Popular Post Kharsin Posted October 4, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 4, 2014 Okay, my whole world's gone blonde! Seriously though, Kaya's pretty much done! There's not much more I can do now at this level. I think she's my best work to date, although you guys will have to be the judge of that. Let me post pics first, then comment along the way: Okay, it should be stated that the pics and the base were giving me fits tonight. I took an entire series of photographs first until I notice that she had a bit of space between her foot and the rock. I think I mentioned my problems with this in the WIP, although I'm not sure. At any rate, I pulled her, clipped her wire, re-glued her, and reshot the shoot. I thought I saved a pic to show the difference, but the photographs got all jumbled up in the process and I deleted the originals. The last shoot looks a bit darker than the first, but you get the idea. Here's a more dynamic close up: Here's one with a green background. I'm not sure which I like best. Hmmm... Overall I'm satisfied! I think I've improved in painting in some regard on Kaya, especially in the leathers department. She's got more leather than a Wilson's store at an outlet mall! I got some more practice with fur as well, which I haven't really played around with since the first mini I ever painted: the Barrow Rat. There were a few firsts in this one: 1. First time basing in snow - Honestly it drove me nuts! I practiced using medium texture paste, but I think I should've waited until I found light texture paste. If you look closely, you can see that the medium paste cracked in a few places as it dried out. I don't think it's a total loss, but I may go back with some baking soda or synthetic snow to try to cover up the cracks some. Either that, or I can just pretend that snow does that when it melts... does it? The only snow we get down here in the south turns to slush puppy the instant it hits the ground! 2. First time working with lead weights to counterbalance the dynamic pose of a miniature. - It would have been much easier just to mount Kaya directly to the diorama. However, I wanted to be able to remove her for an occasional round of Munchkin, especially when someone feels like intimidating all the other players with that giant spearhead and the overall height of the piece. Even so, she's not perfectly balanced. She was pretty close until the felt bottom was added. That threw a few things off. Still, I wish I could've put more weight in the bottom, although you're pretty limited in what you can add to an 1.25" checker piece. Hmmmm.... 3. First Tattoo!!! - Yes, it's green and blue. Yes, it could have a bit more highlighting and skin tone over it. Yes, it could have a stronger outline. Yes, it was supposed to be a wolf's head, but ended up being a birdman/guy/thing. BUT! It was my first tattoo, and the only way to go from here is up! That, and Kaya loves it. It fits her wanting to leap off of a cliff to fight... Anyhoo, Kaya's out of my hair and in the display cabinet! Now I can focus on the Fall Exchange, a Hasslefree mini contest, finishing the rest of the YOTG diorama, and anything else I'll be painting for Christmas. It'll be a busy holiday season, that's for sure! Well, that's about it. Comments, compliments, and suggestions are greatly appreciated and encouraged! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and look at my little corner of the 'net! -K P.S.: Here's a sneak peak into Kaya's ultimate role in the "Year of the Giants" contest, Giant T.B.A.: 62 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Darsc Zacal Posted October 4, 2014 Moderator Share Posted October 4, 2014 I think you've done a wonderful job. The hair, face, leather, fur boots, and weapon all look great. Looking forward to see what you add to that larger base. As for the background, I don't care for the green background with this mini. You're setting a winter scene, and while many places still have a lot of greenery in the winter it's not usually quite as bright a green as in that backdrop. The first background you used is the better choice I believe, especially as your mini and base look more like they're from a barren tundra than anything else. Really like what you've done with this mini though. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokestack Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Love the tattoo. and the hair is really nice. Cant wait to see the finished scene. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiniest rhombus Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 So good! I've been cyber-stalking this WIP. Glad to see the finished mini, look forward to the completed base. The leathers are especially impressive, you captured the look of buckskin wonderfully. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokingwreckage Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Wonderful, smoooooooooth work in the skintones, leathers and blonds. Really, really nice work there. There's also something about the colour composition in the whole piece, I can't tell you what it is exactly, but it is very pleasing to the eye; sublime in fact. Possibly the hint of gold in the skin and hair? Lots of energy and warmth but still naturalistic... anyway, it's delightful. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsya Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Kharsin - She turned out beautifully and a piece to be proud of for sure. All the work that you put into her during your WIP shows. I like the tattoo and it turned out great and suits the mini very well. I love your color selection the purple and teal always works well together. The leather and fur also looks great with so much depth. My favorite part of the entire mini is her spear. The woodgrain turned out great and the tips look like stone. Now for a few tips, feel free to skip over or ignore but since you plan on entering her I wanted to offer. Snow can be hard and overall it looks good for a first. The main think that sticks out to me is how she doesn't seem to have any snow on her, especially her fur boots. Even if it is old snow it would stick all over that fur especially if she has been traveling through it. For some added effect to the rock if the snow had melted off where she is standing there could be some icicles on the underside where snow melted and refroze maybe? I like the hair and she sure does have a luxuriously mane of it doesn't she, some high spots in her hair would really set off the mini, where sun would reflect on the blonde, especially with all those braids. It looks good as is but I think you could easily take her hair up a step to really bring focus to her head. Right now my eye is drawn more to her fur than her hair. But again she looks great and it was awesome to be able to see your WIP and how it led you to her finish. I can't wait to see how much you improve on your next one. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Guindyloo Posted October 4, 2014 Moderator Share Posted October 4, 2014 She's really, really beautiful!!! I agree with Marsya about her feet needing a bit of snow on them though and I really love her idea about the icicles hanging from the rock! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcstaar Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) Kharsin, I think she is great. Like most replies, I think the leather is great. I find it hard myself to get leather and skin tones to look different on the same model. You have done so, and very we'll. She has a nice pale "we don't get much sun in the tundra" skin tone that balances well with the rich oiled leather look. Write off the tattoo as "tribal band" and be done with it. It looks like a nice tribal band. It's not the worst snow base, but I can see it gave you some difficulty. I think you've done a wonderful job. The hair, face, leather, fur boots, and weapon all look great. Looking forward to see what you add to that larger base. As for the background, I don't care for the green background with this mini. You're setting a winter scene, and while many places still have a lot of greenery in the winter it's not usually quite as bright a green as in that backdrop. The first background you used is the better choice I believe, especially as your mini and base look more like they're from a barren tundra than anything else. Really like what you've done with this mini though. I agree with Darsc thematically, but for some reason the pictures came alive from a light standpoint with the greener background, so don't write it off completely. Overall, fantastic work. She really tells a story. Edited October 4, 2014 by Darcstaar 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kharsin Posted October 4, 2014 Author Share Posted October 4, 2014 Awww! You guys are too kind! I did have a lot of fun with Kaya, and I hope to push it more in the future. I'm not sure if I'll ever be doing another snow base or not... I was kind of forced to due to the nature of her furs and such. Hmmm... I've debated whether to go back and add snow to her or not, as well as ice cycles or not. The reasons I haven't are more practical rather than oversiteful. I may just go back and do them anyway. The reason for not is that she's occasionally to be used for a game piece, although I probably put too much work into her for her to be used that way. From what I understand, the common procedure for adding snow to a mini is to use either baking soda or artificial snow mixed with matte medium to spot on snowflakes and such. I've also heard that this is more for display pieces as the flakes tend to "flake off" when handled. The same would be true for the ice cycles as well. WITH that said, I still may do so on the finished piece. I really want to add ice cycles on the bottom of that rock, and snow flakes on Kaya's boots and legs! LOL! Again, thank you all for the kind comments and suggestions! I've got a few projects to get behind me before working on the rest of the diorama, but I'll probably post a few pics while I'm working on it. Thank you for reading! -K 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmiles Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Excellent work! My only suggestion is: don't use the green background. It brings out the colors better, but it throws the overall image off. The blue background really ties it together better. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiniest rhombus Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 She's in the store photos :-) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmiles Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 She's in the store photos :-)Not a bit surprising. If I can get something in the store, this should definitely be in there. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limey72 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 I really like this, the mini is in a very dynamic pose and your painting is superb. There is nothing I don't like here. Very well done ;). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kharsin Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 Thank you all! I am very pleased with the way she turned out. The snow effect was a bit rough, but I think worked out well for a first go. Now if I can only carry this over to the rest of the diorama... LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kharsin Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 I've started posting some projects over at Cool Mini or Not. Here's the link to Kaya the Reaper if y'all want to vote on her. I'd much appreciate it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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