Hi all, happy new year! This is my first bust in 2012, "Viking 10th century A.D.", sculpted by Yury Serebryakov of Castle miniatures.
98% finished and still WIP there's some part I want to fix but I'd like to hear some critiques so I post the current status.



and here's SBS.



and my workbench, in normal daylight.


I still struggling with lighting settings when I shoot the pics, the colors looks very different in daylight and in the night with lightings. I'd like to know the best way to light it up and with black/dark backgrounds.

Any comments are welcome, as always.

Happy new year Kaz,
I like your work so far, finish it.

Very nice work, so far, love the skintones and the eyes!

Eddy

Hi Kaz

can only agree with Eddy. the skintones and the eyes are great

Ulrich

Kaz, This is the best version of this bust until date, just great...

Beautiful work as always Kaz. The eyes are superb. What advantages do you think there are by primering in black as opposed to white? I always use white as I think the flesh tones go on better but I would be open to change.

Excellent Kaz.

Thank you very much for your comments, CHRISTOS, Eddy, Ulrich, Rodrigo, Carl, john, and Dimitrios! Thanks!

To me, focus on lightening up by painting lighter colors on darker ones is way much easier than painting darker tones on lighter ones.

And, Vallejo black primer is the only one primer I have. That's another reason I start with black.

Contrasts on the pics above looks a bit strong but actually it's not that strong to the real eyes...here's close color to the actual tones, pics taken with iPhone 4S.

Great work. Lovely fleshtones. Nicely done.

Xenofon

Excellent work so far sir. The skin is just fantastic. Looking at your workbench I see that other bust that looks different than your normal painting style.

Very fine work

Thanks Xenofon, Mike and sam!

Oh, You mean the bust on red uniform George III bust? Thats' not my work. That's Sang-Eon Lee's work.
And...you can see brown wooden base of Dimitrios' pirate bust just in front of the PC monitor too.
I bought these two busts painted by my favorite painters, and they are always on my bench.

Superb work, pelt and eyes are outstanding.
Cheers
Derek

That's exactly what I thought. I have a couple of Lee's work also, they are great inspiration.

Wonderful skintones my friend!!

Thanks Derek and Chris, for your compliments, mate!

Thanks for the reply Mike, I didn't know you have lee's work too! Yes they are great inspiration.
Watching other painters work anytime I want is a great pleasure to me.

Nice WIP and great fleshtones.
Amazing paint all piece.

Superb painting !
Congratulations.

Looks amazing Kaz!

I recognized Lee's bust right away as I have pictures of it for reference. Are you not affraid to damage them, keeping them on your bench?

Cheers,
Adrian