R.I.A JMD Demon

[matty1001]

I'm entering this for the Salute competition and want to improve it (I have 2 days left in which to do so) so I want some good criticism for improvements. Literally R.I.A (Rip It Apart)

Since pulling it out again I'v added;
blood drips to the hand,
more base work to balance the composition with the tail,
lots of green glazes in the shadows (not sure how well this shows in the pics),
upped the contrast on the face,
Added dust to the feet and hand touching the floor,
and used combination of satin and gloss varnishes to boost the red highlights.

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/Demon1.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/Demon2.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/Demon3.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/Demon4.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/Demon5.jpg

[Ritual]

I think the changes you've made are rather substantial improvements! It could be a photo issue to a certain extent, but these pics look much better than your previous set. The piece looks much more dramatic and striking now!

What I feel could be improved further is the following (in decreasing order of importance, as I see it):
- More highlights on upper back, shoulders, out-stretched arm, protruding knee and knuckles of the hand touching the base.
- Deeper shading (and I mean deep, as in close to black) in the lower abdomen and crotch area.
- Expand the area on the face with higher contrast to include at least the upper jaw. As it is now the mouth and teeth area is overpowered by the nose-eyes-brow area.
- Make the sides of the iron cuffs darker (i.e. the sides that indicate the thickness of the cuffs).
- Darken the edges between nails and fingers/toes slightly to make them stand out more.

Is that enough ripping apart for you? ;)

[matty1001]

Top stuff, cheers. I'v been looking at it for to long...needed some fresh eyes.

[Ritual]

I'v been looking at it for to long...

A common problem for us mini painters. Know exactly what you mean...

[demonherald]

A common problem for us mini painters. Know exactly what you mean...

Agreed...

I think Anders has hit the main points..
For me slightly lighter on the back and define the parts where nails meet toe..
Also I can't help thinking he would benefit rom maybe doing the eye's yellow ?? or something similar it's just at the moment they ain't catching my attention as they should ....

maybe play with the blood effect a bit more maybe on the other hand and dripping down the base a touch.....

echoing Anders he is definitely looking better....doesn't look like I'll make Salute now as I have a follow up appointment at the old Hosp on Friday involving possible overnight stay... grrrrr.....

good luck though chief rooting for ya....

[matty1001]

Blood dripping down the base is a great idea! Time to cut some more hair off my head :)

Cheers Rob, and good luck with the hospital stuff...

[Frustrated Father]

I think he looks good but as you asked for it, I'll have to say that additional highlights and shadows as well, though Anders and Rob covered that pretty well and I just sound like a parakeet. Right now though there just doesn't seem anything drawing the eye overall as it just seems like a lump of red.

That being said, I know that red is a real pain to photograph and I'm expecting this one looks a good deal better in hand.

The face sorts of just gets lost in there, there is nothing to draw any attention to the mouth and the eyes which I personally feel would be two of the biggest draws, particularly if I had that bastard looking at me. Perhaps overemphasizing them a bit might even be worthwhile, making the eyes a glowing contrasting color perhaps.

Lastly, the base - normally I'm a fan of the ones that you've put together but this one just seems 'blah' and brown, which goes along with the red. Too much of it.

Nice stuff overall, but if you want cutting honesty, I would tend to say nothing really pops out in particular, as it all has the same overtone of colors, whether between your figure or your base.

[stubbdog]

Just did a quick ugly dodge and burn job in photoshop to give a quick example of where I would try and take it. It was easier than trying to explain...

http://www.stubbdog.com/stuff/wip/Untitled-1.jpg

[matty1001]

Ain't dodge and burn great :D Cheers for that. I'm working on bringing the highlights up now, by mixing blood red with flesh colours, but it's hard not pushing it to far pink. And getting a white sheen style highlight (as in that pic) is really, really hard lol

I'v also darkened the areas around the eyes so they stand out more. And blackened the edges of the nails.

It's coming along quite well. Cheers for all the tips.

[Sculpta the squig]

And I'd redo the hair on the back in black, I think it would sui it better colour-wise and now it looks drybrushed and scruffy.

Squig

[matty1001]

Cheers Squig, but I havn't got the time to redo the hair. It'll just have to stay like that.
A new pic: (Light isn't so good, so it isn't as great as the earlier ones)

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/Demon6.jpg

Just been glazing highlights over and over, the re glazing back down. Rinse and repeat. Very slow going, but slowly it is getting brighter. And did some deep black shadows. Also washed and blacklined the nails.

The back muscles are very hard to get a good smooth glaze because they are huge, and covered in tiny detail, so the paint has a tendency to run into them. So I put a layer on, then mop most of it up. Like taking 3 steps forward 2 steps back.

Nathan, hopefully the red is looking a little less monotonous now?

And Rob, loved the blood on the plinth idea, and it works great! (IMO of course...)

[talonicus]

Hi Matty

I also do not want to sound like a parrot but I think it will definitely benefit from upping the highlights, and deepening the shadows.
I know automaton had a good method of increasing the (it may be available on Oz Painter but I read it here) http://www.frothersunite.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13701&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20 highlights on red without dragging it into the pink. This may be a method you want to try.

I think the blood could do with being extended and the face still needs something as I mentioned previously. I am glad to see so many people are giving you the same advice, it saves confusion.

Nigel

[matty1001]

Ta...il just keep on glazing. Cheers for the link as well. I had completely forgot about that.

Extending the blood, do you mean the drips, or the smear on the plinth? I assume you mean the drips though...

[Moavoamoatu]

It looks far better this way. More shadows and highlights and it's done. Very nice piece BTW. I wish I could go to Salute to meet you. May be next year.

[Sculpta the squig]

On the shoulder closer to you when viewing the picture, I cant help but think that it looks a bit silly how the higlight gets really intense and then stops. It wouldn't do that IRL, and I think it'd look much more realistic if you continued that highlight up a bit.

Squig

[Ritual]

You're getting there, Matty! This is a big improvement over the earlier set of pics. The highlights really bring it to life and the face looks more eye-catching now that you've extended the higher contrast all the way down to the teeth. Something needs to be done with the eyes as they sort of get lost a bit. And the crotch area looks too bright in this photo. But I'd say 75% of the job is done here... only a bit further to go! :)

[matty1001]

Good point on the crotch...sorted that now.

[matty1001]

Continued on with more glazes of reds just to smooth everything out, and changed the eyes to an Ice Blue after Anders recommendation. And Squig I slightly lightened up that shoulder area.

And a nice huge pic, as photobucket wouldn't upload so I'v used my Mac web gallery.

http://gallery.mac.com/matthewbraid/100455/DSCF3197/web.jpg

Nigel kiss good bye to your dreams (as honestly that is all they are) of winning that sword away! ;)

[Ritual]

Yeah!!! That eye colour really worked out! They draw the attention immediately!

[Sculpta the squig]

Definately looks better, but maybe if the shoulder higlights blended in a bit more;) Sorry, I know I'm being a pain but you wanted us to rip it apart :)

Squig

[talonicus]

@Matty

HAHA now you are getting into the spirit of it. You gotta believe.
I really do wish ya well mate, this looks outstanding now.

Nigel

[orkydave]

Sorry mate, caught this one late on.

A real big improvement from the first pictures, and some sound advice there from people better than me at this painting malarkey, so nothing more to add other than good luck and let us know how you get on!

[matty1001]

Haha Nigel you sound like Morpheus "He is beginning to believe"
Now I just have to learn Kung-Fu...

I can't wait for Salute :D Another 6 or 7 hours and I'll have to start getting ready! Got an early 4.30am start tomorrow.

Cheers Dave, I'm sure Il have lots of photos, should be a grand day!

[Ritual]

Haha!! When I had 6-7 hours until leaving for Paris last year I had two minis to finish, varnish all the minis and get them securely attached to the bottom of the case I was going to transport them in. In fact, I think it was around 7 hours left when I decided to add the etched brass tree to Galadriel's base and I spent a few hours swearing and regretting it because it was such a hassle to paint. And after that, I had to paint the base for Taxxis and attach her to it. :)

[demonherald]

That's looking great bud......good call on the eye colour Anders.....

couple of things if time......

The right arm as we look at it.....
The highlights at the top of the arm .. just take them a touch further into that whole creased area just to complete the shape of the muscle a touch more...

Try a purple or slightly bluish glaze or two on the vein detail

another couple of darkening glazes on the shackle to give it a more defined round shape.

also a touch deeper with the shades in the creases on the face....

have fun and looking great....

[matty1001]

Alright, done those changes you just mentioned Rob. Going to set my camera up now and get some final shots.

I'v put about an extra 12hrs or so in to this over the last couple of days and I just want to say a big thanks to everyone that has R.I.A.

[Ritual]

Ripping things apart is always a pleasure! :D

[matty1001]

Reet, final pic. Pretty much did the things that Rob mentioned.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/DemonFinished.jpg

[Sculpta the squig]

Fantastic, the shoulder also looks much better now. :)

Squig

[matty1001]

And a before and after.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/Demoncompare.jpg

[Ritual]

Sweet! I think you should definitely be proud of this one now! One of your best minis so far, IMO. Possibly the best, even...

[Jabberwocky]

This has really been coming along nicely, Matty! You have done an amazing job with it. I really don't have much to offer in the way of critiques--the masters here have been doing that much better than I. However, on the last pic, the right foot looks blended with the base where you have done the weathering. Perhaps a bit of definition there to separate the two?

[matty1001]

Yea I see what you mean Jabber, a few darker brown dustings should help with that. Cheers.

Anders, yea. I think it very well may be, I must admit I'm pretty chuffed with it now. Especially looking at the comparison shot.

[Ritual]

You should make comparison shots with the really old photos (i.e. those from before this thread).

[matty1001]

Will do, and see what an extra 12hrs did lol

CMoN link: http://www.coolminiornot.com/187938

[matty1001]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n312/matty1001/DemonOldandNew.jpg

[Wren]

The change to blue on the eyes and the addition of gore on the other hand make a big difference, not to mention your very evident work in upping the contrast on the muscle highlighting. Nice stuff!

[demonherald]

Yup I think I agree with Anders there your best work yet bud and you are improving at a fair rate of knots. good luck on Saturday...