14581: Oakhearth Warden

[fanguad]

I picked this one up for one of my players who is playing a Mwangi (PFRPG African) ranger who fights with spear and shield. Unfortunately that player had to drop out of my game, but I'm still going to paint up the mini the way I originally planned. First he got de-elfed. Chopped off those pointy things and shaped the helmet ear-holes so it looked more-or-less normal.

 

Here's the base coat. I've been struggling this winter with my paints - the low humidity drastically changes how they work and I'm not yet skilled enough to adapt. I tried mixing paints with more matte medium to avoid chalkiness, but ended up with thick-looking basecoats. With regular water, they look chalky and dry out quickly (I know, I know, get a wet palette). Anyway, here he is. I painted up another warrior with the same skin color - I'll post her soon, once I get her basecoat finished.

 

 

[fanguad]

Did shadows. Washed the armor with black, then painted shadows on the cloak with glazes, with no attempt at blending. I tried to force myself to go much darker than I was comfortable with - do you think I went far enough?

 

 

[Slendertroll]

I'd say that shading is just about perfect. Great work!

[CashWiley]

Shading looks good to me!

[Pingo]

I think this is a great adaptation to a dark-skinned human.

 

Where are you that the humidity is so low? I have had some success with a spray mister on my palette, also laying the palette (I often just use a piece of tinfoil for a palette) on a wet paper towel folded up.

[fanguad]

It isn't so much that humidity is low in absolute terms (15% atm), but that it's so much different than it was 2-3 months ago (40-50%). Trying to learn how to blend while my paints are changing how they behave is making it really hard.

[fanguad]

Got a lot of work done on this guy today. Did the highlights of his cloak - instead of adding white, I added yellow based on suggestions I'd heard here. The brown bits of his armor got highlighted and the armor got drybrushed. Painted a gem on his shield, drybrushed it and attached it. I got a little brown on the corner of his cloak I'll have to fix but I think he's done. His base is also finished, so I should be able to seal and attach tomorrow.

[Slendertroll]

Wow, the cloak's spectacular! Looks like the shadow on the gem could go a little farther down, but I'm sure it's still better than any I've ever done.

[fanguad]

Yeah, there's definitely something off about the gem, although these pictures don't show it very well. It's close enough for me, plus it's not really a centerpiece of the mini. They're also picking up some actual specular, in addition to the painted-on.

[fanguad]

Finished version here.

[Stubbdog]

I just think the issue is that the green on the gem is the exact same green as the cloak. So, it blends in. But, as you said, since this is only a rank and file soldier, not like a hero, elite or center piece model, I wouldnt worry about it too much. Save the extra effort for the highlight minis. Good efforts here.