I've just painted my first miniature, and it looks pretty good. Still, the base (specifically, the surface that the character stands on) looks a bit naff. It's meant to be worn flagstone, as if he is in an old dungeon. At the moment, it just has grey primer on it, which looks out of place with the colours of the character - it is just stands out as plastic.
Any thoughts on what I do to make it more suitable? This is my first time painting anything in years.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Wish I could provide some sage advice but Im just getting back into it myself! Nice to hear there are others with the same hobby. Loved Ral Partha miniatures from way back in the day. Just ordered up a new old bunch still in their blister packs in some cases. Here's a link I found though that might be useful:
Well, generally I prefer adding most* basing material before I paint anything including primer. But this is a preference! :-)
Quick and easy flagstones
You could use some small squares of card stock, old cereal boxes or similar packaging are great for this. Just cut squares at a size that looks right to you. There are even square hole punches you can get from craft stores. Glue them on the base with super glue. Use a bit of metal spike, craft knife, a nail, old dental tools** and rough them up: make small gouges or cracks, maybe remove a corner. Seal the card stock with Mod Podge mixed with black paint, then paint them whatever color you like.
Hope that helps!
Take care,
Harry
* Flocking and such of course after painting. ** Ask your dentist as most have a bunch of these they can't use any more but they are excellent for miniatures! I've yet to have a dentist charge me but... ;-)
For my stone bases, I usually just primer in grey, then paint the individual stones/tiles in different shades of grey or grey/brown to make it less uniform. Then a simple black wash to get into the cracks, drybrush with light grey, then very light drybrush with white to make the edges really pop. Definitely not contest worthy, but super nice for tabletop quality minis!
I basically have two types of scenery: light brown dirt for wilderness areas, and grey flagstones for dungeons and towns. I paint my character and NPC bases with a 50:50 mix of the brown and the grey, so the bases never look perfect but they also never look out-of-place.
If the base has actual bumps and stones, you might consider buying (or making, it's not that hard) a black wash to add to it. It's runny, so it sinks into crevices, adds some weathering/aging/dirt effects, and helps add dimension to an otherwise plain surface.
I've just painted my first miniature, and it looks pretty good. Still, the base (specifically, the surface that the character stands on) looks a bit naff. It's meant to be worn flagstone, as if he is in an old dungeon. At the moment, it just has grey primer on it, which looks out of place with the colours of the character - it is just stands out as plastic.
Any thoughts on what I do to make it more suitable? This is my first time painting anything in years.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Wish I could provide some sage advice but Im just getting back into it myself! Nice to hear there are others with the same hobby. Loved Ral Partha miniatures from way back in the day. Just ordered up a new old bunch still in their blister packs in some cases. Here's a link I found though that might be useful:
https://www.google.com/search?q=painting the base of miniatures&ei=XVYMYuyLAYOcptQP-t25KA&ved=0ahUKEwisrrOGjIP2AhUDjokEHfpuDgUQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=painting the base of miniatures&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQgAEKIEOgcIABBHELADSgQIQRgASgQIRhgAUIcFWIcFYL4WaAFwAXgAgAGAAogBgAKSAQMyLTGYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz
Well, generally I prefer adding most* basing material before I paint anything including primer. But this is a preference! :-)
Quick and easy flagstones
You could use some small squares of card stock, old cereal boxes or similar packaging are great for this. Just cut squares at a size that looks right to you. There are even square hole punches you can get from craft stores. Glue them on the base with super glue. Use a bit of metal spike, craft knife, a nail, old dental tools** and rough them up: make small gouges or cracks, maybe remove a corner. Seal the card stock with Mod Podge mixed with black paint, then paint them whatever color you like.
Hope that helps!
Take care,
Harry
* Flocking and such of course after painting.
** Ask your dentist as most have a bunch of these they can't use any more but they are excellent for miniatures! I've yet to have a dentist charge me but... ;-)
For my stone bases, I usually just primer in grey, then paint the individual stones/tiles in different shades of grey or grey/brown to make it less uniform. Then a simple black wash to get into the cracks, drybrush with light grey, then very light drybrush with white to make the edges really pop. Definitely not contest worthy, but super nice for tabletop quality minis!
I basically have two types of scenery: light brown dirt for wilderness areas, and grey flagstones for dungeons and towns. I paint my character and NPC bases with a 50:50 mix of the brown and the grey, so the bases never look perfect but they also never look out-of-place.
If the base has actual bumps and stones, you might consider buying (or making, it's not that hard) a black wash to add to it. It's runny, so it sinks into crevices, adds some weathering/aging/dirt effects, and helps add dimension to an otherwise plain surface.
You could do a wash, which gives it the look of shadows and dirt between the crevices. Then paint the stones however you like. Use mat colors.