Valérie's first steps in acrylic

[green stuff]

Some of you might have followed the beginning of this in the shout-box. Valérie (my girl-friend) had accepted trying a bit of painting. So after she chose a subject (in this case a dwarf; she always choses Gimli when we play "The Return of the King" on the PS2), I went out to find some dwarf mini that would be fun but not to difficult for a first experience. This is where I never thought I'd say this, but thank God for GW, their minis are great for beginners :

*) easy to read details;
*) large and well defined surfaces.

So I cleaned up, based, and primed two identical dwarf warriors. I explained to Valérie the basics of applying a base color, shadowing, highlighting, drybrushing, and blending. This is a first WIP pic after about 2 hours of painting (we had some goofy TV show on in the background so we occasionaly took some breaks) :

http://greenstuff.free.fr/img/Valerie/Figurines/GW/Warhammer/Nains/GuerrierNain1/GuerrierNain1WIP1.jpg

Her's is on the left and mine on the right. Constructive criticism is fully welcomed :).

[Ritual]

Not bad at all! The chainmail looks good (only needs some brighter highlights in places) and the blue is not too bad either, although I think it needs some further highlighting and some more definition at the edges toward the chainmail. Some of the contours between the blue and the chainmail (especially right above the belt) needs to be tidied up. But, I think everything she's done so far works out really well as a foundation and the suggestions I made can be worked on from here.

[tidoco2222]

Yep they are definately looking very good at the moment.

[EricJ]

looks good to me, Anders pretty much covered what I would have said.

Does she have other artistic history/training? She seems to show darn good brush control already which would suggest that she either has painted before or perhaps is just quite careful and patient (well she does put up with you! :D )

I think for someone new to the hobby it takes a little to realize how far highlights need to go to look proper, which I think shows as her colors are a little muted, but that is something that grows with experience.

I'll look for her in a year to blowing your minis away ;)

[green stuff]

... patient (well she does put up with you! :D )
:laughing: ;)

Thanks to all for your comments. I'm sure she'll be happy to read them :).

As far as I know, her artistic talents are more in the music domain (she plays guitar). But I have noticed that she has a very good eye for colors and details.

[MasterTickles]

looks good! wish i could get my wife to play with my miniatures. Exspecially the Really BIG one. LOLOLOLOLOL

[Jabberwocky]

I think for someone new to the hobby it takes a little to realize how far highlights need to go to look proper, which I think shows as her colors are a little muted, but that is something that grows with experience.

Umm, by "a little" what do mean? Like 16 years or so? *Ahem* :hmpf:

Jabber, he who still can't highlight worth a darn after one and a half decades

[gi6ers]

For a first attempt that's pretty awesome, I think it helps if you've got someone to teach you as opposed to reading lots of conflicting info on the web.

Personally my bigggest challenge is neatness and learning the right consistency, seems she's got the hang of those.

[green stuff]

http://greenstuff.free.fr/img/Valerie/Figurines/GW/Warhammer/Nains/GuerrierNain1/GuerrierNain1WIP2.jpg

Thanks again for the feedback. The blue has been tidyed up a bit and the chain mail will be brightened when the axe will be done.

[Patrick]

NICE! That's looking really good!

Ain't it great to have a pal to share your creativity with?

[green stuff]

Thanks Patrick. Yeah, it's a lot of fun since Valérie is the one who has been asking for new paint sessions and we've always made them tie in with goofy TV shows, so it's quite lighthearted : paint, lift an eye to see what corny stunt is being pulled off, paint, wonder why they picked that crummy singer, paint, ...

Taking pictures is really a good learning tool. When she saw the photos she thought the beard needed more contrasts and she saw the differences in highlights between the two minis.

[Frenchkid]

Seems like a good way to manage a girlfriend and painting time :P
Oh and she's doing pretty well on that mini. Well much better then my first mini anyway :tongue2: Good job 'prof' ;)

[green stuff]

Seems like a good way to manage a girlfriend and painting time :P
Message de Valérie : "Franchement, c'est scandaleux Arthur ;)!"

[Frenchkid]

:|
Et pourtant c'est vrai, Moi je suis obliger de separer les deux :tongue2:

[green stuff]

Well, we finished the dwarves last night :

http://greenstuff.free.fr/img/Valerie/Figurines/GW/Warhammer/Nains/GuerrierNain1/GuerrierNain1FinalWithGreenStuff.jpg

The next mini is already planned ... yes, more dwarves ;).

[Ritual]

That's really really good for a first mini! She seems to master all the basic skills quite well already and now she only needs to become a bit more daring in her shading and highlighting. :thumb: