It's just a little obsession...
Apr. 13th, 2004 02:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kellinatorLast night I was struck with the urge (actually, the urge was left over from Sunday night when I couldn't act on it because I was too busy getting my weekly dose of Adult Swim) to paint some miniatures. Even though I really enjoy painting them, and enjoy showing them off to my gamer friends just as much if not more (because I'm vain), I hadn't painted any since the end of February. Well, I sat down and pretty soon I was asking myself "Why did I go so long without painting again?" It was especially nice because the new detail brush I got at Sword of the Phoenix seems to be well worth the increased price.
I fiddled around with my Martina mini a bit. I know, by now I've sealed her and declared her finished three times, but I keep seeing spots I missed, or ways I could improve her. The main thing this time was I used the detail brush to shade her some cleavage. ;) I also did some more work on Martina's brother, who I've been working on for months now. I was disappointed that I didn't get his hair quite the same color as Martina's, but then I decided he would have looked stupid with that many highlights anyway. I mean, I doubt there are that many metrosexual adventurers. (Though you gotta admit, that could be a great concept. Especially for an elf. I mean, Legolas. End of story.) Then I looked around at my myriad figures, some of which I'd forgotten I had, to see which ones I thought would look good with that hair color, because I hate to waste paint. This frequently leads to me hunting around for spots on minis that need to be just that color.
I realized just how many half-finished minis I have and how few I've finished in comparison. The problem is, I have fun doing the initial work, but I tend to shy away from the detail work, things like eyes and such. This means it takes me forever to finish a mini, and therefore forever to start showing it off or using it in-game. I'm going to have to get over that. Hopefully my nifty new detail brush will help.
Ah, using minis in-game. I really ought to try and do more minis that would be useful in![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
streamweaver's game. Hell, I even bought a mojh mini to paint and surprise one of the other players with, but I dragged my feet too long and he just changed characters. I know when I go shopping I should buy monsters and bad guys, but somehow I can never pass up the pretty pretty Sandra Garrity minis. Sunday I just had to have her latest, the fairy princess, because she was just too pretty to pass up. She might be her prettiest yet. See?
So anyway, I keep getting the pretty princesses and the one I've finished (a girl with a dragon) is gorgeous if I do say so myself and probably the one I get the most compliments on, but we've only used her in-game once, as a damsel in distress. And the monsters should be a lot of fun to paint. I have all the humans I need, but I still can't resist them.
And I have to touch up a couple of paint jobs, and then find a better carrying case so things won't get scratched. And probably apply several coats of sealer to be safe. I know it's not realistic, but I like the glossy. Then again, I made a conscious decision when I started that I wasn't going to worry too much about hyperrealism. I mean, they're fantasy figures! I've seen the really elaborate professional jobs, and yeah, I admire the skill and effort, but honestly, I'm just not into all the elaborate shading and lines. Why stress myself out when I'm just doing it for fun anyway? Personally, I like my too-bright, paper-doll paint jobs just as much as the fancy ones I see online, which is because they're mine, my vision. It's a fun way to indulge some artistic impulses (I can't draw at all) and more importantly, just play.
I really need to take some pictures of the ones I've finished and post them here. Maybe even at CoolMiniOrNot.com, they don't seem to be too brutal.
I fiddled around with my Martina mini a bit. I know, by now I've sealed her and declared her finished three times, but I keep seeing spots I missed, or ways I could improve her. The main thing this time was I used the detail brush to shade her some cleavage. ;) I also did some more work on Martina's brother, who I've been working on for months now. I was disappointed that I didn't get his hair quite the same color as Martina's, but then I decided he would have looked stupid with that many highlights anyway. I mean, I doubt there are that many metrosexual adventurers. (Though you gotta admit, that could be a great concept. Especially for an elf. I mean, Legolas. End of story.) Then I looked around at my myriad figures, some of which I'd forgotten I had, to see which ones I thought would look good with that hair color, because I hate to waste paint. This frequently leads to me hunting around for spots on minis that need to be just that color.
I realized just how many half-finished minis I have and how few I've finished in comparison. The problem is, I have fun doing the initial work, but I tend to shy away from the detail work, things like eyes and such. This means it takes me forever to finish a mini, and therefore forever to start showing it off or using it in-game. I'm going to have to get over that. Hopefully my nifty new detail brush will help.
Ah, using minis in-game. I really ought to try and do more minis that would be useful in
streamweaver's game. Hell, I even bought a mojh mini to paint and surprise one of the other players with, but I dragged my feet too long and he just changed characters. I know when I go shopping I should buy monsters and bad guys, but somehow I can never pass up the pretty pretty Sandra Garrity minis. Sunday I just had to have her latest, the fairy princess, because she was just too pretty to pass up. She might be her prettiest yet. See? So anyway, I keep getting the pretty princesses and the one I've finished (a girl with a dragon) is gorgeous if I do say so myself and probably the one I get the most compliments on, but we've only used her in-game once, as a damsel in distress. And the monsters should be a lot of fun to paint. I have all the humans I need, but I still can't resist them.
And I have to touch up a couple of paint jobs, and then find a better carrying case so things won't get scratched. And probably apply several coats of sealer to be safe. I know it's not realistic, but I like the glossy. Then again, I made a conscious decision when I started that I wasn't going to worry too much about hyperrealism. I mean, they're fantasy figures! I've seen the really elaborate professional jobs, and yeah, I admire the skill and effort, but honestly, I'm just not into all the elaborate shading and lines. Why stress myself out when I'm just doing it for fun anyway? Personally, I like my too-bright, paper-doll paint jobs just as much as the fancy ones I see online, which is because they're mine, my vision. It's a fun way to indulge some artistic impulses (I can't draw at all) and more importantly, just play.
I really need to take some pictures of the ones I've finished and post them here. Maybe even at CoolMiniOrNot.com, they don't seem to be too brutal.
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Date: 2004-04-13 12:32 pm (UTC)no subject
HUGZ!
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Date: 2004-04-13 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-15 11:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 04:58 am (UTC)For this, I'd say do a pattern in flat paint, and then overlay with one (or more) of these (http://reapermini.com/?nav=Pro%20Paints&sub=Paints&category=silks_satins). If you blend well, perhaps something like Cornflower at the base of the wings, shading to Pearl White in the middle, and out to Gold Silk or Coral or Mandarin at the tips.