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Tau from the Grimlock Miniature series painted to my Epic Tabletop

This might be just me, but i don't see any image in the first post..

The point of a background is to get the model close so it can stand out. Why didn't you get it closer and light the model correctly?

Also, you might want to work on your airbrush OSL. Many thin layers go a long way versus just blasting it with a single blue paint. And try to mix it so it doesn't splatter - I find airbrush medium helps a lot and many thinner coats built up incrementally.

What does level 3 mean?

 IR0N wrote:
What does level 3 mean?

So Level 3 is my highest level of painting, my Epic Table top, it means i have pulled out as much detail as i could out of the model to make the model look awesome.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 spincr wrote:
This might be just me, but i don't see any image in the first post..

That is indeed odd, i wouldnt know how to fix that

I think these models are a step down from what you present in your gallery. Your Level 2 Imperial Guard Volunteer is IMO better painted than your level 3 Tau. This may simply boil down to color choice or a model that better suits your style (you're strong at painting cloth), or simply poor photography, but I don't think it's a good example of your skills, based on your gallery images.

 Muggami wrote:

 IR0N wrote:
What does level 3 mean?

So Level 3 is my highest level of painting, my Epic Table top, it means i have pulled out as much detail as i could out of the model to make the model look awesome.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 spincr wrote:
This might be just me, but i don't see any image in the first post..

That is indeed odd, i wouldnt know how to fix that

How much would one pay for a level 3 painting?

You need to practice your photography more in terms of the lighting, it is really hard to make them out, and thus really hard to appreciate the work -

I see uneven coverage all across the models, poor resin prep, and thick paint on the purple drone. I believe your level one titan and that amazing knight is better done that the models here.

 MajorTom11 wrote:
You need to practice your photography more in terms of the lighting, it is really hard to make them out, and thus really hard to appreciate the work -

that one in particular would be about $25 Bucks

Lol I think you quoted the wrong dude

So you seem to have a good understanding of shadow, along with OSL which is good, however i think you need to work on blending more, and a better understanding of not just OSL, but directional lighting and blending. For example the cape has really hard lines between the highlight and the dark colors with no real transition between the two.

The models seem pretty decent, not sure on the price per cost, but seems reasonable for a table top standard.

 IR0N wrote:

 Muggami wrote:

 IR0N wrote:
What does level 3 mean?

So Level 3 is my highest level of painting, my Epic Table top, it means i have pulled out as much detail as i could out of the model to make the model look awesome.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 spincr wrote:
This might be just me, but i don't see any image in the first post..

That is indeed odd, i wouldnt know how to fix that

How much would one pay for a level 3 painting?

$25 for this one

 Muggami wrote:
So Level 3 is my highest level of painting, my Epic Table top, it means i have pulled out as much detail as i could out of the model to make the model look awesome.

Honestly, you might want to scale down your expectations here. You aren't producing anything that could really be considered "epic tabletop". What you have here is a basic tabletop standard at best, some attempts at highlighting but not very good execution. Maybe you might be able to find a market doing low-end commission work at very cheap rates, for people who just want to meet the minimum painting requirements for tournaments, but you need to understand that this is what you're doing and set your prices appropriately.

Photography is a lot like miniature painting: trial & error and practice. I can't tell if the model is good or not because I can't see it. Get yourself a light box - either make one or buy a cheap one on eBay and practice, practice, practice. Clients will want to see your levels of painting, warts and all. They won't want to see models where they cannot discern colours, details and painting techniques because the background is too busy, the lighting is poor or the model is too distant.

 Peregrine wrote:

 Muggami wrote:
So Level 3 is my highest level of painting, my Epic Table top, it means i have pulled out as much detail as i could out of the model to make the model look awesome.

Honestly, you might want to scale down your expectations here. You aren't producing anything that could really be considered "epic tabletop". What you have here is a basic tabletop standard at best, some attempts at highlighting but not very good execution. Maybe you might be able to find a market doing low-end commission work at very cheap rates, for people who just want to meet the minimum painting requirements for tournaments, but you need to understand that this is what you're doing and set your prices appropriately.

So many people trying to help still. I do love this community sometimes. A shame he won't listen.

Yeeeah. This sort of misrepresentation isn't what I'd expect from a commission service. It's BTP-esque, and we know how that ended up. This looks like a deliberately dark and under-exposed photo to hide a gakky paintjob.

Edit: Go look at odinsgrandson's (Garden Ninja Painting), mine (Winterdyne Commission Modelling), Gruumsh (Da Painter), GMM_Studios (er, GMM), and so on. Common theme is no misrepresentation of what you get, and clear photos showing the painters' style, consistency of paintwork (similar standard every time), assembly finish. We all do 'high end tabletop' work. This isn't in the same county, never mind playing field.

winterdyne wrote:
Yeeeah. This sort of misrepresentation isn't what I'd expect from a commission service. It's BTP-esque, and we know how that ended up.

He is a local to me here in NC - though he isn't in my neck of the woods. He used to spam our Facebook group with posts and didn't much care for criticism there either.

And yea, with you on the BTP vibe.

 Muggami wrote:

 IR0N wrote:
What does level 3 mean?

So Level 3 is my highest level of painting, my Epic Table top, it means i have pulled out as much detail as i could out of the model to make the model look awesome.

Maybe its just a matter of dispensing with the "levels" of painting and just include rough price bands based on what you are providing. Based on the Guardsman examples:

(Former Level 1) - Basecoat +wash, major details picked out - $xx
(Former Level 2) - Basecoat +wash, major details picked out, 1 level highlights - $xx
(Former Level 3) - Basecoat +wash, all details picked out, 2 level highlights, basic freehand, - $xx

Disclaimer: I AM NOT A COMMISSION PAINTER:

I think giving the painting bands descriptors such as "epic" is probably not for the best as it suggests display level quality, while what is being delivered is tabletop. I'll have to go with Winterdyne here: The term tabletop returns a pretty wide range of expectations - mostly at the high end: Low end of commission tabletop is pretty easily established, with tidy basecoats, minor details picked out and a wash. I think you are right on target here. High end is a real mixed bag:

Here's a Space Marine that I did a few years back:



At the time, he was one of my best works, but he's only table-top quality. It's a pretty long slog to get to "high table-top" quality, and an even longer slog to get to display level. I'd avoid using any terms that gives the impression that the service being sold is approaching display quality. As previously mentioned: consistency is key: In particular, the tau with the sniper rifle is of noticeably lesser quality than the fire warrior despite both being purportedly Level 3. I'd even go so far as to say that the sniper Tau is only Level 1 as very little highlighting can be seen in the photo.

That's a nice marine, keezus. I'd slot it as high end tabletop.

Nice contrast between light and dark shades on the armour, smooth enough transition. Chips look nice enough. Studs neatly picked out. No missed details that I can see. Not much wrong with that. Maybe stick some sharper edges on it and it'd really pop. Stripes might be a bit wonky, but hard to tell from that angle.

And, despite the lack of backsheet / plain paper background, it's a CLEAR PHOTO. You can see what's being talked about without straining to look.

The stripes -are- wonky.

 keezus wrote:
The stripes -are- wonky.

its Free handed Camo, not stripes XD

 Muggami wrote:

 keezus wrote:
The stripes -are- wonky.

its Free handed Camo, not stripes XD

I think they were talking about the stripes on the chainsword on keezus's marine.

 sonny2dap wrote:

 Muggami wrote:

 keezus wrote:
The stripes -are- wonky.

its Free handed Camo, not stripes XD

I think they were talking about the stripes on the chainsword on keezus's marine.

Ahhhh i think his stripes look good

 keezus wrote:

 Muggami wrote:

 IR0N wrote:
What does level 3 mean?

So Level 3 is my highest level of painting, my Epic Table top, it means i have pulled out as much detail as i could out of the model to make the model look awesome.

Maybe its just a matter of dispensing with the "levels" of painting and just include rough price bands based on what you are providing. Based on the Guardsman examples:

(Former Level 1) - Basecoat +wash, major details picked out - $xx
(Former Level 2) - Basecoat +wash, major details picked out, 1 level highlights - $xx
(Former Level 3) - Basecoat +wash, all details picked out, 2 level highlights, basic freehand, - $xx

Disclaimer: I AM NOT A COMMISSION PAINTER:

I think giving the painting bands descriptors such as "epic" is probably not for the best as it suggests display level quality, while what is being delivered is tabletop. I'll have to go with Winterdyne here: The term tabletop returns a pretty wide range of expectations - mostly at the high end: Low end of commission tabletop is pretty easily established, with tidy basecoats, minor details picked out and a wash. I think you are right on target here. High end is a real mixed bag:

Here's a Space Marine that I did a few years back:



At the time, he was one of my best works, but he's only table-top quality. It's a pretty long slog to get to "high table-top" quality, and an even longer slog to get to display level. I'd avoid using any terms that gives the impression that the service being sold is approaching display quality. As previously mentioned: consistency is key: In particular, the tau with the sniper rifle is of noticeably lesser quality than the fire warrior despite both being purportedly Level 3. I'd even go so far as to say that the sniper Tau is only Level 1 as very little highlighting can be seen in the photo.

That is high table-top, bro. Don't sell yourself short!

 em_en_oh_pee wrote:

Here's a Space Marine that I did a few years back:



That is high table-top, bro. Don't sell yourself short!

Thanks for your comment!. I more-or-less meant to use the marine as an example that it still falls into the "table-top" range of quality and does not qualify for "Display" level... which I'm not quite ready for (but working towards maybe one day reaching.)