03274 Grave Wraith - first mini I've painted in 24 years

[planetmut]

I painted Space Marines from 1988 to around 1994 and then fell out of the mini painting hobby. I just got back into it and the Grave Wraith is my first effort. As I was stuck on how to paint him apart from covering him in black, I had a look around and based his look on this one by Vulture but decided to go with purple rather than blue. The sword, which I thought would be a doddle, caused me all sorts of problems (I kept overthinking it) until I just went with a gold hilt and silver blade. I have yet to base him — in the photo I have him sitting on top of a small jar. He was photographed at f6.3, 1/25s.

 

A few random thoughts while I was painting him:

 

Wow, these things are smaller than I remember.

 

Flash! AAARRRGGGHH!

 

My eyesight has really gone down the tubes since 1990...

 

Any criticism/advice is welcome as I can't wait to get on with painting another figure (probably 03374 Ragnaros, Evil Warrior)

Edited July 20, 2019 by planetmut

[Maglok]

Nice reds, a original take. :)

[Glitterwolf]

I like it!

Well done!

 

As for the eyesight, reading glasses help a bit, but a visor is awesome!

[planetmut]

10 minutes ago, Glitterwolf said:

I like it!

Well done!

 

As for the eyesight, reading glasses help a bit, but a visor is awesome!

I wear glasses but had to keep sliding them up and down my nose :-)

[Glitterwolf]

3 minutes ago, planetmut said:

I wear glasses but had to keep sliding them up and down my nose :-)

 

I normally only need reading glasses.

But for painting I use a headband with two magnifier slots.

I have 4 lenses and can combine those for the task at hand.

It saved me from giving up the hobby.

 

 

[planetmut]

1 minute ago, Glitterwolf said:

 

I normally only need reading glasses.

But for painting I use a headband with two magnifier slots.

I have 4 lenses and can combine those for the task at hand.

It saved me from giving up the hobby.

 

 

I might have to look into getting one of those.

[Clearman]

Welcome back.  This was a good peace to re-start with. 

[planetmut]

24 minutes ago, Clearman said:

Welcome back.  This was a good peace to re-start with. 

Thanks! I thought he'd be fairly straightforward to paint with no really fiddly bits. I'm happy with how he turned out and thoroughly enjoying being back in the painting game.

[Limey72]

It looks great, I use a visor it's a huge help

[Iridil]

Great reintro to the addiction (I mean hobby....). I like how the purple adds red tones!  And clean painting on the sword.

 

I'll echo everyone else here and say get a visor. I can't paint without one - I tried a few cheap (`$10-20) ones until I found the one which works for me and it was love at first sight

[buglips*the*goblin]

If you have myopia, your natural near vision might be better.  Depends on your prescription.  This is why I don't use a visor, my near-vision is mutant level good and the optometrist says that it should remain so well into the future.  If you have milder myopia or your glasses are for a different reason, then a visor will help quite a lot. 

 

 

[Warlady]

Welcome back to painting!  I will echo everyone else and say get either reading glasses or the visor.  I use a magnifying table lamp and a visor most of the time.  Otherwise I can't see a blessed thing.  And your wraith looks quite fine for having been away from painting so long.

[planetmut]

8 minutes ago, Warlady said:

Welcome back to painting!  I will echo everyone else and say get either reading glasses or the visor.  I use a magnifying table lamp and a visor most of the time.  Otherwise I can't see a blessed thing.  And your wraith looks quite fine for having been away from painting so long. 

Thanks! I had fun painting him, although looking at the photo again I can see some spots where I didn't highlight enough or at all. But it's good practice for me.

[Othikent]

Great job

[Chaoswolf]

Welcome back to the hobby! I think you've done a very good job on him.