Creating a Blood-Soaked Monstrous Base

Or rather, did this work??

As strange as this sounds, I've never really tried the 'soaked in blood' base idea.  So I started from white...

...but in hindsight a nice coat of red over that would have been a better base to work from.  I just started layering on different glazes and washes and such.  Not only did it take forever to dry, it required multiple layers and waaaaay too much paint / glaze / wash... you get the idea.

Here's a pic of the final product, without using the flash on the camera.  Since it looked more 'muddy rust' than 'fresh blood'...

I layered on some 'Ard Coat for the shine.

Here's the work-in-progress miniature, which I'm trying to paint using James Wappel's method of putting down midtones before shadows then highlights.  At this point, I was really just started.  Should be done tomorrow.

As I look at these pictures, it still needs some cleaning up - anyone got any good ideas for an easier way to do this?

Batch Painting with an Airbrush

So, 68 Genestealers to paint - and they came in all red and blotchy.

Airbrushing Tyranids: Completed and WiP

These Nid models aren't Bugs! - 'cause Bugs! are older than some of you and aren't nearly so done.

No, this army belongs to the Client Pimp in Question, and I'm satisfied that these are complete.

Airbrushing Nids, Monstrous Creatures WiP

Okay, here are better pictures... and with my family-famous sleep-walking insomnia (that's actually me, but okay) I was up early working on the Swarm Lord.

Swarmy isn't done, but it's as close as I can get with the airbrush.  At this point, I'll wash parts of the model and detail a bit of the face - but if ever your favorite Empty Digital Headache hopes to significantly dent his To-Do list...

...I'll have to pursue painting armies and not models.  Here's the Mawloc.

And the Trygon.

Here's better pictures of Swarmy.  The green washes will really make the glow effect pop.  (He hopes.) I hope.

The Client Pimp in Question doesn't want me working on the bases.

The workspace.  I've started using pointed Q-Tips and a minimal amount of cleaner between colors to keep the airbrush flowing properly and minimize cleanup time.

Finally! Finished Mawloc (using airbrush)

Slowly but surely I'm teaching myself how to use an airbrush... and more than anything it's a tool that requires the time-in to learn.  You just have to get used to it.

Anyway, these pictures suck - doing neither model justice - but it's late and I'm tired and so my, "I don't care," is at its peak.

More WiP Rusted Necrons... Night Before the Trip

It's a bit after midnight and I've got a full day of work before leaving tomorrow for Austin.  So where am I at?

(PS:  Overwatch, I'll be there this weekend, and in the tournament.  That said... with the end of 5th my competitive spirit has suffered.  That's reflected in the army I'm bringing, which is much more fluffy than fighty.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to meeting you - make sure you introduce yourself, man!)

So stippling my undercoat took longer than I wanted... and so did drybrushing the silver topcoat.  I deviated greatly from Brian's recipe (see last post for the link) at this point, simply because my silver turned out much more pronounced!  Truth be told, it wasn't what I intended.

Rusted Necrons, Batch Painting for WarGames Con

Here's where I'm at... finishing the metal drybrush shouldn't take much more time, then it's on to washes, glows, and detailing..  The final steps will be airbrushed, with the exception of the Stormlord.

WiP: 2K Necrons for Wargames Con

If I don't make good progress today, I'm sunk!  Luckily, I've been planning this out for months - it's just time to put my money where my mouth is.

So to speak.  Let's walk through the process so far, and note I'm going to be using Brian's (A Gentleman's Ones) rust recipe, with some minor variations,  so follow the LINK for a perusal then hurry back!

Cleaning:  Many of the models had to be dropped in the bath...

Freak Flex Paints - Transferring Bottles

Some pics from a video I'm working on.  Basically, I'm transferring my Freak Flex airbrush paints - which are great - from the bottles they are in - which are horrible - to some bottles I bought at Michaels.  Which are back to great... you get the idea!

Airbrushing, 1st Attempt

I couldn't resist breaking out my new, top-of-the-line-how-did-I-get-you-so-cheap airbrush and trying it out.  This is really my first attempt at applying paint to a model, since I've always been a bit afraid, but the latest acquisition demands to be used.

(No excuses, man up.)

Regarding Adepticon... great, awesome, fun, lucrative... and there's a lot to say.  This Empty Digital Headache is entirely too beat to go into it just now.  Suffice it to say I went 2-2 in the Championship, earning 50th place and achieving my goal of improving my Sportsmanship and Painting scores, and the Heavy Flamers earned 6th place in our first time out at the Team Tournament on Saturday.

Moving on, as with most of my experiments, I break out one of the Card Pimp's models...