Cuirassier the next step

Last weeks it was very busy and therefore there was no time for sculpting. The last days I finally could pickup the sculpting tools again and I made some progress with the figures standing on my workbench, including the Cuirassier. On this figure I managed to sculpt the folds on the lower part of the boots, modeling the horse tail and I made a start sculpting the saddle of the horse. The neck of the horse was a bit too long, thanks victor! So I had to shorten it and re-sculpt this part. The next step will be to re-sculpt the mane of the horse and add the equipment. Hopefully I can post some more progress soon.

Cheers,
Marcel.

Officier de Cuirassiers

Here an update of this mounted figure that is on my workbench. It's going to be an officer of the Cuirassiers.

The horse body is from historex and the figure is a Metal Modeles conversion. I have cut the original legs and re-sculpted them with magic sculp to transform figure to a mounted one. Here are some pictures of the current status. Next steps will be sculpting the horse tail and saddle.

Cheers,
Marcel.

Workshop with Jesus Gamarra

On 13 and 14 april El Baluard organized a painting workshop with Spanish top painter Jesus Gamarra. The figure for the painting workshop was the officer 3rd regiment foot grenadier, 1751 from Art-Girona. Due to lack of time I  picked up my figure on Friday night before the workshop and had to prepare it before the following morning. Next morning I left a bit tired but with the figure prepared to the workshop.

After unpacking and installing we started with the face, first painting the eyes. I didn't paint for almost half a year so this part was not the easiest to begin with for me. After painting the eyes Jesus showed how to paint the rest of the face, were to apply the highlights and shadows and which dilution we had to use. After some hours painting everybody was getting hungry and we went for lunch. After a good lunch we continued with the workshop. And Jesus showed how to paint a freehand in a very short time which was great to see. We continued painting until around 8 o'clock in the evening. 

Next day after a good night rest we continued painting the red jacket which is a big part of the figure. In a record time Jesus showed how to apply the highlights and shadows of the red color. My painting speed was much slower but much faster than I was used to. Soon it was time to get our hungry stomachs filled and we went for a good lunch. After the lunch the buff part was painted and soon it was time to go home. I had a great weekend and learned a lot from Jesus. Hopefully I can find some time to finish the figure. Above and below are some pictures of the progress I made during the workshop.

Cheers,
Marcel.

Time for an update

It's been along time since I have been updating my blog. The last months was like a roller coaster and time was flying. At the end of august we left the Netherlands and before we were finally installed in our new home  here in Girona it was already October. Then getting used to the new work environment and rhythm also took some time. In the beginning of January I picked up the brushes and sculpting tools again and spend some hours modelling. I spend a few hours on painting but at the moment I'm only focusing on sculpting in order to get some projects finished this year. So, on my work bench at the moment are four figures I'm doing together with Fernando Ruiz, who will do the paintwork. These I will not show until they are finished. Next to these figures I have some side projects. One is a 70 mm fantasy figure and the other a 60 mm conversion of a Napoleonic mounted figure. The horse body is from historex the head is a copy. When preparing putty I always end up with too much, so the excess of putty I used to sculpt the neck of the horse. This is the first stage, next steps are to sculpt the ears, smooth the neck and add the mane. Soon some more updates!

Cheers,
Marcel.

Quietness on the modelling front...

Normally is spend several hours every week on modelling but the last couple of months I couldn't find time to paint or sculpt, which explains the quietness on my blog. I'm still busy with several projects but due to the latest development in my private live this has come to a hold. The reason for this is that me and my family had the opportunity to immigrate to Spain. This was always what we wanted but you can imagine it was a difficult decision due to the crisis in Europe and in this uncertain times giving up the secure live is not that easy. But this was a opportunity you don't get everyday so we decided to take our changes. The last months there were some positive developments which has speed up the project. In about a month from now we are already moving to Girona which is the hometown of my wife. So we are going to a place that is already familiar to us with family and friends.

The positive aspect when it comes to modeling is that much more people here are painting or sculpting figures, not like in the Netherlands were only a few people are doing this. And in Enschede I was always far from other modellers and had to travel long distances to visit a figureshow. In the south of Europe much more shows are organized and are now in a much closer distance. But nevertheless I will miss my family and friends here so enough reason for a regular visit.

At the moment we are already packing and arranging all the paperwork. So the coming period I'm busy with packing so I there will be no time for modelling. Hopefully somewhere in October when we are settled I can pick it up again and get at least one figure done this year.

Cheers,
Marcel.

New pictures of the Standardbearer

The last two months it was so busy that I didn't had much time for painting or sculpting. There are a lot of changes lately soon I will post some more about this. In the mean time I took some new and better pictures of this older figure. It's the 54mm standardbearer from the Royal Guard Grenadeers from the Kingdom of Naples, 1812 from Romeo Models which I finished in 2008.

Cheers,

Marcel.

Painting Workshop

On 24 March another figure painting workshop was held after I was contacted by a modeler from the Twenot building group Utrecht. Most participants this day were armor modelers from the the Twenot building group Utrecht. The group was completed with some other modelers from other groups. After some coffee I started with a small presentation about Zenithal light and painting with acrylic paint. After a short break I continued with a painting demonstration, showing the basic principles of applying highlights and shadow on a figure. For the demonstration a 54mm Napoleonic figure from Alexandros Models was used, which was already cleaned and primed.

Preparing the paint

Starting with the paintwork

  

After the demonstration everybody started painting their own figures. After applying the rough highlights and shadow it was already time for lunch. Due to the great weather we could sit outside were we enjoyed our lunch. After the lunch I did the second part of the demonstration which was about blending the highlights and shadows. This is always difficult to explain on paper, so by showing it it's much easier to understand.

Hereafter the participants continued with their figures. Now and then there was some frustration when paint ended up in the wrong places but in general great progress was made during the day.

  

 

After some hours of painting, discussing, chatting and looking at each other's work it was already time to go home. It was great day and it's very nice to meet other Dutch modelers and show them principles of figure painting. Which hopefully is getting more popular in the Netherlands the coming years.

Cheers,
Marcel.

The face next step

The last week there was not much time to paint but I managed to get a bit of more progress on the right side of the face. I also corrected the eyes, but I'm still not totaly satisfied with the right eye. I have to some more work on some transitions and continue with blending of the left side of the face. Hopefully soon some more progress pictures.

Cheers,

Marcel.

Ramses II, Qadesh 1300 a.C.

This figure is from Art-Girona's Historical series. And it's sculpted by the talented hands of Adriano Laruccia. I started the face last year during the painting demo. Now most of my model time is dedicated to sculpting several new figures. So it's nice to do something different and spend some hours on painting figures. 

The paintwork is done a usual with acrylics, the rough shadows and highlights are applied. And I started blending the right side of the face. Which is mostly done now. Next I have to correct the eyes, paint the lips and blend the left side and the chin. Here two pictures of the progress.

Cheers,

Marcel.

  

Ransart 2012

On 28 and 29 of January the show "Pleins Feux sur le Maquettisme" was held again in Ransart Belgium. Because of the very soft winter until then I decided to go this year also. Unfortunately for me I became ill just a few days before the weekend. But with my bag loaded full of paracetamol and a box of figures I was prepared for the trip to Belgium. Me and the family left Saturday morning at 8 o'clock. After dropping of the family in Bergen op Zoom I continued my trip to Chareloi, were I arrived at 12:45. Luckily I found a parking spot and entered my figures into the contest. It's a big show with three floors for collectors, club and contest tables. The traders were located in a big botanic garden next to it.

Soon I came across the first dutch friends. After some chatting I met also other friends from Belgium and France. One of them was Stephane from Figurines TV who I always see in Girona at 'Soldat de Plom'. He was so kind to introduce me to Roberto Chaudon a great sculptor from Mexico, who is sculpting for companies like Pegaso and Knight models. He was giving a sculpting demonstration and it was instructive to see him at work and to be able to ask some questions. Time was flying and after visiting the fair in the botanic garden it was already time to leave to Bergen op zoom were we stayed for the night. Before I arrived on Sunday a lot of time was already lost. When I arrived I started making pictures of the figures in contest. But soon this was impossible because the room was filled with people for presentation of the prizes. For me it was very hard to follow because all was done in french and my french isn't that good.

All I could figure out were some names of the different classes. At a certain moment I heard my name and I found out that I won a bronze medal in transformation. After the ceremony was finished I picked up my figures and soon we on our way back home. After some delay were we arrived home around 10 o'clock in the evening and went to bed. The end of nice weekend.

The rest of the pictures I could take can be found on my facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3157326216562.153546.1367446367&type=1&l=b75ccb7374

Cheers,
Marcel.