DemiMurgos

Hello, fellow Youko contestant! It took a few looks to really register the flowers (nice freehand job) but I agree that you should use thinner layers of paint and wait between layers to fully dry. The texture is most visible on the cloth, giving it a really rough and heavy and roughspun feel (compared how heavy yet flowing silk can be, which kimonos/yukatas are made of). A little more highlight would given it a silky feel, too. I miss the highlights on the hair as well. The facepaint is nice, but it also suffers from the "cakey" feel of the textured paint. A photo-tip (I see it was taken with a phone and phones are sadly not the best tools to take miniature photography): try to focus on the face/shoulders of the miniatures. This gives a more lifelike perspective (also follows some basic rules of portrait photography), selling the target of the picture better.

I see some high-end materials here (namely, resin), but the model overall really feels as if only a base coat was added to it. The white dress and the pale skin blends into the bright white background, making it really hard to see. If there is any shading or highlights on it, the white light blends it all out. All in all, this feels a bit... rushed?

This was my personal favourite, it just comes so together! The colors, the shading and the highlights, the subtle way how the colors lead your eyes through this model (the pink flowers, the yellow bits and pieces). This whole model just really gives me a lone wanderer/spaghetti western feel. Great job! ❤️ (Do the cacti come with the model or you made them by hand?)

The only distinguishable part is the water flow, which is pretty nice. But yes, the model is too far and the lighting coming from above and a little behind, muting the colors and hiding the model in its own shade. I'd love to see more close-up photos of this one, but this is definitely not the best way to show the model.

I adore these little swamp things. Great composition on such a small scale, but the yellow base rim is almost "screaming" compared to the rest of the model, kind of pulling the view from the models. I agree that a little more highlight would have popped the model more, the shades are fine for me. Why do I hear a narration on the voice of David Attenborough in my head when I look at them, I wonder...

Again, the single flower doesn't really scream the topic of this contest for me, but the model is overally nicely painted and it does tell a whimsical story of this beast picking flowers. Great job on shading the muscles! I personally would prefer a little more highlight on the pecs to pop it more.

I see why this model was chosen, but the very topic makes it really hard to give criticism and not to come off as either supporter or denier of the current geopolitical events. The model's sculpt is adorable and the paintjob overall impressive. For me, it lacks the flower and the shower part, despite the small flowers on the model's hat. They are really small and easily looked over in the whole yellow-blue-green color scheme. The heterochromia of the eyes is a nice touch, though.

I was wondering how this model didn't end up in the Over Achiever section. Great contrasting color scheme, beautifully painted shades and highlights, the subtle glow on the bamboo, the attention to the water detail that makes it almost flowing... Great job!

The water and saliva effects are nicely executed and the paintjob is really smooth. The turquoise tongue really pulls the view to the Malisaurus' head, but sadly the rest of the color scheme is unimpressive. The green and the light brown blend together nicely (gives a realistic feel) but it lacks a bit of contrast - maybe a dark green wash or some highlight here and there on the bigger scales would have made it pop more? I also can't really put the light lavender spikes anywhere, this color makes the whole model really pale somehow. Salutes though, the Malisaurus is a big one, I salute the patience you had painting it!

This puts the lion in dandelion. Nice crafting on the flower-tentacles and the paintjob! Is this a Paizo Beholder model?

She definitely won the showers part of the contest. Really impressive on the vet clothing painting, that's a hard feat to pull off! Nice detail on the makeup as well. The water reminds me more of ice than water, it's probably the material's fault (I suspect glue). The fact that the whole thing harmonizes with the base just pulls this together.

Such a delightful version of Mah Tucket! Nice contrast and highlights, the freehand flowers on the dress are adorable. The feet are less detailed though, a missed part, or it's just the lighting?

RIP Ham Slab, I hardly knew ya *smashes a bottle of beer on the gravestone* I agree that a little less bright background would frame the model better, but all in all I like it. The flowers on the punk's head is a nice touch.

Did you make the flesh-eating flowers? The composition is just overcrowded enough to give the lush jungle vibes. I don't recognize the little fairies/children though, what model are they?

It's a really cute composition (although it is either a huge tree or a really tiny dragon :)), but a little dark to exactly make out the coloring details. The color blending on the dragon's mane is still really nice.

The small details on the umbrella is breathtaking, hats off to that! The paintjob is smooth, nice and contrasted both on the model and between the model and the base. Did you freehand the flowers or used a stencil?

The water effect is really impressive as well as the painted water itself with the splashes and the ripples, a beautiful example of attention to detail! The model is a little bit still too monochrome for me, I think a little bit more highlights overall could really pop the miniature.

I love how whimsical this model is and the water splash effect! The paintjob is nice and contrasted, the colors really pop. I personally like that the model is visible from multiple angles in a nice lighting.