Redgrassgames

With the new episode of Miniature Masters dropping this week and watching the contestants face the latest challenge, I can't stop thinking about painting busts!

I've never painted a bust before, and sometimes new things feel daunting, but we can learn a lot and be inspired by other artists and take what we can from their work.

: The overall colour palette is so impactful across the whole piece. Working on a larger bust is so different to painting a smaller miniature and here we can see how much difference colour makes - gorgeous!

: Watching Alfonso sketch in Miniature Masters and hearing him explain the process is fascinating, a true master.

: I love busts like this so much, the way the detail is painted in key areas so perfectly means every time you look there's something new to see!

: Can you see the balance? The flawlessly executed detail is set off so well with the distribution of purples and greens across the piece. So beautiful and satisfying to look at.

Now you can post photos in the comments, I'd love to see what busts you've all painted for even more inspiration...who knows, I might even get around to painting my first one!

⚡ Danni from Redgrass

Creating realistic skin tones is a challenge...but I absolutely love it when artists throw realism out the window.

Whether it's bringing a fantasy creature to life, painting a humanoid that's "not quite human", or simply using unexpected colours to create atmosphere and dramatic lighting, unnatural skin tones can have an incredible amount of impact.

These are three of my favourites:

: I adore this piece. It's a beautiful example of how strong values create convincing form, regardless of the colours used. The bold palette is striking, but the value structure is what really makes it work. Definitely check out the greyscale version on Erik's page.

: Have you watched the YouTube video for this one? The process behind building this skin tone is fascinating, and seeing it come together makes you appreciate just how effective the final result is.
akore: That gorgeous purple skin tone completely defines this miniature. Every part of the paint job is beautifully executed, but the bold colour choice and high contrast give the character such a distinctive Elven feel.

⚡ Danni from Redgrass