Analysis on the following Grey Knight pictures

[Skywrath]

Alright, this is a question for the professionals. After browsing for an avatar online, I chanced across these three pictures (no, I didn't paint these):

 

 

Consider my breath stolen, and my ambition burning to replicate this. So here is my long series of questions, I want a full picture analysis on this:

 

1. How did that painter manage to do the shining blue bionics of the eye-lenses, and that light on top of his helmet?

2. What colour did he use on the that darker steel grey? While my Grey Knights are white-silver, I'm a fairly big fan of that dark steel. 

3. That light effect on his greaves - is that actual light, or is that an effect? If so, how is that done?

4. Airbrushed or classically painted?

5. Just a general colour analysis on EVERYTHING in that picture and whether some or all of them, per chance can be replicated with GW paints if they aren't them.

 

Sorry for the loaded question, but I must know how that is done. Thanks in advance!

[Closet Skeleton]

None of these show any amazing techniques, they're a very good use of mid-level non-metalic metal and object source lighting. Both are beyond me but that's partly due to not having any interest in them. Any tutorial on those will explain them.

 

Looks airbrushed but those would only be the base tones so its probably not. Definitely sprayed in pieces if its airbrushed.

[Dwango]

I think its similar to the skorpekh lord painted by Richard Gray located here.

 

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/07/21/necrons-painted-by-the-experts/

 

He talks about it a bit and it may help in your research.

[jaxom]

 

Consider my breath stolen, and my ambition burning to replicate this. So here is my long series of questions, I want a full picture analysis on this:

 

1. How did that painter manage to do the shining blue bionics of the eye-lenses, and that light on top of his helmet?

2. What colour did he use on the that darker steel grey? While my Grey Knights are white-silver, I'm a fairly big fan of that dark steel. 

3. That light effect on his greaves - is that actual light, or is that an effect? If so, how is that done?

4. Airbrushed or classically painted?

5. Just a general colour analysis on EVERYTHING in that picture and whether some or all of them, per chance can be replicated with GW paints if they aren't them.

 

 

1. OSL (object source lighting). Light sources on the miniature become additional sources for tinting colors and affecting highlights. The light source itself is usually painted with a 3 color scheme (base-layer-spot highlight); here it looks like blue-turquoise-white. The glow is usually a glaze of the mid-tone and then highlighted as needed with the spot color.

 

2/4. This could be airbrushed or done by hand. I don't think that actually matters; the key thing to me is the base armor color looks like sketch style. Sketch style is zenithal highlighting taken to a full style. Color value is first, then hues and saturation. It can used with glazes to get some very nice results because you're effectively putting down the highlights and shadows before anything else.

 

3. Probably a bit of both. The painting looks like a non-metallic metallic (NMM) blending technique.

 

5. That's a tall order. NMM techniques are all about building up a gradient of color and this is most often done with blending. Closet Skeleton is correct that it looks like mid-level NMM techniques, but NMM techniques take more thinking and individual practice compared to either the default base-midtone-highlight method or the sketch style (because of how metals gleam) and the knowledge of light sources and interactions are important for getting the right tone of metal. 

[Rik Lightstar]

I'd caveat all of what I'm about to say by pointing out that the absolute best skill displayed here is how the picture has been taken. I suspect there's been a bit of playing around with some filters, plus a dark background is kinda forgiving.

 

The armour and blade are airbrushed with some glazes to smooth out the blades and some neat edge highlights.

 

The gold is NMM and as mentioned it's reasonably well done (better than I've managed), so essentially it's worked up through browns to cream and then white.

 

The reds are relatively straightforward, mostly flat colour with a little bit of a gradient, likely also airbrushed.

 

I'd guess the lights are painted white as are the very extreme points the light hits and then an airbrush used to add a "filter" in the form of a very thin blue over the area. This can also be done with a brush, and contrast paints when thinned work really well for it.

 

This possibly came off as negative, that wasn't really my intention, but a very similar result should be achievable for most painters. Some airbrush and Edge highlighting practice and you're most of the way there. I'd do the gold with a proper metallic paint if it was me though.

 

Rik

[tychobi]

Stunning work. Beware that contrast like that may be enhanced in post. I would love to see em in person.

[MaliGn]

http://www.facebook.com/dextersminiatures

 

This is the guy that seems to be behind these why don't you ask him? Most mini painters I've encountered are usually quite happy to share tips and tricks. He did mention he'd put approx 200 hours into this squad on a site that I found the same images on so bear that in mind.