Mocha's "Viking Girl" • Bobby Jackson • 02939

[Mocha]

Hello fellow Forumites! I always enjoy coming back from ReaperCon, as my creative battery has been recharged and I'm ready to paint again!

I'm currently working on a special project for someone who plays fierce female barbarian brawlers in her Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. I'm even painting it in her image, complete with upper leg tattoos. Reaper's "Viking Girl" sculpted by Bobby Jackson was the perfect choice for this! I'm still not convinced I can pull off this freehand tattoos, but I try something new in every project and I can always paint over it in skin tone if it becomes too overwhelming. 

 

I'm using Reaper's Highland Moss & Pale Lichen for the cloak. After taking Rhonda Bender's "Level Up" class at ReaperCon, I've decided to experiment with more interesting shadow colors in my minis. In the past, I would have chosen a dark olive green for the shadows of the cloak, however, this time I've mixed the mid tone Highland Moss with a touch of Nightshade Purple for the darkest folds and recesses of her cloak.

 

After that, I started to layer in more of the midtone color mixed with Pale Lichen (~50//50 mix). I blend as I go and make my way up to Pale Lichen on the highlights of the folds. While I may go up an additional level of highlight, mixing in some Pure White with Pale Lichen, I'll see how much contrast I have on other sections of the mini once she's almost done. Either way, the back of the cloak could use some additional smooth blending, so I'll be sure to revisit that at a later time. 

 

Here's what I've painted so far, each step follows each set of images starting from top to bottom. 
Step 1: Basecoats & shadows for cloak, hair and gems

Step 2: Cloak highlights. Repeat steps 1 & 2 on front loincloth-cloak thingy. Blend, blend, blend... 

Step 3: Hair highlights (more to come), fur, gems, jewelry & starting on the sword

 

Next up is finishing her sword, then boots, gloves and shield. And then maybe I'll consider giving her some dirt on the bottom of her cloak as a final touch (if I can bring myself to smear pigment over something I've painstakingly blended lol)

 

However, I'm having a hard time deciding where to place her eyes since her hair covers a portion of each eyeball, which makes it especially tricky. I'll need to make sure to leave enough white sclera in each eye to make the direction clear. I'm leaning toward painting her looking left, toward her sword, like she's threatening someone or pointing at something on the ground.

 

What do you think? 

[SGHawkins09]

She is looking fantastic and I am loving the cloak. I will have to remember to try the Nightshade Purple, as the Moss triad is one of my favorites.

[Loim]

There is no "I love this with every ounce of my being" button. Sadly.

[seej]

Really liking what you've got so far.

[ub3r_n3rd]

Woooooo!!!!

[Arc 724]

I like that shield.

[malefactus]

OUTSTANDING! The Girl already shows an ample amount of potential...GORGEOUS color choices. The eyes (stage) left seems a good choice to me also. Have FUN with her!

[Glitterwolf]

Valkyrie! :wub: :wub:

 

*** Hops towards the Viking Girl...Heeellloooo New in town? Shall I show you the best places to raid?****

 

Awesome so far!!!

[primeval]

That cloak! This is shaping up to be a fine exemplar of barbaric splendor!

[Dai-Mongar]

Gorgeous work on the cloak! I love this mini and I look forward to seeing what you do!

[Serenity]

She looks amazing even at this stage.  I like the Nightshade Purple with the greens.  

 

Will you enlighten us on the colors you've used on her skin?  Is there a slight mold line on the left side of the back of her cloak?  

[Mocha]

She looks amazing even at this stage.  I like the Nightshade Purple with the greens.  

 

Will you enlighten us on the colors you've used on her skin?  Is there a slight mold line on the left side of the back of her cloak?  

Thank you and absolutely! It's actually a new mix I've been trying– adding Redstone Highlight to Golden Shadow for the base coat, blending up to Golden Skin. Once I try to tackle this freehand tattoo business, I'll be adding Golden Skin + Linen White for the highest highlights. 

 

As far as the mold line, eh, it's definitely possible. There's some weird texture where the cloak dips back up at the bottom left. Otherwise, it could just be poor blending on my part going too dark with the Nightshade Purple in the crease :) 

[Rowan]

Well ... Hello.  Really like where this is going so far.  Hope to see more soon.

[Peithetairos]

The blends on the cloak are amazing. Looks wonderful and I think I will try to achieve a similar tone when I paint my elfen ranger.

[Morihalda]

Mocha! I love this! I completely forgot I bought this mini. She's a beautiful one for sure.

 

I think looking towards her sword makes the most sense.