K.blas from Painting with Coffee took the time to turn my Chaos Knight all gray and stuff! His point? The tonal quality of the paintjob is very similar; where's the contrast?
The Chaos Knight of Nurgle in gray...
The original picture.
This is a learning moment! C'mon - have at the model!
Try something different. Paint the armor and the chainmail silver. Start the armor at Chainmail and the chainmail at boltgun. Wash them devlan and badab. Highlight the armor and the chainmail with the original base colors. Then go in and do the rust effect in the crevasses and where water would pool.
Then take some gold and do the arrows and such. Use brass or tin bitz for a darker look. Wash that brown or something.
Viola! Instant contrast. in a simple way. You still get a dull tone, used and heavy, some rust, but you get tonal differences your not getting now and the metal will actually look metal.
The chaos knights are probably my favorite models in the fantasy line, and I think it's hard to make them look bad (unless someone paints with detail covering thick paint).
With that said, I'd second the notions of others who say there needs to be some metal showing that is not rusty/tarnished. Right now, at first glance, it's not clear whether the armor is corroded or just painted in an Autumn camo scheme in preparation for deer season.
I'll also touch on the green straps, as others have. I'd save green for the evil green glow emanating from the horse and knight's eyes. Maybe even add hints at the horse's nostrils and mouth...you know, the evil within escaping from all orifices...like after an enchilada and bean dinner. In fact you could add hints of this green around the chaos symbol on the horse's flank (glowing through the cracks) and crank up the green on the weapon.
anyway, what do i know? I'm just a cave man, and your world frightens and confuses me...
easiest way to add tonal differences would be to repaint a few of the details.
You don't need to go overboard or make massive changes to get the effect you want.
Looking at the model, the biggest and quickest change would be to do something about the chain mail. Painting it black and then giving it a more standard color treatment with boltgun metal and other dark metal tones would do wonders.
I also see room for 'improvement' on the stirrups and the blades on the horses head. additionally, the green straps would also be a likely [lace to make changes.
I like the rust you've done, yes the chainmail portion needs a more metallic look, I like the green straps too, one of the main changes I would make would be to put him on a stone base, or cathedral type base, the dark grey stone in contrast to the orangish rust I think would look pimp, oh and more contrast.
I understood the Chaos warrior nature of the mini. My concern is even metal that is completely rusted will lose that rust when used. Places where metal rubs together or points were other things make contact with the rusted metal will knock the rust off. Keep in mind the rust is a surface only damage to the metal and wears off when it is rubbed against.
Brent, I agree the chainmail could use a bit of metal tone, but I would not repaint it all together, just do some light dry brushes in a few spots to show where it moves and the rust has warn off.
I might do this on the edges of the horses grieves and where the horses armor has rents and tears. Also changing up the color of the stirrups might add some contrast to the body of the horse. I might also pick a few areas to paint black too (with brown/black highlights) to add depth and contrast.
Now that I can see both the Gray scale and Color photos together, areas that I would pay attention to would be the sword (going from the dark red at the base, to a light green/white at the tip), darkening the area around the eye with a stronger red, the Horse's chainmail (either darker or lighter your choice), and finally the base (again darker or lighter).
As far as actually color choices, I actually have no problems now with any (even the green leather straps) because you have a good top/bottom balance, and overall everything as a whole blends well, and if you think of a ranked unit of 10 Knights it works.
I think you've been told that before...
ReplyDeleteTry something different. Paint the armor and the chainmail silver. Start the armor at Chainmail and the chainmail at boltgun. Wash them devlan and badab. Highlight the armor and the chainmail with the original base colors. Then go in and do the rust effect in the crevasses and where water would pool.
Then take some gold and do the arrows and such. Use brass or tin bitz for a darker look. Wash that brown or something.
Viola! Instant contrast. in a simple way. You still get a dull tone, used and heavy, some rust, but you get tonal differences your not getting now and the metal will actually look metal.
you went there.
ReplyDeleteI'm suddenly terrified that all my models would suffer tremendously from this treatment...
The chaos knights are probably my favorite models in the fantasy line, and I think it's hard to make them look bad (unless someone paints with detail covering thick paint).
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I'd second the notions of others who say there needs to be some metal showing that is not rusty/tarnished. Right now, at first glance, it's not clear whether the armor is corroded or just painted in an Autumn camo scheme in preparation for deer season.
I'll also touch on the green straps, as others have. I'd save green for the evil green glow emanating from the horse and knight's eyes. Maybe even add hints at the horse's nostrils and mouth...you know, the evil within escaping from all orifices...like after an enchilada and bean dinner. In fact you could add hints of this green around the chaos symbol on the horse's flank (glowing through the cracks) and crank up the green on the weapon.
anyway, what do i know? I'm just a cave man, and your world frightens and confuses me...
easiest way to add tonal differences would be to repaint a few of the details.
ReplyDeleteYou don't need to go overboard or make massive changes to get the effect you want.
Looking at the model, the biggest and quickest change would be to do something about the chain mail. Painting it black and then giving it a more standard color treatment with boltgun metal and other dark metal tones would do wonders.
I also see room for 'improvement' on the stirrups and the blades on the horses head. additionally, the green straps would also be a likely [lace to make changes.
Lauby: ya, I think that's a good suggestion and the route I was going to go.
ReplyDeleteRe: the little things, I tried to paint this with the army in mind; I doubt I'd spend the extra attention on a rank and file model, even a knight.
Re: the green, I'll admit I'm a bit surprised everyone has been pointing that out. I thought it was an easy way to give a nod to the Nurgle-ness.
These dudes are meant to be Chaos Knights with the Mark of Nurgle; it's why I thought rust would be appropriate.
Chestnut ink works well over chainmail/mithril silver. It gives a nice rusty look.
ReplyDeleteI like the rust you've done, yes the chainmail portion needs a more metallic look, I like the green straps too, one of the main changes I would make would be to put him on a stone base, or cathedral type base, the dark grey stone in contrast to the orangish rust I think would look pimp, oh and more contrast.
ReplyDeleteBrent, suggestion - try a blue wash...helps to make the chainmail stand out more once you have done the coat and then highlight....
ReplyDeleteI understood the Chaos warrior nature of the mini. My concern is even metal that is completely rusted will lose that rust when used. Places where metal rubs together or points were other things make contact with the rusted metal will knock the rust off. Keep in mind the rust is a surface only damage to the metal and wears off when it is rubbed against.
ReplyDeletebut also, MM, nurgle is magic.
ReplyDeleteBrent, I agree the chainmail could use a bit of metal tone, but I would not repaint it all together, just do some light dry brushes in a few spots to show where it moves and the rust has warn off.
ReplyDeleteI might do this on the edges of the horses grieves and where the horses armor has rents and tears. Also changing up the color of the stirrups might add some contrast to the body of the horse. I might also pick a few areas to paint black too (with brown/black highlights) to add depth and contrast.
I personally like the green straps.
Wow I feel all emotional and stuff.
ReplyDeleteNow that I can see both the Gray scale and Color photos together, areas that I would pay attention to would be the sword (going from the dark red at the base, to a light green/white at the tip), darkening the area around the eye with a stronger red, the Horse's chainmail (either darker or lighter your choice), and finally the base (again darker or lighter).
As far as actually color choices, I actually have no problems now with any (even the green leather straps) because you have a good top/bottom balance, and overall everything as a whole blends well, and if you think of a ranked unit of 10 Knights it works.
Good going Brent, and keep us posted...