How Do You Create Depth?

[Doughboy417]

Hello I look at the figures on the boards and I am completely blown away, the figures look like they are about to leap out of the computer and walk around!
I try hard but when it comes down to it my figure looks like a sorry looking model not a real person. I would like to know how you create deapth in for example creases in clothing. Im sure most of you are vetran painters and have lots of paint jobs under your belt and that is a key reason to your success but i would like some tips to get started.
Cheers

 

[jose hernandez]

Hello,in my style of painting the sistem is to add earth tones to all the colors,including the flesh areas;this work blend and subdued the figure,from 54 mm to all scales;The colors are a forgery;the red are brown,the yellow kaki or sand,the withe is grey-green, etc ; with this foundation,I add the real tones for the highligts mixed with the first coat,and carefully shadow with washes of darker paint,I never use the black for this,only a few drops in the outlines,if the color is very dark,blue or green.But these are only tricks,the real clue is practice and look the work of others painters.Jose Hernandez.This picture is a withe example ,only with greys and olive green.

 

[Blind Pew]

You are right in saying that experience is the key.

However, if you haven't already get hold of some how-to books for this subject. When you do make sure that Building and Painting Scale Figures by Sheperd Paine from Kalmbach books is at the top of your list. Any money spent on this is nothing but a cast-iron guarantee to helpyour modelling.

Let us know how you get on.

best wishes

 

[Einion]

'Depth' is mostly a matter of correct value placement - the balance of the lights, midtones and darks. The most important of these in miniature painting is the darks - if you don't have enough dark values models tends to look 'flat', while you can leave highlights off almost entirely and a figure can still look okay, especially in larger scales.

Originally posted by Wehrmacht417+Jul 22 2005, 03:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Wehrmacht417 @ Jul 22 2005, 03:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>I would like to know how you create deapth in for example creases in clothing. Im sure most of you are vetran painters and have lots of paint jobs under your belt and that is a key reason to your success but i would like some tips to get started.[/b]

You're right about this, it's all too common to be a little hesitant and not paint enough contrast when you're starting out, you see this all the time in beginners' pieces; it was certainly a feature of my early work.

Let me pass on a piece of advice that I think will help you: if you have to choose one way or the other, be bold. You can always rein this in later but it can be difficult to overcome a longtime tendency to be meek with your shading.

<!--QuoteBegin-Wehrmacht417@Jul 22 2005, 03:54 AM
I try hard but when it comes down to it my figure looks like a sorry looking model not a real person.[/quote]
Well that kind of realism is a tall order, baby steps, baby steps! Very few modellers achieve anything like the look of a real person shrunk down or viewed from a distance, the vast majority of us have a certain artistic style in the sculpting and/or the painting that clearly makes them look like models, very good ones in some cases but still models.

If you do want to have this as a goal I would buy only the very best sculpted work, a well-painted so-so sculpting job can only go so far.

Einion