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The ogre looks good, only the white of the loin cloth jumps out. It is easier to paint realistic looking figs if you don't use pure white or black. The cloth would look better and more fitting to the fig if it would have been painted with bone or other not pure white.

Otherwise it is a clear improvement to your previous figs. You are progressing with a good pace.

Understood. Thanks Metsuri. Gives me an idea for the next ones.

And to make it clear it was not to put your work down in any way, I'm just trying to offer some pointers for you to consider in future. The development you have achieved from the first figs to these latest is really great.

Lighter as in bigher. Add a little buy of white to the green or add some bighter green to the green you used.

Metsuri - I'm totally aware you weren't putting down my work (who would -Ego alert!). I especially see your point 'cause it's a Rat Ogre. Skaven. They live underground backstabbing each other. I'm pretty sure laundry isn't a main priority. The cloth looks to clean to me after you mentioned that. And you gave me an idea to alter that. So thank you. I always appreciate and take into account the advice given to me, seeing as how so far it's all be super advice.

sum1 - Gotcha. Will do. See if I can't really make it glow. O_O

The Rat Ogres are my fave so far. Great job!

I do love reading Plogs where the progress in painting skill shows clearly. Great work!

Perkustin - Thanks! Mine too.

Briancj - Glad you're enjoying it. I'm surprised that I've gotten as much feedback as I have and not just a little bit thrilled. Come back again won't ya?

I surprised myself tonight. I began painting my Clanrats and I'm oh so very close to finishing 2 Clanrats (yes I know that's not that many, but I did that in less than an hour. Before it used to take me a few hours to finish something even that small. Just need cloak highlights, check patterns and bases. So not only am I better, but I'm faster! Pashow! Can't see me, I'm a blur! However my mass production line idea has worked out as I was getting bored after doing skin on just 2, so maybe 2 at a time is what I'll work with for now.

Thanks for looking!

Very nice stuff. I am loving the Rat Ogres.

Im looking forward to the Ork lootas and stormboyz. Im joining the green tide in a little while and would like to see your take on them.

Ferret - Thank ya muchly.

40kFSU - The Stormboyz are in line for next for assembly and will primed and begun once weather permits. I spray outside and it's freakin' cold here, so once it warms up (supposed to be by Saturday but it's a roll of the dice here really) I'll see if I can't get some color on them. Plus I'm gonna need something to break up the monotony of rats.

And in other news, finished the 2 Clanrats, began on 2 more, assembled Lord Skrolk, Jezzail and the Ratling Gun. Have a Globadier that is going to get repainted as well. Was never happy with him to begin with. I also tried something with the checker pattern to tone down the white. Gave it a wash of Devlan Mud. I think it looks better and helps to make it look not so clean.
I thought about drybrushing some brown on the bottom section of any cloth, like mud. Thoughts?


Pics of the Clanrats up tomorrow. Thanks for looking!

Your stuff is awesome! I like those rat-ogre thingies.

Mud and dirt can be also painted with washes. Just dillute some earth brown with water and paint it to the lower parts of the fig. Be careful that you don't pool the wash as that doesn't look good when it has dried. You might need couple of coats, but the effect is nice as the base color is showing through the dirt layer.

The Rat Ogres are looking very nice. I love the greens you used.

Rat Ogres seem to be a hit. Sweet. Thanks so much everyone for the nice comments. And Metsuri, thanks for the advice.

So just a small update. Clanrats and a before pic of the Globadier that needs re-painting.






Just a small amount of checkers on these guys. Just to say "hey, we're a part of this clan but not overly checker happy". The other rat has checkers on the front bottom of his robe. Hard to see in the pics, but it's there and was a b***h to paint 'cause the shaft of the spear was in the way.


And ya know what I just realised? I do my eyes bass ackwards! Supposed to be white with black pupil, right? I do black with a white dot (dunno if I'd call it a pupil though, makes me think of something more like shine), but I like it.


This one was painted about a year ago. Look how chunky it is!


Just showing these before pics 'cause I think it's fun to see the transformation of something.

Thanks for looking!

Oooo, update. Hey, the black eye/white pupil thing is totally normal. I actually think you got it spot on. Rodents usually have black eyes or close to black (all the ones I know anyways). I'm digging the faint checker pattern on the blue, looks pretty good. Keep up the awesome work!

Wow, look at far you've come with your painting in only a year. I agree with The Capm in that the eye are good as they are. I think it really adds to the style aswell as make them all look that tad more like diseased vermin.

The rat ogres are a HUGE jump in the right direction- clean, smooth paint transitions for the warpstone, the glowing cracks, and the skin tone is excellent... why, again, were you asking for my advice on the skin?? Those ones look fine!

No joke, they look like the ones painted for display armies at GW stores. Keep it up.

Thanks so much guys! I really like the eyes I got on them as well so I'm thrilled you guys like 'em.

Izanagi - Glad you like everything. Honestly I can't remember asking...but if I did, maybe 'cause I'm self conscious and never think my stuff's good enough. Sorry. Small self esteem. Ya'll can thank high school for that one.

Speaking of GW, I popped by my local GW store today and asked them about displaying my stuff so I can get started in the commission business. I showed one of the guys my Rat Ogres and he told me to change the skin color (highlight to brighten it to the point that my first or second Minotuars were at), the wash I used on the bandages was wrong and didn't go with the skin color (he suggested Devlan Mud but I really like the Sepia) and I need to highlight the checker pattern. Thoughts?

They also won't display my stuff, so I'm kinda falling at a loss at how to get myself started. Anyone here wanna get something painted by me? I'm cheap.

Yea… you did. Swarthier skinned Barbarian on Promethean Hammer ( SHAMELESS PLUG!!! ... jus kiddin’). But yea, your stuff is getting better- That much is true.

LOL, ouch for the GW d-bag who shot you down. Was he comparing it to GW’s painting style of the Rat Ogres? Then if so, yea, I guess they could stand to go with a lighter flesh tone to make it like theirs. Does that rule out your rendition? No, not really- they look pretty good. But to hit you w/ all that crap about why it wasn’t good enough with no positive critique… not cool. Unless you left that part out? (the way you wrote it out sounds… harsh)


As to starting commissions… dunno. I’ve thought about it myself, but I’m one of those people who makes something and can’t bear to part with it after…

I'm sorry to say....I don't remember that. Huzzah memory loss.

I may have left out the good bits. He said the OSL, the metal and pretty much everything else was good. I was just mentioning the parts he didn't like to see if anyone agreed. I'm not gonna change anything unless it's majority rule.

I have no problem parting with something if I had no intentions on keeping it in the first place.

LOL... no problem.

Now I feel bad for calling said-GW employee a d-bag prematurely... My apologies, anonymous stranger. Either way, keep the Skaven coming.

Really great stuff! The regular skaven look fantastic, I especially like the way you did the silver as it looks full of depth.

I often find that GW employees are somewhat debatable for advice. I have seem some INCREDIBLE painters there, but some who are better generals or better with the customers or at teaching. Rarely is there the super employee who has it all!

In short: take the good, consider the points (they may actually be valid ) and remember that you are genuinely good and improving! That's why we all follow you!

In terms of the commission stuff - I have only ever painted for friends but that has always been based upon the strength of my painting. Which of course no one on dakka has seen as I haven't got around to doing it yet. Anyway....

I have bought some mini's on E-Bay (not usually pro painted I may add) and received cards of advertising, I have seen the links and websites in the sigs, blogs such as this one and those on other websites, ensuring that the gallery is full of your work and that you have variation. Possibly paint some space marines as they seem to be the most popular choice imo.

Can't say how useful any of this will be but hope it gets the brain thinking!

Taff

Regarding what the guy said, I don't know about the skin, but imho I think he may have hit something when he said the bandages need changing. The bandages and other cloth is white and and generally clean looking. Usually when you think skaven, you don't think clean, you would probably associate them with the scabby rabid rats you would find in the sewers or scampering in the city streets. Perhaps this is what the guy was looking for? I hope this helps, just my 2 cents.

I have been gone for a week and now I like SUPER CONFUSED! xD what have happend :S (LOL)

DARN! YOU ARE TO DARN GOOOOOD!

It can't hurt to build a cheap display website, with your best of the best of the best. Offer some squad- or army-discounts, and then advertise yourself. Position yourself as someone who can get an army to tabletop standard quickly and affordably, maybe you'll get some takers?

My 2 shillings. Pfennings? KOPEKS.

I like the warpstone on the Rat ogre, but it needs...something. Maybe a really light neon green highlight on the edges? And maybe a layer of gloss varnish over it. Still, I am loving you blog!

_Tim?

Briancj - Someone suggested Kijiji, which seems like a good idea to me. I agree about the discount idea. Thanks for the help!

_Tim? - Thanks for the advice. I agree, but I dont' have any gloss varnish. I'll pick some up next time I get a chance.

Thanks for all the tips and advice everyone. Pictureless update, assembled my Ork Stormboyz and a Skaven Jezzail, Ratling Gun and Lord Skrolk as well as finished painting 4 more Clanrats.

Thanks for looking!

Bunny, I really like your Skaven minis. I'm going to tackle a Skaven army next (hopefully by summer). Very inspiring.