Giraffes

[Plynkes]

Paint them a pale cream, and then paint on the orangey-brown patches on to that or paint 'em orangey-brown and then paint in the pale cream lines between the patches?

Normally I'm the kind of painter who charges in full steam ahead without thinking and I just see how it goes, but the idea of two different methods here has wormed its way into my head and paralysed all reason. Rather like Captain Haddock unable to decide whether to sleep with his beard under or over the covers, I'm twitching and turning and can't make my mind up.

Sickers says paint the lines over the patches, but what the fuck does he know? Help, please (particularly the couple of LAFers who've done it: Grimm and Tellus wasn't it?) What would/did you do? 

I'll probably ignore the results, but polls are fun, aren't they?


Edit: I apologise for the bad language in this thread.

i) I've been drinking intoxicating liquids, which goes against everything I believe in.
ii) Normally I never swear - Hammers is a bad influence on me, and his foul-mouthed posting style is contagious.

[Helen]

Hi Dylan,

I don't know if this reply will assist you, but I hope it helps. Please go to "What I painted in November (2008)" thread an on the first page you will see the giraffe an on page three how the author painted the beautiful animal.

Ciao,

Helen

[Plynkes]

Thanks, H. I missed that one.

[starkadder]

As patronising as it sounds....it depends on the subspecies.

I am not a great fan of Wikipedia but this entry at least outlines the eight or nine sub-species: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giraffe.

All giraffes can interbreed (which makes them sub-species and not separate species). The most distinctive differences are the stars, the blotches and the overall amount of light colour. The Maasai Giraffe is quite dark, for instance, while the Somali Giraffe can be a rust colour. The density of the stars and blotches will depend on the sub-species.

All of which affects the order of painting.

So it depends...

[Tellus]

Hi Plynkes,
I painted the lines over because I had the feeling that this is the easier way.



It took me one or two attemts but then I got the feeling for it.

[PaulJB]

Here's mine



The giraffe is from HLBS whilst the hippo is a plastic toy

Paul

[meninobesta]

thanks for the heads up Helen


the way on how I've painted it is here:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=8500.msg96796#msg96796

the main negative responses on the painting was that the muscles were so marked that it looked very thin or starving, but I always exaggerate on that so that the models have more defined details on the tabletop, so it's definitely not a giraffe for a painting competition, but for playing, as all of my other models!

PS: looking forward to see your painted giraffe Plynkes

[starkadder]

How giraffes really behave:

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs42/f/2009/073/2/8/286486b413f3093a23d9c2156178ef0e.jpg

[Hawkeye]

Just be thankful that you're not painting zebras - who'd know where to start?

[archangel1]

Just be thankful that you're not painting zebras - who'd know where to start?

Well, to start with, contrary to common belief, zebras are dark-skinned with white stripes and patterns are unique to each animal.

[OSHIROmodels]

I would say paint the lighter colour first as it's always easier to paint dark over light than the other way round (which reminds me, I must get my wife's painted).

cheers

James

[starkadder]

You paint your wife, JimBibbly?? What colour? Sounds very '60's to me.

[former user]

Just be thankful that you're not painting zebras - who'd know where to start?

never tried zebras, only tigers

stripes are best always started on the back and painted in both directions down.
Never tried giraffes neither, but a tank in similar fashion. I painted the patches, because the lines would have looked too "liney"

or if You want to go after african rock-art, the patches are painted there too, but sometimes also the lines 
never seen blue arses on giraffes though, but could be a nice colour contrast 

[Plynkes]

I suspect the meddling hand of Mr. Hammers the so-called moderator there. The blue arse option on the poll was not of my doing. 

[OSHIROmodels]

I suspect the meddling hand of Mr. Hammers the so-called moderator there. The blue arse option on the poll was not of my doing. 

     I thought that was a perfectly suitable option 

You paint your wife, JimBibbly?? What colour? Sounds very '60's to me.

I tend for a kind of tarten pattern from the Okamoto clan 

cheers

James