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Hey Dakka, I am going to be putting my Daemon Prince in Golden Daemon next month and I would love use to give me some feed back as I really want to come close to wining.

Another thing, I do not know what to put on the base so could you give me some ideas for that please.

Any comments mean or nice would be appreciated and could you please also rate the figure.

Don't even try.

GD is so far out of your league right now that it's not even worth entering. You won't make it past the qualifying rounds.

If you google Golden Daemon OP , you'll find the work of others that have participated.

Unless you are in the Young Blood Category , your chances are not favorable ( even the young painters are really good )

Why do you think so?

No offense, but look up some GD winners.
Thats just a stock model, and its not even dynamic.

Feforfar wrote:Why do you think so?

Just google the Golden Demon winners and see the things they come up with.

The face really needs some work too.

Yeah sorry brother... if you were shooting for Baltimore MD - USA perhaps you might stand a chance but otherwise, especially in Europe the level is so high that it's sickening to us mortals.

Well, if I was to enter that model in, how would you paint it?

Your model is table top quality. It's not poorly painted. It's just not very good either. At 3 feet away, it'll look passable.

But GD models are a completely other level. They're perfectly cut and clean (I can see a few mold lines on your model already, that's pretty much an automatic loss right there). The bases are generally extravagant and dynamic, as are the models themselves (and not just a daemon prince just standing there... doing nothing...).

Additionally, the level of painting required to qualify, let alone win a Golden Daemon is incredible. You seem to have just given a basic base coat and wash. Although a standard for basic table-top level miniatures, it would be an absolute insult to enter into a GD. GD painters make extensive use of blending and freehanding. A GD model must near perfection. As other posters have said, look at GD winners out there and see for yourself. Better yet, look at the runners up, and see just how such amazing models still don't win, and then compare that to your prince.

We're not insulting your painting. Myself and Lunahound wouldn't even qualify either.

Why wouldn't you qualify and I'm only asking.
Plus I think this is going into the young bloods.

If I worked hard at paitning him, do you think I would get close?

We wouldn't qualify because we're not near the expected level of quality. And neither is your DP.

Even in youngbloods, there's some amazing stuff. You wouldn't get far.

And honestly, no, I don't think you would get close. You need to spend a lot of time and get a lot more practice. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I'm saying that you need a lot more work, and you won't be winning any awards any time soon. If you can keep your enthusiasm, and augment it with plenty patience and a lengthy dose of practice, you may end up on such a level, but it's a long way away. Focus on learning basic painting techniques first, before you start getting starry-eyed over such massive goals.

I dont plan on wining, I never planned on wining, I just want to give it a go!

Just a question, how could I improve it?

As I said, there's so much that could be changed, fixed, and improved upon that you had best just learn basic painting techniques first. When you learn the basics, you'll see much of what needs fixing yourself.

And I'd dare to say that it's not worth entering. The judges would drop something like that at first look without so much as a thought. You won't gain anything other than a feeling of inadequacy. You're better off going to various conventions that many of these (many professional) painters attend, and asking them for tips. Many people are more than happy to talk about their hobbies, and competition class painters should be no exception.

Feforfar wrote:I dont plan on wining, I never planned on wining, I just want to give it a go!

Just a question, how could I improve it?

You know how when you see your model , the light gives it shades ( darker spot ) and high lights?

Golden Daemon produces colorings that gives that kind of depth without the help of real lights.
In other words you can think of it as a 2 D painting on its own as if you are looking at a picture.

How far you can get into GD depends how realistic and smooth you can produce the minimum of that effect.
Not to mention metal gleams , painting the eyes and lenses as if its wet or glassy , or gems , etc etc

( You did google GD winner's works right? )

There model are fantastic but there not Daemons, thats the other thing, and it looks like they've been converted!

Feforfar wrote:There model are fantastic but there not Daemons, thats the other thing, and it looks like they've been converted!

"Golden Daemon" is the name of the painting contest. It doesnt mean the models in question must be a Demon.
Just like Ford Ram doesnt mean you are riding a mountain goat.
Conversion of course helps. Every tiny extra effort you put into helps tip the results.

What? The models arent demons?

You do need some work before getting to GD standard.
There are many things that need to be done or learned in your situation, feathering, we blending, ability to do NMM or even the higher standard metallic painting. Color schemes.

Your colors are good, but no offense man you need to read up on cold and warm colors. You need to figure out which colors contrast. Learn the color wheel, get a good idea on how to mix gradually and find your technique. Find the ability to do all of these things.

I see that in your profile your age is 14. Your still young man you have to work hard and keep working to get to where those artists are.


And converting models is usually better. The more unique a model is the better of a chance it stands in taking a prize.

Conversion is arguably a must since if it just looks like any old thing taken out of its box and assembled... well that's just boring.

Ok, how can I convert my DP, guys I know use aren't trying to be mean, but I really want help, I want it to look good at least, even if I dont get past round 1.

1-How could I convert it?

2-A painting suggestion

Can you at least just answer that please, than I'll shut up!

Fe, you can enter your models if you want. If you only want to enter and don't care about winning, then go for it.

If you want to work towards winning as a Youngblood (which I assume you classify as) then why not start actively trying to learn the techniques you will need?

I am sure a lot of people on Dakka will happily give you advice if you start updating your threads showing you attempting and advancing through techniques like

Highlighting
basic Object source lighting
use of wash shading and inking
basing
and converting.

Why not choose one of the above, research it, and start trying to put it into effect onto a model then show it to Dakka so you can get advice on how to advance further with it? Try for learning one technique at a time, and expect to need a lot of practice and patience, but everyone has had to do it to learn how to paint decently, yet alone to GD standard.

Ok, in his right hand, would it look good if I put the axe (it came with the set) in it, so convert the axe in to his right hand?

And also put some more horns on his head and and his left hand, put a dead nid or SM?

And, I'll go 1 step at a time like you said

Id say enter it and see what happens. I think its a fine piece, and you should be proud of what you've done. As to the base, id say something with rocks might look good.

Feforfar wrote:Ok, how can I convert my DP, guys I know use aren't trying to be mean, but I really want help, I want it to look good at least, even if I dont get past round 1.

1-How could I convert it?

2-A painting suggestion

Can you at least just answer that please, than I'll shut up!

First off, I like your enthusiasm, don't loose that. Ever. Second, it's nice too see that your really open to suggestions, that's crucial to learning to be a better painter. Alright let me have a crack at your questions.

1- The conversion I see for him is holding a Guardsman (or Marine) while torchering him with his left hand. That would help him not look like he's just standing there flipping off the enemy.

2- Now painting is one thing that is a bit more important than conversions. The first thing that I would recommend would be to break up the orange, making the armor a dark green or dark purple would definitively break it up without too much contrast.

so are you saying change it from black to purple or green and with the conversion, DONT put the axe there instead put a dead thing there and with the base im thinking of putting some dead nids!

Golden Daemon?

Come back in a couple more decades of painting

Thats a nice comment!

I mean, it's not terrible. I'm sure it'd look great on the tabletop....

I can also tell how much effort you put into it, which I give you internets for...But lemme break it down:

Colors are...wat? You're going from.dark flesh?> Some kind of red> Orange

The colors aren't correct. It should be less obvious that you're moving from red to orange...Just consider that and invest in a color wheel or something. The theory is excellent. Some of us just have a natural inclination with this thing, but others don't.

THE FACE- not enough effort. Paint the eyes, do facial highlights, make those teeth separate.

Armor is wat? You're doing a lowlight with orange? Wat?

I can see you have a LOT of potential. You have a good brush technique and you know what to do. Try again?

OH, I almost forgot. Get some matte finish. Your models are too shiny, and washes just make it worse.

What do I use instead of washes and how would you paint the skin?

You photos don't help the quality of the model. NEVER USE FLASH. yeah I enter GD my first year and I shortly realized I had no idea what I was doing. Technique, they don't judge the base work and they actually think unconverted, exceptionally painted citadel models are better becuase it exemplifies games workshops on hard work. Yeah sorry bro, you guy isn't ready. Its a great paint job, but not to a GD standard. Try to use a lot more thinner coats to blend to different colors on the flesh.