Inspiration

I was searching through my bag of paintings and other flat artwork forms and happened across a painting I forgot I made. Or at least started.

I haven't made a two dimensional painting in a while. I used to work at a tattoo shop, for three years following my apprenticeship, it was a great job and made my illustrative talents twice what they were. The problem was I began to draw on autopilot. This happens to you when you're drawing something you've drawn too many times before. Something that you're not interested in. I started to run out of inspiration and was more often having to "force it" to get that drawing done. As a result of course I wasn't drawing or painting much in my free time. I wasn't making any art for myself. The only time I'd produce something that wasn't a tattoo was when I was being paid to do so. That was ok with me, it's not that I didn't enjoy painting, I wasn't motivated.

Towards the end of the shop's seven year existence I had won my first golden demon, a bronze in the 40k squad category, and through my friend Adam (http://atomsmashing.wordpress.com/) had taken on a few commissions from his friend Eric. In my downtime at the shop I would work on commissions. Thanks to that red toolbox you see on my desk all the time I had all my materials ready to go. The shop closed down and I decided to push the miniature painting further. I made it my job for better or worse.

These days I've moved my painting desk upstairs because winter has set in. I'm painting miniatures all the time  and drawing like I used to. Over a year in and I'm still inspired every day. There just isn't enough time to paint as much as I want to, plus my hands couldn't take it, and I'm loving it.

As always, there's more to come :)

Completed Reaver and Vulkan by Baelor Sculpting

Here are the two pieces completed :)

http://www.coolminiornot.com/295138

Both fun models to paint. I'm not sure where to get the Vulkan although it may not be released yet. You check out a few more pieces by Baelor here:http://armorcast.com/store/index.php?cPath=116_110&osCsid=8d5d1b06aaeab09400764f6bac22dd9a

Until next time take care.

Off to the races

As promised I took some shots of my next two E-bay sales.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wh40K-Painted-Grey-Knights-Space-Marine-Librarian-/330665903029?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfd3943b5#ht_500wt_1202

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Painted-Blood-Angels-Wh40K-Space-Matine-Sanguinary-Priest-W-Magnetic-Options-/330665902319?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfd3940ef#ht_500wt_1202

Next up I'll have some pictures of the two models I've completed from Baelor http://www.baelor.com/

I hope you all had a happy New Year. Last year was a big one for me. I had a part in a movie, went on tour with my band twice, and attended Adepticon, Gencon, Gamesday, and Origins. Out of those conventions I managed to take home 3 Golden Demons, 2 P3 Gold Medals, 1 best artisan plaque, and a gift certificate form Reaper Miniatures. I also got my foot in the door and took some commissions from a few companies that produce miniatures.

As I look over the last year I'm quite pleased and also eager to see what 2012 will bring.

I propose a toast to chasing your dreams :)

Reaver by Baelor Miniatures

I'm happy to say that I've been hired to paint some models for Baelor miniatures (http://www.baelor.com/). I exchanged a few E-mails with Clint and he sent me two models he sculpted. A Vulkan and a Reaver. Both are nice models. I've already started painting the Reaver and I have to appreciate the attention to detail. Clint has a unique style. I'd compare some of his pieces to John Blanche artwork. 

The picture above is of the Reaver. Here's a little step by step of how I created the base.

It starts with a foundation of filler material. Cork is very useful for this. 

Next I started building a small catwalk to attach to the top.

Just some plasticard and weaving material.

Once the catwalk was attached it was ready for some dried soil.

And of course the centerpiece. The model itself.  

The idea with the base was to add to the prowling nature of the model. It couldn't be too elevated for practical purposes but the negative space below gives it sense of height. 

Now I had it assembled and with Brother John keeping me company I began to paint. This is just the foundation layer composed of wet blending and quick highlights. I'll go over it 2 more times before it's done, every time using the transparencies of the paint to build upon the previous layer.

Wintertime paining

Brother John has some time off work due to the holiday and we got together to get some painting done.

I set up with some colors I'd be using to finish off some E-bay pieces while brother John carefully selected which figures would get the paint. He also had some Gamezone knights to prep.

With flannels and entertainment all set, we got to work.

I'll have some nice photos of these two up before Sunday night. I also started prepping some miniatures I've received from Baelor (http://www.baelor.com/)but more on that tomorrow.

Orc Shaman Complete

As promised I'm starting to dig through all the photos I took of the completed Christmas projects. This one was for my Dad.

He's also over on Coolminiornot:

http://www.coolminiornot.com/294702

He's kind of a busy model but I think it works for Orks. A cluttered mini reflects a cluttered mind :)

Happy Holidays to all

I hope you have all enjoyed the company of your loved ones. I did and it was a very special feeling to present the miniatures I had painted for my family. I'll have separate collages of all the miniatures in the future but for now enjoy this family photo.

Here's another version of miniature painting. More of a literal translation :)

This was also presented as a gift to my girlfriend.

"God bless us, every one of us"