From Intimacy Male to Crystal Skin
Beginning a Paint Job
As my friend is running Collux, I asked her what colour she imagined his crystal skin being. She said blue, and so the struggle to create something un-Smurf-like commenced. I base-coated him in Citadel’s Kantor Blue and was immediately unhappy.
I realised what I’d been imagining was semi-translucent skin, which would in turn mean that Collux’s muscles, bones and organs would be partially visible. The thought was so overwhelming that I dropped the project over Christmas. When I came back to it, I produced the above replica of a male muscle anatomy over the miniature.
When I began detailing the crystals, this turned into…
An extremely weird effect, which I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked. The back of the miniature was satisfactory, but the front of the miniature draws the eye in too many directions: from the eyes, to the crystalline structures, to the stomach muscles. I decided I would have to do more work to try to pull him together, visually.
Perhaps a red, blue or even purple wash can tie all the elements together? The translucent skin is really well done and fits with Kindom Death Monster really well. Are you going to add a post on how you achieved the effect?
After I finished painting the musculature, I glazed over the top using Kantor Blue. I think I hit it a bit heavier over the face than the body. I don’t think I’m going to add a new post because he’s been stripped at this point, but I am going to document the painting process a little more carefully this time around.
I think you’re right – purple is probably the key to tying it together.