Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Yule Tide workshop


OK folks, something even more festive than miniatures!

That means cookies!  Gingerbread style.

Kimberly and Cathy baked the cookies, and left them to me.


I had never mixed the frosting before.  Many years I had decorated the cookies, but this would be a first.  Time to gather up the ingredients...


Definitely a tad thicker than my miniature paint!  But, I can mix any color I need...


Don't blink!  Weeping angles hiding amongst them!!


Skeleton gingerbread men!  And some Imperial Guard...
Don't forget the Christmas sharks!


And the Ninja Bread men!

My job was done.  Time to eat them!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!


Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Who says you can't take it with you?


It's just about that time again!  It took a while, but the remote studio was set up once again so that work could continue on several fronts.

Since many questions have been asked about the bases in the last few weeks, I thought I would snap a few images of bases in various states of completion.  Here is one base that is almost done... you can even see the holes drilled into it for the figure.


This base is in a very early stage.  You can see that the basic design was drawn out first in pencil.  Normally I would use one of my finer carving tools to create texture around the outer portions of the design.  I didn't do that on this one, since the miniature is going to cover a good portion of that.


These next few images show 3 bases in 3 different stages.


The one on the right is about 75% complete.  More work will be done in the cross area, including some additional text, etc.


This view shows a few of the figures placed on the bases.  They can be removed, since all that is holding them on are the pins in the feet.  The figure in the middle is also in early stages of painting.


Putting the minis on the bases is almost always the final stage.  It is a very satisfying moment!


This image has a 4th figure on a taller base.  That cork is bulletin board cork, which is thicker but more fragile.  I typically put leaders and characters on the taller bases...


And the road studio at work.  This is the 'small' version.  The full version is about 200 pounds worth of equipment ;-)  As I have learned over the years, that fireplace can get mighty toasty on the bum!  Even though it was -11 outside, that stove was at 600...

It is set up for prepping, painting and a dozen different computer tasks that need to be done on a daily basis.  One more PAL Dvd masetr being burned.


One last image for you!


Monday, December 23, 2013

Back up and running...


OK, I am just starting to get everything unpacked... Time for one quick set of images.


Canonness and Icon bearer.  Fun with hunks of metal!


I had been looking forward to seeing these two together, especially since I was able to print out a new backdrop at long last!


Yea to not having to clone brush a million white scratches and black skid marks from each image!


They sure look scary!


The platform...


Yes, another day, another base :-)


You will recognize this base from a previous post.  Eventually there will be a miniature to go with it!


Sunday, December 22, 2013

Why does this thing have to be so heavy?


This is a figure that I have waited years to paint.  It is definitely very different from the typical banner bearer!


As I mentioned a few days ago in one of the basing posts, I made the base a little bigger so that I could offset the weight of the icon.  Good thing I did!


A very interesting figure...


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Time to re-grout!


I hope you are not getting sick of bases!  I never do ;-)


Yes, more bases for the Sisters.  I don't often get a chance to do white marble, so these are fun!


Of course, lettering is always fun for a closet calligrapher.


They always look fun in groups!


I don't plan everything out in advance... it just sort of 'happens'.


More fun that way!


Friday, December 20, 2013

Reverend Mother...


More fun with nuns!  This time, a Canoness


It goes along with the same color scheme as the previous Sisters.


More on the way!!!