That's No Moon!

Wah Wing · **Posted:** Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:18 pm

Sorry for the Star Wars reference. :-D

I have this crazy idea for a diorama and need some help. :wink:

The scene is from Gandalf's 'story' of him searching for the "creature Gollum" but the enemy found him first. Gandalf is on horse-back at night perhaps in a field or forest, next to a river with Gollum eating a fish underneath him in a type of cave; 'hiding' from Gandalf.

So, first of all, is this a plausible diorama? Is it doable?

And second:
How do you paint a mini as if it's illuminated by the moon behind it? Do you paint the mini normally first, darken it, then paint the moonlight?
-or-
Do you paint the moonlight then paint the colours darker than usual on the other areas the moon isn't hitting?

Also, how do people (Golden Demon entries, etc.) do the steep banks next to a river to make it look realistic?

Thanks in advance. I've never done a project like this.

IsleStaggerholm · **Posted:** Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:56 am

This is quite ambitious for a first time project. For the moon I would do studies of pictures. Muted tones no deep colors, flesh tones turn bluish. If you are doing moonlight as the only light sources you're going to have to be very careful with the highlights and really plan out where exactly that moon is in relationship to the figure. Good luck, I look forawrd to seeing it in process.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:56 am

Look for real world pictures of riverbanks with undercuts, fallen trees washed up on the shore or whatever Gollum might be hiding under. And maybe some research through Golden Demon, CMON or other sites looking for similar projects.
It is a good idea, though creating it will be very challenging.

Wah Wing · **Posted:** Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:22 pm

Thanks guys. Those are great suggestions. So far these are some pictures that best show an idea of where I want to get. But not quite there.

This one, minus the text, is very close.

Gandalf will be up by the tree while Gollum hides in a cave underneath him. I was thinking pine trees but that one above would look great on a diorama if you could pull it off. :twisted:

I'll get photos of Gandalf that I've been working on. Keep the suggestions coming. Most appreciative.
Thanks again.

Minimal Monkey Saddle · **Joined:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:55 pm **Posts:** 463

I would take a still image from one of the films I think Two Towers has plenty of moonlight Gollum scenes and then use the colour select feature from an image editor to work out the palette. If you want to do directional lighting use the preshading method - prime the model black then using spray paint hit the model with white from the direction you want the light to come from. This should serve as a guide to where to place your highlights.

MacGothmog · **Posted:** Sat Oct 27, 2012 3:08 am

I never did it, but I think the trick is to use a really limited pallete. Blues, whites and blacks and everything else has to be really muted. Almost monochrome.

Check these stills from the movie:

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000001000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000001000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000200000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000004000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000004000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000004000

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... 0000004000

theOneRider · **Posted:** Sat Oct 27, 2012 5:32 am

This sounds brilliant! I look forward to seeing what you do!

Wah Wing · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:23 am

Thank you so much for the references and ideas! They are so helpful! :-D

Those stills are exactly how I want my display to look like!

As promised here are WIP's of Gandalf!
1st WIP:
I held the model up to my lamp and painted where the light hit with grey and then built that up to white.

2nd WIP:
Here, after adding colour here and there, I gave the entire model two washes of Badab Black. Is it dark enough?

My image editor doesn't have a colour selector so I just used different shades of grey, blue, brown, white, and black with some flesh colour too.
I would use the spray white idea but I already started painting.

Let me know what you think. Please be extremely critical (with in reason :-D

) as I want this to look good since it'll more than likely be displayed on a shelf or somewhere.
Thanks again.

IsleStaggerholm · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:52 am

I was skeptical at first--but that's a great start and now I'm really looking foward to watching this thread and project progress.

drougole · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:57 am

this will be an awesome diorama, love the gandalf. maybe he is a bit too dark, I don't know if its just the picture but maybe a bit more grey on his cloak

Telchar · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:17 pm

If I may make so bold - I think it needs a few extreme highlights of near-white over the highest tops.

Otherwise very good.

rikker · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:19 am

I love the idea and your painting. I think what you could do is make the shades on the side were there is no moon a little darker. The other side will automatically look brighter.

Crucium Giger · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:28 pm

An interesting idea and one that looks like it will be really rather good

Wah Wing · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:47 pm

Thank you guys for all the support and great ideas!

And now here are the finished pictures of Gandalf!
All that's left is to build the diorama and wait for Gollum and his fishy to arrive. :-D

This is my attempt at sculpting a bird. I then tried to paint it like a White-tail Finch but I didn't have any pictures for reference. My friend says it looks like a sparrow.

Let me know what you think!

rikker · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:06 am

Love it, looks awesome and the bird ads more live to it. Well done

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:49 pm

That's fantastic! And you sculpt also! Well done!

Telchar · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:23 pm

Great. Simply great. The bird looks like a sparrow, but sparrows are epic, so it's OK.

SidTheSloth · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:30 pm

Fantastic!
You've really captured the 'moonlight' look and the sculpted bird is great!

drougole · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:56 pm

awesome. great job with the moonlight look
cant wait for golem

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