Don Quixote - restarted

[Mongo Mel]

I recently broke out the beautiful Don Quixote bust again to take another shot at it. I've got the metallics done on the body armor and the "helmet" (really a bleeding bowl).
Here's what I have so far...


I wanted the armor to look old and dirty so I tried something a little different when I painted it. It's still Silver Printers Ink mixed with Mars Black to a dark steel color. But after applying it all over, I began adding dabs and streaks of Brown Madder Alizirin all through it as well using it for the main shadow areas. After drying, I applied a wash of BMA and let dry. This turned the entire area brown. I then took 0000 steel wool and began very, very lightly dragging it over the area. this took a lot of it off I thought it worked pretty well. Then I used Old Silver Printers Ink to sort of "dry brush" the armor all over. The brush had a little residue of the Old Brass P.I. in it from the helmet and this would show up from time to time. I think this worked out pretty good too.
But I'd like to hear your thoughts on the end results please. Constructive criticism is always welcome
Thanks for looking,
Craig

 

[vergilius]

lovely bust !
keep us updated

 

[pmfs]

Hello Mr. Craig

I like very much that bronze colour, is very realistic.
Thanks for your articles in Historicus Forma, i learn a lot with your lessons there.
Keep us updated!

Best Regards
Pedro

 

[Diegoff]

I like what I see by the moment!
Waiting for your progress...

 

[megroot]

Craig,
Sorry, but i don't like it. The color off the steel is awesome, superbe, amazing...
But the light spot is for what i see a large dot of grey paint.
I think you gone to far. Maybe some drybrushing (very lite) would do the job to. Now there is to much paint gone.
Yes, for me you can do those great spots again....
Again, sorry but i like the steel as you done, with the highlight as in picture 1 in the middle of the chest.

Marc

 

[theseeker]

Craig,

I like the finish and I like the idea of something different!

 

[Mongo Mel]

Hi guys,
Thanks very much to you all for taking the time to look and comment. I'm pleased that you like how it's looking so far. On another site I got some advice to add some more depth to the shadows and to try adding just the tinyist highlights with pure silver. I'm most likely going to give these a try soon. The shadows are no problem but I just need to keep myself under control with those pure silver highlights

Pedro,
Thanks so much for the nice comment about my articles. I'm glad those were helpful to you.

Marc,
I hope you know that I always appreciate your comments. Even more so when you question the things you see that you don't like.
About the grey spots, I have to wonder if you are talking about the areas on what could best be described as the sleeves. If so, those are actually leather patches that have not been painted yet. What you're seeing is just the metalic paint that carried over on to them and the primer at the center. The same is true for the area directly above the breast plate. that will be leather too.
Please let me know if that's what you meant. If not, can you be more specific as to what spots you meant?
Thanks again all
Craig

 

[theseeker]

Craig,

I am no means an expert, however I diluted burnt sienna with silver and gold oils straight from the tube painting the Consul.
People that come to the house are fascinated with the armor! Sadly, they notice the green eyes after I point them out. Oui!

Rocky

 

[megroot]

Craig,
Yes, that are the areas that i meant. So it is primer. Whell, then i have to say the metallic is awesome, as i mentioned before.
Sorry for being so cruel, but i thought it was metal to......

Marc

 

[Mongo Mel]

Hi Rocky,
Looked at your Consul bust and I like the metallic effects you achieved on it.
Marc, no worries my friend. I always count on you to speak your mind about my work.
I may not always agree with you but I value your opinion
Thanks,
Craig

 

[Marcel]

Great work on the metals Craig!!

 

[davidmitchell]

I like what you have done with the metallics, maybe a bit more shading and some highlights on the extreme edges.

David

 

[Mongo Mel]

As is typical for me, I wasn't happy with the way the face was going so I sprayed the piece with oven cleaner and restarted it.
You know, I'm beginning to sound like a broken record --<
This piece is now going to a friend and he requested the face to look pale and with rosie nose and cheeks. that was what was giving me so much trouble. I think I finally hit on a way to do it so it didn't look clownish. I do think I need to add a touch more color to the cheeks.
Anyway, here are the results...

Ignore that little spec on the tip of his nose. It wiped off...did someone say booger?)

The color of the skull cap was just to help frame the face. i'm planning to paint it a dark greenish grey. And the color of the beard was an experiment that didn't work so it'll change too.
This piece reenforced the old rule to paint the face first. that way, if you need to strip the face (like I tend to do) you won't lose the rest of the work you did!
So..please let me know what you think again
Thanks,
Craig

 

[pmfs]

Hello Craig

I like very much the flesh tones. Good work, like allways!

Cheers
Pedro

 

[vergilius]

you're doing great. This is going to be very beautiful

 

[John Bowery]

Craig,
Looks good so far.
Cheers
John

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Craig,

I like the subtle rose colour on the nose and cheeks. You've managed to make him look pale skinned but also rosy cheeked (perhaps the after effects of a long night drinking sangria??). Good luck and keep going mate. He's a beautiful bust and I'm sure you'll do a great job.

Cheers

 

[megroot]

Craig,
i like the start. But i don't like the hard shade's, in my opinion somewhat overdone.

Marc