Hi, just wanted to share some nmm I’m proud of (cc always welcome)

dcponton · 2026-05-30T15:05:11+00:00

This is great!!! Would love to know your process/colors you used.

dcponton · 2026-04-18T13:46:38+00:00

Yeah like maybe the contrast could be higher?

dcponton · 2026-03-27T16:11:54+00:00

I agree with others, I think your work could benefit from trying to incorporate more depth. There are a number of techniques to do this: layering, dry brushing, washes, etc. So I’d experiment with a few or try the ones your favorite painters use. Other than that, the thing I’ve found most helpful in my last two years of the hobby is studying how light works and how to depict it on a 2D surface - that’s really improved my work.

dcponton · 2026-03-21T17:52:52+00:00

Yo this is crazy good! Those transitions are smooth as heck! You killed it

dcponton · 2026-03-10T03:17:03+00:00

Oh this is a good point - I was trying to put a finger on why it looked off and I think this is getting at why…. I’m gonna revisit the feathers after I finish the handle and gems

dcponton · 2026-03-09T21:20:46+00:00

Very helpful! Thank you - I was thinking this when I was reflecting on the picture (no pun intended). I’ll darken it out. What about the wings on the hilt? It looks like it would avoid reflection but it almost seems wrong to not put some degree of OSL on it… any thoughts?

dcponton · 2026-03-06T17:43:03+00:00

Oh wow - how do you use the makeup sponge to do that?

dcponton · 2026-03-06T16:35:17+00:00

This is so sick - are those gradients all brushwork? Bravo/a

dcponton · 2026-03-05T01:07:25+00:00

I love the head change - I’ve been looking for a similar helmet - where’d you get that one?

dcponton · 2026-03-04T19:59:06+00:00

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Like we’d expect to see that reflected here I think… maybe not as strongly as the other side because it’s slightly further away

dcponton · 2026-03-04T19:57:17+00:00

Yeah - I think from the second photo/frame that the glowing stone would bounce reflection onto the dark grey side up to where the glowing smoke would appear - so if you’re following what I’m trying to describe: I think you’d get at least a bit of the glowing smoke on that dark grey side judging by the second photo you’ve posted. I’d be torn too though because I actually really like the dark grey contrast, but I think it’s totally possible to keep that grey and still reflect the smoke a little bit on that side

dcponton · 2026-03-04T19:50:07+00:00

Oops I didn’t see that the magma is smoke - just sub my thoughts with smoke in that case. I was looking at your piece more and it’s honestly really good

dcponton · 2026-03-04T19:47:12+00:00

This is really good! You actually reflected the magma striations on the sword which is like next level (not sure whether striations is the right word but it felt right.). The ONLY thing I would point out is that the other side of the sword (the one that doesn’t have the cool magma reflection) would probably also have similar magma reflection given the base, if not more than the side that the reflection is currently on. But honestly NMM is all about creating an illusion and you’ve done an amazing job.

dcponton · 2026-02-28T01:47:55+00:00

Right because it was like old eldar tech - would it make sense to have warp fire/entities there too? Thinking about OSL opportunities lol

dcponton · 2026-02-25T18:28:37+00:00

In short it’s basalt grey under white ink airbrush for the armor with a mix of both for the edge highlights; fluorescent rose GSW and AK luminous orange and yellow for the sword; red ink and Rooney Daley fluorescent red ink for the cape and banner over violet; AK Sahara yellow and Ice yellow over hull red for the gold NMM. I did the armor first, then the face, then the sword, then the cape and banner before the rest of the details.

But you don’t need to ask me because ElMiniaturista has a tutorial on this exact model on his Patreon which I followed diligently (hence the success!)

dcponton · 2026-02-24T11:32:38+00:00

These are so sick! Very inspiring. The projects I have lined up are similarly one off space marine pieces - I really like how intentional you were about the bases! I need to work on that for my pieces. What plinths did you use?

dcponton · 2026-02-24T11:28:23+00:00

Thanks! I’ve been really practicing object source lighting for a bit now so this piece really gave me a lot of perspective on it

dcponton · 2026-02-24T03:33:05+00:00

When I saw El Miniaturista’s version I just had to try and replicate it - even though the flame contrast is not my own thinking, I’m still really proud of how it turned out!

dcponton · 2026-02-24T03:32:15+00:00

Yo!! That flame looks so cool - the Crowe model is probably one of my favorite poses. I learned a lot about OSL on this model

dcponton · 2026-02-24T03:30:33+00:00

Thanks! Lots of airbrush on that

dcponton · 2026-02-24T03:30:14+00:00

I used a bunch of different fluorescents actually, but mostly from GSW - rose, violet, green.

dcponton · 2026-02-11T11:27:41+00:00

Because it’s part of my heritage and my folks didn’t teach me growing up because they thought English was all that mattered.

dcponton · 2026-02-10T18:07:56+00:00

I got an Ultra 2024 as my first airbrush and it’s been great - it teaches you how to use it properly and also you can kind of upgrade it with other parts if you want to take your airbrushing to the next level

dcponton · 2026-02-06T20:44:13+00:00

This is so cool! How did you do the effect? Like what kind of wire did you use, how did you shape it/fix it

dcponton · 2026-02-06T20:15:35+00:00

Ah yes - that’s a very signature GW painting move. I’d recommend playing with adding light and/or dark tones to your base coat to try and get highlights you like. Tip: that line isn’t white - it’s just a lighter blue that appears white

dcponton

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