Xiwo Xerase Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 Painted her girdle, belt, bag, vial holder, potions, etc. Just the caps of her scroll case left. And her eye. And her hands. And her face. And the ground. And... I got most of the lining done too. (click for larger pictures) These pictures are darker than the last batch. I noticed in hand she also seemed darker, but I think that's because her accessories are mostly painted. (I could try manually setting the ISO on my camera if you think it'd be better.) I'm going to have the moment of truth with her eye sooner or later. I was going to do it today when I got home from an appointment but I got tangled up with work stuff instead. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiwo Xerase Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 Well, her eye is painted. Her face needs more work now but her eye is painted. (click for larger versions) Some day I'll figure out how to do eyes that are better than "put dot here". I wanted to try to do that here but I had so many problems just putting the dot in the right place. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyradis Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 She's wonderful! The eye could use work. The hair and overall composition? Lovely! Eyes are my favorite part to paint, and I always paint them first. It lets me work from the inside, outwards, instead of having to paint inside the lines. Not everyone does it like this, but I'm not alone either. I've used Reaper's Bette Davis Eyes guide (somewhere in the tips forums for a link), combined with a bit of Marike Reimer's and Derek Schubert's methods. I considered Meg Maple's too - but with all that input, I still end up doing eyes first, then the rest (but the guides are really handy for goals and placement of features). On this figure? Her hair and dress are so lovely that they steal the show 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiwo Xerase Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 9 hours ago, Cyradis said: The eye could use work. What about the eye could use work? I know the lining around her eye is heavy right now. I'll fix that when I revisit her face. I acknowledge I should have painted her eyes first but I don't like painting eyes. I'm sure that would improve with practice. (Maybe it's time to paint that Faceless Horror...) 9 hours ago, Cyradis said: On this figure? Her hair and dress are so lovely that they steal the show Thank you! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyradis Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 As you pointed out, the lining is heavy. You may be able to pick a direction she's looking a bit too; at the moment she is glaring upwards. If that's what you want, keep it. Making the center a little bigger, and wee bit lower may let her be less sinister. (note - my own face can go into glares pretty easily, so it is an actual expression just... less friendly). Looking at your paint jobs, it seems like you also have the control to try a reflection spot too (although it works better on bigger faces - Klocke and Schubert sculpts are good for that). The eye is not bad (she has a placed eye that guides the face - good good!), but it seemed like you were looking for ways to improve, and that's a spot. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiwo Xerase Posted March 2, 2019 Author Share Posted March 2, 2019 (edited) 22 hours ago, Cyradis said: You may be able to pick a direction she's looking a bit too; at the moment she is glaring upwards. That's my fault. When I put in her eye, I thought I should separate the bottom of her iris/pupil from the liner. She's supposed to be looking forward. I think the overall direction is right, so I just have to enlarge the circle of brown slightly. (Not too much so I don't lose the white in the corner of her eye. 22 hours ago, Cyradis said: Looking at your paint jobs, it seems like you also have the control to try a reflection spot too (although it works better on bigger faces - Klocke and Schubert sculpts are good for that). Given how trembling my hand was when I did her eye, I'm not certain I do. On the other hand, what's the worst that will happen if I try? I find, with eyes, my biggest problem is getting paint off the brush in small dots. While my brushes are pointed, I have to push the point in slightly and this results in a larger dot. This suggests to me one of three problems: I used size 0 brushes to do her eye (a Raphael 8404 for the iris/pupil and a Raphael 8408 for adding corrective white). Perhaps I should use a smaller brush for the iris/pupil, so pushing in the point results in a smaller dot. My paint consistency isn't correct for this. It's either too thick (so it doesn't come off the brush easily) or too thin (and it comes off the wicked brush too easily, flooding the area). I'm applying too much pressure when I push the point in to make the dot. Applying less pressure would make a smaller dot. I don't think the paints are a problem but maybe they are. I used Bleached Linen for the white and Walnut Brown for her iris/pupil. Do you have any thoughts on this? Edited March 2, 2019 by Xiwo Xerase 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManvsMini Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 This is a lovely piece. Can't say enough good things about it. Sure, like you said, a few things can be improved, but perfection should always be striven for and never achieved! I do see how her eye needs work. As noted, she looks like she is looking up, and also kind of wide-eyed due to all the white at the bottom of the eye. I can't tell you exactly what it needs to fix it, but maybe I have some ideas on how you can work to solve the hand shaking and pressure problem? Your paint in the eye is already dried right? What I suggest is just taking a damp brush (not sopping wet) and just practicing dotting the eye with just water. It shouldn't hurt anything as long as all the paint is dry, and once you touch it to the model it will leave a damp spot so you can gauge your pressure/dot size without messing anything up. Do one eye, then as that water evaporates, practice the other eye, and repeat until you are comfortable. Do it enough and you'll get some muscle memory to alleviate the shaky hand. You can also wick the water away from the eye socket with another brush to speed things up. I'm not sure if you paint your minis on a holder/grip, but if you do, maybe consider mounting it to one that is wider, just for doing the eyes. You'll have more area to rest your hand on without cranking your wrist into odd positions (which tenses muscles and also increases shaking). I've got a post on what I use to hold my minis. You don't have to use my design, but I want you to see what I mean by adding more support/more contact points across the whole hand to ease shaking. Might give you some ideas? 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiwo Xerase Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 I found out I do a lot better about small points when I am holding the brush absolutely vertical and bringing it down. I tried doing that here but it was a little awkward. Anyway, I worked a little more on her eye. I tried adding the reflection dot and adding color to her iris (as per @dks's method for painting eyes). I don't think I was successful on the iris color. I also basecoated the caps of her scroll tube and the muddy ground. I'm not looking forward to doing NMM on the caps. (click on the images for larger versions) Aside from the excess liner, how do her eyes look to you? 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuro Cleanbrush Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 I'm really liking her, and the eyes get a "thumbs-up" from me! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyradis Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Charming! She looks more lively and less severe now. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glitterwolf Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Super! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiwo Xerase Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 On 3/3/2019 at 8:39 PM, Kuro Cleanbrush said: I'm really liking her, and the eyes get a "thumbs-up" from me! On 3/3/2019 at 9:23 PM, Cyradis said: Charming! She looks more lively and less severe now. On 3/4/2019 at 3:24 AM, Glitterwolf said: Super! Thanks! Painting her eye was... traumatic and frustrating. I feel a lot better now but I felt pretty bad earlier in the week. It stressed me out and that added to my existing work stress. (Work is, shall we say, traumatic right now. It's time to look for a new job.) So last night I worked on painting her face and tonight I tried fixing her nose, again. Three things I've noticed: I lost some of the liner on the inside of her right eye. I should fix that. That may also help with her nose. At some point, I got paint on her sleeve. Luckily there's not a lot of blending to be redone. I didn't do a good job of brushing off the dust after I accidentally left her out uncovered Sunday night. Please pardon the white specks. (click on the images for larger versions) So what do you think of her face? What needs fixing (other than her nose)? I may just leave her nose as is so I can finish work on her. Next up, fixing her sleeve. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyradis Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 I actually really like her face!! The nose doesn't need much work at all. I don't think the thinner liner is wrong either. She doesn't need mega-eyeliner to have complete eyes. I would perhaps narrow the dark-lining at the contact of her hair and her forehead, but that's it. At least the splotch on the arm is in an easy-to-reach location, so fixing it won't be too bad. You're doing great work on this figure! 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paedia Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 I agree with @Cyradis. Her eyes look great - the liner is nice and subtle as is. Her nose is almost there; however, I wonder if there is too much warmth in the shadow area at the top of the bridge. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiwo Xerase Posted March 9, 2019 Author Share Posted March 9, 2019 23 hours ago, Cyradis said: I actually really like her face!! The nose doesn't need much work at all. I don't think the thinner liner is wrong either. She doesn't need mega-eyeliner to have complete eyes. I would perhaps narrow the dark-lining at the contact of her hair and her forehead, but that's it. At least the splotch on the arm is in an easy-to-reach location, so fixing it won't be too bad. You're doing great work on this figure! Thanks! The issue with the liner on the inside of her eye, toward her nose, is that I've painted over all of the liner so there isn't any lining at all. I agree the lining between her hair and her forehead should be narrowed, or at least evened out. This must have been a casualty when I was working on her face. 12 hours ago, paedia said: I agree with @Cyradis. Her eyes look great - the liner is nice and subtle as is. Her nose is almost there; however, I wonder if there is too much warmth in the shadow area at the top of the bridge. The problem I have with her nose is I feel it looks flat. It's a little... for lack of a better word, muppet-ish. I think it needs a little more contrast but I don't think I'm doing it right. For example, you pointed out the redness at the top of her bridge. That shadow shouldn't be that deep or that red. (There's not a lot of blood vessels right there.) I'm a little frustrated because her nose looked pretty good before I revisited her face and I'm not sure what I did wrong. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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