EMI 54mm Villanovan Etruscan - Update #2

These pictures were taken earlier this evening after application of the first thin filter layer of shadows. These were applied using W&N Burnt Umber oils which are a very transparent color, allowing the warmth of the undertones to come through. Additional washes of Burnt Umber were applied to the hair and an outline of color at the sleeves, hems and boots to more clearly delineate the flesh from the clothing. After this is dry I will apply a further shadow coat with Brown Madder Alizarin and move onto the stronger highlight tones. In the meantime I can now start to paint the clothes and armor.

Here is the groundwork as it was looking Sunday night. I have worked all the deep browns and greens with one more shadow tone left to go before beginning to pick out highlights and details. I always like to paint the groundwork simultaneously with the figure to maintain consistent tonal value, usually with the figure attached. In this case the tree trunks wouldn't have allowed for good brush access so the two are painted separately.

More New Figures Prepped for Winter Painting

Two more 54mm figures are prepped and primed for painting. Both are from Soldiers, the first being SR-02, a Roman Aquilifer from the time of Caesar (1st Cent. BC) and the second SR-25 A Roman Centurian from Legio XX Valeria Victrix, (1st Cent. AD). Again it is interesting to compare the work of Laruccia with a few years of growth and development of his skills as seen in these two great figures. The first is a favorite of mine due to the dramatic pose, something rarely seen in these figures. The second has a real nice feel to the figure with a bit of a haughty air, something you would expect of a Centurian in the Roman Army in that period. The figure is based on the grave stele of Marcus Favonius Facilis in the Colchester and Essex Museum, Colchester U.K. I have depicted the figure walking down the road in Britannia, while the first is obviously in battle, most probably against the Celts that so made Caesar's military career.

EMI 54mm Etruscan Villanovan - First Step, Flesh

I started the Villanovan 54mm figure from EMI over the weekend. As with most all of my figures, a base color mix of Burnt Sienna with a bit of Cadmium Red Medium and Cadmium Yellow as well as a slight touch of Yellow Ochre, was applied overall and initial highlights applied with Titanium White and Cadmium Yellow. This is all done "wet-on-wet" using oils to achieve soft blended tones. That was on Saturday night. Sunday I worked on the groundwork a bit to allow the figure to dry and tonight I went to the next step of initial shading. That is for the next update.

Two completed Projects - Clearing Space For New Projects

It's always nice to get done with a project, especially one that has been on the bench for what seems an eternity. I managed to get two things completed and in the case while starting two more projects.

The first item is the Gladiator vignette that has been "in progress" for years. This really was done a few months ago but just sat there waiting for a few small detail touches and the addition of the sword blade on the Retiarius. I finally took the time to get it done after realizing I needed the space for my new projects. The second was the completion of King David from Art Girona's "Historical" line.

Both pieces were very nice projects that have allowed me to test some new techniques for metallic finishes, controlling the sheen of oil paints as well as creating nameplates using Microsoft Office Publisher. I am now printing these onto bright white sticker sheets and applying them to the completed base. I'm pretty happy with how they have turned out.

Soldiers SR-01 Republican Legionary - Update #2

A simple little miniature really, and one that shows the development of Soldier's Roman line and the skills of Adriano Laruccia (compare to our Emperor Marcus). Sometimes something simple requires something special, so on to the shield. The back of the shield is completed so that I can attach it to the figure and the base once the groundwork painting and weathering is complete. As you can see I have started dirtying up the figure already with some splashed dots of thinned brown oils. Next will come the mud.

Soldiers Marcus Aurelius - On Base

With the figure finally mounted to the base I can begin to work on finalizing shadows, highlights and tonal glazing to get the proper lighting effects I am looking for. You really need the figure on the base to get the color shading to match up right.

Figurine TV - French Language Videos

Thanks to the guys over on Massive Voodoo I just found this wonderful web-site that has a number of very nice videos related to our hobby. The web address is www.figurines-tv.com/kws/ and although all of the commentary is in French you will find some very nice video show reports and "how-to" videos. I watched the videos of the Gerone and Blagnac shows and got a good feel for the atmosphere of these shows as well as 360 degree views of many of the better exhibits. Check it out by clicking on any of the subject pictures and then click on the little movie camera on the following page. Some of these can be found on YouTube as well. Enjoy!!

Soldiers 54mm Marcus Aurelius - Update #4

I have been working on the Soldiers Marcus Aurelius piece a bit more. The front "shaded" side of the figure is nearing basic completion. The back "lit" side of the figure will continue to get lighter and brighter with more coats of white as I build the glaze up to pure white highlights. Once completed the figure will be attached to the base seen below. At that time further refinement of shadows as well as creation of the shadows on the base will be worked. You can't really visualize these things until the two come together.

The marble ground in the base was created from sheet plastic, which was scribed to represent the sections of stone/marble seen here. I used washes and splatters of oils to create the impression of variegated stone. The trick is to mask all but one section at a time, applying the finish, re-masking then moving to the next section. Once completed the pattern is guaranteed to appear random as seen here. The next post will be with the two components assembled. Stay tuned.