Bones Werewolf: Advice Requested (77464)

[BardicDave 505]

On the one hand, I'm really pleased with this guy's face; I think it turned out really nicely. On the other hand, I'm at a loss as to what to do about the body. I basically just dry brushed it a few times and applied various coloured washes (brown, purple, blue) for depth and texture. It looks ok, but I'd like to improve as a painter. How do more advanced painters approach a fur covered mini? How do you paint something like this without resorting to a simple dry brush? 

 

[Glitterwolf 207755]

I think it looks pretty good

 

As for painting fur:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtYFoY7Z700&t=8s

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hx7YICTD_Q&t=667s

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OadKdLf30qQ

 

BONUS POINT for painting a WOLF!

[Kuroneko 18225]

@Glitterwolfs suggested some pretty good videos, but I'd like to add this one, which is how I learned how to wet blend fur

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mdIAU-0uciI

 

This video is from Reapers Anne Foerster, the fur tutorial starts about 15 minutes in. 

 

Regarding your wolf, I think he looks great! His face is very mean looking 

Edited May 31, 2020 by Kuroneko

[Peithetairos 2457]

I like the werwolf, too. I can't add anything to the video list, but overall I think the drybrush worked very well. While it is often seen as a "beginners" technique it is an important tool and I use it often, despite using other "advanced" techniques (not that they are really that advanced).

 

I think more contrast is always a good way to go and getting control back. Washes and drybrushing are blunt instruments, I assume with some more control you can add highlights and shadows more precisely and push contrast and smooth out blends.

[strawhat 7428]

I'm hardly what you'd call an "advanced" painter, but I've recently worked on a mini with a large scaled area (dewback from Imperial Assault), and while I normally don't drybrush, I found I just couldn't get away from it.  It was the right tool for the job.

 

As I thought about it, there wasn't a real reason why I avoided it other than it just felt odd after not having done it in so long.  I'd better get over it, though, I've got wookiees to revisit.

 

You are right about the beastie's face, though.  It's great!

 

This is Kenai (sounds like "Keen Eye").  He's the alpha for our local animal park's pack, and getting to be an old man these days.  This is an older picture (he's faded a lot recently, and the blacks have turned to browns and greys).  

 

If I were to offer a critique of your werewolf, it would be that the fur is too monochromatic over most of the body.  Kenai is just an example, and patterns vary, but notice that he's got a light blaze on his chest and that the fur fades to grey around his paws.

[BardicDave 505]

So I went back and added a bit more brown. Still not super happy with it, but I think it's a small improvement.

[Maledrakh 12186]

It all depends on the look you are going for. You do have a great looking black wolf there.

 

The trick to using drybrushing effectively is to wipe alot of paint off the brush. (Alot!) and to vary the pressure on the brush when brushing over the mini, according to how much colour you want. Gradually building layers is key. 

 

If you want the black wolf to look more naturalistic try using some (very) dark colours in between the layers of greys. Dark blue or dark green, even dark purple or dark red adds a spot of naturalistic to black fur. the brown you have used is a step towards this.

 

ie, black base coat, dark grey drybrush, a drybrush here and there with dark blue, then the mid grey and ligher greys.

Or you can mix a spot of blue, green whatever into some of the greys you drybrush with.

 

If you want the wolf to look more greyish than blackish, start with a more heavy drybrush of grey onto the black undercoat and take it lighter in steps.

Note that many grey wolves have hints or even areas of yellows  / sand/ beige here and there. 

 

Also, note that many animals have a lighter underside / belly and inside of the legs than the top of their coats.

[BardicDave 505]

1 hour ago, Maledrakh said:

It all depends on the look you are going for. You do have a great looking black wolf there.

 

The trick to using drybrushing effectively is to wipe alot of paint off the brush. (Alot!) and to vary the pressure on the brush when brushing over the mini, according to how much colour you want. Gradually building layers is key. 

 

If you want the black wolf to look more naturalistic try using some (very) dark colours in between the layers of greys. Dark blue or dark green, even dark purple or dark red adds a spot of naturalistic to black fur. the brown you have used is a step towards this.

 

ie, black base coat, dark grey drybrush, a drybrush here and there with dark blue, then the mid grey and ligher greys.

Or you can mix a spot of blue, green whatever into some of the greys you drybrush with.

 

If you want the wolf to look more greyish than blackish, start with a more heavy drybrush of grey onto the black undercoat and take it lighter in steps.

Note that many grey wolves have hints or even areas of yellows  / sand/ beige here and there. 

 

Also, note that many animals have a lighter underside / belly and inside of the legs than the top of their coats.

 

Thanks! This is all extremely helpful. I just spent 5 minutes lightly drybrushing on a few different colours, and already he looks a lot more interesting.

 

Edited June 1, 2020 by BardicDave

[Glitterwolf 207755]

Awesome,

 

One thing though, while you're still working on something it should be posted in Works in Progress.

When doen it's a Show Off.

 

That being said, I like the improvement.

And the face is awesome, you've captured the look, he's sneaking around for his next meal.