Painting a lighted figure - Where's your light source?

[RedheadKevin]

Typically when I paint a figure, I use the old "halo of light" method, where you assume that the light source is directly above the figure, and that's how you know where to paint your highlights and shadows. But let's say you wanted to put a light inside a torch, or a lightsaber, or a lantern. Should I paint the figure with highlights and shadows from the "halo," so that it looks good when the light isn't turned on? Or should I use the actual LED as my light source when figuring out my highlights and shadows? In this case, the paint job would look odd with the light off.
For a clearer idea of what I mean, I'm building Yoda holding a glowing ball, so the major light source will be around his chest.

 

[jamstraz]

Typically when I paint a figure, I use the old "halo of light" method, where you assume that the light source is directly above the figure, and that's how you know where to paint your highlights and shadows. But let's say you wanted to put a light inside a torch, or a lightsaber, or a lantern. Should I paint the figure with highlights and shadows from the "halo," so that it looks good when the light isn't turned on? Or should I use the actual LED as my light source when figuring out my highlights and shadows? In this case, the paint job would look odd with the light off.
For a clearer idea of what I mean, I'm building Yoda holding a glowing ball, so the major light source will be around his chest.

While I'm far from an expert (in fact I'm as green as a painter can be) but I think they should have the shadows from the light source. But that's only because I have an odd obsession with light and dark. I would always have the light the figure has on because it's me.

 

[star-art]

I would agree--add shadows as if they are coming from the light source. IMHO the traditional technique of painting figures--at least to me--makes them appear rather fake looking. I think that's because colors tend to be too saturated and shadows and highlights are often exaggerated. This creates a bizarre appearance that , at least to me, is more reminiscent of "theater" makeup.

When it comes to making something look "scale," I've always felt you should reduce contrast rather than enhancing it. (Think about what it would look like if you were viewing the subject more from a distance and not up close.) Whenever I see a miniature that has overly bright or "contrasty" colors it just screams "fake!" Again, IMHO.

 

[basementdweller]

Painting a figure to simulate light coming from an object (no real light) is referred to as OSL (Object source lighting) in the figure painting world. Search for the term on youtube and you'll get an abundance of tutorials. Squidmar recently did a video on this. I would also check Marco Frisoni JR.

I think how hard you want to push this entirely depends on scale. You can make for some very atmospheric and awesome looking pieces with OSL, but it depends on what you are going for. Here is an entirely painted OSL Yoda bust by HK "Ken" Kim in 1/6 scale. Looks pretty dope to me.

If you are going to actually light the figure I would not push the OSL as much as I don't think it would look right with light turned on. It would be oversaturated perhaps unless you went with a white light and painted the colour of the glow on the model. I haven't tried this so I am just speculating. Personally I am in favor of OSL on figures rather than actual lights as it really leaves all the control up to you in terms of how you want to present it. You can make it as stark and dramatic as you want. With ships and vehicles it's a different story.