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Looking to try my hand at some freehand stuff. But Im after some inspiration from dakkanaughts! I would like to see a mix of first attempts and professional level and everything in between as well as any "this is what my first attempt looked like and this is what i can do now" I would post a pic up but the only free hand anything i have tried is a little bit of script on a space marine shin.

I dont want to see armies or multiple angle shots of a whole mini i just want to see close ups of any free hand work you guys may have done and are willing to share and any tips and tricks?

Well, the most recent thing I did was the koi patterns and stripes on this Acheron.


I want to be better but its a slow process and Ive come a long way from when I first started freehand a year + ago.


My advice is to accept that your first attempts are going to suck, and maybe a year later your attempts will still be terrible. But being willing to try is the main step, always try to find time to work on it. I havent done so great
at that, most of my projects done need freehand, but its definitely something I want to be proficient as a painter at doing. So Im going to try to try more often.

(the writing at the bottom)

 Iechine wrote:


I want to be better but its a slow process and Ive come a long way from when I first started freehand a year + ago.

Spoiler:

That is still a darn sight better than what i can do. Albeit i've only had a little try on paper doing some basic geometric shapes practice makes perfect though

Another question to everyone, what brushes do you use for freehand? Do you have a specific brush you pull out specifically for freehand stuff?

My humble offering:



I don't get to do as much freehand as I'd like as I paint very few vehicles. Most of my freehand is either flames or smaller white symbols and sigils.

Massively open request.
Freehand of what? There's difference in technique between painting a geometric pattern and a mural/picture.

Well this is my first dreehand attempt, all i can say is get a VERY thin brush and hide it from yourself and ONLY use it for dreehand. I have a crappy big brush that i hide.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, another tip that i have read about is to use a clutchpencil and sraw ut in the mini first, then colour ut un....did not help on the black though, one thing that i thought of and tried ( but did not work because i was wirking on black is) take your pic and glue it onto carbon paper, get it in position and using a fune tipped pen carbon trace it onto your mini, then colour it in.

winterdyne wrote:
Massively open request.
Freehand of what? There's difference in technique between painting a geometric pattern and a mural/picture.

Anything thats on a model. Just want to see some.

Any tips as to how you managed to create a certain piece. Or any troubles you had or anything with a good story as well. Even just a "i felt like trying something"

Troll tattoos

Troll banner

Egyptian temple ruin

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/608172.page

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/604104.page

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/602440.page

Not me, clearly.

wow... ok, well now I really think mine looks like crap now lol

I'm not an artist so actually drawing a drawing/picture is out for me. I do stuff sometimes like lines, other geometrical stuff. I'm pretty good at making up runes, for instance. I've been trying to get a good luna wolf symbol done, it's sorta table top standard but meh. If you really want to see it, should be in my BaC gallery iirc. Not really worth linking tbh.

I'd look up some painters on youtube so you can see it in process, which seems to help. I know epic duck did one during his painting of various armies from the BaC box, I can't think which video it was though, exactly.

Some things I've heard/read people do to help, is to outline your design in like a micro pen, or even pencil, carefully and use that to help you stay with in the lines. Plus you can more easily erase/cover over lines before painting.

cant really offer anything else as I'm still learning too - good question though!

Practice the design on flat paper 1st. Start with a pencil or pen drawing & then try colouring it in with paint. Once you have that down try it on the model.
I have tried micro & mapping pens but found the black is too stark & the lines too thick.

I use a lot of free hand on my dark mechanicus, mainly chaos stars though

Start with a pencil drawing. Theres no doubt that if you want to make good freehand designs you just need to practice.. Like any art. I come from a fine art background and having prior knowledge of things like shape, dimension, colours etc is a big advantage, but you can teach yourself. Get a pen and paper and doodle stuff. Im a doodler, i do it almost subconsciously now. For the freehand itself, get yourself a fine brush-0000 or 000, take your time, build it up slowly, that way you'll see when its just right.

Tried some free hand eyes on this guys shoulder.

My Vostroyan Banner bearer is my most recent attempt at some freehand. It's far from the best, but an easy example of what you can do.

Winter wrote:
My Vostroyan Banner bearer is my most recent attempt at some freehand. It's far from the best, but an easy example of what you can do.

I really like that! Thats what i want to be able to achieve. Im no artist and my regular drawing skills are pretty sub par but that banner is something i feel i could achieve with time. Maybe i will get hold of a couple of standard bearers after i eventually finish this knight

 Guildenstern wrote:
wow... ok, well now I really think mine looks like crap now lol *snip* Not really worth linking tbh.

You do yourself an injustice. I can't really see much of the symbol you mention, but if the rest of your Luna Wolves paintjob is anything to go by then I think you should show it proudly - they look really great!