A Young wolf's painting Journey (Warning- lots of photos)

[Squark]

So, since I've been struggling to motivate myself to paint more, I thought I'd upload images of my current space wolves force for comments and critiques on my WIP paint jobs (And help with said paint job). While I'm at it, I figured I'd factor in my Winter's Advance vow here (The Long Fangs packs, for refence). So, here we go. Just be aware. You know those threads where the guy says he's new to painting, and then every following post is comments like, "Wish I painted that well?" This... is not one of them. Also, although it's probably too late, There's an awful lot of images in this first post, so I apologize for the long load times. And screen stretching, if the latter occurs. Oh, and my apologies if anyone dislikes the Onion- It was the only non-reflective surface I could find when I took the pictures.

 

So, to begin with, here's the winter's Advance stuff.

 

Long Fangs Pack 1 (Note: THe Wolf Guard Pack leader and armless guy in the background are not part of the vow)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1031_zps7d30c092.jpg

And A close up on the actual part of the vow

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1032_zps13486ea1.jpg

Also, I thought I'd put the Wolf Guard pack leader side by side with a normal marine just to demonstrate why you need to be sure to trim some of the Chaos marines torso down a bit, lest you end up with a Marine who's a head taller than the rest of your army. Also, pardon the mistake with the Mk VIII torso and the helmet.http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1033_zpsc9f5f022.jpg

Next up is the other pack that makes up my vow. This pack used Hunter-killer missiles for their missile launchers. The innitial few are a bit shaky and look odd on the hands, but I think I figured out how to get it right with the last two guys (The guys on the left)http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1034_zpsb8854ee3.jpg

And a look at the Wolf Guard bullet shield for these guys. This guy was an attempt to get the Chaos Warriors torso and knee armor to fit together with the Space Marine legs without having to cut them off. It... didn't work. Also, does anyone know a good tutorial on creating fur textures? Or should I just declare this guy a lost cause? (The Grey Hunter next to him is for size comparison)http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1035_zpsf5ca6cbe.jpg

We now go backwards in the force org chart a bit and bring you my 3 HQ units. First, a Look at my Wolf Guard Battle Leader (I usually used the Wolf Lord's statline, on the grounds that Logan Grimnar probably has a few wolf guard who can match the Wolf Lords on the battlefield. And Saga of the Bear isn't available to Battle Leaders, and that was the saga I wanted. The wargear is a relic of 5th edition)http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1026_zps2e86c831.jpg

And, a look at the Battle Leader's cloak, and a proper view of my Wolf Priest and my Rune Priest (THe latter was an early attempt at kitbashing)http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1025_zpsbccde6e0.jpg

On to my old power armored Wolf Guard from 5th edition, and one random Lascannon Long Fang who mostly just sits in the box.http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1029_zps39277e73.jpg

Some as yet unpainted Wolf Guard Terminators (The Special weapons guy is awaiting the purchase of magnets before I Prime him. Also, I need to find another deathwind missile launcher for his Cylcone Missile Launcher Conversion). Also, Arjac, but there's nothing really to look at yet without the paint job.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1027_zpsdf29d6ed.jpg

Here's a conversion I just wanted to point out- I remember talking about uploading this image after a discussion about he rarity of power weapons in the Terminators box, but then the site went down for maintenance, and that got forgotten about. Anyway, here's two converted power axes- One is made out of a Thunderhammer and the axehead from the space Wolves box, while the other is using a chaos warriors axe left over from the chaos warrior conversions I did.http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1028_zpsa3f165a5.jpg

5 Wolf Scouts, lamenting that Assaulting out of reserves is no longer possible.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1036_zps4aa67234.jpg

And now for my Grey Hunters... First off, the drop pod squad. Two guys have a black pauldron because they've changed places with the Standard Bearer and Mark of the wulfe guy who used to ride with them, but have now joined a plasmagun pack that used to be barebones and sit on objectives.http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1037_zps250f8da9.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1038_zps20afcfc1.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1039_zps5f18ac51.jpg

A second pack of grey hunters. This pack was one I decided to do all wearing helmets and using their boltguns two-handed (apart from the Mark of the Wulfen guy, who's got the honor marking. I haven't done the paintjob yet that would emphasize that he's the guy with Motw)http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1040_zps753557e0.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1041_zps2eff5988.jpg

Here's the most recent pack I've added- As you can see most of these guys don't even have their basecoat yet. The theme here was sort of, "Why don't I use all the crazy heads I haven't really used before for this pack).http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1043_zps92968990.jpghttp://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1042_zpsa240e547.jpg
And Finally, the first pack I ever assembled. These guys used to be objective sitters, but with plasma being the better option now they've taken the drop pod squad's Banner and mark of the wulfen guy (Although I think I'm going to give all my power weapon, Mark of the Wulfen, and Standard Bearing Grey Hunters honor markings, so they can be used in whatever pack I feel like).http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1044_zps1a1ddc50.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1045_zps874d57b4.jpg

Last but not least, here's my test model. I think I've gone a bit too heavy on the badab black wash, and there's still some touch ups, but he's by far the closes to being ready for transfer sheets. Pardon the dark backdrop, the lighting in my dorm room is not the best for this.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1046_zps340d63ac.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1048_zps2f4c10c7.jpghttp://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1049_zpsb2b34bf5.jpg

So, Comments and advice? I'll be uploading yet more images as I work on my Winter's advance vow and paint the rest of these guys up. Oh, and does anyone have reccomendations for avoiding the "Dark Soulless eyes of doom" look you get with washes without ending up with eyes the size of dinner plates?

 

 

 

[Cate]

For anyone reading The Onion I can give some advice. Heck I can help anyone who reads any kind of paper.

First of all, you have seen one issue with the wash, so as you say you must touch up on those places. Maybe you should get a darker colour in the joints, elbows, knees and leg joints. You could also wash the "bone" pieces hanging from his belt, maybe just a line of wash where a shadow should be, I usually use Devlan mud (dark) or Seraphim sepia, the same goes for the wolf skull on the backpack, and then touch up the parts you missed with some white.

The sword might need a wash, but it can also be so that the light is creating an illusion that is not washed. You could get the pommel and hilt of the sword another colour, and if it is the sword with the wolf skull he is holding, you might give the skull another colour too, it might already be in another colour, but from the angel in the pictures it is hard for me to see.

The last advice I can give you is that you might want to drill out the barrel of the bolter, otherwise it is the one thing "EVERYONE" will point out. I don't drill out my barrels all the time because I am lazy and it is boring to do.

When it comes to eyes, the only thing I can say is, either you do as I and wash the faces and let the natural sockets be dark or you need to practise a lot. Some people use pens, but when you reach my age the hands have lost their steadiness as they had once.

And I must say that your minis are extremely better than mine when I started out aeons ago.

Keep up the good work.

/C

[Squark]

*checks mini* Huh. One side of the chainsword ended up overwashed, and the other (the visible side) didn't get any wash. Wierd. Looking at the sword closely, now, I'm noticing the pommel ought to be a different color, since it's a skull (Either bone white or gold to make it look like its clearly an ornementation, and the hilt would look better with a different color than the... whatever you call the bit of the sword that isn't the chainsaw teeth. Any advice on what color would work?

 

Also looks like I forgot to wash the back of the bone bits, and it occurs to me the purity seal should be brighter as well. Well, stuff to work on. On drilling out the bolter barrels... Ungh... That's going to be... nearly 50 holes if you add the meltaguns and bolt pistol (Although the former are metal, so  I suspect I should just declare that a lost cause).

[Cate]

I know exactly what you mean about drilling out barrels, exhaust pipes on rhinos and bikes. Don't even get me started.  ;)

 

The safety casings on the swords are a problem with me too. Some people do triangles and hazard striped casings, yellow and black, red and yellow works too. I am still pondering if I am just going to keep mine black with subtle high lightning in grey, red will work too as they will match your shoulders. You could also do what this guy has done on his swords.

 

http://www.coolminiornot.com/246971?browseid=4180504

 

I try to keep the ornamentations the same colour, and as you have done the armour ones in gold, you might do the pommel the same. By the way you have some ornamentations left untouched just where the leg joins up with the body and above the feet on the back, saw that now.

 

Hope that helps a little.

 

/C  

[mactire]

Looks pretty good to me. The only advice id give is to take your time, i paint all the pieces seperately then glue and touch up or wash, this is a lot slower but i find it helpful for working on the little details. Agree with cate in using devlan mud or sepia on the bones as a wash also the gold. I find it easier to stick to a set colour pattern as it joins the units together. Feel free to look at my albums as youl see their not top notch like some of the guys here but im happy with them and really thats all you need to be as its your army

[greysquigg]

Welcome to the fang! 

 

Had buckets of help from Cate here among others, listen closely to him! 

 

As for colours, I would switch between a few shades for bones/skin and hair. Building up a few shades will get you a depth that you wouldn't otherwise get. 2 or 3 should do it, and of course, make sure you're painting the shadows in with the washes, don't do a greysquigg and have shadows on the tops of their heads....

 

With the power armour itself, might I suggest darkening your grey before you start, highlight, wash and then highlight again. You will get some fantastic results from perhaps painting lighter shades to one angle as if there where a light source on the model. Again.. don't do a greysquigg and paint a model with light coming out it's behind!..

 

 

Good luck!

 

GS

[Greyshift]

Looking very good, have you tried using a devlan mud wash (or its new equivalent) for the entire model as opposed to a black one? I'm thinking it might suit the lighter basecoat more, and it doesn't have to be blobbed on too heavily just painting it on will still shade the model and get into all the recesses and give a more accurate coverage.

[Squark]

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely see about picking up a few more shades of blue-grey and a brown wash next time I'm at my local hobby shop (Probably this weekend). In the meantime, some progress updates. First off, here's a group shot of my Winter's Advance vow, now with everyone sporting shoulderpads of the correct color and the first bits of detail work (Probably should have mentioned- This is a detachment of Logan Grimnar's Great Company- The reason the left pauldrons are they color they are is because The wolf that stalks the stars transfer they come with is black, so I have to use the alternate great company marking scheme from the book).

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1050_zpsdc3955c5.jpg

Next, I did a fair bit of work to make the Text model's armor brighter.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1051_zps849aa5fe.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1052_zps5681a648.jpg

Here's the second test model, now ready for me to practice highlights on.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1056_zps099a9f71.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1057_zpsea534a14.jpg

Since he already had his furs base-coated, I decided to use my Rune Priest kitbash for a bit of test painting for pelts. What I've done is used a somewhat watery old walnut brown paint over a white base coat. Any comments and recomendations?

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1053_zpsfc87e92b.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1054_zps5743dc4e.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1055_zps198d13ee.jpg

Finally, I tried painting the Chapter symbol on the Drop pod. I don't think the black-white chapter symobl is going to go well with the yellow I have on the sides, though. Perhaps I should paint those white or black? Picture for reference.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/TheGreatSquark/Models/Get%20those%20Wolves%20Painted%20pt%201/CIMG1058_zpsbfbd3663.jpg

Things I've learned since last update;

1) Painting is easier with good lighting- Make good use of any nearby desk lamps.

2) Watering downpaints can work wonders

3) Where the macro mode setting on my camera is.

4) If I feel like there's too much paint on the brush, instead of trying to find a large flat area of the model to spread it on, just wipe some off on the side of the paint pot. Feeling kind of stupid for not trying that sooner.

[Squark]

Second test model is coming along well- Mostly ready for me to figure out how to do shading/highlights, apart from touchup work I'm only noticing now from the higher zoom.