The Bureaucrat. A diorama project log

[Student]

That's shaping up nicely. I really like his motivational poster.

[madd0ct0r]

needs more filing cabinets and maybe a datserver uplnk?

looking good though

[Davout]

A small update. I was able to build some of the detail pieces that will flesh out the scene. The scrolls are thin card stock rolled around a toothpick and the books are styrene wrapped in thin card.

[Student]

The books and scrolls look great. I particularly like the open book on his desk.

[Veteran Sergeant]

This has turned out really, really well. Great work.

[Davout]

Finished painting some of the furniture and detail bits.

[madd0ct0r]

nice - great table top

[spincr]

Gorgeous. Perhaps you could add several stacks of books (up to the ceiling), and a quilt to show their endless exploration through the written history..

[Davout]

Quick update. Finished painting the furniture and spincr, I've taken your suggestion and added a tall, tottering pile of books. Final details will include a stained glass window and some posters.

[Tomxj]

I really love this, great work!

[madd0ct0r]

i dunno - it needs a little more i think. more books, more servo-skulls, more posters, more underlings, more wiring and smaller pipes. Such an important offical (he has a window) would be surronded by lots of hangers on.

[spincr]

Hey! You flatter me!

Looking great, although a room used for ages normally doesn't look so clean! (although who knows, they must have dusters in the future

[Davout]

spincr and madd0ct0r: I agree with you both, the room is both to clean and to uncluttered. I keep staring at the piece trying to think of ways of giving it more personality while at the same time not making it appear to busy. As to not being dusty, my government office has people come in and clean at night, a never seen workfoce that emties my trash and vacums up my lunch crumbs.

Staring at my own workspace it’s covered in individual papers and lots of file folders (I also have a ton of never opened three ring binders from various classes). Any tips on recreating those in miniature? I’ve heard that tin foil works as paper. Has anyone ever tried that?

[spincr]

I think some small rubble in the corners and around the attaching sides will go a long way, perhaps a spiderweb high up in 1 ceiling corner. Also perhaps you can give the red details a bit more different colors as shades, and perhaps a shade on the floor (light through the window shadowing over the desk on the stone floor) - or something else!

PS: how did you make the books or were they premade?

Edit: more idea's
Skulls on the bookcase, perhaps a miniature schematic of the human body, then a space-marine suit compared to that.

Posters of galaxies (they always do good), perhaps a schematic or parts of a tyranid (you'd only need like a few bits to make it look like a display of sorts).

[agurus1]

I would argue this is a good time to use some more "high-tech" gadgetry, maybe a holo screen on his desk? for sure you need some servo skulls, and some underlings hurrying about. And more shading color wise!

[constant_ones]

Everything is looking great, if you are thinking of trying to give it more character what about adding some color/hue variation. That way you wouldn't have to add more "clutter" but you could make it more visually interesting. If you look around you at real world inspirations, you'll find most things are pretty saturated with multiple colors, rather than, for example, just say grey or blue. It was a constant critique of my paintings in college, and I've found it now applies very much to my mini painting as well. Hopefully that might give you some ideas

[Davout]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, and now some follow up questions. I’ll admit to being a “tabletop” level painter. I’m usually pretty satisfied with getting the colors in the right spots and adding a dry brushed highlight here and there but I’m trying to add some new techniques through this project so I appreciate the advice.

constant_ones: I get what your saying about multiple colors and tones. I tried to add a streak of light coming in through the window but I think it gets washed out in my pics. How would you go about adding depth to the existing colors and surfaces?

spincr: I made the books by cutting a piece of styrene stock, beveling the edges and then wrapping the stock in a thin sheet of card (I used left over poster board from my daughter’s “use the potty chart”). I learned the technique from here http://www.abarothsworld.com/

A great site with some great tips and tricks.

Off to the bits box, I know I’ve got some servo skulls in there somewhere!

[spincr]

Thanks, just going to the website and checking some stuff out is giving me ideas!

Like alchemist tableware: http://www.abarothsworld.com/photoga...ure/Table2.jpg

[constant_ones]

If I might suggest checking out my quest log? The cold ones, the new ones, are a pretty good example of how you can add colors to otherwise mundane tones, and get something really interesting out of it. I also used the same technique on the true scale wolf I just posted.

Specifically for your set, I might be tempted to use cool colors for the shadows and warmer colors to reference light sources. The cools are easy, just thin out some ink washes. Light is harder I think, if you have a air brush it becomes super easy, but otherwise it tends to be dry brushing which I find a bit difficult to use to achieve a smooth transition.

I'd also suggest using some harsh lighting, photograph, and then use the photo as a reference as to where you want to place your effects.

Hopefully those ideas are useful o you!

[Davout]

Big update for this project. Work and life got in the way of finishing some of the final details but I’ve managed to bring this project close to conclusion. I’ve added a larger base and finalized some of the details like posters, a window and a leaning tower of books. I also added a black wash to the walls in an effort to break up the uniform color of the bricks.

Now some pictures!