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I love the paint scheme I got going here. Very "glowy" blue icy scheme. However I want a little bit more "pop" or flair I should say. Some definition or something. It looks really cool but I think it could use something to make it even better... maybe a wash or some kind? But I'm scared it will dull out the awesome glowing icy feel it has now. I'm not really good with choosing washes too. Asurman blue wash? Badab Black wash? Black Oil wash? I'm not really sure if that's even the answer.

TLDR: Any suggestions how I can make this model "pop" more but still keep it's glowey icy blue feel?

Washes just bring out crevices, which make a model look a little less flat but don't make it "pop" per se. It'll help on the wings, but know that doing so will definitely dull out the glowing feeling you've got going on.

To make it "pop", you'd want to add some sort of complementary color which is to say something that's the opposite end of the color spectrum. Problem is that'd ruin the "icy" feel on the miniature itself. Practical way to to do it without touching the mini would be to add something complimentary on the base.

Something Orange/Red/Yellow would jump out, which in turn makes the blue jump out. If you could find some yellow quartz, that'd be pretty baller to throw on the base.

 SRSFACE wrote:
Washes just bring out crevices, which make a model look a little less flat but don't make it "pop" per se. It'll help on the wings, but know that doing so will definitely dull out the glowing feeling you've got going on.

To make it "pop", you'd want to add some sort of complementary color which is to say something that's the opposite end of the color spectrum. Problem is that'd ruin the "icy" feel on the miniature itself. Practical way to to do it without touching the mini would be to add something complimentary on the base.

Something Orange/Red/Yellow would jump out, which in turn makes the blue jump out. If you could find some yellow quartz, that'd be pretty baller to throw on the base.

Hmmm... maybe the basing needs to be done before I judge it...

For the record, I think what you've got there looks really awesome! Just wanted to throw that into the cosmos.

Something to consider might be to push your highlights further, all the way to white. Additional spot highlighting may also help - this involves touching a spot of pure white to the highest points, and also to pointy tops.

For example, in your picture, a spot highlight on the extreme tip of each of the talons may help.

gohkm wrote:
Something to consider might be to push your highlights further, all the way to white. Additional spot highlighting may also help - this involves touching a spot of pure white to the highest points, and also to pointy tops.

For example, in your picture, a spot highlight on the extreme tip of each of the talons may help.

I couldn't agree more with this. Bringing the highlight to a bright white would make it much more sharp. I would at least do this with the wings and flesh.

That in combination with a good base would make all the difference. Color contrast was an excellent suggestion on that base too!

Good work man! Keep it up!

 SRSFACE wrote:


Something Orange/Red/Yellow would jump out, which in turn makes the blue jump out. If you could find some yellow quartz, that'd be pretty baller to throw on the base.

I was thinking maby makeing the claws a warm yellow or something to break up the solid blue of the mini, but pointing out the base gave me another idea.

What about doing a snow base, but having fall foliage and leaves peaking out from under the snow?

http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=433

Would fit the icy theme, well still adding some warm colours to the mini.

The model needs more contrast, in other words it needs darker paint in the bas relief areas and lighter highlights on the most prominent parts.

A contrasting colour such as dark red applied to the claws would also help.

I also do agree with previous posters.

The pop usually comes from contrast and bold color choices. Your color scheme in itself is nice but darkening the shading, adding sharply contrasting details as the claws and bringing the highligts even higher would make it even better.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
The model needs more contrast, in other words it needs darker paint in the bas relief areas and lighter highlights on the most prominent parts.

A contrasting colour such as dark red applied to the claws would also help.

/agreed, the smaller the scale, the greater the contrast.

I believe that using a darker blue wash followed by some extreme white highlights or dry brushing would make this guy stand out. For the base I would put something light orange like a radioactive barrel or pieces of a blown up tank. Maybe even an Astral Tigers casualty. It looks great so far though!

To get some colour in there without afecting the main colour, you could add some bright red gore around the mouth and claws. Maybe some blood spatters elsewhere and a half chewed corpse on the ground?

Finish the basing, then see how it looks before making a final decision.

Hmmm, I think I like the increasing contrast and making the base contrast as well suggestions.

My steps to this was:
Prime light grey primer
Prime white highlights
Shade highlight teal
Highlight white
Grey on Armor/Claw bits
Blend Armor/Claw bits to blueish white then to white
Red wash in gums
Sand Drybrush teeth

This model took me at most 30 minutes, I'm trying to go for a very QUICK color scheme so I can get through my army fast.

I think adding a dark black wash before I do the teal shading step will make the recesses contrast more visible. I'll also make the high end brighter with more white than light blue/white. As far as basing I think I'm going to do a greyish with drybrush white and spatter ice flock around it. I think the deeper contrasts will achieve what I want.

I'll probably do that tomorrow on my 2nd beast and post up the results. Thanks for the suggestions guys! I think that'll accomplish exactly what I want it to!

The membranes on the wings could be made a different color? Perhaps a fleshy pink or something. It'd add some contrast.

Just take the same blue 2 part to white 1 part.
Blend the top surfaces of the bone structure in the wings and crest.
The below link may be a good start to help with that monochromatic look:
http://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/51263-ode-to-blue-a-step-by-step-tutorial/

"Pop" is about contrast, whether its an extreme edge highlight or a different color. Your blue/white blend scheme looks fantastic but it is a fairly muted palette.

Now this may not be what your looking for but if you want to make it 'stand out' mix all purpose glue Tamia clear red and abbadon black to make a dark red dried blood colour that can stick to the teeth and base ect?

Thanks for your help guys! I didn't really make the base all that different because I liked the grey/white highlight and ice base I'm going to put on it.

But I did take your guys advice on increasing the contrast on the models. Darkening the darks to give more depth and highlighting the highest points to even brighter white. I LOVE the end result. Here are some pictures. The advice really helped and IMHO shows a substantial "pop" compared to the original harrier!

Thats done very nicely! I'm going to attempt to do the same thing with my nids! What were the blues you used? I see you either have Reaper paints or Vallejo in the background, what was your gradient from darkest to lightest on the arms?

to make things 'pop' contrast and using colours opposite of each other on the colour wheel is really useful, as well as complementing warm and cool colours.

I hope that helps ^^

only thing i see its missing is some good shading

That is definitely moving in the right direction. I think the next thing you need to do is get some blue or turquoise ink, actual ink, not a wash. and then dilute it by about 60% or so, and then airbrush some very thin coats over the model, that will tie some of your highlights and shadows together and remove some of the "airbrushed" look.

A.