Hoist the Black Flag!

I recently began watching The Lost Pirate Kingdom (2021), a six-part docuseries released by Netflix.  This historical drama portrays the rise and fall of the eponymous early-18th century pirate republic based in Nassau, Bahamas, 1715-18. Think the historical version of Starz' Black Sails... FWIW, I would 'grade'  it a solid C: the fundamentals are mostly there, but there are some annoying unsupported conclusions, generalizations, and simplifications.

 

That being said, it did make me dig out my hidden map to the Rovers' Roost, and break out a couple of ip projects, one for each bench--the YM's Blackbeard bust (painting); and my Mary Read bust (workbench). 

 

I will bring you up-to-date on each project shortly; but I have made significant progress on Mary in the last two days.

 

Keep a weather-eye out. . .  

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Blackbeard -- Painting: Oils III - Headwear, pt1

I have now reached the first of what I anticipate will be several watershed phases in this project: the headwear.

What do I mean by a "watershed phase". Simply that this is, or prepares for, a climactic instance that will define, or at least heavily influence, what follows. In this case, I am painting the kerchief/ headwrap and the undersides of the hat in anticipation of permanently attaching the hat before continuing with the rest of the bust.

I painted the kerchief a "dirty" yellow, using Cad-Bar Yellow Light as the base hue, modified with Williamsburg French Light Sienna. Shading was done with Raw Umber and Mars Black (re: the latter, if applied in a deliberate and controlled fashion, it will "muddy" the yellow without tipping-it to green). Think of the resulting colour as a very cool, "light" yellow ochre.

The hat, a black felt, was simply done with a proprietary mix of Lamp and Mars Black.

Once these items are acceptably dry (by week's end?), I will permanently attach the hat to the bust and begin re-evaluating--and finishing!--the face.

UPDATE 19.10.2017. . . The hat is now permanently attached, and all is well. . . As a sidebar note, I used 5-minute epoxy to attach the hat. The way I had refitted the hat resulted in an almost "snap-fit" to the head, and I had little confidence in the prospect of the hat snapping into place before the super-glue started to kick. So, I opted for epoxy: it gave me all the time needed, as well as provided a perfectly clean join. 

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Blackbeard -- Painting: Oils II - The Face

I have just completed the basic application of oils on the face. I cannot say that the face is by any means "done", as this project will be defined by the ongoing effort to integrate all aspects 

of the figure until the bust is truly one. 

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Blackbeard -- Painting: Oils I

The first application of oils is done! This was little more than basecoating the irises; and applying the initial tinting grisaille to the teeth, and all the hair--facial and otherwise--save for the brows.

With the beard "blocked"-in, the character of the bust is now a determinant in how you paint it and the colours you will use. This is a very powerful bust; BUT, it will be up to the miniaturist not to bury that character and emotion under paint. . . 

FOLLOW-UP. . . The irises were basecoated with a thin application of Payne's Grey. I stress "thin" as I hoped I would be able to paint the pupils before calling it a day. The irises and  pupils are now in place. . .  

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Blackbeard -- Painting: UCing

The bust, save for the flesh and the beard, is now undercoated! 

Two things about this bust: One, your palette--to say nothing of your canvas!--is rather limited, so colour, or rather, tone, selection should not be undertaken in a cavalier fashion. 

Two, the design of the bust will dictate your approach. This is definitely an inside>>out project! Flexibility and adaptability will carry the day!!

FOLLOW-UP. . . I have decided to "undercoat" the beard in oils. This will afford me the opportu- nity to glaze the beard to maximize the depth and tonal shifts. More to follow. . . 

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Blackbeard -- Painting: Priming

The bust is now primed! I will probably commence undercoating tomorrow. . .

UPDATE 14.10.2017. . . The hat is now primed and undercoated. I used Stynylrez Black, thereby killing two birds with one stone. . .

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003