SSSSSshaded bassssecoat and glazing.

OK... here's something a lot of folks have been anxious to see.

This is the other half of the zombie queen set from the Confederate Rebellion, one of four new factions being created with the Wild West Exodus kickstarter.

This is an interesting shot, as it shows some critical elements.

First, the concept art which must be matched.  Doing so is always a challenge, since the final sculpt is always different, and you don't have the benefit of a 'backdrop'.  This can effect the appearance of a color far more than you might think.

Also, for those of you not familiar with my Shaded Basecoat technique, you see my #8 round craft brushes ready for action!  Each is in a different state of wear.

The more worn out brushes are used to make the initial applications of color, as the point has been worn away, making a nice version of a filbert brush.  The newer, more pristine brushes are for more detailed areas.

Let's begin  I chose a generic grayish green color for the scales, which was lightened with a rotting flesh type color.  A mid tone brown was used for the bindings, and a light grey for the metal parts.  As usual, the Shaded Basecoat begins light, and then gets lighter.

This will be shaded and tinted by subsequent glazes.

And let the Glazing begin!

I use a huge variety of glazing colors... Secret Weapon, Vallejo, and so on.

The approach here is similar to a watercolor painter... in that I concentrate my glazing in tightly controlled applications.

This is normally something I use in my Nurgle mixes, but the swamps demand the addition of this high chroma light wash.  I will mix it in with the Algae for some extra boost.

You ca see that I am working around the metal areas and the bindings.

A substantial difference already!

I have made sure to vary the colors of my mixes... some parts were more brownish, while others were more yellow or blueish green.

It is a lot easier to get this kind of color variation through glazing and tinting as opposed to laborious opaque color mixing.

So, the scales, which had been painted a very basic green color, could be turned warmer or cooler, brighter or more muted, with just the type of glazing color I was using.

The same technique was used on the bindings.  I was even able to incorporate some of the green glazes into the mix, which unified the colors... keeping the browns from getting too out of touch with the green of the scales.

Also, I can apply multiple glazes to a given area to darken it further, or tint it, etc.

A blue/black glaze was created for shading the metal pieces.

Now we have some decent shading, which can be refined much more with semi-opaque applications in those all important middle tones.

These techniques are so central to everything I do, I made sure they were the first two videos created for the Painting Pyramid series of instructional videos.

I like to think of them as the steel framework of a skyscraper.  It provides a lattice upon which I can 'hang' sheets of special effects, such as the RJ-1027 glow, and the Blood spatter!

Stay tuned for the Grand Finale!!!!!

A little Voodoo on You...

The Zombie Queen beckons you to join in on the fun.  Head on down to the Bayou and lock in on the Confederate Rebellion.

The Zombie Queen is a bit of a snake charmer, as you will see.  Her little pet is also finished, but I have some step by step images that I will be featuring over the next few posts.

And what might that pet be?

How about this guy!  Stay tuned. Keep pushing the stretch goals to bring these to your doorstep too...

Off to the races... again.

I discovered some fun side by side photos of the Energy Beast and Stone Fist character, so I thought I would put them up today.

Three more Energy beasts are prepped and ready to join them!

The biggest decision is which breed to choose.  I have two choices that are certain, but the third might just depend on what I feel would be the most adventurous.

I have a second Energy Beast in this pose, so that will have to be as different a breed as possible from this one.

Of course, I am anxious to see what massed Energy Beasts will do in our games.  I have a feeling that the first fights will be against Carpathian and his hideous creations.

I suppose swift striders such as the Energy Beasts will be ideal for exploding those abominations and getting the heck out of the way!

As always, it's interesting to see how these guys look on a different backdrop!

I wonder if Dark Nation will have anything like the Energy beasts.  I have a feeling they will be hideously augmented RJ-1027 monsters :-)

Taking the dogs for a walk

Here we go!  Time to take the dogs for a walk in the park!

Before I started painting this set, I thought it would be very fun, and I was right.  This is also a very deadly combination of shooting and sic 'em!

Speaking of fun things to paint, this guy... YES!  I definitely want to paint this Golden Army character.

Back to the sisters and their little dogs...

The ladies can blast you from a distance, but they can also send their pets after you.  We have seen first hand how badly that can end for those on the business end of a cc-K9.

Woof woof!

Some fun stretch goals have been reached in the kickstarter thus far.  We have been furiously creating scenarios for future games, especially with the Golden Army vs Watchers.

I think more dogs will have to join these when I get to Adepticon. :-)

A family portrait!

Flying the colors

Another banner for you!

The same technique was used on this banner as the first.

Painting and covering any exposed paper surface along the edge of this banner was trickier than the previous version, since there was no gold fringe on this guy. :-)

Give that dog a bone!

The K9 unit for the Lawmen now has another puppy!

From Wild West Exodus we have another one of the cc-K9 miniatures.  He will join the Copelie Sisters with Hercules to hunt down those pesky evil doers!

I used a few of the Secret Weapon body parts to show that he has successfully made an 'arrest' :-)

It's been a while since I have been able to do all the blood and guts stuff.  Almost had to watch my Bloody Mess video as a reminder!

I now have some complete group shots coming of the dogs and the ladies!  Stay tuned...

Enough with the horn already!

In the hours prior to a recent Screaming Heretic Podcast, Joe and I decided to create a quick base for his giant Forgeworld Greater Demon.

We took a few items that he thought might be fun off the shelves, and set down to work!

Out came the razor saw, and the cutting began!  I needed to get as much of that Imperial Aquilla onto the plaque as possible to make a solid platform for the demon.

With the pieces cut, I used a combination of super glue and Elmer's glue to secure it to the plaque.

There are some substantial gaps to fill here, and the Black Lava paste should do the trick.  It will act as a mortar between the various pieces.  I will also be able to set in the bricks, skulls, and other items as it dries.

To establish the 'duel' effect, I had to reposition the two figures many times... ironically each one had to be going "uphill" to make it work.

Not only does the Black Lava paste fill in gaps, it also matches some of the texture of the original plastic pieces.

Here you see some of those items set into the paste... bricks, skulls, rocks and gravel.

Now it's just a matter of working my way around the whole base.

I added a few extra things, such as statue pieces and Storm Raven landing gear.

The angles were set, and holes were drilled...

To complete the triangle, so to speak, a casualty was added.  Who doesn't love chopping up space marines?!

The size and angle of the original Aquilla pieces were just right to set down the marine figure to make him look as if he were sprawled out across it...

Things are not looking great for angel boy!

Joe's recently arrived tentacle maker from Green Stuff Industries was perfect to make the power cables!

OK, so the three main characters are set.  This was set aside to cure... patiently awaiting some paint!