Freehand...aka: ugh

[mbh1127]

Anyone have any tips?

I'm a pretty horrible artist when it comes to drawing and I have never been able to get a hold on freehand.

But I do want to paint some stripes or flame type designs on my skaven.


I can't do it.

I can't deal with the folds in the robes or space them out properly. I thought I could maye use a pencil on the mini to plan the freehand but tat didn't work great.


Help...

[The Devourer]

Don't try to paint freehand on curves until you have a lot of experience- it isn't easy. I suggest trying it out on flat surfaces first to get some practice.

[mbh1127]

That's what I was afraid of

So I can kinda get the lines straight, which is good enough for rats. The other issue is being able to plan how to space the stripes out. I always end up with a few too close together.

[Yodhrin]

Practice is good; practice while using references is even better. Google up some pics of embroidered robes, cloaks, tapestries etc etc, and try to replicate simple versions of the patterns on a similarly-curved surface. The simple fact is, for those of us who possess no talent for 2D art, freehand is always going to be a struggle, the best we can hope for is "workmanlike" rather than some of the truly amazing stuff you see around the web.

[baphomael]

For certain designs, you could try masking the area with thin modellers masking tape or blue tac to get an outline, in a similar vain to masking camo patterns on tanks, in effect creating a 'template' Though this won't work for all freehand designs however.

Another method might be to draw an outline using a thin tipped pen or a very fine brush, and then colour it in with paints. That seems to be how a lot of freehand is approached, but if (like me) you don't have the steadiedt of hands it might be tricky. Still, worth practising ay least.

Alternatively, if you can, making your own waterslide transfers could be another method. With companies offering printable transfer paper its easier to copy a design onto computer and knock up a sheet of transfers. Course, that's assuming one can find/create a workable design.

But yea, I understand your frustrations. For my Minotaur marines id like to attempt some Greek style murals on some of the tanks, but I need to find a method I'm happy with that doesn't require a deal of artistic skill

[ctsteel]

You could also try drawing your intended design onto a piece of paper, then fold said paper to have the same folds/creases as the cloth you will be painting on. This will give you a rough idea of where the stripes and details shift to. Also try using a pencil or technical pen, or tiny amount of watery paint and generate a 'dot to dot' pattern to mark out the edges of the design, then you just line the dots together and fill in. Sounds easy (and i have no real experience with this of my own to speak confidently) but I have seen the same technique suggested online and in some White Dwarf articles so the principle is sound, and just needs some preparation and practice.

[Wicksy]

my advice would be to practice first. Basic freehand on flat surfaces can be done tons of times on a cd that has been spray undercoated. You can practice until you're confident. Folded surfaces are a little more difficult but you should be able to make some pleated cloth surfaces using thicker tin foil you get on yoghurt tubs etc.. Iron them out to rid yourself of creases then carefully fold them to shape. You can stray and paint then as many times as needed. It might sound long winded but it'll save your wonderfully blended banner or cloak from a hash up job

[ron]

I've got a few posts about working freehand onto models that might get you started.

Freehand, the trick is to break it all down into smaller shapes
Breaking up complex patterns and when to apply them
Two ways to map out freehand designs onto your models

[Doppleskanger]

Spacing is best done through division. So find the half and quarter points first and rough out your design. Then look at the space that's left to see how many repetitions will fit in the gaps, repeat the process if necessary.