Skaven Warlord

Some models just don't want to be painted. This was one of those models.

I started this model years ago after getting it into my head that yellow and red would be a good colour scheme for some skaven. This guy was to be a tester for my other models (as you can see from Snikch my colour scheme went out the window) and I originally wanted him to be display level. Unfortunately, while I had a lot of fun with the yellow the red gave me a lot of grief. After a couple of days trying to get it the way I wanted, I stood back from the model and decided I didn't like any of it very much. Worse, I didn't know what to do with it. So I shelved the project and moved onto something else, and this Skaven Warlord has been sitting on my "to paint" shelf, blu tacked to a paint pot for longer than any other model.

Then, just a few days ago I was playing with my new contrast paints (expect another post on them soon) and I'd run out of undercoated models... except for this guy! So I decided I'd make him a test for using contrast paints in combination with my usual painting techniques. Two (or maybe three?) days later he was finished, and I'm very pleased with the results. He's not display level by any means, but he's definitely a nice tabletop level.

Anyway, I hope you like him. It'll be a while before the next rat appears on my blog!

Until next time, happy painting!

Deathmaster Snikch

It's been a long time since I really tried to push my painting ability, but a while ago I started a model with the intention of doing just that.

Well, here's the finished piece!

[EDIT - I was a bit overexcited to show you this model and took the photos in a hurry, making them more than a little overexposed in the process. I decided to take some new pics which I think are better (i.e. darker) and while I may have overcompensated some (I may have made them too dark) I think they fit much better with the theme of the model. I've decided to leave the original photos at the end of the post should you wish to see them, but the top ones are the better ones.]

OK, he's not perfect, but there's a lot of improvement on previous efforts. The silver NMM was something I really wanted to get the hang of, and a think it's fair to say I've turned a corner there. The OSL effect is something I've not done much with before but might want to think about trying in future - it was kind of fun and easier than I thought it would be.

It was also fun to paint with a lot of greys. Almost all the colours were mixed with black and white to change the tone and I think, especially with the skin, it gives a really interesting effect. Definitely something I'll try again.

In any case, it was nice to have another miniature to add to The Gallery and I've got lots of impetus to get painting more display pieces.

Until then, happy painting!

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The original, overexposed photos. Still not terrible, but the other ones are better.

A Quick WIP

I feel like celebrating - my last post showing off some Space Wolf characters got 11 views! It's had more people clicking on it than any other post since I restarted this blog, and while I'm pretty sure one of them was me accidentally hitting the link on my phone, I'm still chuffed. Gotta make the most of little victories, guys.

The last couple of weeks have been hectic with various family members injuring themselves. I've been running around trying to make sure they don't fall over so I haven't had time to take photos of my now finished skeletons, but I do have a little WIP to share to tide you over:

I've had this model for ages and finally settled on some colours for him. It will also be the first display-quality model I've painted in a while - not counting my Blood Angel whose main claim to display-level was the freehand. I'm going to try to stretch my painting muscles and push myself beyond my comfort zone. Let's hope that works out.

Anyway, I'm off to celebrate with a bottle of warm milk (or however normal people celebrate). Until next time, happy painting!