DemiMurgos

I absolutely adore this setting! The glowing butterflies really give off an Umineko no naku koro ni feeling...

3 hours ago, Shock & Awe said:

For future reference, Japanese people never use kanji for ramen - it would be in hiragana or katakana - so it would look like this: ラーメン or らーめん *just for knowledge support - I've been living in Japan for the last 12 years and I've passed the highest level of the Japanese language proficiency test, so this isn't a random anime lover trying to drop knowledge *  I think the sign in the back says, "Village Tanuki", but the left radical on the first kanji is hard to make out. 

Anyway! This is a really great setup. The tree is amazing, the narrative is really funny with the placement. The paint job as well is stellar. All in all a great piece of work! Well done!

That's actually the kanji for tanuki 狸.  The stand is called 'Tanuki Tanuki', which is oddly fitting and cute for a bunch of tanukis.

I'm trying to make out the kanji on the gourd but I assume it should read sake (the first 酒 is definitely sake, but what's the rest? I see a bit of of "strength" and maybe a bit of "earth", but can't put 1+1 together for this one).

It's so cool to find a fellow Japanese speaker, albeit I only speak a very little of it as of now.

1 minute ago, Shock & Awe said:

Being a fellow painting challenge mate, I'll give you as much feedback as I can. Let's start with the areas to potentially think about:

1 - The crumpled background is a bit distracting for me. 

2 - The lighting is a bit too "dramatic" and it ends up detracting from your work because some of the details get lost. 

3 - I would be nice to see a bit more shadows/highlights on the model to give it a more "real" vibe - for instance, on her face - it looks like just base paints from what I can see. 

4 - While dioramas do usually need more shots, I might stick with one or two at most, because it feels like I'm trying to look everywhere at once (which pulls you out of the narrative). 

 

On the plus side:

1 - The roof set up and the water drip are absolutely ace! 

2 - The freehand is very nice

3 - the base and the grass, combined with the water is also really nice. 

 

Overall a really solid entry for someone new to the hobby!

Thank you mate! ❤️ I have a bunch of close-ups on Chiyo that I plan to drop to my gallery after the announcement, but she does need some more shades. I'll work on her and re-shoot the photos (so she makes a nice tournament piece in the future). Thank you for your sincere and constructive feedback!

8 minutes ago, ItsyBitsyFighter said:

Thanks for the nice words! If you want I can list all of the flaws I see on it lol. 

Don't be so hard on yourself.  The painting on the diorama bits is a little bit textured, but I assume that is because of the material used (it actually fits the flag really well as they are usually made of heavy clothing). Did you make the tree as well? O_O

All comments and critique is welcome, this was my first competition and I want to get better at painting. Goal: Over Achiever!

Woo, superhero landing!  Jokes aside, a really nice concept, love the splashing effect, the drips, the NMM! The whole organic part blends a little together, though, I am unsure why. Great entry nevertheless!

This is a well-deserved winner.  The subtle eyes Misaki gives to the poor fish just makes me giggle. Great execution overall!

I fell in love with the colors. The sublte vignette effect you have created with the shading to pull the view to the model's face (and bosom) is just amazing. I first thought the model was kitbashed together to have branches for arms, but upon closer inspection, it still is an amazing entry, branch-hands or without. ❤️ 

My Luna girl and a piece of Lucas's horse's reins! A great example to kitbashing. I love the story, the annoyed look of the boy who just wanted to walk/play, and suddenly, downpour... Great execution of the water drips and the splash effect! One of the best entries.

This is a really impressive paintjob in both execution and the choice of colors. The backdrop is also beautiful. I wonder where this model comes from? It would be a great proxy-material to a Guild crew.

I love the feel of this, like an old postcard. The soft, feminine vibe the colors give is just touching. And the story it tells, the boudoir left in such a hurry, the wilting flowers, the withering of a beautiful woman, an unopened love letter mayhaps... Or a hastily written good-bye? This piece gives me the chills.  ❤️ 

This was my personal nr. 1. in this category. The whole setting is just so cozy and warm, you can almost feel the heavy air of a greenhouse... And then you spot the tiny details. The kodamas, the frogs, the bits and pieces, the birds! All with a nicely "realistically muted" color scheme which is not boring yet not screaming at all. This is definitely a piece I'd love to have on my workdesk to marvel while working. Amazing job! ❤️ 

This model always gives me a grin, whatever setting they are in. One of the top 3 personal favourites from this category.  Superb job on the kitbashing and especially on the water droplet, the angle of the photos is also screaming a background in photography. Great job!

That is a way to de-weed...

I love how dynamic this model is, the added flowers really cranks it up a notch. Nice contrast between base and model, beautifully executed non-metal metallic on the spear and hair-blade!

This is a really cozy entry, but aside from the text on it, it really doesn't fit the competition's theme. The execution is still top-notch, I do agree that the shade on the face could be a tad less dark (similar what is on her hair). Other than that, the blending, the soft highlight on the hair, the detail of the eyes and the whole shade perspective is just beautifully executed in this cozy, cocoa-drinking piece.

That expression!  The whole whim and story of this model is just heartwarming. I hope the elemental-thingie-lady caught up with her upper body eventually.

The water flowing down the street, the tiny details of the street sign, the house... Great job!

"Bring out yer deaaaaad..."

It really encapsulates the whole feel of Malifaux: dark, gritty, full of grim. The OSL is simply amazing and really pops on this almost monochrome silhouette, and let's not forget the backdrop itself! Simply great, one of my personal favourites from this category.  

I love how lush this entry is, the Damned blending into its surroundings is actually really documentary-like. I'd comment that there is a lack of highlights on the model itself, but the fact it looks like a forest-dwelling wild beast just puts it into its place. I like the subtle contrast between the flowers and the red straps of the Damned. The water effect is really nice, I imagine a huge rain going on or a waterfall being nearby. Well-earned 3rd place (based on votes).

I wonder how it didn't end up in the Over Achiever category. The tree, the tiny stand, the drunk tanukis... It's hard to find anything wrong with this model. Great job!

I fell in love with the cloud the moment I saw it, a really nice concept with the sky-high wine vanishing in the clouds! I do agree that the black background really mutes the colors (which is a rarity). A great idea nevertheless, and all that on a 30mm base!

I don't really know what to make of this diorama. There is a story, there are a lot of figures in it, but it just doesn't come together for some reason. It's really eclectic when it comes use of materials, shapes, shades... The bunny could use a little bit more shading on the fur. The water droplets are nicely made but they are huge compared to the rest of the diorama. The children are nicely put into the story (scattering away) but they lack contrast and highlight (or at least not visible on the photo). And what is that turtle doing there?

I am really happy this entry got fixed.   The backdrop is gorgeous, the model blends together with the lightning cracking down. The contrast, the colors, the highlights, and the contrast between the base and the model/backdrop... Just *chef's kiss*! Hands down the best diorama in my opinion. Well-earned 2nd place. ❤️ 

I don't see the flowers and showers part on this one (if not the teeny-tiny flowers on the base), but overall a good tournament-ready model.

This looks really menacing, but I agree, it would need more contrasting highlights to make it pop. This way, it looks more insecty than treelike.

The skull is nicely painted though, really bonelike!

This is a beautiful model with a beautiful paint job. The water effect is nicely executed, the drips came out great! I don't know how you pulled it off, but her eye immediately fixes one's vision on it. Great job!