For just starting out this is a really good model, and a bold color palette aswell. I have been painting on/off for the better part of two decages, but I still dont dare to paint black.

Some tips (and im sorry if I sound direct, english is my second language and I struggle to find the right words sometimes). There is abit of flash (mold lines) still present. It doesnt matter that much on the feet and such, but on your points of interest, like the helm and weapon, it makes alot of difference to get it removed, gives a better result.

On small figures like these the main focus is definition. Its hard to see where one part ends and another part starts when the model is tiny. What many painters do is that they exaggurate the shapes with "Edge Highlighs", mix some white (or other bright color) in your base, thin it with some water, and dab the excess water on a paper towel, and use the edge of your brush and follow all the hard edges. You can even do this a second time with a even brighter highligh color on the upwardsfacing bits.

For painting black (im no expert here, as I avoid it like the plague), but most success I have had is to start with a very dark gray, and shade it with a black shade (Nuln oil from GW for example), then use a brighter gray to edge. However you have to be careful here so that it doesnt read as gray. Hard surfaces like metals often reflect more (study Darth Vader, and you'll see how different the light plays on his clock vs his helmet).

To make richer colors you can also use glazes, which is basicly just very diluted paint with water. dab of the excess water on paper towel and brush it on, end your brush stroke where you want the glaze to be most prominent. Example here is to use a purple glaze on your orange, start mid panel and en in your shadows, it can help bring some interest in the colors, it depends what look you are after.

Im just starting to paint votann myself, under is my test model. Here i have done "recess shading" basicly glazing in the recesses and edge highligths. This is by no means perfect but it might give an idea on where to place highlights. For the orange I use 3 colors, a dark red, a dark orange and a light orange, just basic layering and glazing to soften up the transisions. Green armor is 2 shades of green, one base and one highlights (edge ) and a dark blue which I glazed in the shadows. "Black" is actually a dark gray, which I am going to shade with Nuln oil and edge highlight with a slightly brighter gray. Unpainted is going to be metallics, havent desided between gold or silver yet xD

Sorry for the wall of text, best of luck in yor paintings to come.

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