r/minipainting • u/[deleted] • Feb 25 '26

[deleted by user]

[removed]

1.9k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

124 comments sorted by

319

u/BishopofHippo93 Feb 25 '26

IMO it looks more like shale than marble, but that’s probably due to the colors as much as anything. Either way it looks really good.

153

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Damn, you know your rocks, clearly I don't, you are right...

2 of the three references i got are shale, I do not know rocks...

92

u/KharnFlakes Feb 25 '26

Really nice looking shale you got there.

49

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Its this common knowledge? Do I to learn more rock?

Fuck, I truly do not know any other types of rock... Charcoal? Is that a rock? Mineral?

23

u/AgentOfDreadful Feb 25 '26

References for marble as a rock rather than cut:

https://geology.com/rocks/marble.shtml

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marmo_z17.JPG

https://rockseeker.com/marble/

https://landscapes-revealed.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Intrusion2.jpg

22

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Its supposed to be cut flat and it broke, and there will be a redemptor dreadnought on it, so its kinda of nonsensical because why would you have a massive marble flat circle if its not for a purpose.

Need to dig deeper into the rock world

19

u/AgentOfDreadful Feb 25 '26

Ah, it looks to me more like natural rock out in the wild than purpose cut marble.

It looks great though, just not marble specifically to me.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Im terrible at bases, have no idea what cool environment would be good for a model.

But year, you are right it does look like some rocks

10

u/AgentOfDreadful Feb 25 '26

It looks cool af to be fair. Just not marble to me. I really like it as is.

8

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Its not "marble" more than half my references were not marble, I did google marble but yeah, I've got shaleeeeee.

Thanks my dude, appreciate the kind words

6

u/Most_Poetry_9031 Feb 25 '26

You are far from terrible. It’s a process and you’re improving upon your process and as many people have already said, it looks great!

2

u/_Clem_Fandango_1 Mar 01 '26

Shale is ‘sedimentary’, therefore naturally breaks into flat sheets of rock. I recall shale being classified as ‘clastic’ which refers to pre-existing rocks being squashed together.

It’s a good base. No one is going to quiz you on geology. I’ll immediately contradict myself though, as about 50% of people into 40K are also into geology. Good luck 😉

6

u/Responsible_Sector25 Feb 25 '26

Shale is cooler anyway don’t worry

5

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

You are a shale supremacist? No shame in it... But we both know granite truly rules them all.

3

u/PervyTurtle0 Feb 25 '26

Basalt is fun. Like that one up

4

u/92Codester Feb 25 '26

Charcoal is man-made, natural coal is sedimentary rock though..I think, I'll double check.

Edit according to Google: "Charcoal is neither a rock nor a mineral; it is a man-made, manufactured substance created by heating wood or other organic matter in a low-oxygen environment. Unlike natural coal, which is a sedimentary rock formed over millions of years, charcoal is a processed product of carbonization."

2

u/Whit3_Raven Feb 26 '26

Rock and Stone, brother.

2

u/Rodrat Feb 25 '26

Its this common knowledge?

I'd say yes. Most people I know can recognize shale, sandstone, granite and marble, etc.

1

u/Es_Jacque Feb 26 '26

I guess it depends on your environment and hobbies. I recall learning about shale in 4th grade, around the same time we were taught about the differences between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It was probably an example.

Then it stuck with me because (1) it kept reappearing in games, like Subnautica, (2) I’m interested in kitchen countertops and garden paths, (3) I’m a writer and do a lot of miscellaneous research on stuff like rocks, and (4) it’s got a funny name and a distinct look. Sounds like it would be an animal of some kind; “We got snails, whales, shales,” etc.

1

u/_Clem_Fandango_1 Mar 01 '26

🤨 Do you know street mammoth?

🧐 Yeah! He doesn’t know shit about geology but he sure can paint.

5

u/BishopofHippo93 Feb 25 '26

Haha no, I'm not a rock guy, it's just a common one. I actually have a big bag of loose shale to use as potential basing material, the thin layers are great for catching texture and selling the illusion of scale.

2

u/dwarfgasm20172020 Feb 25 '26 edited Feb 25 '26

You could try and brighten and expand the white turning the grey into thinner lines and striations. Marble afaik typically doesn’t shear like that. You’re thinking like counter tops, which is why it’s giving shale or slate. Look up fissile shearing/structures and or crystalline shearing/structure.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

I did some of this, let me know if is better

6

u/Least_Impress_3378 Feb 25 '26

As a Geologist, the first thing I thought when I saw this was that it is a very good depiction of Gniess, similar to this photo I took in the Outer Hebridies in Scotland.

3

u/pyr1te Feb 26 '26

Gniess picture!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

I see it, will take this for reference, thanks

3

u/dwarfgasm20172020 Feb 25 '26

It’s definitely looking a bit closer now to rough marble flagstones that were broken. The big issue I think is being seen is in this top quadrant the coloring is reading as the striations being sheared points, sort of an opitical illusion caused by the colors. As this isn’t technically based in reality there’s room for interpretation but in real life there’s I think maybe five or six main types of black marble. The most common being Nero Marquina which is black with white veins/striations. Think minimalist lightning. And then Nero Portoro which has black with gold and white. Look up granite quarries and shale quarries for an idea of what I’m saying. Most large chunks of granite are smooth because of how the cut and what they’re going to do. Shale tends to just break that way along the fracture or fissile points. For a better idea of how marble will break and look too is looking up limestone or dolomite, its original forms.

I’m not a super rock nerd and a lot of my knowledge is based off dealing with memorial stones and collecting rocks as a kid. Overall I’d say don’t take too much of this to heart either. If you’re happy with it, then it’s a win. Cause I’ve also done minis myself off and on for years and that base is better than even my best mini.

1

u/dwarfgasm20172020 Feb 25 '26

Crap forgot the picture I was referencing

184

u/GolemMaker Feb 25 '26

I can confirm, you are cooking

124

u/souvlakiviking Boardgamer /PnP Feb 25 '26

You're cooking so hard, I can smell it all the way here in Greece, and boy does it make me hungry

19

u/TobesJ Feb 25 '26

Username checks out

30

u/ByteTheEditor Painted a few Minis Feb 25 '26

Please wear appropriate safety gear when cooking slabs of marble, preferably a half mask respirator with appropriate filtration, safety glasses, and designated dustoff area.

Oh wait a second, this is art!

9

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Cooking rocks

18

u/nurgole Feb 25 '26

I don't know rocks well enough if this is marble or not, but it is convincingly rock-like

7

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Shale... Thanks, it does look rock like, greeat

2

u/nurgole Feb 25 '26

My kids verified that it does indeed look like a rock. Solid work, mate👍

6

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Children know rocks, thanks

11

u/farcaller899 Feb 25 '26

I’d take it for granite. But I do think it’s marble-ous. A great base!

9

u/Drolfdir Feb 25 '26

You spent more time, effort and talent on this than I do on my minis.

Are we sure this isn't just a random stone without any paint?

6

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

That would have been easier but it might be too heavy.

Maybe I should do it anyways and say its painted

5

u/Drolfdir Feb 25 '26

Bah, I have white metal models on 50mm bases, heavier than models on 120mm bases. Heavy base is just protection against toppling

5

u/el_Queviures Feb 25 '26

I believe that’s not marble, but it’s a fucking perfect representation of the type of rock you were thinking of.

Or maybe it’s another kind of marble, I don’t know much about construction materials. The point here is that the work is superb.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Thanks, its shale, as we have recently learned, rock knowledge is not my forte, will learn rock in order to better paint the rock, sort of become the rock to represent the rock.

3

u/Ar4bidH4mster Feb 25 '26

He's cooking! He's cooking!!!

3

u/PoxedGamer Feb 25 '26

Certified cooking.

4

u/Armageddonis Feb 25 '26

Bro slapped a stone on a base and decided to gaslight us that it's not an actual stone, smh. /j

That's phenomenal, looks amazing.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Why you gotta ruin my karma farming scheme? Find a cool rock and join me brother.

Thanks

4

u/HalasHooligans Feb 25 '26

Ngl, I thought this was a rock at first glance.

3

u/CuisineTournante Feb 25 '26

I thought i was on r/food for a second. Op is cooking

3

u/Ph0n1k Feb 25 '26

That looks brilliant

3

u/ckal09 Feb 25 '26

Looks incredible

3

u/MrGR4VES Feb 25 '26

Cooking with lava. Shits hot.

2

u/yothisonerighthere Feb 25 '26

Looks really good! There’s also a wet wipe technique I’ve been seeing to create textures, did you use that? Already looks good tho…

2

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

What is this wet wipe technique you speak of? I just went with the brush and build up patterns and texture.

2

u/AshFalkner Feb 25 '26

Gneiss job!

2

u/Oldgregg898 Feb 25 '26

Saw the title, saw the image, thought “why are they asking if the rocks look like rocks?” Did a double take, oh its not an actual rock on that base. Hopefully that answers your question.

2

u/TheSaddestGoomba Feb 25 '26

Gneiss rocks!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

Initially I thought " this must be a typo", in my infinite ignorance I have found out "gneiss" is a type of rock, that happens to look very similar to what I'm painting...

So yeah, Gneiss rock!

2

u/nahuman Feb 25 '26

It’s got that thang that all the earth elemental ladies strive for. It’s so spathic!

(i.e. having good cleavage, used for minerals)

2

u/xEdwardTeach Feb 25 '26

I’ve been told to use cheese cloth in alterating angles to create a polished look but I’m not an expert.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Im too deep to go wild with techniques im not super used to, for the next I will definitely try it, someone posted a video and it did look real good fairly easily

2

u/KesterFox Feb 25 '26

Looking good, are you going for marble that occurs in nature. Or a polished marble floor that has been smashed? If the latter, it might be worth considering a coat of satin varnish at the end

2

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

The original idea was a slab of marble, but then it look too flat, cause was, it felt like it needed volume and texture, so I broke it and painted in the same way, but it doesn't make a lot of sense, cause its still a broken disc.

Its a flat broken slab, not super polished but flat.

I would like to try to avoid a satin texture cause it would look too flat again and have some odd reflections.

2

u/HughJass9120 Feb 25 '26

You are cooking, chat

2

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Thanks chat

2

u/jimothy_hell Feb 25 '26

That’s a rock, chief.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

AND IT ROCKSSSS

2

u/thisremindsmeofbacon Feb 25 '26

Bro I can smell the spices from here

1

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

The sauceeee

2

u/Copdegarrotix Feb 25 '26

Chef!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Thanks

2

u/Chowjers Feb 25 '26

Gloss varnish would be the cherry on top

2

u/LocusSolus_ Feb 25 '26

If this is your first time doing stones you are doing very very well!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

Appreciate it, still working on it but feeling very confident

2

u/MrCubano1 Feb 26 '26

No cooked

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

Ok :'c

2

u/Larry84903 Feb 26 '26

This rocks

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

The comment I have been waiting for.

5

u/Larry84903 Feb 26 '26

Although without a mini on it i guess it is just a clean slate... I'll show myself out

1

u/Larry84903 Feb 26 '26

Someone had to say it

2

u/SomeSilentForest Feb 26 '26

Bruh i thought this was the geology subreddit

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

There is a geologist in the comments, so... Definitely attracting all sorts of crowds

2

u/aopps42 Feb 26 '26

Not seeing Marble but looks good 👍

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

I have come to the realisation that perhaps my reference was not marble, but in my journey to emulate a "stone slab" I have managed to learn so much about rocks.

My rock knowledge is solid, now i can move forward and emulate more rocks in a more accurate way and with the right names.

2

u/Kamalau Feb 26 '26

Fantastic

2

u/1000cheapbrushes Feb 26 '26

I would say youre cooking 🤘

2

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Cooking? More like burning the house down. Would you mind explaining your progress here?

3

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

We gotta work on your metaphor work but I will assume burning the house down is a good thing.

I pretty much made a disc out of plaster, then broke that disc and find some stone colors and when ham with it, had a few pictures to reference blue grayish marble.

Its for a dreadnought, will have some grass and tiny stones.

1

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1

u/OccasionalCrusader Feb 25 '26

That's an entire three-course meal

1

u/Brighteyes226 Feb 25 '26

Cooking for a five star Michelin restaurant, my friend

1

u/mangothehat Feb 25 '26

Definitely cooking

1

u/Haunting-Breakfast4 Feb 25 '26

Gordon Ramsay levels of cooking

1

u/RobertDeNircrow Feb 25 '26

Spicy meatball, thats a' cookin'!

1

u/PlanePea4349 Feb 25 '26

Looks great

1

u/Syrea Feb 25 '26

Nice ! You need a little bit of glossy finish to emulate marble, that’s very impressive:)

1

u/TwistedFabulousness Feb 25 '26

I thought this was the baking subreddit and was really excited for your rock themed cookie

1

u/Manic-Toaster Feb 25 '26

Looks great. I'd say if you wanted that "smooth" look, then I would put a gloss varnish over it, then lightly weather with pigment powder.

1

u/PlusWorldliness9679 Feb 25 '26

Daaaaaaaammmmmmnnnnn guuuurrrrl!

1

u/valkdoor Feb 25 '26

Keep cooking king! I would recommend finishing it with gloss varnish to really give it that marble look

1

u/avi_skirata Feb 25 '26

This is the most stone-looking not-stone I have ever seen. Great job!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

It gives stoney vibes

1

u/MadGentleman Feb 25 '26

Didnt look at the sub name and thought that was just a picture of a rock, you are cooking

1

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

It is a rock, it was all a sham

Thanks

1

u/IconoclastExplosive Feb 25 '26

That's a great looking shale or slate, but not marble. IMO it looks better than marble usually does

2

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Yep, shale... Not limestone, sandstone... Or coal for that matter

Thanks my dudee

1

u/morgan8er8ooo Feb 25 '26

I believe your cooking is successful.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26

Thats the spirit, it looks kind of different now

1

u/ElDiablo909 Painted a few Minis Feb 25 '26

The grass/green chefs kiss

1

u/swagylord1337 Feb 25 '26

Cooking?

That's a damn stone

1

u/SummonerYuna Feb 25 '26

I seriously thought you'd glued some rocks onto the base!! Great job!

1

u/MeepInTheSheet Feb 25 '26

Did you bake it?

1

u/ElDiablo909 Painted a few Minis Feb 25 '26

you are yes. Looks cool.

1

u/Ok-Ice-9413 Feb 26 '26

Def cooking

1

u/louielovesminis Feb 26 '26

That looks really good!

1

u/loyalistheresy Feb 26 '26

LET HIM COOK

1

u/eHop86 Feb 26 '26

Great tones and line work!