LadyArgent

Thanks guys! This was a just for fun piece but who knows, it may someday make it's way into a comp.

Well, here's my version of Lara Craft. She was a ton of fun to paint and base...very inspirational.

Well you don't get to be Michael because I'm going to grow up to be him...ummm...but female. Awesome job as usual Michael. I'm going to have to try to show you up now...

Hi QP and welcome! Checking out your bladedancer. It sounds like we both started out using similar tools (I was all about the Folk Art paint before finding the Reaper line). You mentioned not being sure if you're ready for shading etc. I just want to say you'll never feel ready and just have to jump in and go for it. I have a few tutorials posted on my website (www.miniaturerealm.com), I wrote some of them and some are from other artists. I'm still building the tutorial section but if you're considering taking that next step in your painting, there's one in particular I thought may interest you. It's called, "Miniature Painting - How to improve." I basically tried to document the things I learned the hard way to hopefully make it easier for others just starting out. Good luck, I look forward to seeing more from you.

Just wanted to say that it's really cool seeing both of my entries in your photos. These are actually the first pics I've seen of my stuff...haven't even taken any myself yet. It was an awesome competition. Thanks for sharing. Stephanie Sasaki My pleasure! Which two are yours? I entered "Beauty and the Bot" (#32 in your gallery) and the Bladedancer wearing purple (#15).

Just wanted to say that it's really cool seeing both of my entries in your photos. These are actually the first pics I've seen of my stuff...haven't even taken any myself yet. It was an awesome competition. Thanks for sharing. Stephanie Sasaki

To follow up on what Mama said... I think the metallic look is taking away from the paint. Unless you want the entire figure to be metallic, make sure you’re not cross contaminating your water or brush. Paint metallic’s ONLY with metallic’s and thoroughly clean your brush and water when finished or you risk transfer of the metallic flakes into your regular paint. Also, (a little tip) if you are using a gloss varnish over the entire piece...reconsider. This is a mistake I made early on but quickly learned that gloss varnish doesn't photograph well and creates shiny spots where you don't want them. If you want to accent areas with metallics, paint everything else first...then use a matte clear coat if you need one. After the matte coat dries, apply your metallics to the desired areas, i.e. edges of the wings. At this point you can use a brush on gloss varnish in just those areas if desired to protect and maintain the metallic effect. Other than that, like Mama said, practice makes perfect. I improved my painting by finding online tutorials both written and video. Also, doing what you’re doing by posting in the forum is helpful. It allows you to get an outside perspective and it’s been my experience that everyone on the Reaper forums maintains courtesy in their critiques. 8 ) I have a tutorial on my blog about the basics of improving if you want to check it out. I tried to cover all the things that no one ever told me so hopefully my learning experience would make it easier on newer painters. It’s not so much about the technique as it is the lessons I learned the hard way. See it here. This is the first miniature I ever painted. It's obviously been beaten up over the years but it honestly didn't look much better when it had fresh paint. LOL Keep on painting and don’t give up…most of all ENJOY YOURSELF!

This is awesome! Can't wait to see it in person. Finally I have a wolf for my collection! I love wolves but have never taken the time to paint one for myself. THANKS!

I like to call this one "El Bandito"...notice the Wanted poster. LOL Thanks to sgtoku and MamaGeek for pointing out photo feaux pas.

I think you may have already figured this out, but object source lighting is a directional lighting like you mentioned from a lamp or the moon. Anne Cooper does fabulous work with OSL. I hope she doesn't mind, but I stole this picture from her blog to give an example. Notice how the front is being hit by a reddish glow while the shaded parts are cool colors. There isn’t an object in this image but I could just see this guy in some darkened cave standing over a lava pit. I would say on yours, focus your highlights more to the top (head, shoulders, etc) since you’re looking for a moon glow and personally I would use a bluish white. Have highlights lower down but maybe a more subdued bluish grey instead of the stark white and get darker as you move to the bottom of the piece. As you go, blend the highlights. Since the highlights will be on fabric they wouldn’t be quite as sharp as if they were on a hard surface. I think the placement is really good, just maybe consider altering the highlight color a bit. That’s my two cents from the peanut gallery. I’ve actually painted this piece myself and have never posted it because I’m still not happy with the final product. It’s difficult to do all black…I wish you the best on this one. Off to a great start so far!

So glad you like it!

The base is from Fenris Games on ebay. They are by far my favorite base manufacturer. Fenris Store I have plans to begin sculpting my own bases but it's just so much easier to buy them.

Here you go.

C & C Welcome.

Will be in the mail tomorrow.