Thursday, March 27, 2014

Super Commissions for Super Dungeon Explore


Welcome back! So this week I am posting images of some local commissions pieces for the game Super Dungeon Explore by Soda Pop Miniatures. These were done last year, and I am slowly going through all the past commission work and personal works and getting this blog up to par.

All models herein are from Soda Pop Miniatures and for the board game Super Dungeon Explore. Just going to show a front and back picture to save some room, but side shots were also taken.
Lets get started!


Celestial Herald




Sister of Light



Celestial Herald



Ember Mage




Hearthsworn Fighter




Riftling Rouge




Well there you have it. These are so fun to paint, anime style and very different from what I am used to painting. I have of my personal pieces ready in the background, maybe I will show them next time, also have some models from Reaper Bones series that I did as a commission, they will fit in sometime as well.

Until next week,...

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Bases Tutorial: Forest

As shown in the Circle of Orboros commissions, here is how I made the forest bases. Before I started painting the figures, they were based using the basic grit shown here. The bases were painted with the Reaper Master Series Woodstain Brown then left alone until after the figure was painted and sealed!

Remember SEAL Coat the figure first, before continuing on. This will make sure the figure is protected and the base undisturbed until you are done. Dont worry another spray seal coat will be applied when you are all finished with the basing if you wish. On to the tutorial!

Aside from the paints being from Reaper Master Series, the tree stumps are from Woodland Scenics, and everything else is from Secret Weapon Miniatures

STEP 1: Preperation
After following the tutorial in the Basic Dirt you will need the following:
An old paintbrush
PVA Glue
Dirt Flock
Secret Weapon Miniatures:

Also watching these tutorials on Secret Weapon Miniatures website will help understand the uses of their various products, and a little research never hurt anyone.


STEP 2: Get on With it!

So we have our Figure painted and sealed, base is painted up and ready to go. We will start with applying the Secret Weapon Pigments. Pigments can be tricky at first use. you dont need a lot on your brush. Pigments are ment to be dry and "rubbed in" to cover the area.

We start with Dark Earth Pigment. 


Spread it over the base, covering most of the previously painted basing. Its ok if you get it one you miniature, it will add to the dirty effect (hence why I left it on the bottom of the cloak and feet).

IF you get some pigment where you dont want it, take a small brush with a BIT, tiny bit of water to wash it off. Make sure the water doesnt spread to the other pigment or it will make it wet and blend it into the paint, ruining the effect.

When finished, dont forget to "knock off" the excess by tapping on the underside of the base while it is upside-down. You can also gently blow on the top to remove excess, just do this facing away your paint area so you dont get it everywhere if you blow to hard.


STEP 3: Terracotta Earth

Next we apply Terracotta Earth Pigment, highlighting the previous pigment colors. This raises up the colors, just like using a drybrush.

Again, when finished dont forget to "knock off" the excess by tapping on the underside of the base while it is upside-down. You can also gently blow on the top to remove excess, just do this facing away your paint area so you dont get it everywhere if you blow to hard.




STEP 4: Exhaust Black

Here we drybrush the Exhaust Black Pigment over everything we just did. This helps to shade down the tones more earthly. Extra Exhaust Black was added under the cloak for deeper shading.

One last time, When finished, dont forget to "knock off" the excess by tapping on the underside of the base while it is upside-down. You can also gently blow on the top to remove excess, just do this facing away your paint area so you dont get it everywhere if you blow to hard.



STEP 5: The Dirty

Using PVA glue overtop of pigments is tricky. If spread around it will mix the pigments making them wet and turning into a thick paint, not really what we want. Just a dab here and there where you want the dirt flock to go, depending on how full you want your greens. Leave some space for the fallen and crushed leaves we will be making in the next step.


Add you favorite dirt flock, or grass flock to the PVA glue. Make sure the flock is a bit darker in color from the leaves you choose for color contrast.

Press in the excess, and "knock off" and/or blow the excess away from your work area.


STEP 6: Crush them Down!

Next up we take the Dark Green Leaf Litter from Secret Weapon Miniatures (as sen in the top of the pic) and crush it! Rub it together grind with a piantbrush end, or however you want to. It should look the bottom of the pic below).


Add PVA glue to the areas you want covered by the crushed leaves. Again you can cover the rest of the base, or leave it as open as you want.



STEP 7: Leafing the Base

For the finishing touches, we turn to Secret Weapon MIniatures Fallen Leaves: Fall Mix. This provides a variety of fall colors for the leaves.


Applying the Leaves is a simple step, take some PVA glue (a small dab) and add it to the the bottom of the leaf and press it into place. Do this for each leaf. Make sure you spread them out, leaves dont usually fall in clumps.



STEP 8: Reap your Enjoyment!

There you have it, forest bases all done! Looks pretty and livens up you painted figure.
If your careful with your figures you can go and play some games, or sit them on the shelf. For extra added protection, you can use a dull spray seal coat to make sure that stuff sticks to the bases, but it should hold as is currently. I didnt use one here, just because of paranoia I recently had with a can of spray sealer.



Here are some colors I used on the bases that were not covered in the tutorial, but are on some of the bases. All paints following are Reaper Master Series. Colors separated by a coma are just a drybrush blend starting at the darkest color, highlighting upwards.

Base Grit: Woodstain Brown
Stones: Stone Shadow, Stone Grey, Weathered Stone
Tree Parts: Blackend Brown, Shield Brown, Driftwood Brown.

Circle of Orboros: The Commission: Part 3

Circle of Orboros: The Commission: Part Three

As we wrap up the commission of Circle of Orboros from the 2-player starter box with the last pieces. The unit of Warpborn Skinwalkers!

Here are a few pics of the members of this rowdy unit.















Hope you enjoyed finally seeing the Circle of Orboros commission. I was extremely happy with the way most of these turned out, definitely with the bases (they will be covered next).

Circle of Orboros: The Commission: Part 2



Circle of Orboros: The Commission: Part Two

Continuing from the previous post we will delve into Kaya's battlegroup, the warbeasts! 

Warbeast: Feral Warpwolf
He's big and scary. I changed up his pose a bit striking a pose with that grin of his. 







Warbeast: Argus
This twin headed warbeast was fun to paint and pose.





Warbeast: Winter Argus
Another twin headed warbeast, the Winter Argus blends better in the snow.







Warbeasts of Kaya's battlegroup. As mentioned before, all the bases were custom made and will be covered in a following tutorial. Although I will add that the tree stumps were from Woodland Scenics and just added to the bases and painted up.

Up next, the unit in the battle box; the Warpborn Skinwalkers!