All times are UTC


It is currently Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:50 pm



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:18 pm 
Loremaster
Loremaster
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:55 am
Posts: 1089
Location: That one place... in that one city....
Images: 10
Sorry for the Star Wars reference. :-D

I have this crazy idea for a diorama and need some help. :wink:
The scene is from Gandalf's 'story' of him searching for the "creature Gollum" but the enemy found him first. Gandalf is on horse-back at night perhaps in a field or forest, next to a river with Gollum eating a fish underneath him in a type of cave; 'hiding' from Gandalf.

So, first of all, is this a plausible diorama? Is it doable?

And second:
How do you paint a mini as if it's illuminated by the moon behind it? Do you paint the mini normally first, darken it, then paint the moonlight?
-or-
Do you paint the moonlight then paint the colours darker than usual on the other areas the moon isn't hitting?

Also, how do people (Golden Demon entries, etc.) do the steep banks next to a river to make it look realistic?

Thanks in advance. I've never done a project like this.

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:56 am 
Elven Warrior
Elven Warrior
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:06 am
Posts: 628
Location: With the Silmarils in the Earth, Sea, and Air.
Images: 12
This is quite ambitious for a first time project. For the moon I would do studies of pictures. Muted tones no deep colors, flesh tones turn bluish. If you are doing moonlight as the only light sources you're going to have to be very careful with the highlights and really plan out where exactly that moon is in relationship to the figure. Good luck, I look forawrd to seeing it in process.
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:56 am 
Ringwraith
Ringwraith
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:56 pm
Posts: 3736
Location: The Height of Nonsense
Look for real world pictures of riverbanks with undercuts, fallen trees washed up on the shore or whatever Gollum might be hiding under. And maybe some research through Golden Demon, CMON or other sites looking for similar projects.
It is a good idea, though creating it will be very challenging.

_________________
Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:22 pm 
Loremaster
Loremaster
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:55 am
Posts: 1089
Location: That one place... in that one city....
Images: 10
Thanks guys. Those are great suggestions. So far these are some pictures that best show an idea of where I want to get. But not quite there.

Image
Image
Image
Image

This one, minus the text, is very close.
Image

Gandalf will be up by the tree while Gollum hides in a cave underneath him. I was thinking pine trees but that one above would look great on a diorama if you could pull it off. :twisted:
I'll get photos of Gandalf that I've been working on. Keep the suggestions coming. Most appreciative.
Thanks again. :)

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:46 pm 
Craftsman
Craftsman
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:55 pm
Posts: 463
I would take a still image from one of the films I think Two Towers has plenty of moonlight Gollum scenes and then use the colour select feature from an image editor to work out the palette. If you want to do directional lighting use the preshading method - prime the model black then using spray paint hit the model with white from the direction you want the light to come from. This should serve as a guide to where to place your highlights.

_________________
My website
@opponenttheory on instagram
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 3:08 am 
Administrator
Administrator
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 7:51 pm
Posts: 1130
Location: Porto - Portugal
Images: 27
I never did it, but I think the trick is to use a really limited pallete. Blues, whites and blacks and everything else has to be really muted. Almost monochrome.

Check these stills from the movie:

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000001000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000001000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000200000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000004000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000004000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000004000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000004000

_________________
Tell me... Do you bleed?
You will!
Chewy, we're home!
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 5:32 am 
Craftsman
Craftsman
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2004 4:45 pm
Posts: 399
Location: Norman, OK
This sounds brilliant! I look forward to seeing what you do!

_________________
I hate Black Hat SEO!
Smite the iron, shape the pewter, sculpt the putty.
My DeviantArt Page
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:23 am 
Loremaster
Loremaster
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:55 am
Posts: 1089
Location: That one place... in that one city....
Images: 10
Thank you so much for the references and ideas! They are so helpful! :-D
Those stills are exactly how I want my display to look like! :D

As promised here are WIP's of Gandalf!
1st WIP:
I held the model up to my lamp and painted where the light hit with grey and then built that up to white.
Image
Image
Image
Image

2nd WIP:
Here, after adding colour here and there, I gave the entire model two washes of Badab Black. Is it dark enough?
Image
Image
Image
Image

My image editor doesn't have a colour selector so I just used different shades of grey, blue, brown, white, and black with some flesh colour too.
I would use the spray white idea but I already started painting.

Let me know what you think. Please be extremely critical (with in reason :-D ) as I want this to look good since it'll more than likely be displayed on a shelf or somewhere.
Thanks again. :)

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:52 am 
Elven Warrior
Elven Warrior
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:06 am
Posts: 628
Location: With the Silmarils in the Earth, Sea, and Air.
Images: 12
I was skeptical at first--but that's a great start and now I'm really looking foward to watching this thread and project progress.
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:57 am 
Kinsman
Kinsman
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:33 pm
Posts: 62
Location: The depths of the great Forest!
this will be an awesome diorama, love the gandalf. maybe he is a bit too dark, I don't know if its just the picture but maybe a bit more grey on his cloak
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:17 pm 
Loremaster
Loremaster
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:13 am
Posts: 1502
Location: Did you really think I'd tell YOU?
If I may make so bold - I think it needs a few extreme highlights of near-white over the highest tops.

Otherwise very good.

_________________
"... Telchar wrought it in the deeps of time."
-On Andùril, The Lord of the Rings

:puppy:
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:19 am 
Kinsman
Kinsman
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:13 pm
Posts: 51
Location: Netherlands.
Images: 3
I love the idea and your painting. I think what you could do is make the shades on the side were there is no moon a little darker. The other side will automatically look brighter.
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:28 pm 
Loremaster
Loremaster
Offline

Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:01 am
Posts: 1829
Location: Lancashire
An interesting idea and one that looks like it will be really rather good

_________________
My Miniatures Blog (covering LOTR/Terminator/Doctor Who/Warpath and more!):
http://cruciumgiger.blogspot.co.uk/
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:47 pm 
Loremaster
Loremaster
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:55 am
Posts: 1089
Location: That one place... in that one city....
Images: 10
Thank you guys for all the support and great ideas!

And now here are the finished pictures of Gandalf!
All that's left is to build the diorama and wait for Gollum and his fishy to arrive. :-D

Image
Image
Image
Image

This is my attempt at sculpting a bird. I then tried to paint it like a White-tail Finch but I didn't have any pictures for reference. My friend says it looks like a sparrow. :? :lol:

Image
Image
Image
Image

Let me know what you think! :)

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:06 am 
Kinsman
Kinsman
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:13 pm
Posts: 51
Location: Netherlands.
Images: 3
Love it, looks awesome and the bird ads more live to it. Well done
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:49 pm 
Ringwraith
Ringwraith
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:56 pm
Posts: 3736
Location: The Height of Nonsense
That's fantastic! And you sculpt also! Well done!

_________________
Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:23 pm 
Loremaster
Loremaster
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:13 am
Posts: 1502
Location: Did you really think I'd tell YOU?
Great. Simply great. The bird looks like a sparrow, but sparrows are epic, so it's OK.

_________________
"... Telchar wrought it in the deeps of time."
-On Andùril, The Lord of the Rings

:puppy:
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:30 pm 
Loremaster
Loremaster
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:52 pm
Posts: 1815
Images: 10
Fantastic!
You've really captured the 'moonlight' look and the sculpted bird is great! 8) :yay: :yay:

_________________
'Though my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior'
-John Newton
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: That's No Moon!
PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:56 pm 
Kinsman
Kinsman
User avatar
Offline

Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:33 pm
Posts: 62
Location: The depths of the great Forest!
awesome. great job with the moonlight look
cant wait for golem
Top
  Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: