How to Paint a Miniature Sphere Like a Crystal Ball

The wizard with orb is a classic roleplaying game miniature. But how to paint a pewter sphere to look like something transparent and glassy?
Working artist and longtime roleplaying gamer Alessandra Kelley shares tips and instructions (and a smidgen of art history) on how to paint the illusion of glass on tiny spheres. You can use the optical properties of transparent pigments and layering to achive the illusion of transparency!
Featured painted miniatures:
Stonehaven Miniatures SH0210 "Half-Orc Nobleman"
Reaper Miniatures 50212 "Incredible Woman"
Das Schwarze Auge / DSA: The Dark Eye 28mm Fantasy 15500b "Female Sorcerer"
Ral Partha 01-070 (b) "Dwarf Seer with Crystal Ball"
Hasslefree Miniatures HFD104 "Drya Lafhelgasdottir"
Reaper Miniatures 14143 "Dwarf Rogue Kara"
Reaper Miniatures 03566 "Elf Rogue Villoa"
Reaper Miniatures 03042 "Morrdha Vampire Noble"
Heritage Miniatures Fantasy 1302 FF2-A "Evil Wizard with Staff 1"
Ral Partha (unidentified) "Wizard/Shaman/Priest with Staff and Crystal Ball"
Reaper Miniatures Bones (plastic) 77290 "Mousling Druid"
I mostly use Golden Matte Fluid acrylics. I find they work very well. They aren't as matte as some and they aren't terribly fluid either, but their transparent pigments are good and transparent.
Please consider joining my Patreon. All support is greatly appreciated. Not kidding!
/ achronalart
Achronal Art (Alessandra Kelley) is on Twitter at: / achronala
And on Instagram at: / achronalart
This channel is not monetized. I’m not an affiliate of anybody, and I get no kickbacks for recommending books or art supplies.
The music used in this video is the “Shreveport Stomp” composed and played by Jelly Roll Morton (Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe) in 1923. I slowed it down a lot, though. Go listen to the original; it really slaps!
#MiniPainting
#ReaperMiniatures
#MiniaturePainting
#AchronalArt
#AlessandraKelley

Пікірлер: 26

  • @christianolsson2898
    @christianolsson28985 ай бұрын

    I can't believe this is the ONLY video on mini crystal balls on youtube, kudos taught me a lot and really helped me paint one =) THanks!

  • @kumisz2
    @kumisz22 жыл бұрын

    Now we have something to ponder.

  • @apocalypticmoth6040
    @apocalypticmoth60402 ай бұрын

    This was legitimately great. Love the traditional art background to it. You’re fantastic at educating effectively!

  • @aregulargamer1
    @aregulargamer19 ай бұрын

    Very cool, thank you. I'm gonna adapt this for 30k Alpha Legion Venom Sphere grenades. Basically transparent spheres full of green energy or liquid.

  • @Oakbard
    @Oakbard10 ай бұрын

    This video is fantastic, thanks so much. I can't wait to try this when I get home tonight! 😊

  • @wellywanderer
    @wellywandererАй бұрын

    This is exactly the kind of tutorial I was looking for. Thanks for including so many examples - it's great to learn how to vary the technique.

  • @TAP7a
    @TAP7a2 жыл бұрын

    It's really nice to see a mini painting tutorial from someone outside of the current wargaming zeitgeist, especially bringing in all these lessons from classical art. Thanks for posting this, I'll be adapting it for screens and gems for sure!

  • @Nejvyn
    @Nejvyn2 жыл бұрын

    Wow, that's so helpful, and really easy to remember with all that background information! Also, your pronunciation of "Das Schwarze Auge" is perfectly fine!

  • @alyssablackwell
    @alyssablackwell8 ай бұрын

    This is incredible helpful, thank you!!

  • @amelia54211
    @amelia542112 жыл бұрын

    That half-orc noble looks very classy

  • @nottelling808
    @nottelling8082 жыл бұрын

    This makes me feel so confident, I want to try it right now! Thank you for this wonderful tutorial.

  • @salavora
    @salavora2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for all the information, I never realised how much work goes into those miniatures and love the glass effect you showed here (and your pronunciation is surprisingly good actually ^_^)

  • @00moon
    @00moon2 жыл бұрын

    This is very cool, thank you for explaining hows and whys it helped me understand better!

  • @Flame-xv7no
    @Flame-xv7no2 жыл бұрын

    Just found your videos and they're really entertaining and informative to watch, can't wait to see more!

  • @amelia54211
    @amelia542112 жыл бұрын

    Thanks a lot! Really helpful video, I especially enjoyed the little digressions into art history! Absolutely fascinating.

  • @questgivercyradis8462
    @questgivercyradis84622 жыл бұрын

    Fun guide for the orbs! :)

  • @Shooterpirat
    @Shooterpirat5 ай бұрын

    Very nice and entertaining video. Actually I love the presentation! My sub is earned! 😊👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

  • @Shooterpirat

    @Shooterpirat

    5 ай бұрын

    Also you pronounced "Das schwarze Auge" correctly 😊

  • @YukiGidd
    @YukiGidd2 жыл бұрын

    This has helped me with some shading issues I've been having. Thanks ^>^

  • @snowbox6625
    @snowbox66252 жыл бұрын

    I have been thinking about taking up painting and this is a really good tutorial, probs wont get it right but that's art I suppose

  • @christopherrobinhood9802
    @christopherrobinhood98022 жыл бұрын

    Woah

  • @pezlerthepolychromatic8337
    @pezlerthepolychromatic83372 жыл бұрын

    It's lovely seeing another video from you again. this is something that I may have to try with contrast paints to see what effect it may have. As for erasing paint, you may find that a bit of airbrush cleaner applied lightly with a Q-tip might be able to remove the top layer of paint without touching the rest. Oh, and........Pezler sends his regards, my friend.

  • @amelia54211
    @amelia542112 жыл бұрын

    Don't lick your brushes? But how'd you keep them damp then o-o xD

  • @Tinalles
    @Tinalles2 жыл бұрын

    Consider investing in a pop filter for your microphone. There's a distinct popping noise each time you pronounce a strong plosive. For example, the words "Pale", "Transparent" and "Opaque" in the summary all come with a noticeable pop sound. It's a fairly small issue as these things go, but once you've heard it once it's hard not to hear it a bunch more.

  • @Envy_May
    @Envy_May Жыл бұрын

    i can hear the similarity to red's voice.....

  • @jeanthornton2107
    @jeanthornton21074 ай бұрын

    Bloody awful distracting music in the back ground