Thursday, October 17, 2024

Something Old, Something New - 40k Backdrop Part 1

Hello out there!

A new side project underway. Some of you might recognize the bones of it.  While I lost all of my backdrops in the fire, one thing learned the past few years is everything has a silver lining. If you are willing to look. Was quite full up in my little sentimental space. At the time I had not needed a new one for a while, and have since been working on new and better. There was one though that was extra special, and want to redo it. At least in basic form and spirit.  Hopefully better.  The Mars display I did not use often but it was always the one that never got "put up." I worked on designing it with a friend, and spent one very special, flurried week painting it.

Alex at Ironheart Artisans redid the skeleton, with a few little tweaks, and I have it here ready for paint.  A few things different.  For one, painting it in parts this time, not solid.  What you see is all loose, and eventually as the walls and floor get painted more terrain will be added and lock it all in.

The paint scheme will be much different as well.  The only thing really the same are the basics.  I think for the better, and a little extra special to not just have it back, but one-up it.

Updates and the usual paint posts will come.  This won't be used for the current Tau project, but it will be coming along to Adepticon.  That's right, I need as much as I can to fill the big booth I have this year so need to get to work!

See you soon for more.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Workbench And Tau - New Project Post


Hello out there! Something old, something new is the story of this post.  Back into 40k with a new Tau army, prepped and ready for paint, on top of some hand made slate bases for the most part.  A few Elrik's Hobbies in there, with more on the way for the fliers.

Another fun reason to do a pre-paint post is to show off the new workbench.  It isn't my grandpa's 1950's time capsule as some of you may remember for these posts, but it is still my style.  The wood is all salvaged studs and joists from tearing down the old house that I kept for this.

Monday, July 22, 2024

Gencon 2024 Arkham Horror Paint and Take Event


Going to Gen Con 2024 in Indy? Be sure to sign up for an awesome Paint and Take hosted by Loot Studios and conducted by yours truly! It will all take place in the entirely Arkham Horror RPG themed area at Gen ConFour days, seven sessions to choose from and only a handful of seats left! Come hang out with me and paint this free sample — The Ghoul Priest — from Loot Studios new release for Arkham Horror Official 3D Printable Miniatures. All who buy a ticket get one, and you get to paint it with me! I will have everything needed set up to paint and hang out. The standard color scheme, using the truly great Warpaints Fanatic line from The Army Painter, will be guided through as I paint one along with you, and some step by step examples. Can't wait to see you there!

Friday, July 5, 2024

Regimental Fire & Fury - Project Finale!


Hello out there!

The huge ACW commission is finished!  Clocking in at a whopping 1500 figures, it is the biggest project I have ever done, and that is certainly saying something.  But for lack of words to get going, let's talk some more wherever the dopamine and thrill of the finale takes me.

Monday, May 27, 2024

Regimental Fire & Fury - ACW Project Blog Part 8 - The Artillery


Hello out there!

What a fitting post for what is Memorial Day over here in the states - the 28 artillery pieces and 18 limbers for the ACW project.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Regimental Fire & Fury - ACW Project Blog Part 7 - The Confederate Infantry

Union forces assault Lee's headquarters.  Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, and Florida defend, taking heavy casualties. Cavalry screen as the rest of the army deploys.

Hello out there!

Another update to the huge ACW project.  This time the bulk of Confederate infantry, plus some extra goodies.  Photography is getting a real treat as both sides start to come together.

A lot of fun sculpts.  Mostly Sash and Saber, with some Perry mixed in.  A lot of character, and fun to paint.  Quite a different process than the Union.  Instead of mounting like sculpts together, the figures were mounted for paint in 8-10 man strips, and each one jumbled through the process of color.  Each model is unique, but overall that distinct Confederate look in mass.  

Let's get on with some photos.  Up next, two dozen artillery and limbers!

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Regimental Fire and Fury - ACW Project Blog pt 6 - The Union Infantry


Hello out there!

The Union infantry are finished, and quite a wide eyeful of models they are.  For the blue side of the project, still a few small things to do, but can call this the triumphal gist of it with this last big batch of the regular infantry. Around 350 models just on the 40s, not to count the cavalry, mounted and dismounted, and other things shown so far on the Union side.

The infantry are a combination of Sash and Saber and Perry miniatures figures, which combine very well especially with paint.  A really great variety too.  One of the best feelings was not just putting the final touch on an entire table of stick mounted models, but turning right into popping them off for basing and putting each base together. They all work together very well and with so many figure poses the client chose, every base was a fun time of mini diorama. 

There is something around 50 flags on the table now.  For the infantry these command stands are a four figure base - Colonel, musician, and a state and national flag, for regiments that existed in the Civil War.  The flags are actual historically accurate designs for regiments that the client wanted to represent.  They are purchased printed designs I then roughed up with tools and soaked in varnish to create an almost plastic feel, and then used as a base to paint.  Very few of these have any printer ink still showing. One of those things in a project that is a lot of work but even still worth more than the some of it's parts.

These bases are all interchangeable with command stands, so a 6-8 stand regiment of 14th Michigan can be made with that command stand, and then march figures or firing figures to fill out as the situation sees fit.  So forth with every other command stand.

There are two separate and unique 6 stand groups with command of 54th Massachusetts. That might not ring a bell right away, but if you have seen the movie Glory you know of the African American regiment.  A twofold special treat in the mass of models - both to paint dark skin which I have not in a while, and watch the movie while I paint the same regiment.

That is all for now!  Up next is the Confederate side of this.  An even bigger chunk of models and a fun contrast of variety versus the uniform of the Union blues.  See you next time!

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Regimental Fire and Fury - The Table Part 3


Hello out there!

Last time I posted the painting. Now the table is done, and ready for the Civil War project to sit on top.  Let's just get into the how! There is a lot going on, and a lot of it doesn't make great play by play.  So if you have any questions just drop me a line. 

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Regimental Fire and Fury - The Table Part 2


Hello out there!

The building is done and everything is dry, time to get to painting.  The paint for this one is backseat to what will be the real heavyweight of the final look - the flocking, so this is mostly setup for the finished effect.  Let's just get to it though.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Regimental Fire and Fury - The Table Part 1


Hello out there!

With my new work space finally done and moved in, and having lost all my old photo backdrops in the fire, I figured what better way to get in than to make the biggest backdrop I have ever made!  The photos are a bit deceptive since the standard size table is usually 4 feet deep, but this one is about 5.5. Plus there is the simple fact this Civil War commission will need it.  Not only has the project outgrown the smaller table I used to get by over at Mom's, the actual chunks of the project I am working on now simply don't fit on it themselves!  So let's get to it.

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Regimental Fire and Fury - ACW Project Blog Part 4



Hello out there!

It is time for another update on the Fire and Fury ACW project.  This time, the entirety of the Union cavalry!



Thursday, May 4, 2023

Regimental Fire and Fury - ACW Project Blog Pt 3


"Put the boys in!" The Battle of New Market - Don Troiani

Hello out there!  Time for update number three on this big ACW project.  This time a little more South than North for the first time.  As usual more cavalry, and some foot regiments.  The first true blue Union regiment as well, though, if you can believe it. I am a little bit spoiled for choice so blame it on that.  Let's just get on with it!

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Regimental Fire and Fury - ACW Project Blog Pt 2


Hello out there!  Welcome to the first real installment of this blog series.  Two Union regiments down, plus a Confederate cavalry unit and it's foot compliment.  Let's get into that as we go though.

Friday, November 25, 2022

Regimental Fire and Fury - ACW Project Blog Pt 1


Fury at the Wall - Dan Nance

Hello out there!  Something quite different on many levels for you today.  The next commission is a massive American Civil War project.  By massive I mean, even for myself, this is large and believe the largest project I have ever taken on, and in the many, many hundreds of miniatures. Possibly over a thousand, but gentlemen don't count until it's over.

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Kabal of the Flayed Skull - A Drukhari Army Project


Hello out there!  It has been a bit.  Have for you this time a Drukhari army in the Flayed Skulls.  A Dark Eldar army scheme with analogous application to traditional Fantasy vampire schemes and a lot of overlap there. At least that is how I see it, and really love that similar application of color and visual schemes, even if it is just me. 

Okay, okay.  Flayed Skull is truly it's own thing and been around since Dark Eldar heads were bigger than their entire torso (bless).  But I do really enjoy any time I can paint this sort of deep and gemlike blood red.  Coupled with the fact it is an old GW Kabal .  I enjoy actual schemes equally to homebrew, they just hit in equal but different ways.  And one like this that both has lore and history, and some really strong color theory going on with it, plus the ability to do something traditional in my own style and a modern application over some cool terrain....hard to beat. Real treat of an army and glad it came my way.

The snow is really to match the client's existing armies and terrain.  You might remember the Glooming Lords from a few years ago.  But, I think it works quite well and would have done the same even as a one off.  I always enjoy throwing snow down on backdrops. Don't know why but the temporary of it and being able to put it down and play around in it to make it realistic feels very old movie magic and tickles me.

The new place is going great and finally about done.  Looking forward to what will be more space dedicated purely to displays and work sprawl than what was the entire square footage of my old house.  It was sentimental but the optimism and excitement for what is in the cards for the future and my work has helped with that pain quite a bit. 

That is all for now.  Next up is a huge "Perry Etc" Civil War project.  Like the Samurai from not long ago, exciting for being such a new sort of project, especially for someone like me who has been doing this for going on a couple decades and always been a longing fan of historical from afar.  Thanks for looking, see you again soon.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Hexfleet Virules Part Two - 40k Chaos Army Addition


Hello out there!

Back and at it with another 40k army.  Been a minute since I did one of those hasn't it.  Feels good, and never gets old.  Let's just talk about it then.

This is part two of Hexfleet Virules.  It is an army I did the first batch for a few years ago, and the owner has a very active hobby/tournament blog under the same name on Facebook.  The last batch was mostly Death Guard and the core of the army.  You might remember a broadly similar black and white with the neon green Death Guard army.

Friday, January 7, 2022

A New Beginning - City Backdrop Build





Hello out there!

Well, it has been a while.  About time I posted something, huh? Have been working on a big 40k army, a second half of the Hexfleet Virules army I did a few years ago. Will save thoughts on that for later as much as I may be compelled to write already. Thought it time to get to a new backdrop a little before the army is finished.

Since I lost all of my backdrops in the fire, naturally I needed to pop out some new ones. Many years of work and collecting gone in front of me on one hand.  On the other an opportunity and fresh start, a chance to start at new from a later point of experience and desire.  Forest fires bring out the greenest of new growth. It is really however you want to look at it, and I genuinely prefer the positive. Not just as a means of coping. There are many poetic shifts to the situation, and silver linings.  Someday I will have to come back to the subject. Necessity is the mother of invention.  I did, truly, miss necessity. I missed that place. It feels amazing and it is where I belong. Need and hunger always beget more creativity than luxury.  It is why sequels suck, barring a very psychologically unique creator.  I digress.

But enough of that.  Let's build some stuff!  

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Perry Samurai - Historical Wargame Project in 16th Century Japan


Hello out there.

It is time.  I am done, and I am back.

There are a lot of thoughts and emotions behind this project that are hard to put into words. No idea where to start, or how to do them justice in specifics and in full. I will try and fail, and this time that is okay.

First want to thank the special someone behind it all.  I am sorry the fire happened under your project, but certainly would not have it any other way.  No one could have asked for a better person to go into this with.  Thank you for your patience, understanding, and sticking with me. Every project for me is more than the sum of it's parts, and I feel a special bond with everyone that comes through here,. But as you may possibly imagine this is something that truly escapes words.  The foxhole he jumped into with me so enthusiastically and without hesitation is a place I wish I could stay forever.  Thank you Mike, for making a horrible situation something so truly great that I didn't want it to end. I will absolutely miss everything about this time in my life thanks to you.  You turned what would otherwise be torture and trauma into an adventure. Thank you.

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Perry Samurai Gaming Table Build



Hello out there!

I am officially back.  In case you missed the last post, I recently had a house fire.  Unfortunately, I lost all of the backdrops I've made for photography all these years.  Which is too bad, mostly for sentimentality.  There was an original inspiring army behind each one, and a reason for each within my collection.  That meant more to me than the time put in, in all honesty.  There is a silver lining to everything though, and before I was very full up on displays.  All were at least big enough to play a game on, to give perspective, and 2-3 dozen.   So like in nature, sometimes a fire while destructive is also rejuvenating, and what grows out of it is greener than before.  I am looking forward to the next few years and the new backdrops I will want and need to make. 

Right before it happened, I had started a Perry miniatures Samurai army, and a big one at that with over 500 models.  I was already thinking of doing something new for it to celebrate my first historical army.  Which is very exciting for me, as somehow in 15 or however many years I've been doing this I've never had one come my way. Have always been a big fan of historicals, and when I'm honest with myself a lot of my early Empire and Bretonnian armies were a way to get a pseudo-historical fix within a game I could actually have opponents to play, and treated the background of the armies with the same treatment a historical player would.  

So my original ideas for this backdrop were to go back to roots a little bit, and the fire just made that notion a little more poetic.  Emphasis on flocking, more of a traditional gaming table, a little on the model railroad side, and where we all started if we've been around long enough.

I also have always had a hangup for nothing showing behind the backdrop.  I tended to make them very vertical to be a complete scene in the frame and give immersion.  Which was valid and for good reason, and I will likely return to that.  However for this one, the subject matter, the situation, staying at Mom's until we rebuild a new home, I thought let's throw away the formalities and show it all, and go back to a gaming table style. 

Anyway.  Let's get into it photo by photo.

Friday, March 12, 2021

Update: House Fire

 


Hello out there.

Well, it's time I finally posted the news.  I recently had a house fire.

Let's start with the good news.  We are alive.  I now literally owe my life to painting. Poetic how life can be sometimes.  I am normally a night owl, but that night I was feeling good and decided to push a little more, and was up and closing down around 4 am when I heard what thought was an animal getting in the garage. Was raising new chicks at the time. I let the dog out, grabbed the gun, looked out back at it, and saw that glow out the back window and knew exactly what it was.

By the time Fire Department arrived, the fire had spread to the roof.  By nature of how smoke works, and the ceiling structure, the smoke alarms didnt even go off until it was falling in and busted the ceiling drywall out. If I had gone to bed, we would probably be dead.

Ive been putting off writing about it so far because this part is really hard.  The house was nice, but it wasnt special to anyone else. It was my Grandpas house and his garage.  My mom and my aunt who was all my artistic inspiration were raised there.  He was a carpenter, and that garage was as much him as the flesh and blood that passed two years ago.  It was small, but being in it was like being wrapped up in his presence.  The tools, old bench I had taken photos of pre paint on, were all older than me, some things older than mom.

As I stood across the street and those two front corners of the garage fell in with a clack, and it was all gone, it was a slap across my soul.  It was where I did my photography, and every display I have ever made was in there, and it didnt even cross my mind to give some idea. 

There are times in life where things are so random and unexpected, they go full circle into feelings of poetic fate.  Call it God, fate, karma, whatever you like.  The more time goes on, I realize more and more silver linings, and purpose to it. With time I feel less feelings of "why" and more "this is why."

The families on this road have all been here 80+ years.  When my Grandpa moved in back in the 50s, he made a close friend with the couple across the street.  That family is now three generations, and still lives in the three plots over there.  The day after it burned (well, for me it was all one 72 hour day) his son came over.  He offered to general the whole thing, and off we went tearing it down.

I learned a lot.  I saw a lot.  It was almost two months of taking that thing apart with just us two, a tractor, and a constantly rotating 40 yard dumpster.  I wanted to live in that house forever, but as I took it apart, I realized in hindsight that may not have happened. It was built over top of a very old structure, and added to many times over the years.  The walls and floors were layers thick.  The core of the right side of the house was all native lumber.  It felt more like stone than wood, and had all the saw marks from a steam mill.  I found hand cut limestone flower beds underground.  The original spot where the front door was.  It was like stepping back in time and seeing what was once a little gem of a house on the corner of a 40 acre orchard I had heard so many stories about.

I've never in my life met another man like John Paul.  I only learn the reality of his generosity piece by piece and day by day as we go.  It reminds me why I live out here, and why I always will. I sit here trying to write it out and explain it, to explain the experience of that two months or so, and I just can't. A genius of a guy wrapped up in the facade of a country bunpkin to many.  Talk your ear off, but never say the same thing twice.  Generosity just because you're a neighbor.  

Attached are a couple photos.  One of the front, showing the old front door and native lumber.  The other is of the little back bedroom with wood paneling.  This was my grandpas old hangout room when he lived here, and as long as Ive been alive.  It was then where I painted every single army Ive done for the past ten years or so.  A desk, a couch and a coffee table where moved models step by step.  Add some Christmas lights and you have the perfect comfy spot.  I loved it to death.  It was my lair, my decompression chamber, and my instanced little separate world. I am lost without it.

There are other points of good news.  The inside of the house wasnt too bad. Anything inside that would survive nasty black water is fine.  My Adepticon displays were in the dining room, and they are too much of me to burn anyway. They're a little beat and in storage, but okay.

I'll also be able to build a new house.  Planning and having that drawn up has been fun. I was adamant at first to rebuild it exact, but with time the more I think if it's gone, it is best to start over.  Ill move it back a little.  Have a bigger garage. Ill give it a basement with a little bedroom and replicate that wood paneled room.

Currently I am staying at mom's.  She has a finished basement.  Ironically this is the same basement I started painting in 15 or so years ago with nothing but some Apple Barrel and a dream.  It's nostalgic and I am back to work, despite being distracted by all this.  I've made a new little hidey hole I can paint away the hours and be alright.  It's good for mom as well to be able to dote on the dog and cook for somebody.

As time goes on, the more I realize the silver linings, and while I would prefer to just go back, the more I realize there is a poetic reasoning behind every little thing about this, and I will be okay.

To be clear I am not posting this for sympathy, although I know you all are great and I will probably get aplenty, and I appreciate it.. Just letting you know why I am quiet and may be a bit yet.

Rest assured I will be back.  With a fire of revenge to put to shame the one that took all this from me.




Friday, August 21, 2020

The Lost Grand Fyrd of the Kromidrakk Lodge



Hello out there!

I am back again from deep beneath the earth, bringing back some colorful balls of tainted stubbornness.  This time it is Age of Sigmar Dwarves with a Tzeentch flavor.  This army has some very personal and unique backstory the client has been working on for years, so let's kick it off with a small summary of that:

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Autumn's End - Sylvaneth Age of Sigmar Army


Hello out there!  Another army finished and ready to roll out.

This army is a Sylvaneth Age of Sigmar batch themed around the end of Autumn and the fade into winter time.  This project began as a simple but specific premise and idea of the client.  I work with all ranges of no idea what someone wants to very specific and fleshed out army ideas, and there is a lot of fun in the range in between too.  For this army the client's base ideas were a simple range of colors they would love to see - icy look and icy blue accents, darker old wood, lighter new wood, and some red color thrown in for accent as well.  

Sometimes within that range of structure in a client's vision, there is an army that is simply colors they love but maybe no specific theme.  That is fine, and I actually enjoy those for the challenge of finding something that wraps around what they want but adds even more that they weren't expecting or knew was hiding within that.  So thinking within that set of colors, what came to me was a bunch of Sylvaneth that are transitioning from fall to winter.  This sets off a play on both the red and the icy blue, which otherwise might not work so well, or seem two colors simply applied to a tree model, which I am sure if you think of armies painted just with "I like these colors" but nothing beyond that looks like.

There were also some other pleasant surprises that just by nature of working on them came to me or appeared.  They have a bit of an overcast feeling in the tone which I really love.  Treefolk walking through the woods, leaves still hanging on, but the cold of winter and that first heavy snow wet with still slightly warm weather.  The new season powering them from within.

In the end a straightforward but fun exercise and an example of why I really enjoy any range of ideas a client might come to me with, and lucky to be able to have that switch up from project to project.

That is all for this time.  Next up is some Tzeentch themed Dwarves for AoS, which will be an awesome example of the far end of the spectrum - an army with a fully fleshed out idea from the go that just needs nothing from me but to do it.  Unique and colorful, which is right up my alley.  See you then!

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Adeptus Titanicus - Legion Astraman + House Griffith

Hello out there!

Back again, this time with something pretty different, at least in scale - Adeptus Titanicus!  In case anyone is unfamiliar with the size of these, the Knights in front are about a Terminator, and the middle ones, a Dreadnought.  Tiny stuff, but a lot going on.  I've painted all of these in their full scale and I have to say the detail is really remarkable.  It's a testament to the effort put in to recreating the larger Titans that the process for painting these was overall the same, and felt the same, as the big guys. 

The schemes are Legion Astraman and House Griffith.  The client was really sold on, and loves Griffith, so that part was easy.  The complicated part was finding something he enjoyed that was complimentary on several levels to that House.  I went through every legion to see what existed, as well as coming up with a few of them myself either just based on pure color theory, or existing Legions that are nothing more than tidbits of lore.  In the end he reviewed this package of ideas, and we went with Astraman. Which in hindsight was a great choice.  It needed some modernization, but that transition went very smoothly.

Not pictured here but included is every possible weapon option, tons of terrain, and accessories.  I really enjoy that and this project has a little bit extra sense of completion because of it.  I am the type of person to collect every little accessory and doodad to go with whatever I am interested in at the moment, so it's a little extra cozy feeling and feels good to send out a complete package to the client.

Thanks for viewing, hope you enjoy, and see you next time!

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Sister's Chapel Display Base


Hello out there! New base for a display commission in.  This will have a Sisters chapel sort of structure up top, about the same proportion as the bottom.  Same sort of overall piece as my other displays - part furniture, part display, transportable, etc. 

Pictures a little deceptive as she's pretty hefty.  Almost five feet wide and a couple deep.  A nice broad surface to get really wide with structure. Unlike how I do other displays, which is usually a ton of purchasing of 125% of anything I need then non stop work, this one will be more of a slow burn.  Lots of stopping to see where I am and collaborate with the client to order model trims and bits and bobs in correct amounts and from places that take a while to get here.  

Will post updates down the line when I get bigger chunks down and have progress to show. Exciting stuff.  Haven't done a full free-standing display in a while so will be fun to get back in one. See you next time!

Saturday, January 11, 2020

The Glooming Lords - A Death Guard Army


Hello out there!

Another army for you. Same army as last time, different scheme, different vibe.  Where the last army was reds and ochres, with strong Autumn undertones, this one is all winter!  Request was Glooming Lords with some personal touches - muted green trims, bright green lenses and smoke, purple cloth, and no gold.  Also, snow bases with some spreading sickness and ooze as they walk and taint the ground around them.  Otherwise free reign.  With that I ran with just a tint of rust for Nurgle, and pushed the purples in the flesh for a somewhat cold palette.  Like the last army I enjoy these sorts of projects where it isn't an "ice Death Guard" army exactly, but flexing color theory part of the brain to add a subtle flavor layer to the whole thing where possible.

With that in mind I took an old display I hadn't used in a while and gave it a winter makeover.  Used to be tan and you might remember it from some Ironjaw Orruks.  The fun thing about these is nothing needs to be permanent, so it was fun playing in loose snow just for photo effect, piling it on the dozers and such.

Quite a lot of fun overall in terms of process, and Death Guard are some great sculpts, so always a pleasure to paint.  

Next up, a completely different scale!  See you then.

Friday, December 6, 2019

The Scourged Rippers - A Death Guard Army


A nightmare of necropotent naughties!  A frightful flurry of flailing appendages!  

New army, this time 15 pounds of bouncing baby Nurgle. This is one of those armies where it feels there is so much to say, and so much flavor it is better to let the pictures do the talking and give it themselves.  The request was simple - slightly rusty black, with ochre and red accents, and a halloween feel but very serious and horrific. 


The Land Raider was just a surprise and something I wanted to do for a while.  Lots of steps of sculpting,  just having fun blending flesh and armor, and replacing the treads with crawling tentacles.  Fun to paint too.

That is it for now.  Thanks for looking, hope you enjoy the pics, and see you next time!  

Monday, November 25, 2019

Ynnari Display Part 2: Paint!


 Hello out there!  Back with part two, this time the paint.  This display was fun to build, but also a really unique  exercise in color to paint.  Will look forward to seeing which half you all find more interesting.

Always good to start with the finish so you know where this is going. For this display I really wanted some deep and powerful color that complimented the scheme and the flavor of the army. Ancient, brooding, a little dark and creepy. Somber Japanese Yavin 4 was one of the phrases thrown around.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Building the Ynnari Display Part 1


Hello out there!
As promised, back with the images and notes on the making of the last Eldar display. Will be back again for a second post on the painting separately.
Really enjoyed building this one, lots of clay work and new and unique style. Hope you enjoy the images as much as I did making it.
See you next time!

Monday, September 16, 2019

Voice of Ynnead - A Ynarri Army


Hello out there! I am making a post so that means back from the distant galaxy of the space elves with another finished army. This time, Ynarri!

 The main request of this army was a parchment and cherry blossom theme, keeping the palette limited. Similar tones in shading across the colors gave it a nice subdued feel, but powerful at the same time. A very unique scheme and a slightly different challenge and process made it something very special and a lot of fun.

 The same color theory was applied to the display, which is all hand sculpted. Decided to do something a little different this time and post the in progress shots later on, with my thoughts after the fact. So look forward to that coming up soon.

 The display is dual purpose - the front section is designed to fit over an existing wheeled cart for smaller tournament games. The back half locks together with the front with latches and aligning pegs for really big or team games. I am excited to share the whole process of how it was built, but will save more for later.

 I always say I enjoyed painting an army, certainly because it is true, and I love painting anything. However this one was a little extra in no small part to the client. Wonderful person, has been a treat to work with him, and a good sport putting up with my flurries of texts at weird hours. Plus because of the display I got to do an in-person hand off and got to meet the guy, which isn't common, and had a great time and awesome conversation. Anyway, you know who you are and thank you very much.

 Lots more fun stuff coming up. Thanks for checking out the pics, and see you later with the display blogging.

Friday, May 31, 2019

GMM's Giant Parade Part 1 - Freehand Covered Titans


(Hello out there! Recently BigRed over at Bell of Lost Souls asked me to do a couple of throwback articles to Titans I have done. Thought I would try and post it over here too. Hope you enjoy and thanks for stopping by!)

Today join me looking back at some of the larger models I have done. Today we look at the “Sistine Sisters”, a Warlord and Reaver titan like you’ve never seen before. The release of Titanicus and interest in that, both my own as a hobbyist and that of clients booking Titanicus projects and working with them on color schemes, has me looking back fondly at some of the larger scale Titans and Knights of the past.

I’m a pretty focused person when I work, and on one project at a time, so when I get a chance to stop and look back at older things it’s a nice, fresh rush of excitement and fond memories. Anyway, let’s get to the pictures!

Monday, May 20, 2019

Elysian Air Cav Project Gallery


Hello out there!  The Elysian airplane batch is all done, and for you today a gallery full of thick ladies to make a Mechanicum priest blush.

This project was pretty special to me because the scheme is similar to a Krieg army I did many, many years ago, and being able to revisit that in my modern style and quality was a real treat. A little extra rewarding in that regard.  The client had the basic request of tan and run through heck and back, so together we came up with a color palette that is analogous but striking and an instant classic in it's simplicity.

The weathering is all done by hand and is a lot of fun.  I really enjoy sitting and freehanding it all.  On these large panel vehicles there is quite a large canvas to paint on openly and give character. Very relaxing and a different open challenge when compared to the other side of the spectrum, infantry.

Bases and flight stands, credit goes to Dragon Forge Design.  I've used them for years and every time I get a big batch of these flight stands I really appreciate them all over again. Being able to vary the heights makes photography fun and are much more solid than the basic stand.

That's it for this round.  Hope you enjoyed and thanks for looking.  See you in the next one!

Friday, April 12, 2019

Thoughts On Paint and a Dark Eldar Revisit

Had a conversation recently with a friend about painting, both for others and for ourselves.  What we find rewarding.  Having not been a "casual" hobbyist in about a dozen years it's always healthy to stop and appreciate the situation.  I certainly remember the days of doing the usual paint at night for the upcoming event, and fondly, and that conversation brought back those memories and how things have transitioned over the years naturally. I could empathize with him in his mention of having little time, and really only wanting to in order to relax.  Over the years, and having done this for so long my personality has simply changed to one where I get more enjoyment out of painting for other people, and not so much myself.  The relaxation still remains and luckily never fades even in long days of painting, but a  new primary natural high and reward comes from essentially giving a gift of a dream army to someone who can generally imagine it, but doesn't have the time and/or skill to make it a reality themselves.  I get the fun of giving gifts at Christmas multiple times a year and I enjoy that more than the reward of painting for myself these days.  Spontaneous conversations such as those are nice to stop and smell the roses and appreciate my Santa complex that keeps me going and very fulfilled.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

~ Scorpion Gang ~ A Dark Eldar Army



Hello out there.  I'm posting, so you know what that means - another finished project! This time a Dark Eldar army with a desert theme.

For the army the client and I had a good long back and forth on specifics and taste.  Starting with two different schemes and a writeup on each of what I thought optimal, and then taking one and running with it.  Essentially the idea was Dark Eldar with a Desert theme, balancing those two to get a worn desert raider look with the color and contrast often found in Dark Eldar armies.  A little bit of Tatooine flavor and the Star Wars "used future" aesthetic draped over a core contrasting and vibrant Dark Eldar color scheme, with colors chosen to fit a desert raiding party.  A group that in background might never leave the planet, living on their skiffs, fighting in between other groups and pillaging shipwrecks and anyone who crash lands or attempts to colonize the planet.

A lot of fun both in execution and result.  It was a treat working back and forth with the client tweaking ideas between the theme itself, color theory, and his own personal taste.  In the end a result I am quite proud of, a good balance of color in variety, contrast and theme.  I certainly love set palette armies, but it is a fun and different beast doing such a mixed color contingent, both in the challenge of balancing each unit and each one also feeling new as I go through the roster.

Hope you enjoy, and thanks for looking.  Next up will be the charity army for the Adepticon Raffle!  See you then.

Monday, December 10, 2018

Hexfleet Virules - Huge Nurgle Army Showcase


Hello out there! Today I have for you many photos of the finished Hexfleet Virules army. Quite a massive army at that. Possibly the biggest one to date in my many years of painting. ​
This army was lovingly converted by the owner over many years, and he keeps a blog of his modelling work under the name Hexfleet Virules, the name of the army itself. Popular army blog, and for good reason as you will see. Wonderful conversions with untold hours of work put into them. Once you see them, won't really need to explain how much a treat they were to paint and quite thankful for the opportunity to do so, sharing our collaborated efforts here today. Hard to really put into words my excitement when setting up this army for photography, for what has been about 8 years of modelling for him to finally come to completion in full and in one moment. My biggest motivation and what I get the most enjoyment and rush from is the aspect of giving people what they can see in their mind, in reality. Every army is a surge of adrenaline at the finish line but the stakes and scope of this one are just off the charts. The best feeling in the world.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Hexfleet Virules Display Finished


The Hexfleet Virules backdrop is finished!  As far as photography backdrops, my most rewarding and fun to work on yet.  Working on these projects, especially the bigger, longer ones, you really get to know the client.  Lots of conversation about inspiration, tastes, and random other things too.  Turns out this client and I have a lot in common on the topic of our childhoods, toys we loved, and their influence on what we do today and what we enjoy.  If you've been around here for a minute you know one of my biggest fuels is nostalgia and just being a big kid when it comes to working on minis.  I get to do in much more powerful and fun ways what I would have loved to have done and had as a kid.  Similar to how when we get older we buy the Magic cards or build the Lego sets or ideas we always wanted to but couldn't, and I get to do it in the miniature way every day.  

Anyway, turns out we both had a lot of the same interest in toys as kids, and how we would play with them making up whatever out of whatever in the house.  The biggest being Ghostbusters and Ninja Turtles.  With that in mind, and being fitting for the army in some ways as you will see, I went wild and had a lot of fun coming up with this backdrop.

For now, time to put some final touches on the army, and get some final photos taken.  Going to be quite a massive army and gallery, and very excited!  See you soon. 

Monday, October 22, 2018

Hexfleet Virules Urban Display, Part 1

The giant Hexfleet Virules Nurgle army is pretty much a wrap!  That means backdrop time.  This is my biggest one yet, at seven feet wide and five feet deep. Needs to be quite large and also structurally stacking with "shelves" of space in order to get the army in there, and also give good images of every model. Each model being much more accessible than on a flat plane.  Couple that with always wanting a really good and solid urban backdrop, and you have most of the inspiration for the work so far.

Still a very long way to go.  This is simply the modelling basics.  Paint as well as detail are each another third or so to go.  There will be a lot of fun signage, silly references, and other interesting things to see and find.  The most fun part yet lies ahead.

Will post paint updates with before and after as progress is made.  The display is so large, in order to paint it each block of buildings is a separate sub section. Two clusters on each side, back buildings split up, and the base for a total of five.  Once the buildings are painted, they will be attached and the concrete finished.  This will also correct the uneven bits as they arent glued down flat in these photos.

Going to be fun!  See you soon with more.  

Monday, July 2, 2018

A Rumble in the Workshop Jungle



Hello folks!  Got another one ready to roll. Even unpainted it is very impressive, and wanted to share before I get to work.

This is a Nurgle 40k army, heavily converted by the client.  Not only huge, but lots of love, care, and creativity in the conversions. He has been collecting and converting this army over the past 7 years, and recently finally put the finishing touches on, packed it up, and sent it off to me to get painted! He loves the army so much it has its own blog - Hexfleet Virules. There he posts updates, thoughts, and ideas over the course of building the army (and soon, playing with it). You can find a link here to his facebook version, but you can also find it on Bolter and Chainsword.

Really amazing stuff in the conversions, and urge everyone interested in Nurgle to check out the conversion WIP photos on his blog of the different units. What I would guess as pounds of green stuff and excellent skill working it.

Quite an honor to say the least to be able to paint such an army, and add the other half of creativity and love.  Should make for some exciting work, great pictures, and of course will need to make a fancy new backdrop to celebrate, which progress will be posted as that goes down. Going to be quite the experience from start to finish, so I will keep this short and get to work!  See you soon for updates and work in progress photos of the new backdrop for these guys!

Monday, June 11, 2018

The Lost and the Damned - An Eldar Ulthwe Army


Hello friends.

Another army commission post for your clicking pleasure.  This time Eldar Ulthwe.  The client asked for in general classic Ulthwe with some specifics: a mossy base style ("Yavin 4" being the descriptor used most of the time), some specific conversions including two unique Wraithlords, and freehand in the masks and banner.  Lots of fun.  A classic scheme strengthened by some specific touches, techniques, and freehand. Particularly enjoyed the classic Ulthwe lightning markings.  Traditional and tribal but getting a balance of each being unique but not overpowering the other gives an organic feel. 

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

A Stormcast Eternals Army - Congregation of the Burning Star


Hello world,

Another post, that means another finished army commission! Back from Adepticon and spring in the air, feeling rejuvenated and that poured into this project. More black!  I love painting black.  Like painting anything really, but black is fun.  Sort of like painting everything as a giant opal gem. 

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Adepticon Warm Up



Hello friends.  It's that time of the year yet again - Adepticon prep and packing.  Only a week to go and ahead of schedule!  Not bad. Doing the booth again with some upgrades.  More pictures, more Victorian hoardings. Looking forward to seeing you all that are going again this year.  Get liquor while it lasts or someone takes it away.

Will post again at the event.  Until then, safe trip to the rest of you going!

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Clan Lachesis Part Two - Primaris, Preheresy, Legion of the Damned



Hello friends.  I am back.  Only two things in life that do not cease, time and myself.  So let's kick off a new year and a new project!

This time around it's a part two for the original Clan Lachesis army, a homebrew chapter of the client's.  One part Preheresy reserves, another Primaris, and also a custom Legion of the Damned subsection I am really excited about.  All custom, built up from bits and painted with a lava effect that was fun to work up.

Very happy with the black on this one.  Black is a color that seems simple, but with practice and awareness of the amount of grey used, as well as shading as one would with any other color, can get a depth and gemlike quality.

Something like half of this year's armies are black as well, which I am looking forward to in order to further refine it army to army. Never really get tired of any color, and to be honest the opportunity of working on one color several armies in a row is a relatively rare and exciting opportunity.  I am all about brutal efficiency while increasing quality, so instead of a color once a year it is a melting up of experience and results in a short span. 

Anyway. Did the pictures a little different this time.  Little more random.  There are a few factors to army galleries that are always a struggle.  The close and the gestalt.  The balance of action and representing the model for the client.  The OCD of wanting to show a linear progression as one would click through them.  And the absolute worst is being equally excited about every model, so Johnny Marine in picture 47 I want in the front as well as the Dread in picture 12.  An hour of shuffling. So lets see how this goes and let me know what you think.

Thanks for looking.  Thanks to the client for the opportunity.  Have a good day.