Slitherine

Anyone got any tips on how to do a simple black dot for eyes on 15mm? Even if I use a pin the dot often comes out as an unsightly smudge. Wasn't really my intention to creat an undead EAP army!

Eques wrote:Anyone got any tips on how to do a simple black dot for eyes on 15mm? Even if I use a pin the dot often comes out as an unsightly smudge. Wasn't really my intention to creat an undead EAP army!

I dont usually bother at 15mm, howwver I did find that the secret for eyes is to do an eyebrow. My first attempt on a 25mm army some 20+ years ago ended up with a 2-deep line of 100 Lamming Miniatures Indian longbowmen who looked like they had all been hit by a very acurate barrage of fried eggs.

Eques wrote:Anyone got any tips on how to do a simple black dot for eyes on 15mm? Even if I use a pin the dot often comes out as an unsightly smudge. Wasn't really my intention to creat an undead EAP army!

I personally think doing eyes is a bit over-rated in 15mm, but if you wanted to do it I'd suggest that you paint the figure black, and then dry brush heavily the face dark brown and then dry brush lighter a flesh tone.

This way you will have left the depression of the eye sockets black and the brown will blend into the rest of the figure.

Let me know how it goes.

Ian

DaiSho wrote:

Eques wrote:Anyone got any tips on how to do a simple black dot for eyes on 15mm? Even if I use a pin the dot often comes out as an unsightly smudge. Wasn't really my intention to creat an undead EAP army!

I personally think doing eyes is a bit over-rated in 15mm, but if you wanted to do it I'd suggest that you paint the figure black, and then dry brush heavily the face dark brown and then dry brush lighter a flesh tone.

This way you will have left the depression of the eye sockets black and the brown will blend into the rest of the figure.

Let me know how it goes.

Ian

yup. instead of painting a "circle-face", just black out and only paint the nose, forehead, and cheeks. that there's your eyes, the dark patch glaring at you.

here you go - a quick example of the TV method




I really ought to finish the article I was doing on painting faces, but it goes something like this

using GW colours

base coat of dark flesh
T of dwarf flesh (T- across brow and down nose)
V of dwarf flesh (cheek to chin) - though the moustache gets in the way on this one
highlights of elf flesh on nose and cheeks

very quick painting guide now on my site

http://www.dracostandard.co.uk

Most of my 15mm minis don't have faces anywhere near as well defined as in those (very nice) photos. Or maybe I just need a jewelers loupe?

plewis66 wrote:Most of my 15mm minis don't have faces anywhere near as well defined as in those (very nice) photos. Or maybe I just need a jewelers loupe?

I agree, paint the whole lot in a not too light flesh colour then brown wash it is as far as I get.

Eques wrote:Anyone got any tips on how to do a simple black dot for eyes on 15mm?

Your persians won´t improve with the eyes painted. I have an EAP army and can ensure that they just don´t do. Tiara-covered heads look great with good lights on cheeks and nose, and leaving a black "hole" as eyes (it will resemble the shadow of a cenital sunlight).

Hi
here are my Persians. I never bother painting the eyes. As above I work from a black undercoat and use two shades of flesh, with a wash if there is a lot of flesh on the figure.

http://littlearmies.pbwiki.com/Persians

rbodleyscott wrote:

Eques wrote:Anyone got any tips on how to do a simple black dot for eyes on 15mm?

That's amazing Richard, how do you get the eyes to blink? Is that a Harry Potter style paintjob?

Ian

caliban66 wrote:Your persians won´t improve with the eyes painted. I have an EAP army and can ensure that they just don´t do. Tiara-covered heads look great with good lights on cheeks and nose, and leaving a black "hole" as eyes (it will resemble the shadow of a cenital sunlight).

i even use this method on 6mm.

the darkened eyes are more menacing that the googlies.

No eyes on anything smaller than 40mm figs. They end up looking silly.

I don't agree that eyes look bad on 15's. Which technique works also depends on the manufacturer. For Old Glory, which has average detail and small eye cavities, I rely on a wash or dip to fill in the eyes. For Essex, which often have large, crisp eye castings, I paint the whole eye white and add a black pupil dotted with a brush. For my Essex 7YW officers (with that parade drill look) I painted the eyes black, then used two small white dots, leaving the pupil black & some eyeliner.

It's up to you how much energy you want to put into it. But before you listen to me, I should admit that I once painted a few 6mm modern infantry figures for a friend who had made the mistake of razzing me about the detail I like to add. I painted some of them shirtless and added chest hair, just annoy him (and to see if I could.)

A good art supply store will have technical pens. They come in a variety of colors. They have a very sturdy, fine point that can be used for making eyes. Although I only use them on 25/28/32mm figures.

A quick, light tap with the pen and you have a nice round pupil.

WrongWay wrote:A good art supply store will have technical pens. They come in a variety of colors. They have a very sturdy, fine point that can be used for making eyes. Although I only use them on 25/28/32mm figures.

A quick, light tap with the pen and you have a nice round pupil.

Agree entirely - here's a 28mm Front Rank Prussian with technical pen eyes

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh63 ... fred1a.jpg

but never dreamed of going to 15mm figure eyes

Phil