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Post by Nemo on Jun 3, 2014 5:04:06 GMT -9
Hi, there! After quite a bunch of tiles, I think it's time to begin to fill all those dungeons with people. So here's my usual Work in Progress for a certain number of paper miniatures depicting characters, heroes, good guys, choose your favorite definition None of this images is final (I had some adjustments in mind AND I still have to apply a fair share of parduzzings) aside the first one on the left (maybe), but stil I would like to hear from you. From the left: Wizardess/Witch and back, Wizard/Mage/Warlock and Barbarian (in my personal setting, Barbarians have an appearance that is something between Conan, Native Americans and Gladiators). The upper horizontal line is the 30 mm "hight marker". I plan to make available the color of the contour in both black and whites, thanks to the use of layers. After these three, I would like to draw a couple of Dwarves (one of them will have notorious relic known as the Holy Tankard) and Elves, an Amazon, a Ranger and an Assassin, for a total of 10 Heroes (Volume I). As usual: I ask you to share your free impressions, suggestions, requests and whatever crosses your mind that I am sure will help me make these guys better
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Post by dungeonmistress on Jun 3, 2014 6:23:11 GMT -9
I am so glad to see you doing these! Your figures are elegant and high class, and I already know I want your tankard wielding dwarf (he sounds like my dwarf, who has an everful tankard and refuses to put it down even in the heat of battle!)
A few observations and a request:
Your wizardess is lovely. I assume that is a bag of holding she's carrying?
Your wizard has a disdainful look on his face which fits, but the whip doesn't (IMHO), I'd exchange it for a magic rope and I think he should have some spell components pouches hanging from his belt. Love his staff.
Your barbarian looks angry, but aren't all barbarians perpetually angry? Is he wearing a mask? And why a lantern? A torch would seem more appropriate as he could use that as a weapon.
Can you include a gnome sorcerer/alchemist in your figures? I'm thinking of something somewhat specific. (Look in the Gallery for Aelor's Magical Emporium, you will see there a sketch and a description of Aelor, himself) Please? *<she says, shamelessly batting her eyes>*
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Post by Nemo on Jun 4, 2014 0:00:18 GMT -9
Your wizard has a disdainful look on his face which fits, but the whip doesn't (IMHO), I'd exchange it for a magic rope and I think he should have some spell components pouches hanging from his belt. Love his staff. Your barbarian looks angry, but aren't all barbarians perpetually angry? Is he wearing a mask? And why a lantern? A torch would seem more appropriate as he could use that as a weapon. Nemo/Solomon Hess the Wizard gained his whip during an assault to the Ice Fortress of Telheria in a scene that resembled how Indiana Jones obtained his So currently he never travels without it. Maybe I could add backstories for every character once I completed them. (The Lantern is a result of me being a Warhammer Quest freak. In that world, you're no Barbarian without a Lantern Definitely I have to work more on him, to try making his warpaint less a mask than it seems) Thank you very much dungeonmistress! Can you include a gnome sorcerer/alchemist in your figures? I'm thinking of something somewhat specific. (Look in the Gallery for Aelor's Magical Emporium, you will see there a sketch and a description of Aelor, himself) Please? *<she says, shamelessly batting her eyes>* Sure, it's seems very interesting to me Reading your description I imagined him as a scientist/sorcerer/merchant (the last one due to him having an Emporium), so I toyed with the idea of him having a rich coat that could somehow resemble a lab coat, too. He's kind of devoted to his "art" and absent-minded, so he doesn't mind (or notice at all) if he has burnings or stains on his shoes and shirt. Anyway, that was the general idea I had from what you wrote, so I (very quickly) tried to sketch him. Let me know if he resembles anything in your mind
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Post by cowboyleland on Jun 4, 2014 3:41:48 GMT -9
These all look great Nemo, but they are a little static. Could the witch be throwing that fireball, could the barbarian point his spear at someone? It is probably too late for these figures, but maybe next time.
I have often wished that I had two versions of a figure. One for negotiating or relaxing and one for fighting, but the cost/benefit probably doesn't work as a business case. A hobbyist might do it for his favourite character, but I never actually bothered.
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Post by dungeonmistress on Jun 4, 2014 6:14:12 GMT -9
OH! He's great! I hadn't thought of striped pants, but now that I see him in them, they just seem to fit his personality! I also really like his pose! Could you put buttons down the front of his vest? Gnomes do love their fancy clothes, but he is absent minded, so, maybe he's missing a button or buttoned them in the wrong order...? The only other thing is in D&D 3.5/Pathfinder (the game I'm running), Gnomes heads are somewhat over-sized. Other than that, he's wonderful! I can't thank you enough for this, Nemo!
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Post by Nemo on Jun 4, 2014 6:53:38 GMT -9
dungeonmistress : I'm sorry, my knowledge about gnomes is limited to a quick search on Google before sketching Aelor Anyway, I think I can try everything you mentioned, we'll see what happens cowboyleland : nice idea indeed the one concerning double versions And you are right about the poses being too static, obviously. So I sketched this one for the Amazon (or Female Barbarian). While drawing her, I had in mind the image I had of Hunter while reading Neverwhere, a novel by Neil Gaiman
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Post by dungeonmistress on Jun 4, 2014 11:50:29 GMT -9
Wow! I would be either really scared of her or really glad she was on my team . I like her a lot. An action pose and a static pose, great idea! That way when they're in a tavern, enjoying a pint and repast, they won't look like they're ready to kill all the patrons and staff. Save the battle stance for the battlefield. As for Aelor, you did great! You really caught his personality. I like his pose, he looks absent minded. Just buttons on his vest and a bigger head.
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Post by Nemo on Jun 5, 2014 7:41:58 GMT -9
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Post by Nemo on Jun 5, 2014 21:21:08 GMT -9
And the Amazon too:
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Post by oldschooldm on Jun 5, 2014 21:57:11 GMT -9
She reminds me of Michelle Rodriguez
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Post by Nemo on Jun 5, 2014 22:26:30 GMT -9
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Post by wyvern on Jun 6, 2014 1:44:48 GMT -9
As we'd expect, these are wonderful pieces of artwork Nemo, and I love the idea of different poses for the same character available as minis, but I'm just wondering how much of that beautiful detail will survive when the paintings are reduced down to true mini size? Add a black cutting border, and how many of those fine details extending beyond the figure's edge will even be visible, say?
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Post by Nemo on Jun 6, 2014 3:10:39 GMT -9
I'm just wondering how much of that beautiful detail will survive when the paintings are reduced down to true mini size? I made some prints with the scaled images and I have to say: surprisingly, much more than I thought. There's going to be some tweaking here and there (surely for the Gnome), but I'm very happy with the result Add a black cutting border, and how many of those fine details extending beyond the figure's edge will even be visible, say? I'd personally recommend using a white border, but I'm working right now to reach a nice result with a black one, too As of now, after a bit of tweaking the results seem good. As soon as I can I will make a proof print and I will be able to tell you more P.S. I said that I liked the idea of multi-pose characters, but I'm not sure I can put it into practice right now
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Post by migibb on Jun 6, 2014 4:32:06 GMT -9
I have to say I am firmly on the black borders are the way to go side of the fence. They look so much better on the table - your eye tends to overlook the black border, while the white one stands out and is "in your face".
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Post by dungeonmistress on Jun 6, 2014 5:49:57 GMT -9
Nemo, I am in awe of your talent! Eagerly watching what you do next.
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Post by Nemo on Jun 6, 2014 22:45:44 GMT -9
I have to say I am firmly on the black borders are the way to go side of the fence. That's why I plan to let you decide between black and white border by activating the proper layer in the document
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Post by mesper on Jun 7, 2014 12:56:17 GMT -9
That's why I plan to let you decide between black and white border by activating the proper layer in the document KUDOS This She Barbarian is... simply AMAZING!!! (well now you own us same quality B-side!.. While I'm also "white" or "no outline" bordering believer - the "niche" standard is black border, which (unfortunately) implicates some drawbacks: some details are in most cases just lost, then some figurine poses are less dynamic or constrained when black bordering is used. Then is case of dark/black parts of figurine (like hairs and spear) you might want to add (additional) white semi-contour, just to diverse figurines dark parts from outline. But these are just suggestions - I'm really in awe, that's really AAA class illustration, can't wait for more with B-sides! Attachments:
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Post by mesper on Jun 7, 2014 12:57:13 GMT -9
... Attachments:
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Post by Nemo on Jun 7, 2014 15:41:07 GMT -9
But these are just suggestions Still, they are surely taken in consideration. Thanks
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Post by wildagreenbough on Jun 7, 2014 20:07:56 GMT -9
Cool, Michelle Rodriguez she-Barbarians, I can hardly wait
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Post by pavaro on Jun 10, 2014 0:20:25 GMT -9
Nemo tell me how do you receive such colors and shadows? I know that depends this from experience and years of practice. But please betray me how can do something similar. Is somewhere on the forum is your tutorial?
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Post by hackbarth on Jun 10, 2014 3:45:15 GMT -9
The illustrations are beautiful, but they seem to me over-detailed for paper miniatures. At a generous 30mm scale most of the details like the barbarian tatoos, hair braid and pants stitches would be lost.
I suggest you simplify and exaggerate the details.
Do give tatoos, make them a little simpler and in much more contrast with the skin, do a braid, but one that in a normal person would make the head tilt with the weight, do pants stitches, but think in rope, not string.
I'm of the school that thinks paper miniatures aren't about realism, but representation.
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Post by Nemo on Jun 10, 2014 7:33:19 GMT -9
pavaro : I find this a good source of tutorials. They are mostly Photoshop-based, but if you have enough confidence with Gimp (for example) many principles are basically the same. To me this would be the gold standard to achieve, but I think I'm really far away from that. hackbarth : thanks for the tips I plan to use these images both as illustrations per se and as minis, so I'm constantly tweaking them to make them the more "readable" as possible at the lowest dimensions and the farthest distance. As of now I would say that I find the results quite satisfactory, though I'm sure that it's possible to do better. As soon as I can I will make some photos to show you what I mean Meanwhile, this is the Hunter: in my games he's a sort of mix of a Thief, a Ranger and an Assassin (sometimes).
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Post by pavaro on Jun 10, 2014 11:38:50 GMT -9
Thanks for tutorials. Is your figurines having other side? Are you planning something undead rase?
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Post by dungeonmistress on Jun 10, 2014 11:50:50 GMT -9
I like your hunter. He looks to me like he can take care of business without a second thought! A good man to have at back, or not depending on what side you're on.
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Post by oldschooldm on Jun 10, 2014 18:08:33 GMT -9
Again. I really like the ranger... I know that I know that jaw - at first I thought Tom Cruise: But, now I'm not sure...
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Post by oldschooldm on Jun 10, 2014 18:12:34 GMT -9
Then it occurred to me: Matthew Fox! Do I sense a fellow "Lost" fan behind the pens/paintbrush?
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Post by Nemo on Jun 10, 2014 21:08:31 GMT -9
pavaro : yes, they are going to have a back, too And yes, I think the undead are in the plans, but I draw this minis as I need them and I really have some greenskins to put on my table, first oldschooldm : someone tried with Ben Affleck, too but this time I really hadn't anyone in mind in particular. P.S. Yes, I saw all Lost episodes, but I'm not sure if I can be called a fan.
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Post by migibb on Jun 11, 2014 0:58:53 GMT -9
Greenskins for the win!!!!
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Post by dungeonmistress on Jun 11, 2014 8:03:18 GMT -9
I used to watch Lost, too. Never did see the season six. Funds ran out and couldn't rent them anymore. As far as the jaw goes, I'm thinking more Matt Damon!
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