02042: Marith of the Flame (Sandra Garrity)

[Pingo]

So, I continue to plug along, trying new things.  I think this is my sixth mini up here, if you count the group of Astral Reavers as three.

 

I was trying for fire effects and deep shadows.  Not sure how successful I was, although it looks nice on the table.

 

 

I find that I really, really, hate to base.  The thought of tweezing tiny clumps of green hairs into glue to make grass fills me with dread.

 

But I can paint.  So far I have just been painting my bases, which in this case is a one-inch fender washer lightly sanded for grip.

 

Edited September 12, 2015 by Pingo

[The Inner Geek]

I like it! The fire looks especially good. I just tried my first fire recently and it's not easy.

[Adrift]

OSL isn't easy, not by any stretch and takes a lot of practice to master so I laud your efforts. The one thing that stands out at me however is the appearance that you may have reversed your fire; in that the deeper shaded areas are red and the tips are more yellow. The reverse should be true.

[The Inner Geek]

OSL isn't easy, not by any stretch and takes a lot of practice to master so I laud your efforts. The one thing that stands out at me however is the appearance that you may have reversed your fire; in that the deeper shaded areas are red and the tips are more yellow. The reverse should be true.

I see what you mean, but I read an article that suggested that some 'licks' of yellow fire make it to the top of the flame, that's how I took these flames. But, looking again, I see what you mean with the darker fire on the interior of the flame.

[Adrift]

I agree with you and with the article that fire is randomized and that there will be hotter 'licks' of flame that will burst forth and flare to the exterior. My critique was based on an overall assessment that the fire appears transposed.

[ShadowRaven]

Looks good. Love the painted cobblestone base. Only thing I would consider in the future might be a glaze over the shadows and highlights to try and smooth out the blend. You would probably have better luck with that then I do

[Sanael]

Adrift is right about the flames...although there will be licks of yellow at the outer peaks of flame, they should be the exception rather than the rule.

 

I'd forgotten about this mini...it was in my first five or six minis painted, too.

 

I really love the deep shadows on this paint job, and I'm not surprised at the extent of playing with color you're doing, here. OSL is, indeed, difficult, but I think it's fun. Something I would say you migh try is painting the cloth as though there is no on-board light source, just in normal lighting (from the direction of your light source rather than above). Then, start glazing in the colors of the light, getting progressively brighter as you go.

 

That is a very hackneyed description of what Laszlo taught us in his osl class at Rcon, but maybe it will help. On the whole, I think you're headed the right direction; cleaning up the transitions would make this a pretty snazzy fire mage!

 

Also, I wouldn't worry about making "fancy" bases if this is your painted look. I love it!

[DocPiske]

First, really nice choice of colors, limiting your pallet was a good move. And I like the stones painted onto the base. I too use steel fender washers for bases.

 

I would stay away from red for flames entirely; it really only shows up when the the fire is otherwise in darkness; i.e. the fire itself is the only light source. In daylight, you don't see the red at all. I would use oranges and yellows, very bright and pale shades, maybe with a quick glaze of yellow paint mixed with a drop of PVA (Elmer's) glue; the glaze will add some translucence. The fire should be the brightest part of the model.

 

Also, for the yellow cloth like on the outside of the robe you might want to use brown instead of black for the shadows. It should look more natural.

Edited May 10, 2013 by DocPiske

[Pingo]

OSL isn't easy, not by any stretch and takes a lot of practice to master so I laud your efforts. The one thing that stands out at me however is the appearance that you may have reversed your fire; in that the deeper shaded areas are red and the tips are more yellow. The reverse should be true.

Whoops, you're right about that. I will have to remember that for my next fiery mini.

 

First, really nice choice of colors, limiting your pallet was a good move. And I like the stones painted onto the base. I too use steel fender washers for bases.

 

I would stay away from red for flames entirely; it really only shows up when the the fire is otherwise in darkness; i.e. the fire itself is the only light source. In daylight, you don't see the red at all. I would use oranges and yellows, very bright and pale shades, maybe with a quick glaze of yellow paint mixed with a drop of PVA (Elmer's) glue; the glaze will add some translucence. The fire should be the brightest part of the model.

 

Also, for the yellow cloth like on the outside of the robe you might want to use brown instead of black for the shadows. It should look more natural.

Thanks for the tips. The shadows on the robe are actually purple, but I see your point.

[CashWiley]

I love the colors and values you went with here. Really nice painterly work that stands apart from what everyone else is doing. Amazing style you are developing, Pingo. I actually like seeing some of the brushstrokes, I missed the memo that said all minis must conform to smooth blending.

 

This is definitely in the top few minis I've seen posted here, if not my favorite. So stylish and unique.

[Pingo]

I love the colors and values you went with here. Really nice painterly work that stands apart from what everyone else is doing. Amazing style you are developing, Pingo. I actually like seeing some of the brushstrokes, I missed the memo that said all minis must conform to smooth blending.

 

This is definitely in the top few minis I've seen posted here, if not my favorite. So stylish and unique.

Thank you. I really do admire the smoothly blended, technically accomplished minis the best painters do. They're exquisite and beautiful and so subtly shaded.

 

It's just ... When I get a brush in my hand things turn out different.

 

This, by the way, may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my figure painting.

[Pingo]

Well. I found out member jenova painted another version of this mini some years back, and I am blushing because I used the exact same color scheme as hers, but hers is much better.

 

http://www.reapermini.com/forum/index.php?/topic/13603-merith-of-the-flame/

 

She got the fire right too.

 

Do you ever do this? I like to see what colors other people have painted minis in because I would rather do something different. But I missed jenova's post (probably because I misspelled Merith's name).

 

The colors seemed logical to me ... I guess they are for a fire wizard ... But had I known about jenova's version I probably would have tried something different.

[Slendertroll]

You know, the other version displays a higher level of technical skill, perhaps, but I actually like yours more. The other one seems sort of... flat and boring looking, like someone just snapped a photo of a fire mage doing her thing, but yours really seems to have come to life, even if the blends aren't as smooth or the face not as pristine (though the yellow eyes were a nice touch). Furthermore, your shading (blue on yellow) is much more interesting, and the base is really phenomenal. The two minis seem to be fundamentally different styles, and I must say I prefer yours. This might just reflect my own abilities, but I'll take powerful dynamism over technical skill any day.

 

EDIT: Also, you're using a very strong OSL, which I think was an excellent choice.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Slendertroll

[CashWiley]

Jenova has a very nicely painted mini. Other than the odd lining under the fire on the hands, it's great.

 

However, yours is a painting that stepped into 3d. Strive to keep that aspect of your work, it's amazing and there aren't many people doing that kind of thing.

[KruleBear]

FYI..if you finally decide to use grass on you bases, get the Army Painter stuff. It comes in clumps you pull off a sheet and a little dab of glue secures them. Not the nightmare of securing individual strands that is the traditional model railroad method.

 

And I agree that you are developing a unique style.