35 - Back in Black

I have had another long hobby hiatus.  Part of it was a little burn out from preparation for Adepticon.  Another part was hobby ADD after Adepticon.  Another part was trying out different hobbies (I bought a new saw and had to test it out).

I did end up doing a good amount of projects done in August.  We had Sword and Brush at the beginning of September.  The month leading up to an event is always busy.  I wanted to get a new table worth of terrain done for the Batman Tournament.  I started with upgrading the card buildings that come in the Dark Knight Rises set.  I did this roughly the same way as the old Suicide Squad buildings that I did a while ago.

I then painted up some scatter terrain I bought at Adepticon from TTC combat.  Namely the "Junk" pack (old couch, broken TV, sleeping bags etc) and a pack of Porto-potties.  (one of my favorite moments from the tournament at SaB was seeing Batman and Lex Luther fighting over a Porto-potty objective). 

The week before the tournament I had all the terrain ready but then I had an idea to make some table numbers for the tournament.  I built up 5 billboards from some scrap balsa, plastic card and stir sticks.  I then found some Batman themed billboard advertisements and edited a number into them.  A little paint and glue, and I had 5 unique table numbers that also act as functional terrain on the tables.

The tournament was a blast.  We had 8 players come out.  It was really good to see some old friends and some new ones.  Games where close and everyone appeared to have enjoyed themselves.  Of course Brandon won Best Overall with his Teen Titans.  Best General went to Stephen and his Brave and the Bold crew.  Best Appearance went to Alex and his Gordon lead Brave and the Bold crew.  The Best Sportsman award went to our youngest (and one of the most enthusiastic players) Jack.  I am hoping that next year I have the ask the TO for more tables!

After Adepticon I was really pumped to try and improve my painting skills.  I had several cool models to work on, but I had a hard time getting anything started.  I dont know if it was pour time-management or not knowing were to start.  I think it was a little but of intimidation and spiral thinking that stayed my brush.  So I did not get anything painted up specifically for the Sword and Brush.

I still wanted to enter something into the painting contest though.  I decided to enter my Court of Owls into the Unit Category.  I also entered my King Shark and Clayface into the Fantasy Single Category.  Since all the terrain was ready to go for the tournament I thought that I would then spend the last few days before the event to make a diorama base for two of my existing models.

I have had an idea of doing a small display box featuring some of my Discworld Characters to sit on my bookshelf with the series. I had a Tiffany Aching model and a Granny Weatherwax done.  I used some material I had lying around (old cork, reused wire tree, and some flowers).   There is a few things I would improve on next time.  The base was built out of layers of thin cork, which is easily seen.  If I had had more time I would have used plaster or wood chips (or a combo of both).  The grass the was attached to the flowers was also a different shade then the separate grass, which did really hurt the colour unity.  I was happy how it did turn out and it looks great on the shelf.   It however did fail to make the podium (but that was not entirely surprising based on the other outstanding entries).  I did walk away with a Silver for my Owls and a Bronze for Clayface.

Kevin

95/100 - The Night Before Hogswatch...take 2

3 years ago I made a little Hogswatch display box.  I was not  happy with the printed background that I had put in the box back then.  So I decided that I would update it a little by making a three-dimensional fireplace this year. 

I built the fireplace by gluing individual bricks to a plastic card backing.  The bricks were made out of strips of foamboard with the paper peeled off.  I added a thin layer of plaster over the foam to give the appearance of mortar (and some extra texture for the foam).  The plaster was a little to think after it dried (I will thin in out more for the next project).  As I started to paint it, the plaster started to flake off though.  I added a layer of Mod Podge to protect it.

While I was going for the 3D effect, I did not have a lot of space to give the fireplace much depth.  I decided that I would disguise the fireplace opening with a decorative grate.  I took 3 old Warhammer Bretonnian Men-at-Arms shields (also the name of one of my favorite Discworld books) and glued them together.

I did some rearranging of the scenic pieces and removed the bases for Albert and the Hogfather for better atmosphere.

The piece has a much more finished feel to it now.  It also was great practice for my next display box that is in the works, the Canting Crew Caroling.

Kevin 

33/100 - Coughing Henry and Dori Walk into a Bar...

I got another two models painted up this week.  After finishing Tiffany last week I was still on a Discworld kick (lets face it, I am always on a Discworld kick), so I started to paint Coughing Henry.  He is the forth and last member of the Canting Crew.  I painted the other three members, Foul Ol'Ron, Arnold Sideways and the Duckman a few years back.  I am going to start on a diorama display box for the crew.  Since I always remember the Canting Crew from the Hogfather book, I am going to do a snowy Anhk-Morpork Hogswatch scene. 

I was also able to finish another Dwarf for my Hobbit project.  This time I went with Dori (not to be confused with the fish).

I have a special project on the go right now.  Hopefully I will have it done by the end of the weekend.  Waiting for things to dry sucks!

Kevin

31/100 - Tiffany Aching

I finished up another model that had been sitting on my painting desk for a few years now, Tiffany Aching from MicroArts Discworld line.  I have been very impressed with these models.  They have so much character.  I would like to paint them all eventually!

Almost twenty years ago I worked part time at a local bookstore.  I was the only male employee and the only person who read science fiction and fantasy.  So I was given that section of the store to care for.  Now back then I had really just started to read as a hobby.  I was mainly reading Dragonlance, R.A Salvatore and some Black Library (GW) stuff.  Mid way through the store's collection sat a few books by an author that I had not read, Terry Pratchett.  In a sea of dark covers depicting warriors and wizards, Pratchett's books always stood out.  The covers were all done by either Josh Kirby or Paul Kidby.  They tended to be very bright with over accentuated cartoony characters (I will always remember the 5th Elephant cover on the shelf).  I picked up a book called Mort and I have been hooked ever since.  No other artist/writer has influenced my life to the extent that Pratchett has.


Originally, I picked up the Wee Free Men because of the cover.  It was a mass of little blue pixies with red hair and wearing kilts.  These were the Nac Mac Feegles.  They are a cross between Braveheart and Fragglerock.  They were kicked out of the fairy world for being drunken and belligerent.  Due to a series of events that do not need explaining at this juncture they have sworn to protect Tiffany. 

Tiffany Aching is the central character to five books, The Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith, I Shall Wear Midnight and the Shepherds Crown (Pratchett's final book before his death).  Tiffany is a young witch.  In the Wee Free Men she is only 9 years old.  She is a young girl that comes from a land that is not known for producing witches.  On the Discworld witches are stereotypical "witchy"; black hats, warts, flying broomsticks etc).  However they are (in most places) respected healers and authority figures, but still a little feared. Over the events of the five books we see Tiffany go from a young child to full witch in her early twenties.  

Over the years my interests changed.  While I still love the Feegles, Tiffany's journey became more captivating to me.  She is a strong young woman.  She asks questions and always wants to learn.  You could argue that her greatest power is how clever she is.  Tiffany does not run away when she is scared.  If she is protecting the ones she loves she will risk her own life and face any challenge.  I really like that Tiffany also does not conform with people just to fit in.  All other witches wear black.  Not Tiffany, she says she will wear black when she is old, but for now (with all that she has seen) she has had enough of darkness (paraphrased from I Shall Wear Midnight).

Tiffany Aching is a great role model for young girls, and also for everyone else.  I started to read the Tiffany books to my daughter.  She is only five months old but I can only hope that some of Tiffany's essence will sink in.  

I only have two Discworld Models left unpainted.  I think one of them is going to get painted next to finish his "crew".  

Kevin

Pratchett

It was very sad news Thursday, when I heard about the passing of Terry Pratchett.  I identify with Pratchett's work more than any author I have read.  His books got me to think about some very important topics such as religion, the idea of a "true hero" and the nature of the universe.  His work has fundamentally changed me and how I look at the world.

Pratchett left behind a large body of work, so even though I have been reading him for years, being a slow reader means I have many more years of "new to me" books.  Not to mention that his style of writing leaves many little hidden gems that I always miss during the first reading.  

The twitter messages that were sent out following his death, were a perfect way to announce the news.  I found some degree of comfort in them.  

I was in a melancholy mood throughout the rest of the day.  When I arrived home after work I wanted to immerse myself in Pratchett's world.  So Helen and I made a toast with the top shelf whisky and played a great round of the Discworld board game "The Witches" (which working together, we were able to save the people of Lancre! huzzah!).

Lancre was saved from vampires, evil witches and the elves!

  Kevin

The Duck-man

I finished my latest Discworld miniature a few weeks ago.  The Duck-man is another member of the Canting Crew (Foul Ole Ron and Arnold Sideways, which I have already painted are also members)

The Duck-man is considered the smart member of the Canting crew.  He used to be well off and successful.  His tattered clothes are that of an old well tailored suit.  He recounts eating in the very finest of restaurant.  He also has the bounty of $132 000 for his head from the assassins guild.  So someone really wants him dead.

The only really odd things about the the Duck-man is that he is oblivious to a duck that lives on his head. He also does not understand why people around him keep quacking.

I tried painting a little stubble on the Duck-man's face.  I used 2 layers of some watered down "grey-white".  I also tried going for some mud splashes on the suit.  I am not to happy with the duck though.  It looks sloppy and rushed.  I will probably repaint the duck at some point. 

Kevin

The Hogfather

        The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett is one of my all time favorite books (and one of the few that I have read more that once). I try and read it almost every December. For people who have not read it I will give a brief summary.

       The Hogfather is an anthropomorphic personification in the Discworld (he is basically Santa Claus). However he is a little more rough in appearance (he has tusks) and 4 large boars pull his sleigh. In the book, an assassin is hired to kill the Hogfather. Death (the character) believes that the world needs to believe in the Hogfather or the sun will not rise. So Death pretends to be the Hogfather (complete with a false beard and a pillow stuffed into his jacket) to maintain the belief. Meanwhile his granddaughter, Susan, tries to figure out why her grandfather is pretending to be the Hogfather. Susan must figure everything out and save the real Hogfather.
The book is peppered with enjoyable humorous character such as, the Oh God of Hangovers, a tooth fairy, and the Veruca Gnome. I can't recommend this book more!

       When I found out that Micro Art Studios also made a Hogfather miniature I had to paint it this December. I ordered it a little late and it had to come from Poland but it arrived shortly before Christmas. Sadly I did not get enough time to finish up Elf Albert too. I frantically tried to get The Hogfather painted by Christmas. I wanted to use it in a game of Guards Guards after Christmas dinner (which I won). I put the snow on the base at 11pm on Christmas Eve.

       I tried some different paint for the red this time (compared to how I painted my Blood Angel army). I felt it made a good solid colour. The main difficulty I had with the model was doing so many different shades of white/bone. I ended up going with yellows, greys and brown bases with the same highlight white to mix in.

Kevin

Granny Weatherwax

Granny Weatherwax is one of my favorite Pratchett characters.  I think I was first introduced to her when I read the Wee Free Men series.  Granny is a witch.  Witches do not have a hierarchy with leaders (that is wizards stuff) but "Granny Weatherwax was the most highly-regarded of the leaders they didn't have" (Pratchett, Wyrd Sister).

She is your stereotypical witch.  However she was been cursed with a full set of teeth and has yet to get a single wart anywhere; which for a witch is a real image problem.

I wanted a more natural black colour for the cloak.  I tried going about it a little differently this time.  I would usually start with a black base coat and highlight the edges.  This time I went with a dark grey base.  From there I highlighted up to a light grey on the extremities.  Then gave the who model two coats of Nulin Oil.  I am happy with the result, it has a more realistic black cloth appearance.   
 

“Personal’s not the same as important. People just think it is.” Granny Weatherwax (Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies)


“Don’t hold with schools. They gets in the way of education.”  Granny Weatherwax (Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies)

Kevin