Dryder Eyes

[Keeper]

OK, I've got another painting dilemma, and since you guys were all so helpful with my Blood Angels Block, I thought I'd pose it here.

So, as well as the BA Captain, I'm currently painting an old RAFM Dryder (half drow/half giant spider for those that don't know).  I've got a nice dark skintone that I'm happy with, from 50:50 Chaos Black:Tamiya IJN Gray (I know, but that's how they spell it on the pot!!) up to a 2:1 Tamiya IJN Gray:Skull White.

And then I thought - I'll do the eyes next - followed by - how exactly does one paint a dryder's eyes?

My gut instict is red eyeballs with a black kermit-type pupil, but I can't decide if that is a good idea or not.  So any advice anyone has is welcome.

Thoughts anyone?

@gi6ers, yes I'll take pics as soon as I can! ;)

[Balgin Stondraeg]

And then I thought - I'll do the eyes next - followed by - how exactly does one paint a dryder's eyes?

My gut instict is red eyeballs with a black kermit-type pupil, but I can't decide if that is a good idea or not.  So any advice anyone has is welcome.

Red eyeballs with no pupils. I think all drow eyes are supposed to be like that.

[gi6ers]

Personally I'd just paint the socket white (a thick wash of white if the eye is well sculpted) then just wash in TCR or Red paint. A dot of white for a highlight or a touch of gloss if you are feeling brave and that's it.  IMO a black pupil won't stand out enough to make it worth the effort/stress.  I'm going to do this on Liralith (HF) when I do a new version.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Yeah, white with red ink. I did purple eyes the same way (but with purple ink) and they looked really good:





That's an old indoor photo with really bad lighting but maybe I'll take a new one someday soonish.

[dargrin]

Back in the day, I won't say how long but our Drows had either red glowing eyes or had black eyes with red pupils.

[Squigface]

Weeeel, if you qant to do things the complicated way you could do them the way I paint Goblin/orc eyes on display minis;

Paint eye black

Paint eye yellow so you can see a thin black outline

Highlight the yellow wih a lighter yellow

Paint a dark red pupil

Highlight the pupil with orange

Do a black iris

Do a White(ish) Reflection dot

Done correctly this looks really good, but I can understand if you didn't want the hassle.

Squig

[Baldemyr]

Didnt Drizzt have Violet eyes? I thought within the Forgotten Realms Drow had normal eyes<in daylight> with slightly off colour pupils.  Or was that just Drizzt?

[Balgin Stondraeg]

I like the 1st edition Monster Manual Drow entry (not the Fiend Folio Entry which blatantly contradicted it).

MM1: The drow do not exist. There is no drow subrace of elves. They are just wicked stories told to frighten children.

And then Fiend Folio came out and someone wanted to create drow stats :(.

And then loads of really bad GM's ignored the "frequency: very rare" bit of the stat block (and since very rare meant encountered 2% of the time, and there were lots of other very rare creatures, the chances of ever meeting any drow should've been minimal but loads of crud* "the drow army is attacking your crud*py Forgotten Realms village" computer games made people think they were cool even if they look like a Pint of Guiness).

[Dr.Evil]

Since it's fantasy and unless your painting to set rules, you can paint them however you want.

I might try blue myself with just the white spot for reflection.  :icon_wink:

[Custom_Hobby]

Didnt Drizzt have Violet eyes?

In a word: YES :bludrgn2:

[Keeper]

Thanks for all the ideas, chaps - I didn't think it would produce this many responses - I guess Drow really are as cool as they are rare! ;)

@Balgin: I really dig those violet eyes
@Squigface: I might consider that method, as the Dryder mini is bigger than a usual heroic 28 size torso - Its closer to ogre size and the head and eyes are bigger, too.

Images as promised.  Click to link to Cheddarmongers:

   

[gi6ers]

Nice work so far mate.

[Bruenor Odinson]

Looks cool already, I'd go with red eyes tho.

[Keeper]

Actually, looking at the photos, I think I'll give the skin a couple of really thin washes of Dark grey and perhaps re-highlight a little, but I think I'll go with the red eyeball - which with a couple of TCR washes.

Then I need to sort out all of those damn little spots of white in the spider fur, before I can drybrush it!

Thanks, chaps.

[gi6ers]

Not sure you need the washes but another highlight on the eyebrows, nose, bottom lip and cheekbones would be good.