The Daniel36 Chronicles - Frostgrave Adventures

[Philhelm]

No new pics, but I wanted to let you know about a new project I have set up, a new forum dedicated solely to project logs and showcases. So for those who like showing their work to others, head over here for details:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=87767.0

Thanks for looking!

Are you still going to post your Frostgrave stuff here?

[Daniel36]

Sorry, I was away for a mid-week.

I hope this answers your question;





Another Henchman done. I simply prefer the dark, earthy tones.

And yes, I am definitely keeping this plog updated. I now have three forums I am keeping track of, so it's manageable. Here I only post my Frostgrave stuff, over on Warseer I put everything in one random project log, and I am spreading out and showing all of my stuff in seperate logs over on The Tabletop Showcase. You are more than welcome to join! Once I get back to Mordheim, I will probably update my project logs over on Tom's as well. Mordheim's on the backburner for now. But, if you want to check out any of my other work, you can find everything over on The Tabletop Showcase.

Okay, I am done plugging it now.

[Jennifer]

That figurine is gorgeous  ..  I like the earth tones as well.

Maybe you could give me a run down how you painted it?   Like layer by layer and what paints you used?  I am getting over 60 figurines in a day or two and need to begin somewhere   I really like your minis!

[Azzabat]

Excellent paintwork. I particularly like the face, it really stands out.

@nd vote for the step by step as I'd love to learn to paint to your standard.  = )

[jp1885]

Nice work - looks like he's been round the block a few times!

[Daniel36]

Oh wow... You are giving me way more credit than I deserve. I am far from the best painter around, far from it.

My painting technique, if one could even call it that, is actually really simple.

I basecoat all of the cloth areas with the same colour. I will give you the names of the GW paints I've used. I swear, I will never get used to all these new names. In this instance I basecoated all the cloth areas with Rhinox Hide. This gives the model a more unified look, and is perfect for "shading" (or, if we're totally honest, places you forgot to highlight).

Then I just pick lighter colours of different hues to highlight, and I mostly use the drybrushing technique. For example, the majority of the model was highlighted with Mournfang Brown, which is a very brown brown.

The gloves were highlighted with Doombull Brown, which is a very reddish brown.

The piece of cloth that runs through the middle was probably a basecoat of Rakarth Flesh with a smidge of Baneblade Brown. Can't remember exactly.

His pants are a very muddy green called Deathworld Forest with a highlight of the same colour mixed with Nurgling Green, but usually I mix with a colour like Rakarth Flesh to create highlight tones... It was just the first pot I found this time around.

The sleeve is an old colour called Shadow Grey, which is actually a light greyish blue colour that simply looks like the type of blue you would probably find in medieval fabrics (or at least in Skyrim). I suppose the new colour is called The Fang, but I don't have it so I can't say for sure if it is close enough.

For the waist scarf I went with grey, Eshin Grey with Dawnstone highlight, but it is so small it is hardly noticable.

The face is nothing but a Base flesh colour before applying the magic formula. GW sells Base, Layer, and some other style paints. Base means the paint is heavily pigmented, meaning it makes basecoating real easy as you don't need ten layers, like with... Layers... Hence the names... Haha. I still have an old version, not sure what the new one is called.

After that comes the magic formula. This is what makes my models look the way they do.

Are you ready for it?

Are you sure?

Okay, here comes;

Agrax Earthshade!

A heavy wash of Agrax Earthshade over everything but the flesh parts is what ties the whole model together and gives it that nice dark vibe that I like so much. For the face I use Reikland Fleshshade but I usually just add a pinch of Agrax Earthshade over that too, once it dries.

It is basically cheating. Any self respecting, professional painter probably uses neither drybrushing nor Agrax Earthshade wash, but fortunately I am not a professional painter and I really do it for the heck of it and don't want to spend too much time on any given model.

After all that, I get my magnifying glass out and I paint in the eyes. It gives it that finishing touch.

So in short:
Get every hue of brown there is (up to off whites)
Get muddy, muted greens
Get greyish blues
Get greys
Get Agrax Earthshade

Oh, and some deep reds. They always work well for spot colours, such as pouches. I might do some more with deep reds on my next model.

For this guy, I also used a lot of pictures of Skyrim armours, especially the lower level ones. They are very much the way I like it. Oh, and the rope was dead easy. Rakarth Flesh base, heavy Agrax Earthshade wash, drybrush Rakarth Flesh again.

I hope this helps!

And thanks again for the kind words. It means a lot to me!

[Jennifer]

Thanks much for the detailed reply!  That was a lot of work and very kind of you to share. I am going to going through it carefully when I start painting my first minis.

Do you keep a paint journal with like color schemes and swatches of paint for that scheme?

Just wondering if you have a set of swatches for all the colors you mentioned and maybe you could take a photo for me?  I have no idea what those colors look like because I have reaper paints and I also use $1 (.75 quid) craft store paints.

[Azzabat]

Yes, thanks for such a detailed reply.

@jennifer, there is a color comparison chart over on the DakkaDakka forum that is very good and you may find useful.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart

I use it as I'm a Vallejo guy myself. I also made myself a color chart of the basic combination of colors that work well for me so I don't forget.

[Jennifer]

Yes, thanks for such a detailed reply.

@jennifer, there is a color comparison chart over on the DakkaDakka forum that is very good and you may find useful.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart

I use it as I'm a Vallejo guy myself. I also made myself a color chart of the basic combination of colors that work well for me so I don't forget.

Thanks for the link, this is INCREDIBLY useful!

Your paint log is very neat looking. you don't want to see how sloppy mine is haha.  paint everywhere and my scribbly handwriting all over the place

[Azzabat]

Thank you. The joys of having very mild CDO (like OCD, but spelt in the correct alphabetical order) and not a lot of space. I keep it in an 16 page A4 clear wallet along with pictures of color schemes I like, or articles that are useful. It's my most useful resource and one I'd recommend.

[Jennifer]

Thank you. The joys of having very mild CDO (like OCD, but spelt in the correct alphabetical order) and not a lot of space. I keep it in an 16 page A4 clear wallet along with pictures of color schemes I like, or articles that are useful. It's my most useful resource and one I'd recommend.

Yeah I really am happy with my paint log.  I often mix my own paints and I put the recipe in it with swatches of source paints and resulting paint -- extremely valuable.

[Daniel36]

I actually have a really cool paint journal, but I haven't updated it in aeons. That said, I do want to show it to you because it looks SO COOL!!!





For anyone who wants one of these things, you can probably still find it in Camden Town, London. I am actually heading that way again in about two months and I am actually thinking about getting another one, just for the heck of it, since they are just so cool! Or maybe I will use it as a prize for a small painting competition or something... It's such a fun little thing.

By the way, Jennifer, I sent you a PM. I guess you missed that... Or you just don't want to respond, haha... But up on the left, right under your username... Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Lamilvelo]

Great write up on your painting technique Daniel!  Thanks so much and I absolutely love that paint journal. I might even use one if mine looked like that 

[Daniel36]

No problem. Didn't expect my techniques to be so valued by others.

Because of your positive responses, I am actually thinking of doing some tutorials with pictures on my other forum, The Tabletop Showcase, to basically show step by step how I paint. I really see myself as someone who never progressed beyond some basic beginner techniques, but apparently I am doing something right... And if people find value in my write-ups, I might as well write some tutorials on them.

Thanks everyone!

[Jennifer]

Yeah I got the message thanks. I"ve just been so busy with everything.

That journal.. oh my.. it's so awesome!  I was looking at it and starting to try and figure out how you crafted it.  Then I read further and you said you bought it hehe.. that's easier!  That thing is awesome!