Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

At least that's the model's "official" name, but I'm calling her Gwennyth.






After painting her I realised how close my colour scheme was to the one on the website; the similarities are pure coincidence I assure you. I used mostly very simple techniques to paint her, but I did use a couple of new and experimental (to me) tricks while working on her: mixing washes with varnishes.

You see, I've tried using Army Painter Quickshade in the past and found it works better on organic forms such as cloth and flesh than normal washes (as long as you watch that it doesn't pool), but the colour isn't always what you're looking for. I found that mixing about a 1:1 ratio of GW wash to GW varnish creates a mixture with a similar consistency that works reasonably well to shade surfaces. The problem is that the mixture isn't as dark as a pure wash, but still it can have a good effect. Changing the ratio of wash to varnish can change how it flows and how dark it gets, so I guess more experimentation is needed to figure out how to get the best results.

Her skin is just Elf Flesh shaded with a mix of Gryphonne Sepia and Ardcoat; it's came out a little flatter than I expected unfortunately. Her coat was drybrushed up to white, then shaded with a mix of Thraka Green and Ardcoat, which wasn't as dark as I had expected. I also had to use a green glaze on top as there was too much white showing through.

So, anyway, comments, criticisms, questions?

Neat, I like the sort of Keltic-Elfen look it has. Do the base now!

Thanks. I actually prefer my bases to be simple matte black, just a matter of personal taste I guess.

Nice paint job. Something about that face seems creepy though, think it's the smile.

Soul Samurai wrote:
Thanks. I actually prefer my bases to be simple matte black, just a matter of personal taste I guess.

That's fine, but as per the rules of this forum, the model needs to be on a completed base.

Completed base is a matter of context:

2) That means the base too. Some games/lines/types of dioramas might use unpainted/flocked bases, and if that's the case it will undoubtedly still look neat and clean and finished and we'll be able to tell by context. But for most wargaming models a completed model means a completed and nice base too.

While I like finished bases, in this case the model looks great without one, love the smooth skin tone

ScootyPuffJunior wrote:That's fine, but as per the rules of this forum, the model needs to be on a completed base.

The way I see it, the base is complete. I apply liquid greenstuff to the top, allow it to fully cure overnight, and sand it smooth with a fine grit sandpaper. Then after attaching the model it's painted black and varnished twice. It takes at least as much effort as sticking on some static grass or sand, in many cases more since most metal models have a tab or small semi-base that you can just glue to the base and hide with sand or grass, while I have to saw off the tab or mini-base, file the feet flat, drill holes in the legs and matching holes in the base, cut pins to the right length, and glue it all together, which is more fiddly than it sounds. It looks neat and has exactly the effect I want, so I don't see why it would be considered unfinished.

Gandohar wrote:Nice paint job. Something about that face seems creepy though, think it's the smile.

Thanks. I think it might be the eyes, they came out a little large and cartoony, and I think a gloss varnish or even a thin coat of water-effects might make them look better.

I think the base thing is a little silly. Some people have very valid reasons for having a black base, especially in this case.

(Base is fine no problem) The model itself is VERY well done, excellent execution of dynamic coloration and expression on the face, orange-blue-green-earthtone relationship is awesome.

Digging the feathers. (I've fought this 'Your base is unfinished/no it isn't' fight before, so don't sweat it too much. Your model is clearly done to the standards the mods require. )

Nice coloration, although her smile does look a bit creepy-wide in the second to last pic.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback!