[PLOG] Daeron's Blues

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anthalont
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Re: Daeron's Blues

Post by anthalont »

Very nice! I have been struggling to paint my dark horses, your horses look so natural.
Could I ask some insight on them?
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Re: Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

Sure. I'm still trying to find a good way to do it myself, but this is the method I ended up liking yesterday. It's not the best, I suppose, but it's fairly easy and the result is alright.
I use Eshin Grey (it's the only grey I got), but I suppose other greys will do too. I thin it water until it's almost colored water. Using a rather large brush (basecoat brush or something similar) I just go over the shapes of the horse. If I find the contrast too strong, I either clean my brush and wipe over the region or smear out the still wet paint. This is easier to do because it's so thin.
It takes about 4-5 layers to highlight to full Eshin Grey, but because of the large brush and the easy level of control it gives it's not that slow to paint. It's also easy to correct mistakes.

When that's done, I simply wash it with Nuln Oil... I don't really see this contribute that much, but I convince myself it helps out with the blending and toning down the grey. Besides, it's not much work.

When everything is dry, I mix Eshin grey (because it's all I have) with Ushabti Bone and give a few thinned highlights on the hairs, eyebrows/sockets, hooves, and some points on the legs to make the muscles stand out more. You could use Scar white to thin the grey I suppose, but the Ushabti Bone gives it a warmer hue which seemed like a better idea for a natural skin.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by anthalont »

Thank you very much!
That sounds easy but your execution is flawless :)

RL is keeping me away from hobby still but I am determined to continue painting, I will be posting my test warlock on my PLOG soon; especially looking forward for your comments;)
(I have finished the horse part a while back but I forgot the exact recipe for it. There was a bit too much trial and error probably..)
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Malys the younger »

Awesome! I can't wait to try that on my next batch of steeds!
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

I will fail my target for this month, but I'll be cleaning up a lot next month ;)

I finishes the skin of the horses.
Image

I'm working on the leather and dared three recipes.
Image

From left to right:
  • old recipe, but using a layer paint instead of mixing the base with a highlight. I am not convinced by the result. In fact, I dislike it.
  • totally new and darker recipe. I thought a darker leather might suit the model better. And it does look good, while letting the blue-to-come catch the eye. My only dislike is that the dark brown is a bit purple-ish where I would have preferred a more red-ish or yellowish brown.
  • old recipe, but slightly darker. I still love it, but fear it will colour up the model too much. It almost becomes a secundary colour. I like the recipe though and it combines alright with the blue.

any ideas? Preferences?
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by direweasel »

Of the 3, I think my preference is for the middle front horse's leather. None of them are bad, though, and the technique is fine, although I might put a glaze over all of it to blend it a little bit.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Lord Drakon »

I prefer the darkest in the back, looking good btw !
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by cultofkhaine »

I also prefer the one at the back (but I'm bias as I like my dark elves in dark colours) the one at the front looks good as well - smoother transition between the colours.

It's a shame you could not get them finished - keep going and get them done for next month.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

I ended up trying black leather, matching the boot colour of my Sorceress and Corsairs. I think it works better than the coloured boots. I finished the model, to get an idea of the end result. It works for me. I tuink it adds enough colour to make the Warlocks fit the army, yet is dark and neutral enough to make their Torso stand out. At the same time, adding the geared up Dark Riders should give the whole model a slightly more militaristic look.

Image
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anthalont
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by anthalont »

Oh you do know your leather
I like them all. Mine is similar to the first one except I washed it one more time at the end to make it look darker a bit more. But I like the second one more.
Very nice recipes and I like how you build up those layers.

We are all anxious to see these finished :)

EDIT:
Ah, an update as I was posting! :)
I like it mate, looks very nice and will fit your army very well
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Calisson »

Problem with your boots is that it is the same colour as horse's skin.
Liked better when it was slightly different.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

Yeah, I tired to paint the boots a bit crispier, and it does make a difference, but the contrast is small. But the other leathers didn't contrast so nicely with the blue. :(
Paler, more yellowish leathers work better, but then they look too dominant on the model. Perhaps there are recipes with a more reddish leather worth trying, but then... That would introduce a new colour. I feel the black leather matches the theme better, and I hope the rider themselves will grab away the attention :)
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Phierlihy »

The model isn't done yet and you've already applied the same blue color to three completely unrelated materials on the model. The blue is over-done (which is too bad because the rune-thing looked pretty good).
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

I don't think it's over-done but it's certainly prominent already. However, think of where the blue will be added. The Warlock model adds a totally new colour (skin), maybe white hair if I don't make it black. So I have to throw in the blue on the horse for the Warlocks.

The Dark Rider model, on the other hand, will have armour in blue and cloth in black. But the cloak masks the blue cloth of the rider you can see now.

But you're right that it looks very monotone at the moment. I'm fine with that, but it is worth testing this with the riders on top to see if it will work.

I'll try a bit of photoshop for some concept work :P
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

And here's the concept for the Warlocks. I tried a similar thing for Dark Riders, but I was planning on using a different outfit (not all those blades, and the armoured helmets)

Image

I like the concept look.. But I admitt the leather adds more in this concept than it does on my model. Hm. I'll try that concept with black boots and black hair, just to check it out. But seeing this concept, I also feel giving black hair to my locks would make the entire model too much black.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Rowena »

I love your horse (downloading the pic to help me with my own shading of them, it's amazing how you managed to keep them looking black rather than grey) and I think the blue is ok. But, thinking about it, I guess I tend to put blue everywhere as well. :)

I would maybe vote for brown leather (the dark one in the back of the photo with all three of them), but if you have tried that, you must know the best what works and what doesn't. And maybe try the black hair, I think the light skin should provide enough contrast, but it's hard to say without testing it.
Looking forward to seeing them finished, ace job, really! :)
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by cultofkhaine »

They look great - I do agree with LD though - IMO I think it would look better if you did the runes in green or red perhaps... and keep the fabric bits blue.

Either way it will still look good when done. You have inspired me to paint my Dark riders for this month.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Phierlihy »

I don't think you *have* to do any of those things. You can paint the harness/barding thing leathery brown or metallic instead of blue and use a simple grey for the cloth. The blue runes, which look quite good, are all you need for your theme color. But you make a valid point - adding the rider really helps to break up the color.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

I tried a gradient with the bright blue on top and one with the bright blue on the bottom.... I think I prefer the left model :)
As for the leather, it's still undecided so I'm giving it a bit of time while I paint the rest.

Image
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Amboadine »

Personally I prefer the blue gradient on the left and the leather on the right.
Blue looks more natural with the highlight at the top, where the light would more typically be.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

I tried a slightly different recipe for the leather, using a deeper, more reddish brown at the base. So from left to right, the old recipe, the black leather recipe and the new recipe. I was afraid the deeper brown would end up conflicting with blue, but it turns out quite alright I think.

The problem with using a more filling leather colour is the lack of contrast with the saddle. Hmm, so it's either a lack of contrast with the saddle, or with the horse.
Image
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Lord Drakon »

I prefer the scheme at the right. Also with the dilemma for contrast I would say it is better to have some contrast with the horse than the saddle.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by direweasel »

I love this latest version - you're straps and boots look much better against the horse now. Before they were kind of getting lost, or looking like you "forgot" to paint them. I would go with what you've got now.
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by Daeron »

With the UB tournament, the errors on the site and some crazy working hours, it's been a challenge to continue :(
I did manage to complete the barding this weekend:
Image

I completed the leather basecoat on Monday but I didn't upload an image of that yet. Here's to hoping I can finish them this month!
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"I move unseen. I hide in light and shadow. I move faster than a bird. No plate of armour ever stopped me. I strike recruits and veterans with equal ease. And all shiver at my coldest of whispers."
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Re: [PLOG] Daeron's Blues

Post by T.D. »

Very impressive :)

Love the bases too.
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