Dwarf Gem Collector

[wotan]

Paul

Very interesting approach, and great progress so far. Don't forget that there are two ways to make things look brighter. Lightening up and saturating the colour, OR darkening the surrounding area. With the lighting that you are going for some deep dark shadows would certainly aid.

JOhn

 

[PaulinKendal]

Absolutely, John. I definitely need to drop the unlit areas right down - I'll be focusing on that to begin with, I think. And thanks for the kind words!

 

[JR]

Stunning cast, good idea with the light direction.
Will sit and enjoy .

 

[Steve Brodie]

Just seen this on FB -

https://www.facebook.com/ArnauLazaroMiniatures/posts/966107540573575

 

[PaulinKendal]

When it's good, OSL is very good. No pressure then...

 

[Tim Marlow]

Something of the Rastafarian about that bust to my eye….great OSL though..

 

[PaulinKendal]

Real life in the shape of some (very welcome) house guests had this on hold for a while. Just managed to get back to it.

Bright bits have been taken up, dark bits toned down. Still a long way to go.

I'm realising that OSL probably works best in photos. In ambient light the effect is compromised by the 'normal' shadows cast. It doesn't matter how much white paint I slap under his hooter there's always shadow there, confounding the OSL which should have that area as one of the brightest on the whole bust.

Interesting project nonetheless.



Not sure this really shows what I mean about ambient light compromising the effectiveness of the OSL - maybe I'm overstating it:

 

[Tim Marlow]

Coming together Paul. I agree about the photography enhancement of OSL. I think the same thing happens with NMM. Not sure the top right of his hooter would be lit up by the gem though?

 

[PaulinKendal]

Thanks Tim. Agreed about top right of the schnozz - plenty of time for adjustment.

 

[Mickc1440]

Really like the way this is going Paul, well done so far

 

[PaulinKendal]

Thanks Mick, much appreciated.

 

[PaulinKendal]

OK, I got seriously distracted by good weather, visiting friends, dinghy sailing, gardening and much more besides. Rather lost interest in this, but I've decided it's now done. I found the OSL effect quite limiting - everything was either brightly lit or very subdued, with little in between. His blue and red cuff is a bit out of kilter, but I just wanted to add some more colour interest. I was going to try adding some fabric texture to his sleeves, but didn't want to muck up the glazed transitions for little added overall effect.
Anyway, I hope you like it. More pictures under 'The Illuminated Lapidarist'.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Excellent work. Weird thing about OSLis that you need to graduate the colour back towards the source, and deal with colour distortion at the same time, but also deal with the natural overhead lighting highlights and shadows…..makes my head hurt just thinking about it

 

[PaulinKendal]

It certainly vexed me, Tim!

Ultimately, there's nothing you can do about the REAL light source, unless you blast high intensity light at the figure from exactly the same angle as the purported light source.

I could have done this for a photo, but I'm not going to display it at home lit like that. I lit this bust full-frontal rather than from below, so the underside of his nose, which should be almost as bright as the gem, is in a bit of shadow.

I reckon OSL is always going to be a bit of a disappointment unless your 'object' is actually above the figure - I'm thinking flaming sword held aloft. Maybe I should try doing it on a figure like that sometime.

 

[PaulinKendal]

Just to prove a point, here's the bust lit from below with a torch. His nose is now suitably bright, but the gem is in the shadow of his hand, and the back of his hand is all lit up, which is completely wrong, of course.