English post on my Norwegain blog – it’s simply because of high demands of explanations and this makes it easier for me than to reply to 5+ people seperatly.
*The subject of this repaint project is the Ellie figure from TLOU2 collector’ edition.*
I do believe that is something anyone with an eye for details, a steady hand and the right tools can manage to do, if not even better than my attempt. There is no magic or much hocus pocus beind this. I’m aware this would be alot easier to explain in a video, but I’m not in a position where I can easily make one just like that. But I might try to do one later.
Since I have a ton of paint already lying around, I mostly used that I already have to work on this. What I used for this «repaint» is in this picture:
1.Carwash sponge – criteria is no soap in it, and somewhat big holes. I cut this into small triangles to easy access the places I’m gonna use it for and for easier grip/hold.
2. Palette – any palette to blend and mix paint on works, even cardboard plates work.
3. Painting brushes:
– Miniature brushes sizes 10/0 (eyes), 3/0 (freckles) & 2 (other details). I can recommend those with ones with triangle gip for more steady control when adding tiny details.
– Standard round brush size 2 (other details)
4. Color pencils:
Not named or numbered for todays color table, but these are from a Faber-Castell color pencil set I have called «36 colors of nature», each pencil having a number on them (+ tombo mono zero eraser, just in case). My set is too old so the numbers dosent excist anymore, but the colors used (top to bottom) are cirka these:
– Middle Cadmium Red
– Venetian Red
– Coral/salmon
– Mauve
– Walnut brown (freckles)
– Burnt Ochre
5. Acrylic paint colors:
– standard green
-black
– white
– sterling blue
– burnt sienna
– skintone/nude
I used what I have which is from the brands of FolkArt and AppleBarrel. This paint is thinner than the ones of tubes and therefore easier to work with. Clean colors straight from tubes/boxes are too clean to pass as dirty, so you have to do some mixing to get a more natural looking color.
Other than mentioned above you need the essential glass with water and pieces of household paper for the paint while you work of course.. you know to, faster dry them up inbetween changing colors.
Starting with the face
Before you do, I will recommend that you find a referance picture of Ellie’s face to look at while you work. I used this one which cover her from all angles (if the save of the one below is too small, left click and «search for picture in Google».)
Numbers for explaining the facial picture further down:
1. The shading above the eyes was the first thing I did and where I started. Here I used color pencils carefully with the colors of nr 2 Venetian Red and nr 3 Coral/salmon (eyelids) on the picured below. Just in case I mess up I had my Tombow mono zero eraser (round tip) available, because it easily can access creaks and corners. Be easy on the hand – get soft layers rather than harsh lines.
2. On the pupils, I mixed the green paint with a hint of black, as the standard green color is very clear. The eye color on the statue however is already too dark, so you want a middle thing. Here I used the thinnest painting brush (10/0). Be easy on the hand yet steady and this is a quick thing to get out of the way. *I did not touch the white reflection og black center of the eye that was already there.
TIPS: Always give it a try on a piece of paper first before going for the statue to see how the brush works for you. You would want to have minimum with paint at the tip of the brush to avoid the lines being to wide for the eye, or the paint to get clumpy.
Doing the tip above, I took one single extra brush stroke/line with the thinnest brush to thicken the eyeliner a bit, before adding 3-4 longer lashes at the end of the upper eyelid and 1mm of lashes at the lower part of the eye.
3. For freckles I first used the walnut brown and burnt ochre colorpencils to make small dots, trying to match the referance as much as possible, but leaving en opening for the more visible ones. For those I mixed burnt sienna with a hint of white (when I say hint I mean I dip the tip of the brush I’m using and mix the little I get on it) until I got what looks like a more brownish skintone. Alternative here is to mix the sienna and white with skintone if you think it looks too harsh. Again, just the tip of the brush, and carefully make the dots where you want them on her face. I advice to have close-up referance picture of Ellie’s portait available when you do.
4. For the lips I used colorpencil nr 4 Mauve for the middle line between the lips, the nr 1 Middle Cadmium Red to add cracks/details on the lip and the Venetian Red softly to add a more pinkish tone to the whole part (lips) as a whole.
Being soft on the hand is key here!
The concrete
Remember to cover up Ellie’s legs and back all the way around where she touches the concrete block. I used masking tape as pictured.
For this part, mix black and white – more white than black – to get a similar shade of grey as the one already on the concrete. Find your sponge, cut it into small triangles ca. 3-5 cm in length on each side and in width. I picked this little size for easier control the space behind her legs. It’s a tight spot to reach with a bigger piece of sponge after all.
Dip one side of the triangle in the paint, try it on a piece of paper a few times first to avoid bubbles (in case your sponge actually sucks the paint all the way into it) in the paint from the holes and see how the color and if the effect is what you want. If you’re happy just gently bop the concrete to give it texture.
Filling the brown blanks
The easiest part – filling the brown spots on the unfinished-looking base. Cover up Ellie’s shoe and get the sponge ready again. Use new sponge cut out – one for each color – throw them away after use as they usually get somewhat stiff and not usable again after drying up!
Here I mixed alot of different colors, small guide for the mix of colors below but you’re open to go for similar looking colors or darker browns if you want to.
This is just a guide to the colors I used, no bluerprint – just mix and match the brown colors you want for your base – no right or wrong here. Creativity have no limit! If you study my result you can see where the different colors appear, I aimed for a more natural look with my choice of colors. My finshed result below.
I added a slight green alge-color near the parts of the rocks that already had a bit of green on them to make it look like its spreading. You can easier see where I added that further down.
Ready for the last stage!
The water effect
The water effect is made with clear acrylic lack, which can also be used for top coat on painted rocks, wood, metal, glass etc. It appears white while liquid, but becomes clear when dried. This part therefore takes alot of patience, as you’re gonna need some few layers and alot of drying time inbetween.
*DO NOT USE CLEAR NAIL POLISH, AS THEY CAN CONTAIN ACIDS THAT MELTS PLASTIC!*
I started with one single thin coat where I wanted to have the water, following the edges that goes from one side to the other near her feet – see picture below. (Here you can also easier see where I added the green)
I also added water effects a bit here and there, like edges and cracks on the croncrete, on the ground and near the green plants on the back of the base.
For the rings in the water, add them little by little mid-drying of each layer.
Finished result:
Thank you if you have read this far! If you think is this guide is missing something, you’re probably right. Give me feedback in the comments or on Facebook (Artwork by Catzy Munster) and I will add or explain for you whatever you need further information about. I usually don’t make guides so feedback is always welcome.
Hope this helps you and are somewhat useable if you are planning on trying to do a little touch-up on Ellie. I’d love to see your result!
Possible helpful link:
[Faber-Castell color table]
Tortillion 
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