Hmm.. Why Secret?

So I spent a lot of time today reflecting on the project I spent three weeks doing.

Unfortunately, I feel a little flat.  I realise now, after looking at the "completed" model, that I made a number of decisions that probably weren't ideal.  I started with a grand vision, and despite putting together a model that I think is really quite good, I feel like I am capable of better.  Unfortunately the piece has collapsed a bit under all of the things going on, whereas I wanted it to be enhanced by all the little easter eggs you could find looking at it.  I think firstly the fact that I spent a lot of the project going back and correcting things, and not having a truly clear and planned piece from the start was a lot to ask for a project of this size.  A Raffa or Roman could easily just knock this up with magic, and it would be amazing, but for me, I need to have more experience at creating something of this scale.

And thats how I am treating this project.  As a really great experience, that I am taking a lot from.  My next few models that I paint I will be doing busts, or something a lot more simple, and focusing on my painting, rather than creating this mammoth sprawling project that does not have enough focus on any one area.

Things I discussed with a few other peeps about the model, the paint work on the fairies is pretty good, although I am capable of better. The basing I didn't spend enough time painting to get truly right, and again, I have the issue of having these really saturated bases full of colour that tend to detract from the piece.  I have been really getting deep into the technical aspects of painting and spending a lot of time considering it since I got back from Germany, and one of the things I am really struggling with is the contrast. When I look at other pieces I see incredible contrast and I think, how the fuck do they do that?  When I try, I go from black all the way up to white, yet it actually looks less contrasting.  I think the reason is the fact that I use black, and white, and have chalky, desaturated colours.  I plan on removing black and white from my palette for the next model I try to paint, just as a learning exercise to really think about how I can use light and shadow in different ways.


The final thing I was considering was why I wanted to keep it secret.  It is exciting unveiling a project that nobody has seen for an event like this, and I think the appeal of having something that made the judges go wow when they first saw it was more appealing to me than it should have been. I need to remember my focus is on learning and growing as a painter, and the way I do that is through constructive feedback from people, from myself and serious consideration after a piece is finished as to how I can improve.

Whilst I am looking forward to the feedback from the judges, and the fun of competing, the real lessons I am taking from this model are the ones I have learnt over the last few weeks, the technical aspects of a model of this size, the consideration that needs to be had to planning, minimising the excess detail to focus on what really matters, and making sure that I paint a model completely, and to the best of my ability, before gluing them together.

Here is the actual conversation with Benny (I am Ramjet, he is Stebon... its a long story...  Our chat has evolved a lot):

Ramjet

i look at it now and i see a lot of fucking issues

its probably the best i can do right now

Stebon
Really?

Ramjet

but its still shit really

lol

yeah man

Stebon
Like what

Ramjet

just the painting, the use of grass, the sculpting

everything

im just not as good as i want to be

i was looking at crystal dragon entries from last year

and im no fucking chance

mind you, there has been big improvement

just have to keep working at it i guess

until i get where i want to be

Stebon
Fair enough
I think it's a pretty good piece, but your right it's not quite on the level of the top pieces from last years show
Do you think you should slow the process down in future?

Ramjet

I felt a time pressure on this one

Stebon
As in, plan more and know how things will work before doing them?

Ramjet

And I think I bit off more than I can chew

I look at my recent bust painting

And I am much happier with those

Papa Jambo

Because I can just focus on painting

Stebon
Yeah I think the fact that so much of this was stuff you had never done before, and then you were doing the test runs on the model itself

Ramjet

It's all about the journey though

Stebon
I was going to say that actually

Ramjet

And this has been a fun journey

Lots of interesting learnings

Stebon
I feel like this piece is a big departure from the style you practiced with German mate
Raffa?

Ramjet

yeah

hugely different

i actually said to someone this morning

i want to paint another model before cancon

just a bust

Stebon
And I think you should try for more of that style

Ramjet

to try and paint like raffa and i did

Stebon

I agree
My main knock against this piece is that I think it's a bit too busy. The eye doesn't naturally get drawn to any one spot
I think the blue mushrooms/blue legs plays into that a lot

Ramjet

And that's actually a flaw with the design

And with how I've executed it

Stebon
Your busts were a lot more focused and colour cohesive

Ramjet

i mean

its a bust

Stebon
Yeah the base got a little out of control for the model on it haha

Ramjet

the eye has to be drawn towards it

because there is nothing else

this was an attempt at a huge, elaborate diorama

with lots of different things to look at

Stebon
Well sure, but colours in the bust were still very cohesive
Actually something I noticed in a photo you posted last week
Let me find it

More photos here, on Marks Putty and Paint profile.

Stebon
Hugely elaborate base

Ramjet

marks lara croft

but still focused

colours are more tonally similar

Stebon
But by using a very limited palette on the base, the eye doesn't get drawn away from the model

Ramjet

draws the eye centrally

yep

Stebon
Exactly

Ramjet

i actually tried to do that with this base but then the mushrooms got out of control blue

i want to try taking what i learnt here, and doing it on another model now

Stebon
Contrast with your base, on its own it's just as impressive, but it's rich colours makes it the focus
Even without the blue mushrooms

Ramjet

smaller, but still elaborate

haha

yeah

fucking shrooms

Stebon
The flagstones for instance
Probably should blend in more
Then you would have a very detailed, but almost entirely autumnal base
And the model on top would stand out

Ramjet

i think one of my biggest issues with my own painting is black

when i looked at my models and bases

i have black in the recesses

from airbrushing and trying to use zenithal stuff

but what i've found is it is making the models look very harsh

i actually painted in the neck of the turtle

added in red and dark sea blue instead of black

and it looked so much fucking better

so my next model i plan on basically removing black from my palette, and undercoating white

Stebon
Awesome
That's a good observation
Do you have a spare bust you can do for cancon?

Ramjet

yeah i've got like six

Stebon
Hah course you do



Anyway, here is the completed, studio shots of the Enchanted Pool.

And here is a video that shows off the lighting, by Powered Play.