Completed Critique Minamoto no Yoshitsune - Revisited

[Alex Long]

I've been looking at the models I'm taking to Euro this year and decided to revisit the face on the Minamoto no Yoshitsune bust that I did back in February. I painted this all in acrylics, with the face exclusively in Jo Sonja. I have since completed the Poste Militaire Pawnee Indian bust for which I roughed out a colour sketch in Jo Sonja and overpainted in oils. Now comparing the Samurai's flesh to the Indian's I felt a little unhappy at the texture and blending, feeling it looked overly matt and dull in comparison. I have now overpainted the face in oils using the same colour recipe for my mixes that I used in Jo Sonja.
Let me know what you think of the result

The first is the original Jo Sonja only version, second the over-painted in oils version

Thanks for looking.

Alex.

 

[Ferris]

Wow, to me both version look equally nice. Excellent work on the patterning, impressive.

I wouldn't dare to redo a face on a completed figure, just for the fear of messing up other parts by handling. But maybe it's doable with a bust. Anyway, you clearly managed very well!
Good luck at Euro!

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Helm]

Wow the first was good the second is even better, what mix did you use ?
Steve

 

[Alex Long]

I wouldn't dare to redo a face on a completed figure, just for the fear of messing up other parts by handling. But maybe it's doable with a bust. Adrian

Thanks Adrian, it was a bit scary redoing the face but some clingfilm and careful handling saw me through it.

Alex.

 

[Alex Long]

Wow the first was good the second is even better, what mix did you use ?
Steve

Thanks Steve, for the mix I made up a master recipe consisting of 8 parts Naples Yellow hue; 1 part Cadmium Yellow; 3 parts raw Sienna; 2 specks Cadmium red. I then mixed a medium tone using 3 parts White; 1 part master recipe; 1 part burnt sienna; 1 speck Cadmium red. Warm shades used some Burnt Sienna and a touch of Mars Black added to the mid tone, cool shades used Burnt Umber and Alizarin Crimsom. For graying colours I added Cobalt Blue and White added to the mid tone. For the highlights Naples Yellow and White with specks of Cadmium Yellow. I usually mix up all the colours before hand and lay them out in a sequence on the palette, I sometimes end up with 3 each of the light, medium and dark/greyed values to work with.

Alex.

 

[Kjundude1]

They are both excellent, but the skin tones are better with the oils. I have never used oils, they scare the crap out of me.

 

[Wayneb]

Alex,
Painting is superb on both pieces but in comparison that second piece everything just jumps out. I guess setting a piece aside for awhile really does give a different perspective on the overall look.
By the way; could you tell me who makes or carries this piece....Best regards............Wayne

 

[Helm]

Much obliged Alex thanks
Steve

 

[Alex Long]

Alex,
Painting is superb on both pieces but in comparison that second piece everything just jumps out. I guess setting a piece aside for awhile really does give a different perspective on the overall look.
By the way; could you tell me who makes or carries this piece....Best regards............Wayne

Thanks Wayne, yes you're right sometimes taking a break from the often intense (especially with all those fower patterns) work put into our models we can see it in a different light, I think in the future I will never shy a way from revisiting "finished pieces".
With regard to your question, it's made by Alexandros Models and you can get them in the UK from El Greco Miniatures

Alex.

 

[Mariobusta]

The second one definitely looks better . Excellent result .
Cheers

Neil

 

[bagelman1952]

I seem to be the odd one out here, sorry. Both finishes are superb and their is no critisism of either. But the colour balance of the two pictures are different and there is a redder caste in the second picture which gives a different perspective. You clearly know how to work with both mediums and obviously it what you feel more comfortable with. Personally I would have been inclined to add some sheen to the original with washes of medium to give a flesh sheen. I was an oil user many years ago but now use Jo Sonja so I am biased.

 

[Alex Long]

I seem to be the odd one out here, sorry. Both finishes are superb and their is no critisism of either. But the colour balance of the two pictures are different and there is a redder caste in the second picture which gives a different perspective. You clearly know how to work with both mediums and obviously it what you feel more comfortable with. Personally I would have been inclined to add some sheen to the original with washes of medium to give a flesh sheen. I was an oil user many years ago but now use Jo Sonja so I am biased.

Thanks for your comments Ken, you are right about the red caste on the second picture I changed the white balance on the camera to a different pre-set but it's a little off. I need to use a white metering card to get it right I think.
I've taken some newer pictures which give a truer image (though still not quite 100%) of what the model actually looks like which can be seen on my blog.

Alex.

 

[Gary D]

Hi Alex. Much more life and depth in the second pic IMHO. Thanks for the flesh mix. It's nice to see a simple broken down mix.

Gary

 

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Alex. Much more life and depth in the second pic IMHO. Thanks for the flesh mix. It's nice to see a simple broken down mix.

Gary

I Concur,
Mike

 

[Tecumsea]

Hi Alex, I always feel that faces look better in Oils due to the sheen, so it's number two for me-just a matter of personal preference, both are excellent.

Keith