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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
Premium Member
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 Posted - 10/19/2010 : 01:47:18 AM
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A notable achievement, Dallas...I think she's come far from her Miss Potato Head origins!
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1994 |
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dallas_m
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2010 : 4:52:23 PM
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Well, I've decided to start over on the Ginger project. On the first head (above left), I kinda slapped together a rough head/face shape and tried to refine that with moderate success. On the new head (above center), I started with a basic skull shape and have been gradually building up and shaping the various features in a slower, more incremental process. Hope to work on the eyes this evening ... then I'll work on blending the upper cheeks into the eye area, brow, ears, etc. Looks like this process will get me a lot closer to achieving an actual "likeness" ... and if it doesn't work out just right on this second attempt, well then I'll just start over again! Will post some pix when the basic features of the new head are all together for review and criticism before moving on...
Once I'm reasonably certain that I've put together a workable approach, I'll go back and post the SBS photos and notes. Definitely an interesting challenge! 
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Country: USA
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Frederic Testard
Engineer
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Posted - 10/24/2010 : 6:23:59 PM
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quote:
Definitely an interesting challenge!
And the best proof that you're a patient man...
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| Frederic Testard |
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Country: France
| Posts: 16448 |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/25/2010 : 12:16:09 AM
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Do-overs are what we do best, Dallas! That's what makes a great model so rewarding when it's completed.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1994 |
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hon3_rr
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/25/2010 : 10:29:40 AM
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Next we'll see one of the Marx brothers hanging around. Wonderful work.
BTW... about the brushes, I have for a long time pointed out that having a few high quality brushes makes painting detail castings a lot easier and more enjoyable. I have not gone the the super top-notch brushes like you have, but the brushes are a great investment and will last a lifetime with proper care, so I can only again back your suggestion to others to spend a bit of the hobby money on better quality brushes.
I'm just learning about the Vallejo paints, and now you bring up a new line... I'll be watching your coloring closely and the colors used and give it a shot when I paint my LP's in 'O' scale, so thanks in advance for the coloring descriptions.
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--KP
Life is to short to make all of the models I want to. |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 4685 |
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onl26
Fireman
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Posted - 10/25/2010 : 7:45:16 PM
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Hey Dallas
I've been lurking and paying attention to your "figure" ahem... painting. I'm about to do my first couple of O scale figures and I know watching you will be very helpful. I just made a trip to my art supply store and picked up some ver nice Kolinsky sable brushes which will be for figure painting only. A I Friedman had all brushes at 50% off so I made out very well. KP, I'm sure those Reaper colors are just like the Vallejos so not to worry. Looking forward to more of Ginger.
KO
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1283 |
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dallas_m
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/25/2010 : 7:55:08 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by onl26
KP, I'm sure those Reaper colors are just like the Vallejos so not to worry. Looking forward to more of Ginger.
KO
Yes, the Reaper "Master Series" colors have finally-ground pigments and come in the little dropper bottle just like Vallejo ...
That said, Reaper has several series of skin tones (like "golden skin", "fair skin", etc.) with a base, shadow and highlight tone for each. For anyone STARTING into figure painting, these would be much easier to use than the Vallejo skin tones, which (IMO) require considerable effort to blend into realistic shades. (And, after custom-blending some Vallejo paints, I'll probably be starting with Reaper skin tones on more of my future figures.)
Um ... in case any of that is confusing ... simply put: Reaper makes some skin tones that seem quite realistic straight out of the bottle! 
After finding that with their skin tones, I decided to order some other items ... I've gotten several of their "aged" metallic colors and those look EXTREMELY good to me ... but that's just based on smearing them on my finger tip and some paper, etc ... will post more notes as the experiments go on. They also have some really nice grays, off-whites, etc.
Quick summary: the Reaper paints offer a nice COMPLIMENT to the Vallejo paints and provide some additional color choices.
Okay, boss says I have the night off and I can work on Ginger a bit more ... hooray!
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Country: USA
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onl26
Fireman
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Posted - 10/25/2010 : 9:11:39 PM
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Hey Dallas
I just checked out the Reaper they do have some interesting colors. I think we all are always looking for good metallic colors.
Thanks, Kevin
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1283 |
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dallas_m
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/30/2010 : 06:08:29 AM
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Here we go: Think I've reached a point where it would be good to put the new head out for criticism/review before moving on. Obviously, she'll benefit from the addition of some hair and a hat once the face is finalized! BTW, photo may seem small ... but on a 19" monitor, the sculpted head is about 5x actual size here. Goal is to have the completed figure look presentable at 2x-3x actual size.
Reality check: I'll gladly accept that trying to capture a specific person's likeness in this scale is a rather lofty goal ... and, really, that's not the main goal. Actually, looking for a cute girl to provide a counterpoint to the grumpy mechanic. So, the CHARACTER that Ginger played in the movie seems like an ideal inspiration. Revised goal: If this is successful, then once the figure is assembled and decked out in tomboy clothes, she'll look like a genuinely cute, sweet girl who just happens to be going thru a tomboy/rebel phase. So, it would be nice to capture Ginger's likeness, but on a more practical level just hoping to capture some of the cuteness.
Comments & criticism wanted: Please let me know what you think ... yeah, nay or otherwise. ALL comments, criticism and suggestions welcome. If it looks like some certain feature, etc, is off a bit, please let me know. If I have to attempt any radical changes, I can cast the head first to make sure I have a back-up and don't lose the progress to this point. Thanks in advance!
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Country: USA
| Posts: 3006 |
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Neil M
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/31/2010 : 4:20:11 PM
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Dallas, that is great modelling and quite a challenge yo have set yourself!
I think the face you have made (built?) is a good likeness but appears older because the mouth is deeper into the face than the photo, making the nose, chin and cheekbones more prominent. Also, maybe you should lighten the creases under the eyes and soften the jaw.
I think you have the main proportions bang on
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| Built a waterfront HO layout in Ireland http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22161 but now making a start in On30 in Australia |
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Country: Australia
| Posts: 2173 |
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dallas_m
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/31/2010 : 9:46:38 PM
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Neil --
Excellent and useful critique ... currently working on bringing the mouth forward to solve the main problem. Still have to do some shaping on the neck, so likely that will blend and soften the jaw line a bit ... suspect that the detail in the lower eyelids is needed, but will be down-played by minimizing any differentiation or shading in those areas while painting. Thanks!
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Country: USA
| Posts: 3006 |
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UKGuy
Fireman
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Posted - 10/31/2010 : 10:18:48 PM
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Some more outstanding work dallas, I think it's gotten closer, the trouble in the comparison shots is that the perspective is reversed.
ie, the ginger pic head is tilted to her right and looking up to her left where as your head is
tilted to its left and looking up to its right,
this is of course due to the camera angle and to replicate that would be darned near impossible, if not pretty difficult.
Once I realised this and mentally adjusted the perspective of your head and the viewing angle it really does look remarkably close, I may try a photoshop perspective adjustment for my own benefit but from where I'm sitting it looks like a bald Ginger.... Is that an oxymoron?
Karl.A
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5427 |
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dallas_m
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/31/2010 : 10:36:34 PM
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Karl --
First, I do think that Neil is right about the mouth ... as this also caught attention on the FineScale Forum, and when it was brought up there it gave me a moment of "ah-ha, that's the thing!" ... so I'm working on that now.
And, you're absolutely right about the angle. Drives me nuts ... think I took almost 20 snaps trying to get myself in the right position with the head in the right direction, and that's as close as I got. And, if you hold up the little photo next to the little head, it doesn't help any, cuz more likely than not you'll be holding the photo at the wrong angle ... it really makes me mental! (Ok, maybe something else did that)
Will make another vain-glory attempt at shooting the correct angle after this round of corrections are ready for review. On the upside, converting the snapshot of the head to B&W was definitely a step in the right direction for a comparison ... and, as crude as it is, I find the clumsy photo-chopped hat a helpful glimpse too!
As always, thanks for the feedback and review ... making some changes to Ginger now that I hope to post for further review in a couple days ... and started sculpting another head that some of you may recognize ... stay tuned. 
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Country: USA
| Posts: 3006 |
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UKGuy
Fireman
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Posted - 10/31/2010 : 10:42:09 PM
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Well, I 'played' with the perspective for a minute or two, and though the idea was I wasnt going to post it when I started, when I got through it was so close that I decided to anyway.
After tilting 'your' head to match Gingers and then deciding that yours was also more face on and adjusting that also it really became apparent how close you are.
The general features you seem to have expertly replicated, the only difference I can point out is the upper lip. This may be lighting but only you can tell that. your heads upper lip seems to be set back/sunken in more than Gingers also your top lip needs to be 'fuller'.
You have certainly achieved the goal of a cute girl, and she's real close to Ginger. Once she's got some hair and makeup on she'll be turnin a few heads......
Karl.A
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5427 |
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UKGuy
Fireman
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Posted - 10/31/2010 : 10:51:13 PM
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Yep, you're right Dallas, Neil. After reading back through Neils comments and my own thoughts we all seem to agree on the mouth.
Karl.A
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5427 |
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