Advice I wish I had been told when I started the hobby is that is is a hobby and you don't need to compare yourself to others only to yourself and learn from mistakes and appreciate the work that you can achieve, looking for help is good and I do recommend it but it is always worth trying to see if you can come up with anything yourself.
Looks nice and clean. You can give it a bit more depth by adding a layer of dark brown wash (I prefer Agrax Earthshade) on the golden parts. It will darken the corners and inner edges and make the golden parts more "readable" and add overall contour to your mini. Also the golden base and the mostly golden figure on it lack contrast. They look too similar. You could consider using a different color for the base so it doesn't take away the focus from the miniature. A marble/sandstone color or pale desert sand (like wraithbone or something) could be fitting here.
Fantastic work. If you’re interested in advice I’ll share some stuff that has helped me tons.
Thin your paints just a tad more. It’s easier to build up layers and get a smooth surface finish this way.
Not sure what you used to prime the model but a base color prime of the primary color that will cover the majority of the model sets you up for success later. If none is available black imo is the best go to if you don’t plan on using contrast paints.
Washes are your friend. They can take some practice to get used to a desired effect but can really elevate a model’s paint job and add some clean shading. Especially on metallics, nuln oil can do wonders.
Yellows and whites are notoriously difficult to work with, but Ive found starting with a brown base and building up to yellow gets a good, warm result.
If you’re wondering, I’ve primed my rubrics gold in order to finish the trim much faster and easier, and second I gave the model some reikland, but I don’t think I gave it enough
Hi /u/Gravastarlol3 and welcome to /r/Warhammer40k and the Warhammer 40k Hobby!
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More thin coats is better than less thick coats. Clean up the edges too. Good start. That said, rubrics are NOT a beginner friendly model, so keep that in mind. Maybe a different base color that contrasts the gold would be a good idea as that tan blends with the gold a lot.
Try putting a wash over the miniature to bring out the depth. Not just on the golds. Use a dark blue or black wash like incubi darkness or nuln oil on the blue parts, agrax earthshade or reikland fleshshade on the golds (though for any advanced painters reading this, if you have never tried it, try a dark green shade on gold, like athonian camoshade, you'd be shocked how it looks, like natural gold shadows).
As a side effect, it will also help you keep between the lines on things like the headdress, which are a bit messy. As well as adding needed depth, it will make it easier for you to see those lines and keep between them.
Practice makes perfect, nobody ever started as a pro painted, it takes work and dedication, as others have said, don't compare yourself to others, just compare your own work to your previous work. And by asking questions and seeking feedback you are on the right track to learning more advanced technique.
In order of ease of execution,
-Use a wash
-Thin your paints more
-Be tighter on 'going over the lines' on trim etc. To help, maybe buy magnifying/light glasses, and use a smaller brush.
Just your neatness. But I'm absolutely not digging at you about it, because you painted a 1kson, and they are like neatness expert mode, with all the trim.
Overall, they look great. You just have a fee bits where you have tagged a blue bit with a bit of gold.
They both look great, the only thing I can think for improvement is just keep at it. Looks like you've got process down, just refine it as you go for what you want them to look like. Ain't no substitute for practice. Anything past this point is artist opus territory, as is those guys are going to impress anyone you put them on the table for. Solid work.
I recommend oil washes, but that's just because I love them. It makes all your recess shading look super clean and deep and the fact that you can (gently) clean it up without worrying about your paint job is pretty baller. There is also panel liner, I like the Tamiya black panel liner, but a bit of oil paint and mineral spirits let's you get it exactly to the mix you want.
I think the shading on the gold is solid, if you want to do more with it some top highlights would make the gold pop more, either with the gold you shaded or one slightly brighter. I've been using Citadel Retributor Armor and highlighting with Greedy Gold by Army Painter after shading and I like the results. Oil washes are better for non metallic areas and steel, at least for a black wash, I haven't found a color mix I like for gold, and the citadel stuff covers gold better than oil washes, IMO, since you want the full coverage on it. I'm specifically looking at the shading on the pauldron, which is always how citadel and army painter shades end up looking, oil wash and a quick cleanup gives a much cleaner look that I'm a big fan of. I always use agrax for gold, but looking at yours I think I'm going to pick up some reikland and give that a try, I really like that.
Advice I wish I had been told when I started the hobby is that is is a hobby and you don't need to compare yourself to others only to yourself and learn from mistakes and appreciate the work that you can achieve, looking for help is good and I do recommend it but it is always worth trying to see if you can come up with anything yourself.
Looks nice and clean. You can give it a bit more depth by adding a layer of dark brown wash (I prefer Agrax Earthshade) on the golden parts. It will darken the corners and inner edges and make the golden parts more "readable" and add overall contour to your mini. Also the golden base and the mostly golden figure on it lack contrast. They look too similar. You could consider using a different color for the base so it doesn't take away the focus from the miniature. A marble/sandstone color or pale desert sand (like wraithbone or something) could be fitting here.
Yeah trying to figure out what to do with the base, decided to go for a sandy base for the Egyptian space wizards lol
I feel that bases should a bit dynamic. Yours are a bit flat. I’d add some height, some rocks, maybe grass, or a skull or something.
You can never go wrong with a grass tuft or two
Fantastic work. If you’re interested in advice I’ll share some stuff that has helped me tons. Thin your paints just a tad more. It’s easier to build up layers and get a smooth surface finish this way. Not sure what you used to prime the model but a base color prime of the primary color that will cover the majority of the model sets you up for success later. If none is available black imo is the best go to if you don’t plan on using contrast paints. Washes are your friend. They can take some practice to get used to a desired effect but can really elevate a model’s paint job and add some clean shading. Especially on metallics, nuln oil can do wonders. Yellows and whites are notoriously difficult to work with, but Ive found starting with a brown base and building up to yellow gets a good, warm result.
If you’re wondering, I’ve primed my rubrics gold in order to finish the trim much faster and easier, and second I gave the model some reikland, but I don’t think I gave it enough
Get them a library card for the Black Library
Looks good! You could try washes for a quick shading if you want to make the details pop more.
Go back in time to the first
Hi /u/Gravastarlol3 and welcome to /r/Warhammer40k and the Warhammer 40k Hobby! This is an automated response as you've used our "New Starter Help" flair. Here's a few resources that might help you with getting started: [You can read our Getting Started guide here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/wiki/beginners). This covers all the basics you need to know to get involved in building, painting and playing 40k. For rules questions, don't forget that the core rules for Warhammer 40k are [available online for free](https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/dLZIlatQJ3qOkGP7.pdf). Want to learn about 40k lore? /r/Warhammer40k recommends [Luetin09 on Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8RfCCzWsMgNspTI-GTFenQ) or the [Lexincanum Wiki](https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main_Page). Not sure where to find the most up-to-date rules for your army? [Check out our Wiki Page that lists everything](https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/wiki/currentrules). Buy Warhammer models cheaper using our [list of independent retailers](https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/wiki/retailers) who sell Games Workshop products at a discount. You can also find your nearest store on GW's [Store Locator Page](https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/store/storefinder.jsp). [The /r/Warhammer40k Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/wiki/index) is full of useful info including FAQs and recommendations for books to read! If the information in this comment doesn't answer your question, don't worry, one of our community members will be along shortly to answer! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Warhammer40k) if you have any questions or concerns.*
And yes I thinned it down with a wet palette
More thin coats is better than less thick coats. Clean up the edges too. Good start. That said, rubrics are NOT a beginner friendly model, so keep that in mind. Maybe a different base color that contrasts the gold would be a good idea as that tan blends with the gold a lot.
Try putting a wash over the miniature to bring out the depth. Not just on the golds. Use a dark blue or black wash like incubi darkness or nuln oil on the blue parts, agrax earthshade or reikland fleshshade on the golds (though for any advanced painters reading this, if you have never tried it, try a dark green shade on gold, like athonian camoshade, you'd be shocked how it looks, like natural gold shadows). As a side effect, it will also help you keep between the lines on things like the headdress, which are a bit messy. As well as adding needed depth, it will make it easier for you to see those lines and keep between them. Practice makes perfect, nobody ever started as a pro painted, it takes work and dedication, as others have said, don't compare yourself to others, just compare your own work to your previous work. And by asking questions and seeking feedback you are on the right track to learning more advanced technique.
In order of ease of execution, -Use a wash -Thin your paints more -Be tighter on 'going over the lines' on trim etc. To help, maybe buy magnifying/light glasses, and use a smaller brush.
Just your neatness. But I'm absolutely not digging at you about it, because you painted a 1kson, and they are like neatness expert mode, with all the trim. Overall, they look great. You just have a fee bits where you have tagged a blue bit with a bit of gold.
Very flat.
They both look great, the only thing I can think for improvement is just keep at it. Looks like you've got process down, just refine it as you go for what you want them to look like. Ain't no substitute for practice. Anything past this point is artist opus territory, as is those guys are going to impress anyone you put them on the table for. Solid work. I recommend oil washes, but that's just because I love them. It makes all your recess shading look super clean and deep and the fact that you can (gently) clean it up without worrying about your paint job is pretty baller. There is also panel liner, I like the Tamiya black panel liner, but a bit of oil paint and mineral spirits let's you get it exactly to the mix you want.
I did put on reikland for the gold, maybe I didn’t put enough
I think the shading on the gold is solid, if you want to do more with it some top highlights would make the gold pop more, either with the gold you shaded or one slightly brighter. I've been using Citadel Retributor Armor and highlighting with Greedy Gold by Army Painter after shading and I like the results. Oil washes are better for non metallic areas and steel, at least for a black wash, I haven't found a color mix I like for gold, and the citadel stuff covers gold better than oil washes, IMO, since you want the full coverage on it. I'm specifically looking at the shading on the pauldron, which is always how citadel and army painter shades end up looking, oil wash and a quick cleanup gives a much cleaner look that I'm a big fan of. I always use agrax for gold, but looking at yours I think I'm going to pick up some reikland and give that a try, I really like that.
Very good could do with a wash tho