Interesting topic

[Robin]

Hi Guys

Now we all know that a well painted face is the key to a good figure, crucial infact. Over on Medrom one of our members who shall remain nameless "cough" Guy "cough" posted about Hardy's face colour.

That not withstanding (no comments from me) has he a point about soldiers skin colouring.

So would soldiers of that era or any era for that matter ... though this is Roman. Never mind where they come from be more fair than others. I can agree they would but we are talking a time when most if not all people lived in alot worse conditions than now, no modern closed houses as such, heating etc, so goes to say they were hardier people. So even tehe fairer people then would be tanned by comparison to us poor weak modern people

Are we right in painting these people with a more tanned rugged colour. I think so. An example would be my step dad he works outside in all weathers winter summer etc and he has a tanned face all year round, Wind can weather skin just as easily as sun.

Your thoughts please gentleman as I have three faces to start and I wanna get this right.

Robin

 

[Brad S]

Robin

I'm by no means an expert, and have not read the posting in med-rom, but I would have to agree about the more weathered and tanned flesh tones. One of the things that bothers me is the amount of red tones in the face. It seems too much, like the figure is wearing a heavy smear of rouge makeup. But I may be way off base on this, I cant wait to hear what everyone else says about this topic.

Brad Spelts

 

[Roc]

Personally, I think a soldier whether he is ancient or modern should have a tanned and rugged look, maybe you might want to make an exception for the officers, but even they should be a bit tanned.

If you look at guy's figures they have that look; he has managed to give his figures that that touch of reality,they don't look like they just came from the beauty parlor.
This is just my two cents

Cheers

Roc.

 

[Johan]

Robin,

Where the hell did you get that idea that Romans were of a more pallid complexion than we are ???

I think many of us who are of western european descent have at least a few drops of Roman blood in our veins, as well as Celtic, Germanic, etc etc etc; not that it really matters, but do we look like we painted our faces white and then put a venetian red wash in the recessed areas? If you paint in acrylics, I suggest looking at Jaume's article here on Pf, he has a method that works well, and Vallejo have enough flesh, sand and brown colours to do some variations on that.

Cheers mate,

Johan

 

[Robin]

Hi All

I ahve read and digested young Jaumes SBS and I agree, I use grey in skin with blue as well to get rid of that Peaches and cream look.

Question is , are soldiers tanned /weathered or not despite where they come from

Robin

 

[Johan]

Robin,

Definetely a no, I'd say. Skin tones would vary from tan for a weathered veteran to pale flesh for a milksop rookie. And of course, blonde and red haired people almosyt always are more pale-skinned than dark haired people, who tend to get a nice tan more quickly than the former ...

I just went over to MedRom to have a peek at the pale Romans topic ... well well, as we say "les excuses sont faites pour s'en servir" :lol: (excuses are there to be used at convenience)

... so that pallid Roman was probably of Germanic descent and operated in the Northern parts of the Empire during the Late Roman period, hahahaha ! Good one !

 

[Guy]

OK Gentlemen............lets remember my comment over on another forum was a constructive criticism of a painting style that one of the miniature world's best painters, Hardy Tempest, happened to use on a Roman figure he was painting. Never was it meant that his ability to paint was in question, rather his choice of such a light complexion used. I have admired Hardy's abilities with a brush since I first saw his work. But Hardy, as so many of us, rely on feedback from the eyes of others. My observation was of Historical authenticity to the aspect of such a light skin tone...........and not to the painting ability of one of our members here. If there is an objection to objective criticism by anyone, then alas.....they will never grow in their talents as I have seen Hardy grow. Each one of us has a tendency when finding our own niche, or style while growing in this talent to do the pendulem and go to far. Which in effect is what I was asking Hardy, a true master in his own right.

If this becomes a personal attack on another member......then it was not my intent I only meant to question and would love to hear other views from members too.

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Guy!

I dont think this is much of an attack vrs you at all, as matter of fact I am fairly sure it aint so relax!

The question Robin poses is a valid one indeed. I think the climate dictates the skin color the most (ofcourse the race does as well...which is adapted to the climate they live in) and what kind of condition the troopers have been through. A dark complected person would be pretty pale if they were out in the rain and wind during the chilly days and nights of fall. And a blond guy would pretty tanned after spending the summer out in the field.

 

[Guy]

This is not an attack at me Anders, by any means. I just do not want to see others take it to a personal level as some forums have had a history of in the past. I did not want anyone to feel the posting over on medrom was a personal attack against Hardy....which it wasn't. Just a question ( as Robin stated in the beginning of this thread ) of light skin vrs dark skin being historically accurate.

My posting before Anders was just a friendly reminder to all that planetfigure will not tolerate flamming / personal attacks against anyone.

I look forward to hearing other's comments on how they feel about skin tones and how they can also reflect accuracy as colors do in a uniform or tunic.

 

[Roc]

Hey Guy, you happen to be one of the nicest people I know, it's unconceivable to think you would ever attack any body, you have a great reputation for helping people and your work is admired by many.
You are entitled to your opinion just like anybody else and you should not be attacked for having an opinion. Any time an individual posts a picture for the whole world to see, he should be gracious and should be able to accept constructive criticism with out taking offense, none of us are perfect.

Cheers

Roc.

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Guy!

I though you were meaning that people were attacking you! Sorry mate!


Anyone have a link to the original topic? Whats the Med Ren addy?

 

[Robin]

Hey Guys

No way was I attacking my mate over in the US infact if all goes well we will lifting a few jars at Expo together.

I have often heard about skin complexion mentioned but how many people paint it or even take it into account. I certainly didn't till now.

Anders when you say a dark complected person would become pale I cannot see how that could happen surely they are dark. Pigmeted skin is pigmented skin surely. Its our body reacting to the situation its in, but there has to be lasting effects.

Any experts out there put us out of our miseries let us know what happens.

Come one guys what are your opinions on skin colour under different conditions.

Robin

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Robin,

Ofcourse a dark complected caucasian would be paler then he would normally be in cold and misrable weather.

It don't take an expert to see that!

Just look at different tv shows and movies (well most of the time they get it right anyhow) and one will get a good idea what peoples complexions does in different climates. Ofcourse it is a completely different ball game when you try to paint it in miniature as all too often what somehting looks like in real life looks like crap in miniature.

Large scale busts are a great example of this, under normal sunlight a person really don't have a whole lot of contrast, while in scale we have to exagerate to make it look interesting and good, painting for effect instead of realism I like to call it. Realistic painting is often pretty boring, especially in small scale.

 

[Robin]

Ahhh Anders

Oodles of difference between Paler and Pale, Paler meaning they won't be AS tanned, pale meaning pasty skinned. See what I mean. Take Vikings been as Romans caused a rukus. They at sea most of time, wind at sea don't half tan you so how do they get off being pale even if they are mostly blonde.

See what I am trying to get at.

I would love to hear what Lou has to say about this he seems to be able to put things in context so easily.

Robin

 

[Jimmy S]

Robin great point about different complexions and one I think will keep the postings coming. What are you views on how this colouring translates to scale, and trying to achieve a balance under different lighting etc? ie too pale under bright lights or vice versa? Tricky I know but this is where all the answers are.
BTW Has anyone seen a good represenation of modern cammo cream over skin tone without it looking painted on? The real stuff is smeared on like paste (relevant to your nationality of course)and after a couple of hours is absorbed leaving the skin dirty or just a residue in the ears eyes etc. Any answers?

 

[Robin]

Hi sharpie

Camo cream eh? bloody stuff, the main thing I could see would be shading andhighlighting same as the skin, after all it is on teh contours of the face.

As to scale, well I am haoping one or two of the better modellers here can help with that. Surely though just cos we do scale doesn't mean this should be ignored.

Hoping for answers

Robin

 

[homellop]

Hi Folks.
Interesting question here.
I agree with Anders,things that are normal in 1:1 size( ) are hard to replicate in smaller subjects.
In a 54mm figure you can't exagerate some details,as the paler or darker skin colour,because the scale effect is playing against you.Logically the figure is catching the 1:1 general lighting but he is at 1:30 scale,then,IMHO the colours should be darkened to compensate this light scale.Then,paint different skin colours become a hard goal in a such smaller representation of reality.
And, what about style?
Your oppinion,boys

Btw,Jim,the best face camo I've seen was painted by Diego Ruina in the 90mm US paratrooper

 

[Robin]

Hi Jaume

Well just cos things are hard to replicate should we not do it?

 

[homellop]

Not if the results are worst than not doing it
:lol: :lol:
Seriously,when I say "hard to replicate" I mean that things don't work in an scale figure

 

[Le Lancier]

Hi guys,

Well, I've been reading this thread and find that my two cents might be helpful.

I've been in the military for 25 years now, and I've found myself in different parts of the world, in different situations, Bosnia, Haïti, East Timor, Israel. One thing is for sure. People do tan in extreme conditions such as the ones found, for instance, in East Timor. BUT, some people do not tan, or at least so little that it's useless to even mention it.

It's all a question of complexion I suppose. Some people even end up with a pinkish complexion, especially true for some blonds and red heads, for instance. Anyway, I certainly do not want to sound like THE expert. I'm just pointing out my observations.

cheers