WIP Critique WiP of first historical miniature. C&C wanted.

[Ewan]

Hi,
I'm working on my first historical mini and I would like some critique please. I mainly paint fantasy and sci-fi, but I walked to try something different. The mini is Napoleon in Egypt, so I did some research and I think the colours are historically accurate. Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Nap]

Hi Ewan

Great to see what your up to ...your first Miniature? Blimey !
Is this the Andrea 54mm ( pics from their website below for interest )

I’m not the person to comment really as all of my painting is on busts ....

But if I may say you’ve done a nice paint , the face in particular looks good .

Perhaps a touch more highlights on the embroidery, there’s a thread in the Completed forum called Naps mixes which you might find of use

It’s a nice paint so far so you enjoy the rest .....if you wish put your next piece into V Bench so all can follow ( I can move this one if you wish )

Are you using Acrylics or Oils ?

Look forward to seeing more

Have fun

Nap

 

[Ewan]

Hi Ewan

Great to see what your up to ...your first Miniature? Blimey !
Is this the Andrea 54mm ( pics from their website below for interest )

I’m not the person to comment really as all of my painting is on busts ....

But if I may say you’ve done a nice paint , the face in particular looks good .

Perhaps a touch more highlights on the embroidery, there’s a thread in the Completed forum called Naps mixes which you might find of use

It’s a nice paint so far so you enjoy the rest .....if you wish put your next piece into V Bench so all can follow ( I can move this one if you wish )

Are you using Acrylics or Oils ?

Look

Hi Nap,
thanks for the reply. It's a 54mm from Kimera models. And it's my first historical model, definitely not my very first mini.

https://www.pegasoworld.com/product/napoleon-in-egypt-1798-99/

I'm using acrylics for this one.
Thank you for the kind words, I'll check that thread out.

I'm happy for you to move the thread if you think it will be more suitable there.

Cheers,
Ewan

 

[Nap]

Hi Ewan

I’ve moved this but feel free to ask if I can help more

Look forward to seeing more on Nap

Have fun @ the bench

Nap

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Always find it hard offering constructive criticism to someone I don’t know, good on you for asking Ewan as it helps us grow. Neat seeing you having a go at historical miniatures as they are complementary to others you’ve already been doing.

What areas do you have concerns about or need most help on?

 

[Briggsy]

Really nice work, I agree with Nap about highlights on the gold lace, I found Vallejo Ice Yellow a good highlight before I reverted to metallics. Can't really fault this, the face is awesome as is the tonal transition, but that's not helpful since you asked for critique.

How do you find the jump in scale?

Cheers Simon

 

[Ewan]

Always find it hard offering constructive criticism to someone I don’t know, good on you for asking Ewan as it helps us grow. Neat seeing you having a go at historical miniatures as they are complementary to others you’ve already been doing.

What areas do you have concerns about or need most help on?

I asked for it, so please don't worry about offering your opinion

I think it's the highlights/shadows I would like advice on. When you all for advice with fantasy miniatures, the answer is always "more contrast!", people always want the values to go from 1 to 10 for every colour. My understanding is that with historical figures, you should be more subtle. I'm thinking I could do deeper Shadows in the blue of the coat and I'm not sure if the white cloth needs adjusting.

 

[Ewan]

Really nice work, I agree with Nap about highlights on the gold lace, I found Vallejo Ice Yellow a good highlight before I reverted to metallics. Can't really fault this, the face is awesome as is the tonal transition, but that's not helpful since you asked for critique.

How do you find the jump in scale?

Cheers Simon

Ah thanks, much appreciated.
Okay, I will look at adding more highlights to the gold embroidery.
I really like 54mm, it feels like it gives a great balance between giving you more room to work and not being so big it takes forever to paint. I'm a big fan.

 

[MalcC]

Very nice start and I think you've got the colours just right, although I think the trousers should be more of a white.

Malc

 

[Ewan]

Very nice start and I think you've got the colours just right, although I think the trousers should be more of a white.

Malc

That's great, thanks Malc. That's really useful, I'll probably redo them and make them lighter. Much appreciated

 

[clubcat]

Excellent start on the figure. I would add the need for a few more highlights to the gold lace, but otherwise great work. Check out the braiding on Colin Frasers latest figure of Francois Fournier for inspiration.
Melanie

 

[Ewan]

Excellent start on the figure. I would add the need for a few more highlights to the gold lace, but otherwise great work. Check out the braiding on Colin Frasers latest figure of Francois Fournier for inspiration.
Melanie

Thanks Melanie,
that reference is super useful.
I'll definitely be adding some brighter highlights.

 

[Colin_Fraser]

For info, here are the paints I use for gold embroidered lace…from base to high highlights. I also use sepia ink (diluted).

Also a really good job so far and a first historical to be proud of. I painted this eons ago. Thought it was a. pegaso figure though.

 

[Malkie]

For a first figure you have done a really excellent job. Well done!

Malkie

 

[Ewan]

For info, here are the paints I use for gold embroidered lace…from base to high highlights. I also use sepia ink (diluted).

Also a really good job so far and a first historical to be proud of. I painted this eons ago. Thought it was a. pegaso figure though.

View attachment 704752

Thanks, that's really kind.
Thanks for the pic, very helpful.
It is a pegaso model, I think you're right. I think I'm getting them confused as they're the same company and Kimera are their fantasy models (as far as I can work out).

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Thanks, that's really kind.
Thanks for the pic, very helpful.
It is a pegaso model, I think you're right. I think I'm getting them confused as they're the same company and Kimera are their fantasy models (as far as I can work out).

Didn’t know that…thx

 

[NigelR]

That's really nice work, I think you've handled everything really well.

If you want to be "historically accurate" (your choice), the blue of the coat should be darker, and IMO you have too many highlights on the blue. Take a look at one of Napoleon's original uniforms from close to the time here: https://www.napoleon.org/en/history...m-worn-by-bonaparte-at-the-battle-of-marengo/

But I think it looks pretty good as it is.

 

[Ewan]

That's really nice work, I think you've handled everything really well.

If you want to be "historically accurate" (your choice), the blue of the coat should be darker, and IMO you have too many highlights on the blue. Take a look at one of Napoleon's original uniforms from close to the time here: https://www.napoleon.org/en/history...m-worn-by-bonaparte-at-the-battle-of-marengo/

But I think it looks pretty good as it is.

Thanks, too kind
Yeah, I was thinking of going darker, but in the end decided not to. With the glazing technique I used, I can't really go back easily if I don't like it. I decided to not worry about 100% historical accuracy. Also, it looks darker when not under my painting light.
I'm also torn as to whether I should make the trousers more white. The main painting I'm working from (see below) shows them more the colour I've painted, but others show them a lot more white. I also briefly considered trying to paint the patterned sash, but decided that way madness lay.
Thanks for the photo, that's super useful, I've been working mostly from these paintings.