Over all, I'd definitely give these figures a thumbs up :-bd and say 'nicely done!'
Hope that's a useful and constructive critique :)
TBH my feeling these days is sod competitions and paint to please yourself. It's a bit like enjoying a kick about in the park. You won't become a professional footballer. Some people just have a gift for painting to competition standard and others don't. Been there, didn't win the teeshirt, don't bother any more.
I think you've done a great job. Sticking them together as a unit they will look great
Looking really good, go with the chaps advice on a light highlight, it really makes 10mm stand out. You can go lighter than you think in the smaller scale, when you view them from a couple of foot away the eye picks out the highlight and they look nice and crisp. I always go for a dark base coat then a light highlight but just try a few colours and see what works best for you.
A great start though, i'm sure you will get hooked on 10mm, looking forward to seeing a big group of them.
kev
Really really nice, Mr Kingsofstones. Me too basing my little brave warriors individually. Good job!
Good points about keeping distance in mind and taking a step back to view the colors and about the difference in troops for gaming vs. display! Working with them so close I forget that an army will be down and away from the eye, and the point about the contrast on the base making them pop is a great tip as well. I had not considered that. Thanks again everyone for the fantastic feedback and inspiration!