Orc Face SbS Process

Hello everyone!
Yesterday I uploaded in my Facebook Page the following Step by Step and I have to say that it had a huge acceptance and success (in fact I received 150 likes in the next 12 hours!). I am really surprised and I can only say THANK YOU!

So I have decided to prepare a small article about such process.

The figure itself is a 3up model of an old GW orc head.
When sculpting miniatures that will be released in plastic, the GW sculptors model them in a scale three times bigger than normal (in order to ensure that there will not be any deep and curved areas, avoiding the steel mould to break the plastic mini in the creation process). This pieces are not released or put for sale.

Several years ago (when I worked for GW) someone gave me this piece as a present as it was a bit faulty (a huge air bubble in the helmet -surprise!-). And last month I discovered it in my bit box and I decided that I wanted to paint it.
It was a perfect opportunity to use the airbrush in something different than clothes.

I wanted to create a realistic orc face full of contrast so I decided to prime the model with the complementary of the green yellowy color of the orcs: magenta.

Below you can find all the steps used:
Step 1: First I airbrushed the model with Warlock Purple (Citadel). Yes, Warlock Purple... 
Step 2: On top of the purple primer I airbrushed a thin layer of Burnt Cadmium Red (Vallejo) + Catachan Green (C) + Dark Blue Sea (V). To mark the shades.
Step 3: To define the base color I airbrushed again with Catachan Green (C).
Step 4 (The most complex Step):

• 4a: To define the highlights I applied (with the airbrush) a thin layer of Zamesi Desert (C) + Catachan Green (C), and afterwards I added a bit of Light Flesh (V) to the mix.
• 4b: Still with the airbrush I applied two kind of midtones: one with Snakebite Leather (C) to bring color and life to the face, and another one with Red Gore (C) in the lips, nose and around the eyes to define such areas. In both cases the paint was extremely diluted to deliver a glazing effect.

Step 5: Here I started with the brush strokes (finally) defining some areas with the same colors mentioned above, and accentuating the contrast between shades and highlights
Step 6: Final touches adding some gloss and satin varnish and painting the teeth. 

I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed painting it.
Very soon I will start painting the helmet and I'll prepare another tutorial.

Many thanks!

Curso de Pintura (22 y 23 de Febrero / Madrid) / Painting course (22nd & 23th of February / Madrid)

Después de 6 años sin tocar el mundo de la formación, he decidido lanzarme a la aventura y (con la ayuda de la gente de Fantastic Courses) preparar un curso de pintura que se llevará a cabo el fin de semana del 22 y 23 de Febrero de 2014 en Alcalá de Henares (Madrid).

El curso se publicitó ayer por la mañana y me enorgullece decir que en menos de 24 horas las 10 plazas se han llenado (y ya hay lista de espera para un segundo).
Espero estar a la altura de las expectativas :-)

De todos modos ya sabéis que si estáis interesados y esta vez no habéis podido llegar a tiempo a apuntaros, siempre habrá más oportunidades en un futuro no muy lejano (prometo no esperar otros 6 años) :-)
Muchas gracias!

After more than 6 year without delivering an education session, I have decided to embrace the adventure (with the support of the Fantastic Courses Team) of preparing a painting course in Madrid the 22nd and 23rd of February 2014 in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid).

The course got published yesterday morning and in less that 24 hours the 10 vacancies were booked (and there is already a waiting list for a possible second one).
I expect to cover the expectations :-)

Anyway, in case you are interested and this time you did not have the chance to sign up, there will be more opportunities in a not very far future (I promise not to wait another 6 years):-)

Many thanks!

I wish you a Merry Christmas and an Incredible Year 2014!!!

Hello Everyone,

This is a special period of the year, a moment for being nice with everyone, a time to share with friends, family and the beloved ones

2014 is just around the corner and it will bring many good things for all of us: new miniatures, more competitions, some painting courses, and the World Expo!!! 

On behalf of Karaikal Painting Studio I would like to wish you an incredible Christmas and a very Happy 2014 full of inspiration and new projects!!!

¡¡¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!

My new gallery in PuttyAndPaint.com

Hello guys!

Over the past couple of weeks I have been hearing about a new miniature website where the most talented painters and sculptors in the world could show their work and be voted accordingly.
Yes I know, the idea might sound quite similar to CoolMiniOrNot.com however there are three main differences:
1. You have to be an active member to vote
2. You have to receive an invitation to become a member
3. The vote is not based on a 1 to 10 range but "Props (Thumbs up!)", Bronze, Silver and Gold

I was gently invited by the creator of the site Philip Printz (thanks, Phil!) and here you have the link to my gallery.

I hope you like it.
Enjoy!

G̶a̶m̶e̶s̶ Day and Golden Demon UK 2013

One week has passed since this event, and my original idea was to put on paper my thoughts about the most disappointing GD UK of the last 10 years.

But... after all I have read while surfing on the web: all the criticism, all the anger, all the sadness, I think I will pass... I do not want to "make lumber from the fallen tree" (as we say in Spanish)...
Many people have shown their disappointment with the event in a very direct and sincere way: Volomir, Masterminis, Pins of War (three of the most popular hobby related blogs nowadays) and I cannot do other thing than agreeing with them.

This is sad but the jury has reached a verdict... and I think GW has to think about it...

Group Picture!!!

It was about time to clean my cabinet and I thought it was a good idea to take a group photo of the work I have done for myself in the past 13 years (since GD Spain 2000).

Many, many hours invested in this amazing hobby!!!

P.S. A couple of broken minis are missing (as they are lying down in the cabinet)

Some format changes

Greetings,

After a couple of years with the blog I thought is was a good idea to change the format slightly.

As you can see, the structure remains the same, but the colors have passed from orange to black and red.

Also I have in mind to update the blog more often with new step by step articles, mini-tutorials and more cool stuff.

Many thanks to all of you for being there