Red Dragon WIP Update 2

I bring up the painting supplies from the basement studio when Angie wants to paint with me so we both have room to work. My painting supplies are quite mobile.

The Dragon Lab came up from the basement and invaded the dining room. Click to Enlarge.
The Dragon Lab came up from the basement and invaded the dining room. Click to Enlarge.

Pretty much everything you need to paint miniatures like a professional fits in a paper shopping bag or hobby tool/supply box.

The next two photos show a basing experiment. I’m using the plastic cap that is popular on several brands of juice packaging that can be found at the grocery store. (The one pictured is from a Minute Maid Orange Juice jug). I decided it would be pretty easy to coat gesso on the top to eliminate the logo and give it a lumpy, more natural looking surface. After putting gesso on it and sort of working it into a pile in the middle I let it rest to stiffen up for maybe 20 or 30 minutes and then placed the miniatures metal base into the gesso and let it cure for 24 hours. So far it is quite sturdy to hold it by the base for painting, though I have not tried to test its strength. I will be added more layers of gesso so the rigidity of the bond will hopefully improve.

Basing Experiment for the Dragon. Click to Enlarge.
Basing Experiment for the Dragon. Click to Enlarge.




Basing Experiment for the Dragon. Click to Enlarge.
Basing Experiment for the Dragon. Click to Enlarge.

After covering with Mephiston Red base, I did highlighting on all his scales with Blood Red, used some orange I mixed up with Flash Gitz Yellow and Blood Red for the belly scales and scale details, and Agrax Earthshade wash on the leather parts of the wings. Also I painted the eyes, teeth and claws.

Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge

More blending and some wash will tame some of the contrast from the orange to the reds. When I highlight right, you almost can’ t tell there’s any highlighting. This is what I’m going for; a realistic style. I’m trying to avoid the comic style all together.

Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge

Two heavy layers of Agrax Earthshade wash on the leather parts of the wings toned down the Red base, while the dry brush style high lighting with red on the scale parts give a lot of contrast. Both parts started out the same color of Mephiston Red base.

Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge
Red Dragon with some high lights and low lights. Click to Enlarge