2022 Monthly Painting Challenge - July

[Shock & Awe]

Welcome to the back 9, or the downhill slide... whichever idiom fits your fancy

Let's keep plugging along, and hopefully it's not as hot on your end of the world as it is here in Japan... where everyday feels like a sauna  

If you are new to the challenge and what to know the ins and outs - Everything you need to know for the Challenge is right HERE.

For all our regular contributors, make sure you've submitted your SS counts for the previous two months in the Google Form. Remember, @Gheist and I are not going to enter them for you 

For our Masterclass topic: 

Pictures -

1. how do you take them?
2. Do you prefer high profile, or low (white background vs. black)
3. What is your camera setup? 
4. Any and all details into what you do and what you look for in a good mini pic

- Shock & Awe

[Shock & Awe]

The Pledge Form

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The Pledge Spreadsheet

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The Monthly Soulstone Reporting Form

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The Soulstone Tabulation Spreadsheet

CLICK HERE!

[DemiMurgos]

Hallöchen again!

We are melting in Hungary due to a 40°C heatwave and a drought, so just the usual summer weather. Perfect reason to stay inside a dark room and paint!

I'll try to get some more done in July as I'll continue with the Qi and Gong brigade for my partner. I will also touch up Chiyo a little, although won't count her into the challenge but her lack of contrast really annoys me now.

Just so we have a pic, here's my the "bin" where I can choose the crew from for this month:

 

Regarding the masterclass, although I just got to "proper" miniature photography (which is nowhere proper yet):

1. I have an IKEA lamp with a 6000K lightbulb (possibly visible from space) and a small magnifying LED lamp that I use. It gives awesome bright, white light, whereas the little lamp makes features softer. Sometimes I use a phone flashlight as well if I need warmer light, but usually these two are enough. I usually do a soft light balance retouch in Lightroom on my phone.

2. I think I prefer high profile backgrounds for now, as the whiteness pops the figures more. I have yet to get proper nice backdrops in the future, right now I use a plain A4 sheet of paper, bent and glued to my painting stand (a cough balm bottle) and the lamp.

3. I take photos with a Xiaomi phone, so whatever it can offer. I usually use the macro setting and play around with the light balance until it's right. I plan to get a proper camera in the future sometime, but currently it's not a prio.

4. I look for clarity on the figure, preferably on the face if it has one or a focal centerpoint of it - similar to portrait photography, ex. from back, I focus on the shoulder of the character or whatever popping feature. This makes the picture believable. Good, WHITE light is important, as yellow light taints the paintjob and does not give back true colors. Other than that, it all depends on the model itself. I also enjoy WIP photos, so people can get a glimpse into other people's slice of creative life, but it really depends on what you want to do with your minis. If you wanna showcase, I prefer backdrops and sharpness. If you want personality and the over-the-shoulder-look, I'm all for WIPs and table-mess.

[Caedrus]

Caedrus, reporting in!

For the month of July, it'll be more delightful Alt-Plagues. Time to paint some cats!

Pictures to come tomorrow!

Have a wonderful July, my friends!

Caedrus.

[Moinetbeard]

reporting in for July! I will be working on some more Explorers Society models - finishing my Nexus Models (I just have Nexus kids, 3 Spelleaters and Cavatica to go). After that i'll work on some of the versatile models i have - Intrepid Emissary and Effigy, Vernon and Welles and hopefully some Botanists! Plus I'll be finishing off my web markers that i started in June.

[Hawkoon]

I got some catching up to do since i botched my Pandora 2 in june... 🤬

Also going to proceed with Dorian to finish the WOE keyword (again...). Then hopefully I might have some time left to go back to Dreamer and his gang. They really are proving to be a true nightmare (... to finish😆) 

[Viruk]

I will continue with the vermin this month  Let's see how much I'm able to do in July. I will also paint new Dreamer (actually x2 as I'm painting one for a buddy too).

 

As for pics - will write more once I'm taking some to show my setup. 

[Hawkoon]

Managed to tidy up Pandora from june, and calling her done. Thanks to (q-)tips and some airbrush cleaner🥰

Now that should get me my mulligan back from last month, so on to the next...

 

[LinenMusician]

So here are my fast July minis - Yannic and Corvis for a total of 16 ss for month, going on vacation soon without possibility to paint more  

Tried to make Corvis monochromic, hope it looks nice, but I if anyone has advices I’ll take them gratefully

[Moinetbeard]

First job of the month was to paint the Web markers I'd made for my Cadmus crew. Couple of hours, a bit of tumble-dryer sheet, lots of glue and done! Pretty pleased with how these turned out. They'll probably be quite impractical in a game but whatever!

 

[Shock & Awe]

This month I'm going to keep plugging away at the Fae keyword. 

Beyond this box of grey, I also have the metal Silent Knight to finish off the set, so this will likely take me well into next month at least

[Gheist]

July has facing me several challenges Timewise, not least of which is cataloguing (?) my 40K Collection to sell them off and make Room for more Terrain, so i can hold 12 man Tournaments in my garden without borrowing stuff

I'll be either painting Zipp and his Crew or Rest of Oni and/or all the titles that are starting to build a little group of their own on my desk.

I have built primed and based all of my Malifaux Minis.

I have two Outcast, Two Explorer and 1 1/2 Thunders Keywords to go before completing all three factions.

I Hope i can call it quits after and stay with those factions to focus more on Tournaments and Community Building.

Probability is i start Bayou though

Have a nice one everybody

[wobbly_goggy]

My last few models (minus two unassembled minis that fit no keywords I have and the first painted this month

[wobbly_goggy]

Far from my best work, but glad he’s painted, he’s been sitting on my paint desk since M2E. I don’t have anything else from his keyword, so he’s of limited use (and thus undeserving of a great paint job - that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it)

[Hawkoon]

This will probably be my last post this month before i go on vaccation. I did manage to get my mulligan back with Pandora 2, and here's the final model for the entire WOE keyword!

With all mye woes behind me it's time to pile up the nightmares... (pun intended!)

[Gheist]

16 hours ago, Hawkoon said:

This will probably be my last post this month before i go on vaccation. I did manage to get my mulligan back with Pandora 2, and here's the final model for the entire WOE keyword!

With all mye woes behind me it's time to pile up the nightmares... (pun intended!)

Whats the bottom Mini?

[TimH]

1 hour ago, Gheist said:

Whats the bottom Mini?

One of the Bearly Togethe. Stitched Together Special editions/proxies. The other 2 from the set are individual bears but the third is the little baby bear swarm (and is an absolute nightmare to assemble)

[Hawkoon]

2 hours ago, TimH said:

One of the Bearly Togethe. Stitched Together Special editions/proxies. The other 2 from the set are individual bears but the third is the little baby bear swarm (and is an absolute nightmare to assemble)

That it is. I still need to finish the bases of the two big brothers.

 

[Viruk]

Hello everyone  Freat to see some nice activity in the thread already!

Beginning with the monthly focus - here's a look at my photo setup:

Nice and simple - just a printed page without any lamps. In order to optimize, I take these pics on the balcony during daylight, when the sunlight isn't too strong. I use iPhone 13 as my default device and don't edit pictures afterwards.

@Hawkoon - I still haven't made up my mind. I planned to paint my Pandy2 with reds mainly but I really like this combination of purple and green  This Dorian looks absolutely amazin!

@LinenMusician - love the monochrome on Corvis, makes him look more menacing.

@Moinetbeard - I will be painting Cadmus keyword after the summer and will definitely be taking a lot of inspiration from your work.

@wobbly_goggy - love the blue flame, subtle and nicely matched with the color scheme.

 

I'm currently at 73 soulstones this month and plan to add much more before the end of month


``

More pics on on IG  

https://www.instagram.com/what.the.faux/

[Moinetbeard]

@LinenMusicianI really love that monochrome effect on Rook- very effective and makes him look very menacing- quite apt!

@Hawkoonyour Woes are lovely- that transition between black, purple and green on Crowe is gorgeous. You always achieve such a lovely texture with paint on your models- so smooth.

@wobbly_goggythat death Marshall looks great- the blue flames in particular- tonally it works really well.

@Viruksuch amazing effects achieved on these models- piper's flames(?) And the swirling mists(?) on dreamer have a really ethereal quality. Thank you for your kind words - that means alot!

 

I've been continuing my Explorers society models - working on the versatile models that I'd likely take with Nexus and the Cadmus keyword. So far I've finished the Emissary, the Effigy is not far behind and I've almost completed three botanists as well. My brother is coming over this weekend to do some painting with me and my kids (they are 2 and 4) who I have been trying to teach basic painting techniques to- I'll probably look to paint Cadmus kids in that session.

 

 

 

[Moinetbeard]

I Feel like I shouldn't post again so soon, but I painted these little sweethearts tonight.

 

Half way through the month and I'm feeling like I've still got plenty of models left in me- although I might take a little break to actually play some games next week!

 

 

 

[DemiMurgos]

Month is halfway done and I am buried under of a ton of work. 

But at least Bill is coming along nicely (excuse the mess), he just needs some highlighting on his straw hat, his cape done and some pupils and then I can cash him in:

 

I am trying to pay more attention to proper skintones and nice blending. I probably should eventually start NMM, too...

All of you did an amazing job, I marvel at the talent present in this community and hope that I can reach this level once!  

[Diddick]

Hi there!   I'm very behind schedule hobbywise this month, i was going to pledge 2 scavengers, that will jump to the august challenge, because this month i'm going to work on the summer painting contest entry.

about the pictures:
 

I think i've shared it a couple of times already, but I'll do it again 

I go with black bg most of the time, i use a black tshirt, laid upon an open laptop.

The lighting comes from my hobby lamp in most of the cases, or i use 2 lamps with white cloths laid over the bulbs to soften the light, when i want a more "pro" setup, or in the rare occasions I take pictures with a white background.

I use my phone to take the pics, and adjust the zoom and exposure while taking the picture.

Later on I edit the picture in this way:
1- crop so the mini is centered as i want
2a- for black bg:, add a vignete effect that darkens even more the edges of the pic
2b- there's a "black point" option on the edit that makes the blacks darker, i increase this a little bit so the texture of the tshirt almost disappears, but doesn't mess the colors on the mini (as a reference it goes from -100 to +100 and i don't think i've ever went past 8 or 10)
3a- for white bg definitely no vignete effect, and I also play with the edit and try to remove or minimize the projected shadows in the background.  This is 100 times more difficult than the black bg edit tho, and you have to be extra careful that the colors on the mini don't get messed up... 😕


Here's a picture of the "pro" setup:

 

 

[Kogan Style]

After a disastrous June where I just about made it with the commitment (a Botanist), I am firing on all cylinders this month! After playing one game with Ivan I was inspired to get the Umbra side of the Keyword done, presenting Mr Mordrake, a Brocken Spectre, 2 Daevas, and 2 Nocturne. 

 

I was originally going for shadows and grey, but then I got hooked on purple and decided to lean into the colour! More to come (hopefully!)

[Moinetbeard]

Lovely work @Kogan Style those Umbra models look amazing- I'm a big fan of the purple/blue combo!

I've finished my Botanists- I have to say that I didn't particular enjoy painting these- wondering if anyone had the same experience? I think it was to do with the type of plastic- so much of the detail was slightly off on the model. Anyway, I bashed through them. My favourite is the gremlin!