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Hello all, finished up a Revenant today. It's a model I always wanted to try, and now I never want to try again.

I'm proud that I took the opportunity to try a LOT of new techniques. Some worked, some didnt, but its the only way to learn and taking the chance was the big step. I learned a lot about freehand, and with practice I think I can progress
out of scrimshaw type stuff and in to more fluid things.

Anyway, heres a ton of pics

The way the wash has pooled makes some interesting effects. On the thruster-looking bits on the back and on the legs it looks pretty neat, almost like pale wood or bone. However the torso and head need touching up imo.

The freehand is great, that brown bird with the red head in particular is awesome.

I feel like the wash may have been a little overdone, but at the same time it looks very much like old bone, which is a really neat effect.

Really nicely done gems IMO too!

All in all, I think it works and looks good. Like you said, I'm sure this model was a learning experience for you. I sort of like the dirty look of it overall... it looks like it's been sitting on a neglected planet for a long time before being called back into service.

Overall I think the eyes and the gems really stand out as winners, along with the eagle freehand on the hip.

I think some bits could have done with some edge highlighting instead of drybrushing, give that a try next time. Maybe a bit too much wash in some places. Very nice job!

The Freehand and the gems are incredible.

I personally dont like how the wash was used.

It's commented on a lot, but I do intentionally over use washes. It's a stylistic thing, its not meant to make the mini more realistic, although it does help aid in creating the bone effect. I understand its not everyone's cup of tea, its just how I like to paint.

ProfessionalAmateur wrote:The way the wash has pooled makes some interesting effects. On the thruster-looking bits on the back and on the legs it looks pretty neat, almost like pale wood or bone. However the torso and head need touching up imo.

The freehand is great, that brown bird with the red head in particular is awesome.

Hey thanks, freehand is one of those things Im glad to finally stop hiding from and getting down to practicing.

Nyoom wrote:I feel like the wash may have been a little overdone, but at the same time it looks very much like old bone, which is a really neat effect.

Really nicely done gems IMO too!

The gems I wish I could go back and do again, because I finally started to 'get' it about halfway through, but I did each step on all of them before going to the next.

Murrdox wrote:All in all, I think it works and looks good. Like you said, I'm sure this model was a learning experience for you. I sort of like the dirty look of it overall... it looks like it's been sitting on a neglected planet for a long time before being called back into service.

Overall I think the eyes and the gems really stand out as winners, along with the eagle freehand on the hip.

I think some bits could have done with some edge highlighting instead of drybrushing, give that a try next time. Maybe a bit too much wash in some places. Very nice job!

Thanks for the comments. I definitely prefer the worn out and dirty appearance. I do want to go back and work on edging, for this particular model it wasnt what I wanted to focus on though.

Smitty0305 wrote:The Freehand and the gems are incredible.

I personally dont like how the wash was used.

Hey thanks, I hope to get some rapid improvement on the next freehand attempts.

I like the overall effect, but feel that the bleed over on the face (green around the eyes and such) does it no justice and should be taken out.

The freehand is cool, but did you spill devlan mud on this guy oor something? The wash affect makes this guy look... i'm sorry, but it ruins it for me. I hate it frankly.

For me it really works. You went for the bone look and pulled it off

Lovely work.

Ok I am gonna speak honestly..
The freehand is okish but the way you applied the wash and let it pull in places isn't very effective. You cannot treat larger minis in the same way you do with smaller ones. Shadows and flat surfaces behave very differently on a big model. Drybrushing will not work as good, washing will not work with out serious cleanup. Bigger minis are a great opportunity to practice harder techniques like wet blending and feathering that are hard to pull of in smaller surfaces. They are also great for airbrush practice if you have one.

Anyway you need to clean up the wash in the places it pulled and try to give it some edge highlighting that will make it pop a little.

If you need specific advice or help let us know .

KPS

In line with what others have said, the freehand has come out well but the wash needs cleaning as at the moment it looks unfinished. On such a nice and expensive model it's worth putting the extra effort in.

Same remarks as the others, but what troubles me is why do Eldar would paint eagles on the titan ?

Lots of vitriol for the Revenant! That is okay, I like that its polarizing and may not be liked by most. Criticism is a great way to improve so I appreciate everyone taking the time.

That said, I will say that I personally like it and the overall style although I would love to be technically better. While it may not be as universally liked by most as say, my Tyranids or Daemons, I
do like the oily and ashen look. I've said before I really dig those overly dark and inked old Todd McFarlane-esque style schemes and I'll keep at it.

kestral wrote:I like the overall effect, but feel that the bleed over on the face (green around the eyes and such) does it no justice and should be taken out.

Thats interesting, I've gotten a lot of comments saying otherwise. Do you just mean the green period or the extension onto the helmet?

NakedSeamus wrote:The freehand is cool, but did you spill devlan mud on this guy oor something? The wash affect makes this guy look... i'm sorry, but it ruins it for me. I hate it frankly.

I'm sorry you hate it, thats a strong word.

darkness screamer wrote:For me it really works. You went for the bone look and pulled it off

Lovely work.

Hey thanks, the bone technique is something I'd like to refine.

Capamaru wrote:Ok I am gonna speak honestly..
The freehand is okish but the way you applied the wash and let it pull in places isn't very effective. You cannot treat larger minis in the same way you do with smaller ones. Shadows and flat surfaces behave very differently on a big model. Drybrushing will not work as good, washing will not work with out serious cleanup. Bigger minis are a great opportunity to practice harder techniques like wet blending and feathering that are hard to pull of in smaller surfaces. They are also great for airbrush practice if you have one.

Anyway you need to clean up the wash in the places it pulled and try to give it some edge highlighting that will make it pop a little.

If you need specific advice or help let us know .

KPS

These are my very first freehands so I dont expect them to be great by any means. I'm not using the wash in a traditional sense either, the wash is intentionally pooled. I do agree the larger stuff is great for practicing a variety of harder techniques, which I did, just not the ones
you mentioned. I'm by no means an advanced painter. I specifically wanted an opportunity to practice freehand and gems and mildly refine my bone procedure, which this did for me. So I'm more than happy with the experience and am glad to move on.

I'm not saying you're wrong, just that a project cant be everything to every painter when it comes to learning.

tyrannosaurus wrote:In line with what others have said, the freehand has come out well but the wash needs cleaning as at the moment it looks unfinished. On such a nice and expensive model it's worth putting the extra effort in.

Thats why I like casts, they arent expensive and I can get what I want out of the experience without the guilt of ruining a $400+ model. I wouldnt have just decided to do day 1 freehand work on one if that were the case.

Flo wrote:Same remarks as the others, but what troubles me is why do Eldar would paint eagles on the titan ?

Because I wanted it to, it seemed like an easier thing to start with and I could sketch them decently enough.

It looks like a big bone giant with guns I like him

Saw this on eBay recently.

I kind of see what your going for, that old dried out bone look is definitely there and interesting, I think if you only used it on the long bones and say helmet and broke up the monotone a bit it would work better as a model. I think the overuse of one effect makes him look less dynamic as it gets difficult to define his joints and what not.

I think your on the right path with free hand, just needs to be on a cleaner surface to do it justice. It makes sense on a dirty model that it's designs all be grimy, it is just hard to show off your technique is what I mean.

Keep painting man!

horuslupercal1988 wrote:It looks like a big bone giant with guns I like him

Hey thank you, thats the heart of the matter.

Jimsolo wrote:Saw this on eBay recently.

Yea, I sell everything once Im done with it except my armies, hopefully he'll find a nice forever home.

Red Corsair wrote:I kind of see what your going for, that old dried out bone look is definitely there and interesting, I think if you only used it on the long bones and say helmet and broke up the monotone a bit it would work better as a model. I think the overuse of one effect makes him look less dynamic as it gets difficult to define his joints and what not.

I think your on the right path with free hand, just needs to be on a cleaner surface to do it justice. It makes sense on a dirty model that it's designs all be grimy, it is just hard to show off your technique is what I mean.

Keep painting man!

You're probably right about the dynamics, its all about what I wanted to put in to the model. He was about 16 hours and could have easily doubled that, but I didnt want to become too invested in it. I appreciate the support, freehand is a big mountain
to start climbing. I dont have much technique yet but I hope it develops quickly. I'm painting non stop with more stuff on the way, Ill post it good or bad.