Ashton's First Two Orcs + Squig

Okay, so I've finally gotten around to painting my first two models since I grew up

FLUFF:
I haven't made up a storyline yet, but these orcs' homeland has a odd, orange stone that when broken into powder and rubbed on your skin with water create a great Orange Dye, so these will be along the lines of scottish orcs with orange woad... *stollen from Tom* I have yet to do the face painting, but the two orange stripes is this warbands signature.

Notes:
I need a good Painting Sword/Metal tutorial/tips
I also wouldn't normally take such up-close pictures as it shows too many flaws , but I'd like to hear the tips you crazy-skilled painters have =]

Orc Archer:





Orc Warrior:
(Pictures didn't come out as well as the archer for some reason...)



I'm using cheap brushes, and cheap paint, but I think I'm getting used to how to make it work.

Now that you've seen the pictures, look again at the Orc Warrior, and look at the Melon he has for a bicep

C&C & Tips are more than welcome.
Thanks,

Well this is a really good start.

May I critique? You need a more contrast in colours. Just a single colour that stands out more bright. In my opinion it livens the model up.

But by all means I like the progress you have made

I think they look great! I like the colours, the only thing you should work on is the metal of your swords / helmets (IMO the swords should look rusty) (if you're in a gory mood you can even add some blood on it )

Anyway, nice paintjob!

nice painting What kind of brushes dó you use? Gw brushes are much de expensive


Greetz Axel

already saw them on your blog yesterday
you've improved mate! gj!

I like them quite a bunch, Good work Just keep practicing!

I love the way you painted the skin, great job.

Solid paintjob Ash!

If you don't mind Lord Siwoc I will contradict you in that I don't think the models are too dark.

I think the orange warpaint is actually what makes them stick out.

2 little critics however:

1) You should paint the sides of your base in a colour (I always make them black because I think it contrasts best with the basing material, and gives it a "posh" look) so that the drybrush marks are covered and no longer seen.

2) For the metal painting: Drybrush in 2 steps. First with a rusty brown-metallic colour. Second with a regular metallic.

Good job!

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, guys.

Tortiou wrote:

the only thing you should work on is the metal of your swords / helmets

Ashton wrote:

Notes:
I need a good Painting Sword/Metal tutorial/tips

Vorror wrote:

I love the way you painted the skin, great job.

Thanks, I'm sure it will get better as I keep on it.

Admin Tom wrote:

2 little critics however:...

1) Ah yes, I did forget to do that. Black is what I was going to go for as well. All my old models' bases are the same color on the side as they are on top... definitely boring
2) Thanks a bunch. I'll try that.

Then it may just be me that like a bit of contrast

As I said...I like the rest of the mini.

I like em, and I don't agree that they need more vibrant colors. There is something to be said for simple and rustic. I would suggest that you paint the tattoos white before orange to make them "pop".

Thats an interesting idea.

I have to work on painting straight lines still, but I'll try that.

They do look good to me, Ashton.

Thanks cianty.



<--- I think he looks better from Far away =]

they're quite good. they have a nice dusty look to them, as if they've been in mordheim for a while perhaps.

i don't think that there is anything wrong with the colours, but unless you are painting these for a warhammer regiment you may want to add more distinction between the models. Different tattoos as suggested perhaps, snotlings or other victims on the bases perhaps... something to add more colour to the model, but not to the orc/uniform.

ANd on that note.....this is two....have you done more in the meantime?

Hey Aston,
Good work, you're coming along nicely.

I've got a couple of craft paints & brushes to recommend to you. As aready noted, I'm cheap, but I draw the line at being frugal at the expense of quality. Americana & Folk Art are very nice, high quality lines of paint with a tremendous range of colors. They are available from Michael's & some other craft stores. You get 2oz. for about $1; that's 1/12 the price of G.W.'s & I've found them superior in covering, blending, & they are kinder to brushes. Lately I've been using Royal & Langnickel's brushes, good quality for the price, & as they, as all brushes will, shed, they form finer & finer points becoming detailing brushes.

For a nice bright effect on oranges & reds; start with a darker shade of the Orange/Red, highlight in a yellow [for the orange] or a yellowish orange [for the red] then go over with a slightly watered out orange or red lighter than the original base color. This might work well on the fletching [arrow feathers].

If you opted for a burnt orange or burnt seinna on your leather work, it would give you a greater contrast to the green skin.

Keep posting pics, I & our fellow forumites will keep giving suggestions; in my case, possibly unwanted suggestions. Checking your work,both here & on your blog, you are showing remarkable improvement with your mini painting; your terrain was superb to begin with.

Axel wrote:

nice painting What kind of brushes dó you use?

Hey Axel, Yea, I got 25 brushes from wallmart for $5.25. They're all different sizes, toughnesses and shapes, and since I don't know any better, I've just been trying them all out.

DeafNala wrote:

For a nice bright effect on oranges & reds...

That is a great idea! I don't know why I didn't think about shading my oranges. Good call

lord siwoc wrote:

ANd on that note.....this is two....have you done more in the meantime?

Not yet, I've got like 15 projects going right now, and I think my next mini is going to be a Skaven (as that's my favorite warband.) I should also have some cool terrain for you in a little bit too.

Thanks for the C&C,

No pressure intended my friend

Yeay! I painted one of my Squigs!



I took some pictures of the wip. you can see it on my Mordheim Blog

And I couldn't find the previous post, so I'll just say, I used Nail-Polish Remover to get the paint off my squigs, it worked okay. I'm still looking for something that will just eat all the paint up so I don't have to do any vigorous scraping =]

l8r,
ash

Very nice, Amigo! Your choice of colors give an appropiately leathery effect; the warty growths turned out cool; i.e., they show up nicely against the more subdued skin color. You've come a LONG ways with your minis.

The thing I really love about the Goblins & Squigs is that they look like such merry little psychopaths.

DeafNala wrote:

You've come a LONG ways with your minis.

I would hope so, I've almost doubled in age

Here's another update. I finished the remaining 4 of my squigs today! Yeay, no more squigs left to paint:

(No, I didn't use a flash. That is Deafnala's tip to make the eyes glow. thanks! )

I wish it didn't take so long...

If anyone has any tips or tricks to improve my painting, I'd appreciate it. I always love learning.

C&C always welcome,
-Ashton Sanders

These are great!!!

Well done! You have really improved alot!

EXCELLENT, WELL DONE, BRAVO, and stuff like that!

Nice job on the eyes, brilliant idea! You've got a lot of potential. Your work has & will continue to get better & better. You're a rare person in that you actually listen to advice & apply it [the advice that is] to your work.
In my admitedly strange opinion, the Squigs are among the coolest minis GW ever came out with, & you've done them justice. The orange skin coloration turned out perfectly, and they fit so well with your woad theme. Take a bow.