Sculpting the saddle

The last two weeks I didn't had much time to model but the last couple of days I could work on the saddle and saddle cloth. Some measuring, sculpting, fitting tests and adjustments were necessary to achieve a good fitting of the rider on the horse with the saddle cloth in between. Furthermore some details were added. Now the remaining details have to be added and finish the horse. Here are the pictures.

Cheers,
Marcel.

Painting the face

The face of this figure was already primed some time and was desperate waiting to be painted. Inspired by the stunning paintwork of Jaume Ortiz on this figure few years ago I decided to try it myself. I first started  placing the rough highlights and shadows on the face and continued blending all the transitions. This is the current status of the face. I still have to paint the eyebrows, eyes and lips and do some more blending in around the mouth area.

Cheers,
Marcel.

working on the horse

After positioning the figure in the desired pose on the back of the horse I continued fixing horse head on top of the body. The horse body and head are a resin copy of an commercial figure which was done by Andrea Iotti several years ago. The transition from the body to the neck was smoothed using MS. The rear horse feet are added and re-sculpted. One of the front legs still have to be replaced and finally the ears have to be added.

Cheers,

Marcel. 

Working on the upper torso

I did some minor work on the legs adding some details. Next I started sculpting the jacket and added the belt around the waist. Still have to do some smoothing before I add all the details. Here some pictures of the current status.

Cheers,
Marcel.

Female Fantasy Crusader Finished

I finished this figure just in time for AMSS show which was held over a week ago. Were it was displayed in the fantasy category. At the end of last week I finally found some time to make the pictures. This was my first fantasy piece and it was a pleasure to paint it. For sure it will not be my last fantasy piece. Soon this figure will be released by REDEES Miniatures.

Cheers,

Marcel.

IPC AMSS 2011

Last weekend on 5 and 6th March I went to the 16th International Painting Contest organized by the AMSS in Antwerpen. It was excellent organized and it was a great show. Special guest this year was Danilo Cartacci which gave a seminar on Saturday. It was great to see the master at work. When you see him painting it looks so simple.

I was also great to have a chat with the people I normally only see on the different forums. There were around 400 high quality figures in competition. I entered four of my figures in the open and fantasy category and was lucky to win a silver medal in the open category. Best of show this year went to 'Busted' from Marijn van Gils. Which was a stunning boxed diorama about a husband who finds his wife in bed with somebody else. And it was hardly impossible to photograph, you have to see it.

It was a great event and hopefully I can be their next time again.

Here are some pictures of figures in competition:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=108141&id=1367446367&l=2a7f7a64ab

Cheers,

Marcel.

The basework

 I started constructing the base work for the figure. The idea was some rock formations with the figure standing on top. And in the background a death tree to complete the scene. The rocks are made from some stones and magic sculp. The tree needs some adjustments and sand and grass have to be added.

Furthermore I painted the inside of the shield and finished the red skirt and purple belt. Now I'm working on the flag. The blending of the front part is practically done. The next step is to paint a pattern on the flag and finish the groundwork.

Cheers,

Marcel.

  

  

Finishing the skin part

Due to the flu I wasn't able to paint for a few weeks. But now I'm trying to get the figure finished as soon as possible. The skin part is almost finished now. I made some small corrections to the face to make it look more female. At the moment I'm working on the transitions on the surcoat and this work should be finished in the next couple of days. Also work is done on the shield, leather parts and boots but still need some more work here. Here are the pictures of the current status.

Cheers,

Marcel.

Hans Joachim von Zieten

 Hans Joachim von Zieten will be one of my new projects I will be working on in 2011. He was the cavalry general from the Prussian army who served in numerous wars and battles during the reign of Frederick the Great. He was one of Frederick's most trusted generals.
It will be 54mm sculpted figure riding a horse, the painting below will be used as a reference for the figure.

I have made already a start and I used a spare head which will be modified later. The general body pose is sculpted with some wire and Magic Sculp. The next steps will be sculpting the clothing and accessories. Here are some pictures of the early stages.

Cheers,
Marcel.

Crusaders vignette 1/72

Some months ago the guys of valdemar miniatures contacted me and were so generous to send me some of their 1/72 medieval figures. It are excellent sculpted metal figures with great details and they are about 25mm high. I´ve never painted figures in this scale so one of my projects for next year will be to make a vignette with these figures. Still have to think about the setting and colors.

Cheers,
Marcel.