Terradon advice

[andrew_uk]

I'm a relatively experienced painter but struggle a little with any animal other than a horse... I'm painting up the first of my 3 terradons at the moment which will be used as great eagles in my High Elf (caledor themed) army

I'm trying to aim for a Crocodillian look; dark angels green with a few odd black scales on top and then a rotting flesh coloured underbelly but I can't get the damn thing to look right

My painting style is generally to avoid washes altogether, I start with a black undercoat a good basecoat and then go through 3 or 4 highlights but I prefer that than using a wash where you surrender more control of where the wash is applied to... I do blend colours quite a bit to make the transitions smoother

So, I was wonderring, any advice from experienced painters creatures of the coldblooded variety? It will help with my dragon too which will be the same colours

 

[Lord Tsunami]

i paint my sauri to look like crocodiles.

i start with black undercoat and then drubrush with first knarloc green. i then mix that with more and more bleached bone(or rotting flesh or fortress grey depending on what tone i want) for two or three stages. i finish it off with a was of delvan mud(and some times i mix in a little green ink too).

the drybrushing gives a gritty texture that works very well for lizard skin, but i think the wash in the end really helps bring it all together. the new range of washes is really amazing imo, since they dry to a matte finish rather than the shiny one they had before.

gl, and please post pics to show us your progress

 

[andrew_uk]

Thanks for the advice Tsunami

I haven't finished it yet and won't get another chance to work on it until July but I thought I would link people in to my painting log over on Ulthuan rather than me repost images here

Any more tips would be great!

http://www.ulthuan.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&p=712325

All of your collective reptile painting talent/advice would be most appreciated with my dragons and terradons

 

[Lord Tsunami]

glad i could help, but now when i am checking things out, i notice that the base color i use is CATACHAN green and nothing else. the rest is the same though

a tip for you though: when taking pictures of models, you must always activate the "macro" function on the camera. usually it has a tulip as its symbol. the pictures you posted are perfectly focused... on the couch 3 meters behind the models. the macro function will take care of that

 

[Sao]

Also, when taking close ups, try to create a blank background (paper etc) so the focus is on the model more + helps provide light as reflection.

Lloyd

 

[andrew_uk]

Thanks for that, I had heard that I should use Macro mode but I couldnt find it anywhere however I searched through more submenus on my phones options and there it is! As for backing it with paper I had been told that and tried it but it seemed to make things worse, but I guess with that option set up right it would work?

 

[andrew_uk]

I finished the terradon, just got to base him... ended up getting some help with it off one of GWs top painters at warhammer world in Nottingham which was usefull I'll base it properly over half term and then post pictures

I feel like I've finally overcome that problem I have with painting animals, thanks for all your help... I shall post pictures when he has a base

 

[andrew_uk]

I really want another terradon now, but want to wait until it's available in finecast... does anyone have any idea when this may be? I'll listen to anyone from unconfirmed rumour to pure speculation!

 

[langaandy]

The Terradons will most likely be available around november.

I understand the dislikes or washes but trust me people. THEY ARE AWESOME.

Not only are they a lot better than the old shool citadel inks i used to use but they add texture and are great for helping to flatten and blend highlighting,
and also if you are looking at finecast models you may want to practice using washes because with the added detail a wash can change a model from good to great

 

[stoopicus]

Agreed about the washes. GW's current line is quite nice, especially Devlan Mud and Gryphonne Sepia.

I also like to use good art inks as glazes or to thin existing paint. Thinning paint with ink might be my favorite technique to learn in the last year. It thins it nicely and increases the color saturation at the same time.

I am actually trending towards only buying white, black, and metallic paints, and a wide range of inks and washes.