Viking Fury

[Iguazzu]

As everybody knows, four eyes look better than only two. Well, for that reason I post here my last WIP. Actually I'm very happy with the "almost finish" result, but there're things that I couldn't see and you could do it.

What was I looking for during the paintin process?
The main idea of the painting work is that all the attention goes to the face. So the other parts like the helmet or the body are darker to redirect your eyes to the face, and only when you've finish to see it, then you can take a look to the rest.
With this info, now you can let me know what do you think about it. If i got it, or not, etc.

Also I'd updated pictures of the shield. It's in process by the moment. From the wooden part you only will see the upper side, so don't worry about this strange change of colors. The other side is painted with oils and isn't finished.

Well, feel free to comment and help me

 

[Einion]

Hi Alex, I'm not really a fan of the style where there's almost of spotlight on the face, with the rest of a bust (or worse, a whole figure) very much darker. But saying that it's not at all extreme on your bust and I think it does what you want - focuses attention on the face.

On the face, I'd like to see a shot straight on to get a better idea of things (evenness of the irises and pupils primarily). But from what we can see in these photos the eyes themselves look good. I think the shading of the underside of the lower lid is far too dark though, especially given the large scale of this model. Also colour-wise, this area of skin is a little thinner so can be greyish which I think is well worth attempting sometimes (see examples here and here by William Whitaker).

On the skin generally, the colour in a few areas looks like it becomes a little yellowish, which looks odd to my eyes.

The linear highlights on the hair and fur also look odd to me, look almost like highlight streaks done by a hairdresser

I like the helmet a lot, looks spot on. Ditto the mail which is just how I'd like it to look most of the time. Genuinely look like metal rather than a painted effect.

...

Nothing related to your painting here but just to mention re. the sculpting of the back of the shield, the division between boards is greatly exaggerated in the sculpting of this. In reality the joins would normally be so tight that they'd barely be visible, this looks like an old tabletop!

Einion

 

[Meehan34]

First let me start with I admire your painting very much and this is an incredible start. I have painted this bust twice and love everything about the sculpt. Especially the chainmail and the way it was made. When I look at this guy (if he were a real person) I see a really filthy, greasy and smelly guy. With that said I personally would really work on the chainmail to make it less bright. The contrast between the black basecoat and the silver chainmail gives the impression of polished chainmail. I do see some dirt on it at the lower parts and that is what I think it should all look like. Maybe even a little rust on it, because this guy doesn't care how he looks he just wants to kill people. The other thing is his beard and hair look too clean with the bright highlites and crisp color. I think his beard and hair would be a greasy mess with slobber and dirt in it.

These are just my thoughts and I could even see leaving him as is because he is that good right now. The wood grain is looking awesome and the shield cover is going to be excellent. Where did the shield come from? My busts didn't come with one.

 

[Iguazzu]

Thanks for reply friends!

Einion: Cool idea about the use of greys in the shading of the underside of the lower lid. This is a thing that I haven't pose before. I think that is an interesting way to improve in a more real painting.

About the hair and the furs, you're right. I'm still looking (after more than 10 years painting) a way to paint fur and hair that I could find real... but nothing at the moment. Sometimes the volumen effect is lost, other times It looks odd. I guess that I'll need to cointinue with my attemps to find a real way

About the shield, nice apreciation! Dammit, now I think that I should share the shield before painting! It's a detail that I won't forget for next time! Thanks a lot

Meehan34: About the chainmail, I agree with you. It should look more rusted and dirty. I guess that the polished effect is about the pictures. In hand, the chainmail looks more dark. But I need to work the rusted effects, blood, etc

About the beard, I only can say the same to Einion I'm still looking the better way... but I promisse to do it better next time!

The shield was handmade with plasticard and milliput, for that reason your versions didn't had it

Thanks for comments and helps!

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Frankly I think you are in the wrong forum ,there is nothing wrong with the painting of the bust it is a class paint up,as for the darkness of the torso section, what you have done is stylistic ,some people will like and others maybe not.
These last points caused a lot of debate after Euro 2011 .
As for me I like it.

Ron

 

[Gellso]

I think personal taste is the issue here and what people think how a bust should be painted.
I think the bust looks amazing. I like the starker contrasts which I think are blended well. I'm with Ron on this one. Overall I think this is painted perfectly.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bailey]

Alex,

Overall it looks great. I think the helmet is top notch, looks very realistic. I also like what you've done with the front of the shield. I'd be interested to hear how you got that effect.

I agree with Einion that the face looks a little yellow. This may be partly due to the contrast with the red hair. For a viking I figure the skin would be pale (not a lot of sun up north). I also imagine he'd be pretty cold, so some more red in the cheeks and the nose might be nice. I think the highlights in the fur work fine for me, but I don't like them as much in his red hair. I think the back and sides look great, I'd just tone down the white highlights on the front around his mouth. If there was only one thing you could fix, I'd say this should be it.

You've done great weathering on this figure, but the face and the back of the shield stand out to me as being very clean and free of dirt. I wonder if adding a hint of brown around the cheeks might make him looker grimier like Mike was saying. The wood grain looks great... but I think it'd fit better if it had a more faded, weathered look.

All these comments are me just being really picky. What you've done looks phenomenal. Keep up the good work.


David

 

[housecarl]

I know it's probably not in the spirit of this thread. But I think what you have done looks great. As has already been said, the lighter face over the darker torso is down to style. For me I think it compliments the piece well.
The wide gaps on the shield is a sculpting issue, and if anything you have exaggerated it that's all.
Carl.

 

[Einion]

Einion: Cool idea about the use of greys in the shading of the underside of the lower lid. This is a thing that I haven't pose before. I think that is an interesting way to improve in a more real painting.

It's tricky to pull off but the results can be worth it if you're aiming for that kind of realistic flesh colouring. It is very easy to go too grey - often what looks okay on the palette will actually turn out much greyer when you paint it on the model.

One tip to help with that is to mix a little grey of the right value and then mix a little of it into a flesh mix of equal value, then try it on the figure. Something similar can be very useful in not going too far on the colour of 5 o'clock shadow.

About the hair and the furs, you're right. I'm still looking (after more than 10 years painting) a way to paint fur and hair that I could find real... but nothing at the moment.

It's hard! I think it's actually more difficult painting on a 3D surface than it is painting from scratch on a flat surface; this is part of what makes it so difficult to pull off convincingly on this sculpt because the texture is very pronounced.

Re. the shield, I'd forgotten that the bust doesn't come with this part! So apologies if my comments read as being harsh, I didn't realise you'd made it and would have couched my comments differently otherwise.

Einion

 

[megroot]

I like what you have done.
What the fur concerns: Just like you I wasn't satisfied about the furs i paint. A member off my club told me to paint some other colors into the fur. For instance: a grey fur (wolfskin) can get pull up with some earth color's like burnt sienna, some naples yellow. Just a few random strikes at the high's of the fur.
And yes, for me it was more convincing.

marc

 

[pmfs]

Dear Alex, as Ron said "there is nothing wrong with the painting of the bust (...) some people will like and others maybe not."
I like very much all of your work in this great bust from Andrea, mainly the shield wood one of the most realistic that I ever seen. The fur or wich is below needs another colour to give more contrast between I guess?
The face, helmet, hair, and the eyes are truly awesome, so, I think you have to continue painting like this because I like your style.

Pedro.

 

[Iguazzu]

Hi friends!

Finished version here: http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/viking-fury.47303/#post-479377

Feel free to share your opinion and thaks for your helps during the process!