Dwight Bills

VIC 7 - Vicky the Sorceress

This is my third time participating in the VIC - I believe you can see how much I've grown as a painter from the VIC 5 Orc Warlord to now.

This mini was a challenge - lots of small detail in the cloak and chestpiece. Also, the dragon skull on the staff - to be honest, I didn't even know what it was until after I had basecoated and washed this mini - then looked at the concept art and realized it was supposed to be something! This is a failing of mine, not the sculpt - I just never realized the detail in it until it was almost too late!

The cape is basecoated in Delta Jubilee Green, loincloth and base of the back of the cape in Apple Barrel Purple. The staff was based in Apple Barrel Golden Brown, and the dragon skull in Apple Barrel Taffy. The fleshtone is based with, yes, Apple Barrel Medium Flesh. Gold bits based in Apple Barrel Antique Gold. All leather pieces are based in Brown Oxide.

The purple bits were shaded with Dioxazine Purple, hilited with Rose Violet, Purple Smoke, and Light Rose. The green is shaded with Black Green, hilited with Medium Hauser Green and Leaf Green. The flesh is shaded with Santa Fe Rose, hilited with AC Flesh and Santa Flesh. The stadd is hilited with Bubonic Brown, shaded with pure Brown Ink. Gold bits are shaded with brown wash, hilited with Pure Gold and Inca Gold. The dragon skull is shaded with flesh wash and Goldenb Brown, hilited with Taffy and Titanium White. The base is painted Dark Umber, with Talus, green flock, and static grass added.

I had a great time with this piece; thanks to Dom and everybody at Reaper (and everybody else involved).

Dwight Bills

Comments submitted on the original site:

Geert writes...

I had another look at your previous entries and want to say you
have indeed progressed very nicely. Always a joy to see. I think
you did a wonderful job on the face.

Dave Kelly writes...

I like your sparing use of only a couple of colours across the
figure. Gives her a very 'mother nature' kind of feel, especially
with your choice of basing.

About the only other comment I would have is perhaps another
highlight on the hair? It looks a little flat in the photo. And I
sympathise with your problems at picking out the detail
initially, I had the same issues.

Had a look back at your previous VIC entries and you're
definitely right there's improvement in the last two, which means
you're heading in the right direction! :)

Dallas writes...

Hi Dwight,

I too looked at the past entries and was verily impressed with
how you have improved. Your eyes especially have improved
immensely. As to the problem of picking out teeny tiny details
I'd recommend a pair of low magnification 1.25 reading glasses.
Dallas

Deane P. Goodwin writes...

Green/purple is always a good strong combination and you used it
very effectively, not allowing the purples to overpower and
"busy up" the fig. Your work has definitely come quantum
leaps, especially your treatment of the flesh on her. Well done.

Tom writes...

Nice blending on the greens and purples... I'd like to see you
carry that kind of attention through to the staff, hair, and
flesh as well.

Ramon writes...

Hi Dwight,

Great progress... congrats! The flesh is really outstanding. The
rest looks very well done, and I think the ticket to even further
progress lies in starker contrasts (deeper shades and lighter
highlights...).
Really good job!

Ramon

Bethany Gecina writes...

Although the scans are a bit dark, she looks great. Love the
purples with the green and the eyes are great (since I have the
most trouble with the eyes, I tend to "pick" on them).

Jason writes...

Green and purple is always a nice color combination, but the
thing that most sticks out to me in this miniature is how closely
the base matches her jacket. I tend to think that the base
should provide some contrast to the miniature. Pretty nice
greens in her coat though, and her skin looks really good as
well. Is it the picture, or is she a little cock-eyed?