This is the type of thing I mainly used to paint before giving up on display figure painting 20 odd years ago, so more familiar ground. I would say comfort zone, but actually it has not been comfortable at all.
I have settled on trying to achieve a naturalistic, low contrast style and limit myself to figures of this sort of size until I feel confident enough to tackle the busts that got me back into the hobby.

This is an old New Hope "Men at Arms" 54mm release. I had to repair the hat brim and his nose due to damage to the casting so at the same time I added the beard and pipe. Painted in acrylics.
Basically a monotone blank canvas to practice glazing colour graduation, I tried to get 3 different grey colours on the jacket, vest and trousers.







Best images I could get with my phone unfortunately. Base is supposed to represent the bow deck of an Ironclad on the Mississippi but my phone decided to completely ignore it for some reason.

Critique welcomed.

Excellent work

Mobo

Thanks Nap, yes one of the smaller range 54s. Anatomy is a bit off as his head is too big. Nice simple subject to start with though.

As for moving the post, is the Critique Centre forum redundant then?

OK, probably best here. I don't think my efforts warrant posting in the Completed forum. Neither painting nor photos are up to that standard.

Hi Rob,

A finished figure is a finished figure. When it’s done and on the shelf it’s completed.

My first piece of advice is stop wasting time on crappy figures. I should take my own advice. Better quality figures will make you a better painter. The sculptures today are far better than these old IR figs and the figures will paint themselves.

The skin tone looks good. Eyes look like they are placed well. It’s clean, color selection is fine but could use more contrast. Again I need to take my own advice.

When you think you have enough contest, keep pushing highlights and shadows.

Thanks Mike, the figures I am practicing on will probably never get to the display case, I have a couple of "nice" 54s that will get a bit more attention and have a couple of El Viejo Dragon 60mm figures and 4 new busts on order, but for me they are an expensive purchase so will not be touched until I feel more confident.

.......edited 29/07........

I am re-assessing the contrast thing, my intention was to stay "natural" but looking at other painters work in 54mm I like, I am thinking high contrast may be the way to go on this sort of size model. I may rework this one in due course (I like the subject).

Apologies if this edit confuses things

Don't do yourself down, Rob. Those apparently simple figures like these are usually anything but. There's no hiding place on this one. Keeping the figure in three slightly different shades of the same colour is tricky and requires a good eye. You've nailed it. As for photography, don't even get me started - that's almost another hobby by itself. It looks lit well, but I don't think the black background is doing it any favours, but what do I know?
A good job there, mate.

Thanks for the comments. He is pretty dire but the photos make it worse than it is. I have had better luck with pictures of my Cuirassier and Pirate Girl by not bothering to set up lights and backgrounds etc, just go "Portrait: Auto" on my phone and pick the best one of a dozen or so.
I have a nicer Shenandoah ACW 54mm figure underway so will try getting better pics of this guy when I finish him.