Kobold Leaders

[MusicalFeline]

So, before I go any further, I am an absolute rookie in the mini painting world. So, uh, prepare for the worst.  

 

Anyways, here's a trio of Kobold leaders. Yeah, I know there's six of them, but one got lost and the other two need a good bit more work, so it's just these three for now.

 

As I said, I'm completely new to this hobby, so any friendly critiques are welcome!

 

KNOWN FAULTS:

I missed a couple spots on the first kobold leader's face.

And a few other random spots elsewhere on all three.

All of their bases look nasty...

I didn't do their eyes, as I want to get a bit more familiar with this before I try doing something like that.

 

Edited June 9, 2020 by MusicalFeline

[Pochi]

Welcome to the forums!

 

Can you recheck your upload? I do not see a photo.

[MusicalFeline]

Hey, thanks!

 

It was working for me just fine on mobile and on PC, but just to be sure, I removed it from the body post and added it instead as an attachment. Hope it works now!

[Venun]

We can see them. Good place to start, welcome to the hobby :D 

 

Can I give you a small bit of advice to use on your next paint jobs? :) 

The fault you mention where there's no paint on some parts of the left kobold leader seems to be from handling it during the painting. It's the edges, the places that usually see alot of paint but when held there the paint chips off.

I would adivise using something to hold it with. This could be the Citadel product where you attach it to a handle and can turn it up side down with it, but could be a simple item with some tacky (like a pill bottle or something similar sized).

 

Secondly: if you'd put a wash over these, they would bring out many details aswell.

 

That said, it's still a great start! Hope you had fun painting them, that's the most important part =) 

[MusicalFeline]

Your advice is very helpful, Venun! I appreciate it!

 

I've currently been using a small medicine bottle with some double-sided tape for holding the minis, but it wasn't really working well with the small bases on the Kobolds, for some frustrating reason.

 

And the washes... Maybe I'm not doing them right? I got Reaper's Learn to Paint Kit before I did these, and I've been trying to follow their basic guidelines for doing washes, but it never seems to work. Take for instance the rightmost Kobold. Underneath his... Bandoliers? Sashes? Whatever, the shirt underneath that was originally a nice crisp dragon white. And then somehow I must of messed up the wash and made it all dark. Same with the bases. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'm mixing a single drop of a darker color (usually black) with 3-5 drops of water, depending on the thickness of the paint, and then coating the area with it. Is this correct? Is there some other method that works better with this kind of stuff? 

[Glitterwolf]

Welcome to the Forum!
 

Very nice!

 

If you handle minis and paint comes off, you can also seal parts that you're done with.

Reaper Brush on Sealer will protect your paintjob, and then you can move on.

 

Washes will creep into nooks and crannies and pile up, it takes a bit of practice to get the right mix.

There are premade ones around if you struggle with them.

 

Also make sure paint has dried before handling the mini again,

 

Edited June 9, 2020 by Glitterwolf

[Dan S]

Really good effort for someone just starting out, I can see you have even tried some highlighting.  I recently rediscovered the very first miniature I ever painted, it wasn't half as good as what you have done, so keep it up!

 

5 hours ago, MusicalFeline said:

And the washes... Maybe I'm not doing them right? I got Reaper's Learn to Paint Kit before I did these, and I've been trying to follow their basic guidelines for doing washes, but it never seems to work. Take for instance the rightmost Kobold. Underneath his... Bandoliers? Sashes? Whatever, the shirt underneath that was originally a nice crisp dragon white. And then somehow I must of messed up the wash and made it all dark. Same with the bases. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'm mixing a single drop of a darker color (usually black) with 3-5 drops of water, depending on the thickness of the paint, and then coating the area with it. Is this correct? Is there some other method that works better with this kind of stuff? 

 

There are many different technique for using washes, and the properties of a wash can vary quite significantly from company to company so they usually require a bit of experimentation.

 

Personally I like to slosh my wash over a basecoat undiluted (unless I want a softer tint),  and wick it away with my brush if it starts to pool too much in one area.  Once it is dry I will then go back over the area with a watered down application of the original base colour coating the raised and flat areas that have been discoloured by the wash but leaving the now darker recesses.  It is not the most efficient method but its what works for me.  Alternatively if I want some contrast between two areas, I will apply controlled 'pin wash' where you are using the wash to draw a thin line between two areas of the model (for example where a belt and trousers would meet).

Edited June 9, 2020 by Dan S

[Brianuk]

NIce colour choices and neat paint job. If you look at some of the other paint companies they do specific ink washes which are an instant way of adding some definition and shading to a model. For example Vallejo "Game Wash" or Army Painter "Soft Tone". If you a liberally painted a brown/sepia wash over the non metal areas and black over the metal areas the mini would 'pop' more. Great explanation above of what you need to do. You would then find that you could highlight any areas you felt were too dark. 

[MusicalFeline]

1 hour ago, Glitterwolf said:

If you handle minis and paint comes off, you can also seal parts that you're done with.

Reaper Brush on Sealer will protect your paintjob, and then you can move on.

Thanks, Glitterwolf! I'll have to take a look at that!

 

1 hour ago, Dan S said:

Really good effort for someone just starting out, I can see you have even tried some highlighting.  I recently rediscovered the very first miniature I ever painted, it wasn't half as good as what you have done, so keep it up!

 

There are many different technique for using washes, and the properties of a wash can vary quite significantly from company to company so they usually require a bit of experimentation.

 

Personally I like to slosh my wash over a basecoat undiluted (unless I want a softer tint),  and wick it away with my brush if it starts to pool too much in one area.  Once it is dry I will then go back over the area with a watered down application of the original base colour coating the raised and flat areas that have been discoloured by the wash but leaving the now darker recesses.  It is not the most efficient method but its what works for me.  Alternatively if I want some contrast between two areas, I will apply controlled 'pin wash' where you are using the wash to draw a thin line between two areas of the model (for example where a belt and trousers would meet).

Those first lines are super encouraging. I really appreciate it! I'll also try out your tip for washes once my new minis come in!

 

1 hour ago, Brianuk said:

NIce colour choices and neat paint job. If you look at some of the other paint companies they do specific ink washes which are an instant way of adding some definition and shading to a model. For example Vallejo "Game Wash" or Army Painter "Soft Tone". If you a liberally painted a brown/sepia wash over the non metal areas and black over the metal areas the mini would 'pop' more. Great explanation above of what you need to do. You would then find that you could highlight any areas you felt were too dark. 

Thanks! I've been toying around with getting a premade wash, but I'm kinda leaning towards learning how to do washes myself.

[Dan S]

20 minutes ago, MusicalFeline said:

Thanks! I've been toying around with getting a premade wash, but I'm kinda leaning towards learning how to do washes myself.

 

I didn't realise you were making your own washes.  Are you adding any kind of soap, or just diluting the paint?  Typically the home made washes contain a small (and I mean very small) drop of dish soap, which breaks the surface tension of the liquid, allowing it to better flow into all the recesses and off the raised areas.   Typically the pre-made washes already have this property.

 

 

[MusicalFeline]

17 minutes ago, Dan S said:

 

I didn't realise you were making your own washes.  Are you adding any kind of soap, or just diluting the paint?

Nah, I've been following Reapers "rules" in the Learn to Paint Kit that you just take a drop of paint and mix it with some water. That dish soap tip is fascinating! I'll have to try that out!

[Glitterwolf]

There is also this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH6K297EWnI

 

Now a glaze is  even thinner then a wash, but using less of this and more paint will make a wash..

Edited June 10, 2020 by Glitterwolf

[Venun]

I'd recommend to buy 1 wash, just 1. See how it's meant to behave. You'll find it covers your miniature alot better then was currently the case.

If you're still bound to make your own washes, go right ahead! But you'll at least know what you're aiming for ;-) 

[Glitterwolf]

Also, seal those minis.

Thenn touch up and seal again.

Show the new pics!

 

Keep painting and HAVE FUN!

Edited June 10, 2020 by Glitterwolf

[Brianuk]

I can see the attraction in trying out everything suggested in the set. A commercial ink wash is different to thinned paint but you should have fun with what you've got. 

 

Also, I expect you have done but always wash Bones minis with dish soap, and consider priming them with slightly thinned white grey or black paint (or a Reaper liner or primer). That should help prevent the paint rubbing off/chipping.