Hi!
Normally I'm an IG player, but I honestly got bit by the bug awhile back and had to start a Tyranid hive. Now, I've been painting for a [short] bit, not a pro (in fact, personally, think I'm far from!) and I'm still rather new to the idea of painting something as organic as a Tyranid. Now, please, keep in mind, the following picture is taken with a really crappy camera, so it's not going to be that great a shot...

Also, the picture includes a small note about what's left.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/ZeeWulfSN/Paintcarnifex.jpg

So, aside from fetching me a new camera, does anyone have any suggestions? Advice? Comments? Fruit to throw? (Prefer fresh fruit, please, I'm hungry at the moment.)

I think that your Carnifex is good, especially if it is one of your first Tyranids. Painting organic stuff is often the same as other things. I think you should try to apply more shading and highlighting. The difference between Tyranids and the Guard you have done is the raised areas. Tanks tend to have a large number of flat surfaces where a Carnifex has things like limbs on it.

The flat areas on a tank can have camo etc but if one area is lighter than another it looks wrong as there is no reason to make an armour plate just stand out. On Tyranids there are some areas hat need a little more or the whole thing may just blend into one shape instead of details standing out. The Carnifex will benefit from highlighting on areas around the joints so that they are more visible. Also areas where the head or limbs connect to the body will do well with a little shading. Also it is good to make sure that the point where the skin or exoskeleton meets the carapace is clearly defined.

After this 'fex, I started a different method of basecoating for color. This one was basecoated with Chestnut Ink only, and then the joints were colored in with a bright red (that kinda blends in, unfortunately!!), and then hit with a flesh wash. I've switched over to using a 50/50 mix of Vallejo Red Leather and Mahogany, and then after I'm finished doing all the details hitting it with a flesh wash to bring out a more chestnut color.

For the raised areas, such as the edges of joints and along the arms, what would you suggest? Hitting it with a drybrush of a much lighter color on the higher areas, perhaps? And how would you bring out the joints with the body itself more?

Oh, side note..I've done a number of Gaunts/Warriors too, so, they're all exactly like this guy..the next guys I want to look better, especially since I just got an assault brood.

For the raised areas a drybrush of a lighter colour would do well. I do that and it gives good results. Shading will work well where the limbs connect ot the body. You can also use some lighter highlights in areas you want to show up more. Though I suggest you don't make the colours you use for these highlights too much brighter. If tyhey are too much brighter it will have the effect of drawing attention away from the rest of the model.

Hmm..so, I did a Genestealer like that more, using a mix of bleached bone and red leather, and it stands out when you are looking closely at the model, but when you're a ways away it isn't very bright..so much so that I can't really tell...maybe if I do it on top of the old flesh wash and then hit it with one of the new washes afterwards, that might help blend the color more while still letting it stand out?

Overall, quite nice looking I'd say, though I'm not a huge fan of the shiny gloss look you've got going. Never was a huge fan of the glossy stuff, in most paint schemes. When will we get more pics?

I'll do some more tonight after work, catch the other side of the fex and the guants/warriors I've gotten done (Though they aren't fully based yet.....waiting on bits to get here.)

Normally, I'm not one for glossy looks..but for some reason, it just feels right for these bugs. Particularally the carapace. Now, if I could get my hands on some matte overcoat, I'd slap that on the exoskeleton/skin area.

EDIT: So, I noticed the Ogryn Flesh wash dims down that bright, bright glare going on.

Alright, so, here's what I painted, all around about the same time as the Carnifex.
I have alot of time on my hands, so, I took advantage of it! I've been painting these Tyranids since...I want to say, June 19th? So, yeah.
Now, I painted all of this before I started looking for advice on how to do better, sooo, um...oops!
Excuse the crappy camera, by the way.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/ZeeWulfSN/tinyswarm.jpg

I think the armour plating looks great - very nicely done...

Have you thought about toning down the gloss effect on the skin somewhat? I think if you left the plating glossy, and had the skin more of a matte that would create an interesting effect...

I'm trying to get my hands on some good matte finish, but so far, no luck yet. I've noticed Ogryn Flesh Wash tones it down some, but, I don't want to waste my washes on toning my colors down. If anyone knows of a good brush-on matte finish, please let me know!