Wanted: Pro painting tips from the Reaper crew!

[Akiosama]

Thanks, Anne, for the reply. I understand you all are really busy, so the whole thing was more like a 'Why not ask and see?' sort of thing.

 

I do understand that the process of color selection changes depending on what it is that you're painting, but I thought there might be some sort of general thought process behind the theory that could be hashed out a bit more. I mean, I know what a complementary color is, and a cool or warm color, and such, but using that knowledge in creating a workable paint scheme is not nearly as clear to me. Also, contrast, color value, and saturation rarely get touched on. For example, I've been told previously that cool colors (or warm colors) should harmonize together and look decent together in general, and yet I've had experiences where it doesn't seem to be the case. (I remember trying to do Tyranids up in an ice-blue/violet scheme one time, and when I was done with the test mini, and looked over it over, I almost pitched the mini, I thought the colors clashed so badly.) So, I'm just trying to get a feel for how you painters (Anne & Co. and everyone else who would like to elaborate, too!) decide that "these colors would look good together" without constantly rethinking your color choices constantly.

 

Thanks again, Anne. Keep up the great work - I look forward to seeing more of your art.

 

My 2 yen,

 

Akiosama

[dks]

Thanks for the post and the praise, Akiosama.

I agree, I can see big differences in my style of painting since I wrote those tutorials in 2003. (Seeing what other top-tier painters are doing gives all of us incentive to improve and evolve constantly.)

 

I started to write an article about my "Reef" diorama (2007) after I had finished it, explaining how I composed and converted the figures, and built and painted the base, but since I hadn't actually taken any in-progress photographs, I found that the article wasn't much help. I hadn't thought about doing a new painting- (or sculpting-)related tutorial, but I'll think on it, now that you've mentioned it. When I'm about to start painting or sculpting a figure in the future, I'll consider ways to get a tutorial out of the process.

 

A tutorial on color selection might be tricky. Usually I'm mentally picturing several alternatives, choosing one and painting it, and then continuing to make fine adjustments with glazes. To present this process in a tutorial might involve a series of Photoshopped images of what's going through my mind's eye ("too yellow, too pale, too dark, too saturated, too grayed, too red, just right") -- so you can also see what choices I might have made, and you can decide for yourself why the others would have been a "bad" color choice. Sometimes, I work out the palette in advance with a little color study on paper, taking an hour or so instead of indecisively foundering for hours on the miniature.

 

Anyway... hang in there. You've asked, now we'll see.

 

Derek

[Shortbeard]

 

As far as shaded metallics go, hands down your best source would be Michael Proctor. He does the most amazing things with metallics that I have ever seen! I'll drop him a line and point him this direction.

 

Laters,

Jen

 

 

Well your effort is appreciated.

 

And to all the upper echelon painters who have responded to this thread I thank you.