Caedrus

@misterfinn: My current super-saturated red-regime is: Base: ScaleColor Antares Red, up to three coats, via airbrush. The last coat is 50-50 Antares Red and Scalecolor Inktense Red Shadow: Reaper Red Shadow into black, sometimes with a purple glaze (Vallejo Royal Purple) Highlight: I don't use yellow. I read an article, oh, years ago, discussing the use of flesh tones (which, of course, do have some yellow in them) for highlighting red. Unless I specifically want a yellow highlight (or even pink!), flesh is my go to. I use Reaper's Rosy Flesh triad of paints. Saturation: Multiple coats of thinned Inktense Red. I very much agree that inks are the way to go for saturation. Personally, I love the Scalecolor Inktense series, and I'd encourage everyone to give inks a try. Then touch ups of glazes for smoothness. Looks like we're on the same page!

Greetings, All! Well, this month has been crazy (again), so once again, the airbrush idea has taken a back seat. Instead, I thought I'd try out the flavour-of-the-month, new-hotness, which is the GW Contrast Paints. I started out with this: ...and I gave myself thirty minutes, using the GW "Splash it on" method. I used no other paints (except primer on the edge of the base), and only used a single coat. Here's what happened: So, my thoughts on the model are that it's certainly more than acceptable tabletop quality. Obviously, you can't readily do metallics with one coat of contrast paint. However, I could slap this miniature down on a gaming table, and be far from ashamed. What do I think of the paints? PRO Very friendly to a newer painter. Possibly the friendliest beginner paint I could imagine. It can teach painters the value of contrast, for future skills. The colours are quite vibrant (obviously over a very light basecoat). Pretty decent pigment saturation, considering everything. CONS Even recognising that they are a 'two-for-one' paint, they're expensive. They require a fairly decent amount of brush control, lest you splash some in the wrong place (see the right side of the Mohawk, above). Their density, across the range, is wildly inconsistent. I found that water wasn't a good mixer for them. They really wanted Lahmian or the Contrast Medium to get a decent consistency when diluting. You really need texture to get the best out of them. Flat, smooth surfaces are not the place for these paints. You get a rotator cuff injury from the amount of shaking these paints need before use. MY CONCLUSION? I really try to avoid the idea that "advanced painters never do (X)", or "product (Y) is a crutch". There are paints, tools, and media for every effect, and every painting style. They are a tool, to achieve a result. They do what they say remarkably well. That being said, it's a tool that I don't think I'll use very often. If I need twenty skeletons by tomorrow, they'll be the first thing I grab. If I am painting to have fun painting, they'll stay in the rack. So, now that I have painted my July Beastman, my next step on this mini is to see how far I can push the Contrast Paints. I'm going to see just how much I can improve this same miniature. I'll try some NMM, some second coats, and maybe (maybe) some inks. I'll check back in again soon! As always, I'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts! Caedrus.

Caedrus, reporting in! 6SS of Rifleman, complete! Apologies for the poorer lighting for this photo. It's rather hard to get good detail and lighting on the face. I was considering making a low wall for him to be peeking out from, but then decided that it would obscure too much of the model. My quest for super-saturated reds continues, but I'm happy with how I'm progressing. The NMM is getting better, I think. The second thing I completed this month were a few, well, tokens, I guess! These are some corrupted idols for the strategy of the same name. I know that flat markers and tokens are more sensible. However, on the other hand, shiny! I might have some time to finish a few stretch goals this month. Time will tell. I think I can lock in now, however, that I will be having a spending splurge at the GenCon Sale! In the meantime, have a great rest of July, and keep putting pigment to plastic! Caedrus.

@Skillmatic: Will you post overseas? I'm in Australia and happy to cover postage.

@Da Git, This has been right at the front of my Malifaux-mind for a little while, and I have commenced plans on exactly this. Here's what I cam up with: Copycat Killer Metal Candy. She's Ht1, she's carrying shears, she could easily have a top hat made for her (or acquired; see Sebastian, below). Create a green stuff gun and shove it in her basket, and you've got one super-creepy copycat deranged child! I just snagged one from this forum for about $10AUD. Sebastian So, I'm thinking of creating a female Sebastian, and the ideal basis is The Jury: Saw the hat off, give it to Candy / Copycat Killer. It'll look comically creepy. Replace the 'book victim' and scales with a saw and some entrails, and you have a gorgeous Sebastian proxy. That's the plan, anyway! Let's see how it goes! I hope this helps. Caedrus.

Caedrus, reporting in! Well, fellow painters, it’s time for a quick, mid-year update! As I type this, it’s July 10th. At the start of the year, we had 39 painters, and now we’re down to 25. Losing a third always stings a little, because I love to see the paintwork of all the participants! If you’ve not been able to complete this year’s challenge, please do let us all know (and see) what you’ve been up to! On the other hand, between the 25 remaining painters, we’ve painted over four thousand points of Malifaux, The Other Side, and terrain! An extraordinary effort. I’ve updated the spreadsheet, but there are a small number of painters that I don’t have totals for, for June. I might have missed them (apologies if so), but if not, can I have a total (or a mulligan call) from @Burnin' Coal (and for May as well, please!), @emiba, @Kimberly, @LordZombie, @Polar43, @Stranglelove, and @Thedeadclaw, and please throw in an @Caedrus so I see it! By way of a WIP update, I’ve managed to carve out a couple of hours to mess around, splashing paint everywhere. This month has been about finishing some Guild projects. First up, a nearly completed Handler. So, this mini was a bit of a weird one for me. Does anyone else have a mini where you swear you’re doing OK, and nothing quite goes right, and you end up disliking the mini? That’s where I am with this one. It’s just … rough. I’m happy with the blade, but the rest? Meh. Oh well, it’s nearly finished, and ready for the (back of) the cabinet! Next, an older metal Sonnia Criid (damn, Wyrd, your keyboard keys must get stuck down sometimes). Again, I’m going for super-saturated colours. I’ll be shortly re-sculpting the cigar in her hand, then some gentle OSL (gonna be hard to see with all that red!). Also, that sword is ridiculous. Finally, my actual pledge for the month, a simple Rifleman. A fairly simple miniature. I like painting these ones, mostly because their hats, and the red colour, remind me of the Spanish Inquisitors, then I start giggling and saying “Our two weapons are fear and surprise…”. If I get these guys done, I have a few ideas for some tokens. Watch this space! @Boomstick: Lots of very nice WIPs there. The burnt orange on that horse is just perfect. @Phinn: Harlequin Hamelin. Exquisite. Brilliant contrast between a clean mini, and an awful persona. Brilliant. @muraki: We're using M3E, so you've easily hit your target for the month. The white on Sidir is very, very clean. Also, nice proxies! @Rathnard: Now I want to get a Trixiebelle, just to paint like this! I hope you’re having a great painting month! As the Cromulons say, “Show me what you got!” Caedrus.

@Viruk: We trust you, consider the points updated (soon as I can), and we look forward to seeing your work!

@lusciousmccabe: still a pretty mini! Would you like me to reduce your pledge level?

Well, so many beautiful images (and oddly, words!) this month! Where to start? @Stranglelove: That's a seriously beautiful coach. The 'tongue out' Hanged is the creepier, but the other is just so desolate. The cracked bases are really evocative. They add a lot of atmosphere to both. @Phinn: wonderful prose. Kudos! @muraki: I'm constantly in wonderment at your palette! Loving the Vanessa, particularly. Also Bishop's greaves! The group shot is amazing! @Purple Mist: I just scored 3 Riotbreakers. I suspect that I might steal your colours. Were they GSW Chameleon paints? Also, is that the Venetian terrain? Good choice! @Wintergloom: That adeodatos is superb. The magenta / green contrast was an unplanned, intuitive paint choice? If so, you've got a fine eye for colour. Congrats on the win - and so very well deserved. The group is cohesive collectively, and brilliant individually. I think that turquoise is so powerful at making your Black Ops so unified. @wobbly_goggy: nice detail on the gremlin. That's a TINY mini! Loving the hair / fire similarity. @Diddick: Beautiful Hamelin. The pants OSL looks like it's been stippled, really, really effectively. Also, stripey socks! @Franchute: So, I'm *loving* that smoooooth dark leather on the effigy, but I'm keen to know what colours you use for your base skulls. They're my favourite Franchutism! @Nikodemus: those pistoleros are such simple minis, but you have given so much character. Love it. @prof_bycid: A great job on a hard mini. Translucent blue is unforgiving! If you get your hands on Tamiya Clear, it does wonders. Loving the white veins. @Boomstick: If you'd told me that bare copper wire trees and translucent green would look good, I'd have my doubts. Not any more. Kudos! Whew! I just love visiting these threads, just to see what everyone comes up with. Inspiring ideas. So many different, gorgeous styles! Keep doing what you're doing! Caedrus.

The Caedrus paint list for July: Priority one is a half-finished Rifleman. After that, I have a proxy Hanging Tree, a Basecoated Sonnia, and an (eBay rescue) Judge. But, let's be honest, I'm gonna buy SOMETHING 3rd Edition. Have a great July!

July is here, and with it, Malifaux 3rd Edition! This is the thread for the July 2019 Monthly Painting Challenge. I’m Caedrus, and I’ll be your host for 2019. It's July! If you're in the Northern hemisphere, then it's time to get hot! If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, it's time for blankey and fireplaces! In either case, you can forget your spray cans, 'cause they're not gonna work anywhere! July's birthstone is the Ruby. Time to paint something red! The 4th of July is Independence Day for our US painters, but I prefer July 14th - Nudity Day! Time to practice painting those flesh tones! The big news in the last few days has been the release of Malifaux, 3rd Edition, which means we have now officially changed to 3rd Edition values for your miniature painting. The link to the painter spreadsheet is here, and I'll get it updated very soon! The 2019 Wyrd Monthly Painting Challenge is all about: Having fun painting! Motivating yourself, and encouraging others. Being part of a great, friendly community. Giving and receiving constructive advice. And, finally: Getting some pigment onto plastic! This is not a competition in any way. The pledge categories are the following: Minion: you paint at least 1 soulstone worth of Malifaux miniatures each month Enforcer: you paint at least 6 soulstones worth of Malifaux miniatures each month Henchman: you paint at least 11 soulstones worth of Malifaux miniatures each month Master: you paint at least 16 soulstones worth of Malifaux miniatures each month Tyrant: you paint at least 31 soulstones worth of Malifaux miniatures each month The rules: The challenge started on January 1st, 2019. Models count for the month in which you finish them. You can finish painting a model that you started before the beginning of the month. Everyone may fail to make their monthly goal twice and stay in the challenge. This is using a mulligan. You can choose to go down a pledge level during the year, but you cannot move up. A model is considered painted if it is (1) based (even glued onto a black base counts); (2) tournament legal. That means that if it's a translucent, based model, it counts automatically. If it is any opaque material, then the standard is: Every part of the miniature painted, and three colours minimum. Miniature Values: Malifaux Almost all models count as their Soulstone value; but Masters count for 15 soulstones. Zero cost models count for 5 soulstones. Proxies (constructed from Wyrd models) count for their proxy value. The Other Side Titans count for 25 soulstones. Commanders count for 15 soulstones. Adjunct models count for 5 soulstones. Otherwise: A 30mm base model is worth 5 soulstones. A 40mm base model is worth 7 soulstones. A 50mm base model is worth 10 soulstones. Terrain Terrain is worth 5SS per 50mm base in area. Custom tokens are worth 5SS per 50mm base in area. A terrain board is worth 100 Soulstones. 3rd Edition Changeover! We're now using the Malifaux 3rd Edition values! How to upload images? Go to imgur.com, and create an account. Click on your account, click on 'images', and then 'add images'. Click on your uploaded image. You'll see a whole bunch of link options. Click on the 'copy' button next to 'direct link'. Go to your Wyrd Forum thread. Paste (CTRL-V) at the appropriate spot. The image should appear, resized appropriately to the page. My very best for July! Caedrus.

Caedrus, checking in! So, as promised, this month has been ridiculously busy (I hate being a grown up), so I have finished ... one miniature! Behold, 6SS of Death Marshall! It is tremendously hard to photograph this miniature well, so I tried with some lighting from below: ...which wasn't much better. Finally, in desperation, I tried an arty-photoshopped version: ...which doesn't actually show much of the painting. Oh well, it's done, and I've met my pledge! I'll be away for a week or so, so I may not get a chance to have a look at all the fantastic models, nor to update the spreadsheet, but I haven't forgotten! I'm keen to see what else gets painted this month, so don't forget to add an @Caedrus to your post! See you in July, when the M3E locomotive builds up steam! Caedrus.

If I win, can I have a bottle of whatever they put in the water that makes Polish painters so good?

@Kyle: Thanks Kyle, I look forward to it!

Apologies if this is the wrong forum for this question: Will LGS Promotions return? I can't see a link on the main Wyrd site. They were put on the back burner until (if memory serves) Quarter 1 of 2018. Now, I don't begrudge Wyrd staff some time to catch their breath; TOS & M3E have been a huge time commitment for all concerned. I just like to support my LGS when I can, and if I can grab a freebie or two, then even better! @Kimberly, any news? Caedrus.

Good Lord, it's June! So, this month is just getting out of control for me. Crazily busy doesn't even begin to describe it. So, I have been forced to put my airbrush-only beastman on the to-do list, and instead, I decided to not use paint, at all! After a primer coat (which I am not counting as paint), I planned to use inks, clears (I ended up not using these), and washes only. Here's where I ended up! I think the hero of this piece was Winsor and Newton white ink. It's quite easy to use, and allows for a glazed highlight really easily! What do you think? Caedrus.

Caedrus, now with a working WIP! This is going to be an "I'll be lucky to get much more than this done!" kind of month. Caedrus.

As an additional note, I believe Art of War Studios is currently working on their own set of M3E tokens.

Caedrus, checking in! So, my apologies for the lack of images to accompany this post. I've been working on my Death Marshall today, and I have a WIP all ready to go, but imgur isn't liking the uploading at the moment. So, how's the Wyrd Weekend treating you, fellow painters? Caedrus. P.S.: I do love a @Franchute base.

Caedrus, reporting in! So, my pledge for June is to paint, at minimum, one single Death Marshall. Or to finish the ones I've started (and promptly lost the Pine Boxes for). Maybe I'll paint that Miss Terious that's haunting me. Stretch Goals? I've got two half-finished Sonnia, a Judge, a Rifleman, and two Resser Hounds sitting on my Shelf of Shame. Which means I'll probably prime something else and get all caught up in that. Then I'll promise myself that I won't go nuts with M3E pre-releases, then I'll pretty much immediately go nuts. In May, I also bought more eBay rescues. Because wisdom is my dump-stat. Have a fantastic June, fellow painters! Caedrus P.S.: I'll update the spreadsheet very soon. I promise.

It's June, already? This is the thread for the June 2019 Monthly Painting Challenge. I’m Caedrus, and I’ll be your host for 2019. It's June! June's birthstone … well, there’s three of them! Alexandrite, Moonstone, and Pearl. Like Alexandrite, why not try a colour change paint this month? Or use a pearlescent paint effect? It’s also National Flag Month, so why not try painting a miniature using (or mixing) only the colours of your flag (Sorry, Japan and Canada)? It’s also LGBT Pride month, so now might be a good time to do some rainbow work! In May, we saw some wonderful scenery, some gorgeous paint jobs, and a fellow painter get access to some mysterious pre-release sculpts. This month, a change approaches. June is the absolute, last, final month of using the M2E SS values. Next month, we shift to M3E! The link to the painter spreadsheet is here. Who knows what June will bring? The 2019 Wyrd Monthly Painting Challenge is all about: Having fun painting! Motivating yourself, and encouraging others. Being part of a great, friendly community. Giving and receiving constructive advice. And, finally: Getting some pigment onto plastic! This is not a competition in any way. The pledge categories are the following: Minion: you paint at least 1 soulstone worth of Malifaux miniatures each month Enforcer: you paint at least 6 soulstones worth of Malifaux miniatures each month Henchman: you paint at least 11 soulstones worth of Malifaux miniatures each month Master: you paint at least 16 soulstones worth of Malifaux miniatures each month Tyrant: you paint at least 31 soulstones worth of Malifaux miniatures each month The rules: The challenge started on January 1st, 2019. Models count for the month in which you finish them. You can finish painting a model that you started before the beginning of the month. Everyone may fail to make their monthly goal twice and stay in the challenge. This is using a mulligan. You can choose to go down a pledge level during the year, but you cannot move up. A model is considered painted if it is (1) based (even glued onto a black base counts); (2) tournament legal. That means that if it's a translucent, based model, it counts automatically. If it is any opaque material, then the standard is: Every part of the miniature painted, and three colours minimum. Miniature Values: Malifaux Almost all models count as their Soulstone value; but Masters count for 15 soulstones. Zero cost models count for 5 soulstones. Proxies (constructed from Wyrd models) count for their proxy value. The Other Side Titans count for 25 soulstones. Commanders count for 15 soulstones. Adjunct models count for 5 soulstones. Otherwise: A 30mm base model is worth 5 soulstones. A 40mm base model is worth 7 soulstones. A 50mm base model is worth 10 soulstones. Terrain Terrain is worth 5SS per 50mm base in area. Custom tokens are worth 5SS per 50mm base in area. A terrain board is worth 100 Soulstones. 3rd Edition Changeover! Since Malifaux 3rd Edition hits on June 28th, from July 1st, we'll be using the M3E values from that point on. How to upload images? Go to imgur.com, and create an account. Click on your account, click on 'images', and then 'add images'. Click on your uploaded image. You'll see a whole bunch of link options. Click on the 'copy' button next to 'direct link'. Go to your Wyrd Forum thread. Paste (CTRL-V) at the appropriate spot. The image should appear, resized appropriately to the page. My very best for June! Caedrus.

I reckon I can overlook that, just to keep a great painter in the Challenge!

Caedrus, reporting in! Well, what a month! So many gorgeous works. Where to start? @PetitDalek: You’ve done a great job on your facial reconstruction surgery! For me, though, I love the gentle orange and red tones in the Ophelia’s skin (and nice, shiny hair, too!). @Wintergloom: I do love your style. I think that my favourite bit of your style is the contrast between the desaturated and the saturated (like the turquoise highlights), and your gentle contrast work with fabrics. Just lovely brushwork. @Phinn: I’m awaiting the Rat of May! Looking forward to the character you’ve put into this rodent! @Kimberly: Pamela Poovey doesn’t have red hair! @Franchute: Gorgeous, mischievous gamin! For me, the thing that really sets these models is the hint OSL on the skulls on the base. Very smooth. I also love the peeking-eye on the riotbreaker. @Viruk: I’m terribly envious, of your cohesion in the Marcus set, the gorgeous paintwork (love the face in the Marcus treestump), and that you get to play with some early releases. Wyrd chose a good painter to showcase their models. You’ll do them tremendous justice. @Rathnard: I think that good scenery and terrain is the most underappreciated part of the hobby. You’ve created some beautiful models, and just as beautiful a place to play! Kudos! @Stranglelove: There’s so much to love on your (huge) efforts this month! I think Jaakuna is my favourite (the zombie just breaching the swamp is wonderfully horrifying!). The Kirai set is magnificent. @Nikodemus: That domador is a very kind gift! My fave this month has to be Chiaki, though. A fantastic desaturated paintjob. @bedjy: That is a serious production line you’ve got going on. @muraki: Big Jake’s flesh tones are super smooth. Nice. @Diddick: The Stolen are super-creep with the glowing eyes. Nice basework, too. As previously said, huzzah for ghost poopy! @lusciousmccabe: Lovely Vodel / Beast. I love the smashed-base versions. I’ve updated the Spreadsheet for the moment, and I’d love for you to have a look, let me know if there are any errors, and/or let know your total at the end of the month! For those yet to finalise their SS count for the month ( @Aa7, @bedjy, @Boomstick, @Burnin' Coal, @Chou, @khilin, @LordZombie, @Maxooo, @misterfinn, @Phinn, @Polar43, @Primate, @prof_bycid, @Sol_Sorrowsong, @Stranglelove, @Thedeadclaw, and @wobbly_goggy), please let me know your count, preferably with an "@Caedrus". So, this month has been ridiculously busy for me, but I found the time to do a little bit of late-night painting. First off, the disappointment! I’ve been working away at two Death Marshalls, only to find that I have misplaced their Pine Boxes! So, until I find them, they’re on hold! Here’s one for preview purposes! Next up, a quick-ish Insidious Madness. It’s an eBay rescue, and I decided to see how creepy it would be if I painted it in flesh tones. As it turns out, fairly creepy. I was torn between doing it with a slimy coat of liquid water, to create a nasty appearance, or keeping it dry. Any thoughts? Also, the mouth-arm thing that is opening/tearing – should I add some drool? I’m thinking yes. 5SS for this guy. Next up, a proxy! I’ve never been a big fan of either Hungering Darkness, neither the Spermapillar, nor the Hipposquid. So, I decided to paint up this guy. He’s huge, he’s tentacle-y, he’s my Hungering Darkness! Now, as a bonus shot, because I was messing about (amateurishly) with Photoshop: Finally, my last miniature of the Month of May is my Recruiter, for 7SS. So, I was pleased about the NMM metal (I’m getting slowly better), and the OSL lighting. The cloak-dress (which used a base colour of ScaleColor Red Leather) also turned out nicely. I was a little less pleased with my sculpting; the head is a little far back, the clavicles too prominent and low, the hat too far back and too high. With my 3SS Wendigo, and my 7SS Witchling Handler, that brings me to 22SS for the month! Whew! I hope life is a little more under control for June! If you’re still to submit, I’d love to see your work! Caedrus.

Amen. *sobs*

You'd have to think Monster Hunters would be on the list.