Bored Panda reached out to rodman_dyl to learn more about their creative process, the challenges they face, and the techniques that bring their custom figures to life. The artist shared that they first got exposed to figurine painting when they accidentally saw some exquisite figurine works. "I wanted to find someone to paint my toy collection, but the prices were too high, so I had to give it a try myself. Since then, I've been painting figurines on my own and gradually improved my skills through continuous practice and exploration."
When painting a figurine, rodman_dyl begins by closely studying the prototype to understand the overall mood or essence they want to capture for the character. "Then, I use a special primer to coat the figurine, ensuring that the final skin color texture is similar to that of the character. After that, I start the detailed painting. Usually, I begin with large areas of base colors and then gradually add details and shadows. During the painting process, I adjust the color levels and transitions several times to achieve a natural and realistic effect."
The artist shared that on average, it takes about three days to paint a figurine's head sculpt, with the time varying depending on the complexity.
It's a detailed task, but according to rodman_dyl, the hardest part of painting a figurine is capturing fine details on small areas, like the character's eyes and hair. "This requires a high level of concentration and excellent painting skills."
To achieve amazing details in their work, rodman_dyl uses enamel paint and Tamiya oil-based paint as pigments. "They are bright-colored and long-lasting. In terms of painting techniques, I often use techniques like fine-brush outlining, multi-layer thin coating, and dry-brushing. Through these methods, I create a sense of three-dimensionality and layering."
