p1 spot pattern question

[kano1982]

ok so ive seen the pics of some preds where the spot pattern on the top of the head is nice and dark towards the dread line and fades to a perfect reptile like pattern closer to the center of the head i was curious if a stencil was used or if it was all free hand brush and air brush work????
here are some examples of what i was meaning (very nice work by these hunters) thanks
kevyn

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/Swa...an_25_20084.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/Swa...n29_2009_46.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/Swa...n29_2009_42.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/Swa...09/IMG_6734.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/Swa...09/IMG_6743.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/Swa...09/IMG_6779.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/Swa...n_2009/1030.jpg

 

[Unforgiven Hunter]

It is all freehanded. The faded spots in the center of the head are actually a different layer of paint lying underneath the darker spots.

-Chris

 

[PredatrHuntr]

Thats a Howard bust I painted up and it was all done freehand. As far as I know, no one has ever used a template/cut out/stencil for spots. Think about it for a sec - the head itself is round and curved. It would be next to impossible to get a stencil to cover the full area (or even a little bit) without the stencil either lifting from the head or shifting as you paint.

Spots are one of the hardest things to paint because they must be random spots and yet still follow a pattern of interlocking puzzle-pieces. Its the same way in nature. Look at a giraffe's spots and a leopard's spots....they are like puzzle pieces.

Spots take a whole lot of time and patience to get right...

 

[kano1982]

PredatrHuntr first off hope you dont mind me using your bust as ref material its a beautiful paint up ..... i have only painted a 1/8 scale pred figure by geometric designs so the spots arent as detailed in that scale .. i figured a stencil was kind of out of the question thank you for yours and Unforgiven Hunter's responces ...... i have done model kits since i was younger and every time i start a new project i like to learn or figure out a new way to do something thanks again

 

[kano1982]

oh an additional question do you layout or kind of sketch in the pattern before you start or do you just just jump in and go with the flow??? sorry for my questions you know how noobs are lol
kevyn

 

[PredatrHuntr]

No problem - I don't mind answering questions as long as they aren't retarded lol!

I just go with the flow really. You'll notice that I make the spots slightly smaller towards the edges and larger towards the back of the crown. I always start large and gradually go smaller and smaller - but not minuscule. At a certain point the spots get too small and lose the detail that you were hoping to achieve.

Hope that helps...

 

[kano1982]

awesome man thank you thats going to be a crap load of help keep up the amazing work
kevin

No problem - I don't mind answering questions as long as they aren't retarded lol!

I just go with the flow really. You'll notice that I make the spots slightly smaller towards the edges and larger towards the back of the crown. I always start large and gradually go smaller and smaller - but not minuscule. At a certain point the spots get too small and lose the detail that you were hoping to achieve.

Hope that helps...