Draconic Elves

Every so often, it's fun to see a few minis side by side.

In this case, a few recent Celtos figures.

While I wasn't trying to match any specific colors, I did gravitate towards a similar scheme for both the skin tones and the golds.

These were among a number of testing ground figures where I experimented with bright seafoam greens in my golds, along with purples and high intensity seinnas.

While the majority of the colors were somewhat muted (mostly mixed together to keep them toned down) I left a few colors of high saturation to pop and create centers of interest.

It was also part of a much broader experiment where I try out all my latest techniques on figures that are more than 10 years old.

Since I am painting so many brand new figures these days from emerging companies, going almost back to the beginning (or at least a significantly earlier period in the development of miniatures) is a great contrast!

I have learned a great deal, as I do in each experiment.

Stay tuned for much more, both the very new, and the less new. :-)

The Unconquered

Here's another mystery mini for you, although I suspect that it is an older Ral Partha figure.  The sculpting reminds me a bit of Copplestone Casting, however.

She is standing on another one of the Bark and Branch bases, which worked out just great for her!

Just as with out Man of Mystery, I was very aware of carrying the colors used on the base right up through the figure!

She's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/221970722065?

Mystery Man

This may or may not be a Reaper miniature, but in any case, it was a lot of fun!

I really wanted to play around with various browns and greens, and see how those could also play off the bark and branch base!

I tried to also include a few higher saturation colors here and there for a little extra interest.

This view from above gives you a nice look at the base, and the Gamer's grass/ Mig dired leaf foliage that I purchased from King's Hobbies and Games.

He certainly had a very colorful expression on his face which I tried to capture!

He's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/321950478621?

What's old can be new

This was a very interesting project... taking an ancient Ral Partha figure and giving it the "new figure" treatment.  

I used the new style foliage to create overgrown effect on a fun little sculpey vignette.

I can remember years ago trying to sculpt something similar to this with unbaked sculpey... not thinking that it would be a million times easier to do so once it was baked. :-)

The last time I was painting figures such as these, the technique was radically different.  It was more along the lines of the standard "GW" approach.  Painting this one in the manner which I do now was quite an interesting experience.

An exercise like this seemed even more useful, since I have had so many examples of the very latest in sculpting and manufacturing coming through here!!

Yes indeed... sometimes what is old can be new!

Bark 'n Branch... with paint!

A few days ago I posted some images of these bases showing all the bark, oxide paste and gravel.

While I will wait to apply the various foliage types after the miniatures are added, it seemed to be a good idea to take some images first!

I really enjoy playing the greens and tans against each other, with hints of sienna in between.

Here we have the largest and smallest base once again side by side...

Picking out various details in the bark texture and even the bits of tree branch can be somewhat hypnotic.

Soon these bases will have their foliage... oh, and minis too. :-)  Stay tuned!!!

The King is Dead

Meet Vardus the Interred, a very fun Reaper miniature that has served me well over the years in my Lord of the Rings armies.

This was a fantastic exercise in the balance of muted purples, greens, teals and siennas to achieve the ethereal effect that I wanted, but also convey the sense of decay and age.

This meant that I was mixing many of the colors with each other, as doing so helps to keep things toned down and muted.

He's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/321948966301?

Cruise Control

The Reaver Jetbikes return!  

Since the display board for the army was a fortress/hippodrome, there was a great deal of mosaic tile included on the bases.

While the mosaic designs helped carry the theme throughout the entire army, it also served a practical purpose.  The sculpey chunk on this base weighs a lot more than the figure, so it was the perfect counter weight!

I have a number of blog posts about the construction of the display board, and of the painting process.  This is one of the final posts showing the painting process:

http://wappellious.blogspot.com/2013/04/getting-back-on-track.html

It was certainly a lot of fun to create!

http://wappellious.blogspot.com/2013/04/back-to-basilica-canus-are-some-more.html