WIP Critique My first bust.

[Andrew Craft]

Hi all,

I'm very new to the hobby, this is my first bust and my third completed figure.
I would like to know what you all think and what areas you think I need to work on. The bust is almost complete I think I only have to fix up the leather strap on the helmet and put a wash on the sword handle. Personally I think I went a little heavy on the clear in his eyes but i thought it might suit the figure after all (made him look a little teary eyed).
I would love to get some feedback and tips.

Thanks,
Andrew.

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Andrew,

Firstly,welcome to Planet Figure and thanks for sharing your pics.

As for advice, I think you've already learned the first important lesson. Buy good quality figures. This Andrea bust is probably the most popular commercial bust produced in the past 5 years, and despite a few early mold seam issues, is a beautifully sculpted piece.

Secondly, you clearly have a good eye for detail and a painter's eye when it comes to light and shadow. Like most other newbies, you need to be bolder with your contrasts, make your shadows deeper and your highlights lighter to enhance the contrast.

The gloss on the eyes looks OK, but perhaps to sell the idea you could add a wash of red around the eye ball to make it look like he's been crying.

Keep up the good work and keeping sharing your pics mate. We've all been where you are now, and we've all made plenty of mistakes along the way. Keep asking questions and trying different things and stick with what satisfies you. After all, this is a hobby and it's meant to be fun- so enjoy your painting.

 

[housecarl]

I have to agree with Tony. I think that you're heading in the right direction, and I look forwards to seeing more of your stuff.
Carl.

 

[billyturnip]

Nice work Andrew, you should be very pleased with your first fig.

Follow Tony's advice and your next one will be even better!! What is the next one?

Roger.

 

[Chris Oldfield]

Andrew,
Welcome & congratulations on your first figure, you've done a really good job on it! Best of luck for your next piece, hope it turns out as well as this one.
All the best,
Chris

 

[1969]

really good effort with your first bust, it can be a bit daunting working on larger figures o you handled it well.

Oh and welcome to the site mate

Steve

 

[pmfs]

Very nice and welcome!

 

[megroot]

Excellent work on this bust. If this is your third effort, i suggest that you stick with figurepainting.
Awesome work.
Take the advice's from Tony and you are some giant leap forward.

marc

 

[Ashen-Shurgar]

Great first piece Andrew! I am only a newbie myself (have not completed my first mini yet!) but to my eye you have done a great job. The one thing that I would like to offer as It is the part that I am having difficulty in learning is how to add more highlights and shadows to the flesh tones so that they stand out more but in a subtle way.

Look forward to your next mini.

Mark

 

[Andrew Craft]

Thanks all for the encouraging comments and advice. I had a feeling I didn't go bold enough with the shadows and lights.
I'll try to be braver with the next one which is andrea's 90mm Roman Legionary Dacian wars miniature.

 

[Einion]

Looks pretty good for only your third model In terms of what's there, the face and sword grip are too monochromatic but the leather shows definite promise (although honestly we tend to overdo the wear on leather belts in the hobby and I advise restraint in this area). The sheen on the tunic is something you'll need to keep an eye on, either by drying the paint differently, using matter paints or, last resort, using a matt overcoat of some kind.

The main areas I think you need to work on are more shading (darks and lights) and smoothness of the paint layer. These are pretty commonly the things new painters have to work on so you're not alone

I think the level of gloss on the eyes is fine. The thing to try to avoid generally is a meniscus at the line between the eyeball and the lower lid, which if coated in gloss immediately looks like tears, instead of just giving the impression of a wet eyeball.

Einion

 

[Andrew Craft]

The sheen on the tunic is something you'll need to keep an eye on, either by drying the paint differently, using matter paints or, last resort, using a matt overcoat of some kind.



Einion

Thanks Einon,
newbie question: What do you mean by drying the paint differently? are there techniques on the forum, I couldn't find them. I'm using reaper acrylics at the moment.

 

[captfue]

Very impressive first bust, it's a wow! piece of work.

 

[Einion]

Andrew, if you were using oils speed-drying the paint using heat tends to ensure a uniform matt finish.

Since you're using Reaper paints, disregard

Most paints like the Reaper and other hobby colours benefit from being really well shaken before transferring to the palette, with some darker colours it helps them dry matt more consistently; many of the regular users of paints of this kind add agitators to the jars to help the process (see CMON for more on this if you like, but stainless-steel bearings are the simplest option if you happen to have any).

Einion

 

[Andrew Craft]

Ah ok, thanks Einion I'll have a look.

 

[Mariner]

Hi Andrew
Like you, I'm new here and new to the hobby, but this is an outstanding first bust. Are they intimidating or what and eyes are the toughest.
Well done!
The support here is awesome; as one Planeteer told me, the bigger you go, the harder it is to paint well. But I painted the Crusader in Jerusalem and will never part with him, I learned so much and it will always have a special place on the shelf.
Very much looking forward to seeing your future work,
Mary

 

[housecarl]

He's done lots Mary, this is from 18 months ago
Carl.

 

[Mariner]

geez Carl, it's too early in the morning here

 

[housecarl]

geez Carl, it's too early in the morning here

Late night Mary?
Carl.

 

[Mariner]

Yeah, with 'Romeo', (the Calico Jack figure, that is:lol
Oh well, my intentions were good, just didn't see the date.