Aran the Barbarian

[ungoreatstefan]

Hi all,

 

I figured out how to get better pictures with my iphone and thought I'd post a WIP of this cool boutique miniature known as Aran the Barbarian, which I started painting this evening.

 

Here's a primed picture of the miniature so far:

 

 

Since I've been painting almost nothing but Red Box miniatures lately, and because this miniature is much more heroic than those, I thought I would try to get fancy with the eyes.

 

 

I think that it came out pretty well, you can also see my skin basecoat in this picture, which looks like really well painted skin but that's just a trick of the light.

 

The last photo is of the skin mostly complete, and the basecoated pants, and some details picked out with the first pass of the base coat (necklace, hair, bandage).

 

Next step is to finish coating all of his accessories (he has a metal armband and crown type thing that I'm going to basecoat with a non metallic first). Then I'll finish up the pants and start base coating the boots and leg armor/wraps.

 

Thanks for looking, I hope this should be a fun journey - this miniature has got me really in the mood to slap some paint around, hopefully work won't require too many hours this week to let me play with paint!

 

Thanks for looking!

 

-Stefan 

[ub3r_n3rd]

Looking good and wonderful job on those eyes! I've seen this figure around, he's pretty awesome.

[LittleBluberry]

I really like that barbarian, a little more realistic than the classic bodybuilder style.  You're off to a good start with the eyes, looking forward to more pictures! 

[ungoreatstefan]

Disaster struck last night and I really messed up the hair and in attempt to remove only the paint covering the hair I messed up the skin I had painted on and I think that this barbarian is ready for a simple green bath!

 

Fortunately I have two copies of this miniature and both were primed at the same time so I think that I'll just work on the other one and post pictures of my new work tonight. Rather bummed about losing the best eyes I've ever painted but if I can do it once I imagine I can do it again

[ub3r_n3rd]

Disaster struck last night and I really messed up the hair and in attempt to remove only the paint covering the hair I messed up the skin I had painted on and I think that this barbarian is ready for a simple green bath!

 

Fortunately I have two copies of this miniature and both were primed at the same time so I think that I'll just work on the other one and post pictures of my new work tonight. Rather bummed about losing the best eyes I've ever painted but if I can do it once I imagine I can do it again

 

Sympathy like. Sorry to hear about your mishap. Keep your head up, you will get those other eyes done just as good or better this time!

[robinh]

The painting gods have determined to make you practice the eyes again.  Sorry to see that happen but remember practice does make perfect and these were really close to perfect so the next set will be that much closer.

[Guindyloo]

Oh man, terrible news about that mishap.    Looking forward to the do-over though, as you were off to such a great start!

[ungoreatstefan]

Well I was able to put some more time into it. The eyes were even more trouble this time around, but I think they came out better.

 

Though after taking this photo I realized the brown on the left eye was a little sloppy and cleaned it up. 

 

Also made the first round of highlights and shadows on the skin. Went with the rosy triad instead of the bright triad. I think that I like it better. Bright skin highlight doesn't do it for me as a highlight. 

 

Oh well, here's hoping I get the hair right this time! I don't want to turn my desk into a simple green greek bathhouse to be invaded by a bunch of barbarians! 

 

[robinh]

I am not sure how much on the hair you have left to do.   Some simple blond highlights and you are off to the races!   That chest is also crying out for some free hand tattoo's ... just saying

[ungoreatstefan]

I am not sure how much on the hair you have left to do.   Some simple blond highlights and you are off to the races!   That chest is also crying out for some free hand tattoo's ... just saying

Ha! The hair only has a basecoat in this photo, though after this photo I also put down a shadow layer. Which is where it all went wrong initially. 

 

We'll see about the tattoos, I'm really enjoying just painting some quality skin in a large area for a change. But you're right, it is almost begging for some freehand

[ungoreatstefan]

I put in some more work today. Fiddled around with the hair, still not entirely pleased with it, but I might just give it another shadow layer and stop fussing with it. 

 

Spent a lot of time tidying things up in the skin area. Then I put down light layers for where I want my metals, and also based the shin guard wraps, and the bracer wrap, and the belt. 

 

If I'm lucky I'll be able to finish this by next weekend, work and DMing permitting. 

 

 

Unfortunately this copy of the cast wasn't as clean, but oh well. Good practice for the other copy that's getting ready for a simple green bath! 

[LittleBluberry]

Personally I find blonde hair really frustrating, mainly because the shadow, base & highlight are all so similar.  (And if they're not, then it looks fake.)  And even when it looks okay, it usually washes out in photos.  :P

 

You look like you've got a great re-start going, the eyes look wonderful and the skin is coming along nicely too.