Atropos's Airbrushing blog

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**Qualude**

Done much work in digital sir?

**atropos907**

maluendix wrote:
atropos907 wrote:Ok, I believe I will consider the top of the manta finished

Really? I mean... Really?

I do recognize sarcasm and yet looking at the manta I can see so much I could do to the top. But since it sees the light of day but once a year, there is little point. If I spent more on it (more than 30 or so) or if there were better painted things on the table I might be motivated to make the manta more compete. The freehand is close enough to my minds eye, within my ability to paint, but is a lot of detail work for the armor plates, weaponry, and other detail on the hull that could use more attention.

Qualude wrote:Done much work in digital sir?

Nope, But I like scenes to captivate my eye and digital space scenes do that quite often. Hence I use CG and Hubble images for inspiration.

**Shaman**

The Tau Ships are amazing.. Ive always wanted to do something like that.. Impressive sir.

**deadly chicken**

HOW?

That must have taken a weeks solid work.

That looks awesome btw!

*O*

DC

**Dysartes**

That's some very impressive work, atropos - for once I must agree with dc, and ask how you painted such effects.

Bravo, sir, bravo.

**atropos907**

deadly chicken wrote:HOW?

Dysartes wrote: I must agree with dc, and ask how you painted such effects.

Useless answer: Lots of time patience and planning.

Long answer
Check out my website
http://sites.google.com/site/thirdfatecreations/gallery
At the bottom I show design vs results comparison for the baracuda Manta and tigershark(before the tigershark was 100% complete)
I either keep the plan in my head if its simple(rare) sketch up the idea on paper and for big projects I care about, a lot or have a hard time with composition, I use GIMP and create the images shown in the bottom of that gallery as a guide. The top of the tigershark was well planned out and kept looking at a reference printout(BW) while painting. For the bottom of the tigershark I used a simple picture and then kept an idea of how I wanted it to look in my head while painting it.

But I still do a lot of freehand and deviate from the picture where deviation is prudent or seems appropriate.

Essentially, this is why my prices are fairly high. If I take a commission I will be putting a lot of effort into it. Even if a computer example isnt needed the planning, prep, and especially freehand take quite a while. I honestly didn't bother keeping track of time spent painting as that can sometimes be depressing. Its done when I think its done. And I typically set arbitrary deadlines for myself just to ensure I don't dawdle too much over composition.

**kukuchik**

it doesn't look done to me.

as in... *speechless*
simply outstanding

**aromasin**

Amazing... speechless is and understatement

**atropos907**

Ive started putting pdf tutorials up on my website.
http://sites.google.com/site/thirdfatecreations/tutorials-1

They are cleaned up versions of whats on this site. I will be adding more soon and then going back and improving them further.
Video versions to come soon, I'm just still trying to figure out what video software to use. So far I have uploaded the starter, and a basic troubleshooting tutorial.
Suggestions for what kinds of tutorials you would like to see would be useful. The site has a list of what I intend to do.

And Ive started a chaos pred. I hope it doesn't suck. I have fairly ambitious plans for it, we shall see if they hold.

**person person**

Epic Manta

**atropos907**

I just uploaded a GEMS tutorial featuring the gems on the manta.
http://sites.google.com/site/thirdfatecreations/tutorials-1

Now onto the next one when time permits.
Concerning the video tutorials, audio editing in videos can be... interesting.
Anyone know of descent music that can be freely or nearly freely liscenced for use in these videos.
If not you'll just have to deal with me talking, for which I would pity you.

**atropos907**

Several tutorials have been uploaded to my site.

I believe I will be done with the hammerhead soon. So far I think its turning out well

In addition ive been working on some basic turrets and shield emplacements for an apoc game.
I think I will keep them a simple white with black trim lines.
Suggestions to add just a little more detail?

**person person**

Looks great, really like the 3 guns in the front.

**atropos907**

Ive been making a lot of progress on various projects but this one is finally close to complete.

Its a simple foam tau research station 1ft square.
I may add a bit more detail to the ground but otherwise I believe its on to get the turrets or landing pad to an acceptable level of completion for table top gaming.

Any suggestions to make it look a little more "tau"?

**person person**

Damn that looks nice!

**atropos907**

The question I have regarding the research station is should I add grass and rocks? or just add some road weathering and call it good?

**Morgrim**

Rocks maybe, but I'd leave the grass off. For some reason lush fields of green grass don't strike me as very T'au, but rocks seem to have a habit of being everywhere across the galaxy.

**person person**

Agreed.

**atropos907**

And recently I have been working on painting for bot a big apoc battle and random small entries into a painting competition. Today I decided I wanted to see how the army looked arrayed on the fortifications Id made. The purpose was to make some fortifications that can effectivly double the combat value of most of the army so that it has a better chance of holding off a larger opposing apoc force. Tomorrow I shall take some pictures of the hammerhead which I forgot to do today. If I had more time I'd put "tau styled" awnings over the walkways to give the troops cover from aircraft. But the walkways are supposed to support jump troops so an awning would make this more difficult.

**Flachzange**

This is mindblowing. What you need to do is make video tutorials (kinda like LBursley, his are great). Ridiculously cool stuff mate! Hats off!

**Bash the Bosh**

atropos, Iam not going to ask you any questions...
I will simply say you are a genius....a GENIUS.

However I will ask one question,I know I said no questions but I am flawed,unlike you.
How do you manage to keep such high standards through-out all your work?
It's truly amazing.

**atropos907**

Flachzange
I actually have a video tutorial for nearly every pdf tutorial I wrote on my website. But I keep forgetting to finish dubbing the tutorials. The hisss of the airbrush had to be cut out. It depends on my time and motivation. Frankly... I just got Mass effect 2 so.. motivation may hit the pooper for a while, even with genghis con coming up. Bioware, the only other major Life sink that has its claws in me.=)

Bash the Bosh
High standards..... umm easy the more you look at it the more you declare, "argh what a POS! I have to make it look better!"
Sometimes inspiration just hits.

Ive finally taken pictures of the High-tech Hammerhead. People keep saying my stuff doesn't look very tau. I agree, and mostly don't care. But I figured Why not make something look VERY HIGH TECH. here is my latest attempt at that. Its probably 95% done but we shall see if I ever add the bits of detail I feel are lacking.

and one more of the landing pad all by itself. I do so like the landing deck. It was going to be a lot uglier until I got smacked with inspiration just as I was about to paint it. And keep in mind this is big enough to barely hold a manta. And it weighs about 3 lbs.

**person person**

Lookin' great.

**Iron_Chaos_Brute**

Beautiful as usual.

**gritz2m**

Would it be possible to get a video of your hammerhead? I'd love to see the lights/effects on it.

Also, all of your work is amazing. How long have you been painting?

**atropos907**

gritz2m wrote:Would it be possible to get a video of your hammerhead? I'd love to see the lights/effects on it.

Also, all of your work is amazing. How long have you been painting?

Its possible I may get a video, but unlikely due to hosting locations.

Ive been painting about 2 years now.

Also im curious for reviews on point values of the following data sheets.
Sorry for the quality. they print looking just fine but for some reason don't convert to JPG's very well.
Yes they are a little ridiculous but it was fun.

**Qualude**

I have a funny feeling in my tummy.

**Flinty**

All hail the conquering paint hero!

The paint jobs shown here are astounding. The Manta in particular made me want to cry.

Well done, sir.

**atropos907**

For a change of pace here is a commissioned Iron wind mini

Slassan. The goal was to make it look sufficiently poisonous and creepy.
As usual its all airbrushed except a bit of drybrushed highlights on the base and on the teeth.

click on image to zoom

**person person**

Wow, even the base is glowing, nice work!