Tyrion -- Painting (IV): Wrapping-up/Home Stretch

"The Imp" is now mounted on its permanent display pedestal, and as such, the project can be deemed completed.

While virtually everything is done (or nearly so), the hair and final detailing remain, emphasis on the former. The basecoat has been glazed, so the foundation is in place--now for the oils. . .

UPDATE 24.06.2014. . . "The Imp" is FINISHED!!! Images should be up in 3-4 weeks. . .

Tyrion -- Painting (III): The Face

This is where the rubber meets the road. . . 

For all its simplicity of design, this bust is a rather daunting undertaking. . . IF one is intent on a screen-accurate depiction. Of course, I fall in the latter. . . Why else do it??!!!

The main shortcoming of this offering is the likeness. In this respect it is at best a C/C-: it simply does not look like Peter Dinklage! As a caricature, perhaps; but as a portrait of the character? I don't think so. Those who have been following this project know that I spent a considerable amount of time and effort reworking the face. And while I was pleased with the work I had done, some nagging doubts remained. Fortunately, for once I decided to trust my instincts and let the painting carry the load the rest of the way. 

I thought that getting the face done would take 3-4 sessions: Session 1 is now over, and I am delighted!!! I think that it will take 2 more sessions to finish the fleshtones [UD 21.06.2014 - DONE!]; and 2-3 additional sessions to get the eyes squared away (NOTE: these are the lynch- pin to this portrait! ) [UD 18.06.14 - Session 1: Mr. Dinklage has very interesting eyes. The best description would be hazel with a strong gray bias, or gray-green-brown. As of this writing, the irises have been base- coated with acrylics. UD 19.06.14 - Session 2: Oils basecoat; preliminary highlights. UD 21.06.2014 - DONE!] After that, 2-3 sessions should get the hair done. I will then put the figure away for 2-3 weeks to see how the colours settle before wrapping it up.

Please allow me to apologize in advance, but there will be no images prior to completion. Work will be first and foremost through the week of July 14th, and by that time the bust will be on the home stretch. Hopefully, the gallery of the finished bust will make up for the dearth of ip shots.

Stay tuned!

UPDATE 18.06.2014. . . The bust has been fitted to its permanent display base.

Tyrion -- Painting (II): Doublet & Fur

As this will probably be the last weekend where I will have any amount of dedicated time to myself at least through mid-July, it was time to get some projects to a watershed stage.  .  .

I decided to start with Tyrion. Not only is he the furthest along, but tomorrow is the season finale of GoT. I painted what is visible of his arming doublet late last night, using tonal variations of Indian Red, which is a near perfect match. The tonal variations were effected with Pthalo and Prussian Blue, and Mars Black. I also primed the fur mantle.

This evening, I stained the underside of the mantle (no UC--directly onto primer), waited an hour, and then permanently attached the mantle to the bust. I then applied foundation washes to the fur (again directly on the primed surface). 

Tomorrow, I will hopefully have the opportunity to complete the assembly of the bust, and undercoat the face, and. . . well, let's see how far I get.

UPDATE 15.06.2014. . . The bust is now completely assembled.

FOLLOW-UP. . . UC'ing has been completed.

Tyrion -- Painting: UC'ing 2 - Garments and Head

This will be a three-part posting addressing the remaining items to be "de-primered".

First-up, the arming doublet. Tyrion is known for his embroidered, oxblood-coloured arming dou- blet. Save for the standing collar, relatively little of it is visible on the bust. It was uc'ed in a mix (to taste) of Andrea Brown Leather and Reddish Brown. DONE

Next will be the neckband/cravat. This is a dark, warmish green that I uc'ed in Reaper Muddy Olive.  DONE

And finally, the head. DONE

Stay tuned. . .

Tyrion -- Painting (I): Armour - Phase 2A

Part 2 of the russeting is done! And it looks GREAT!! In case you are wondering "how?", yester- day's application was essentially dry by the time I went to bed: I substituted Schmincke-Mussini Casslerbraun, which is an alkyd resin-based paint, for Burnt Umber.

This step addressed the mid-high range highlights of the cuirass, essentially manipulating the light source with mid-range siennas and ochres, and punching these up with transparent orang- es. The final highlighting will take place after the figure is completely assembled and mounted on its display base.

Finally, I began the weathering of the latten trim and the pauldron using a mix of Rembrandt Transparent White and Raw Sienna. Things were going well, so I proceeded with the acrylic "dirty" washes and pigments on the pauldron--PERFECT! The pauldron is now curing in the oven, and I will seal it with Dullcoat before calling it a night to protect the pigments during handling--the pauldron has yet to be permanently attached to the bust.

NEXT: Finishing the undercoating. . . 

Tyrion -- Painting (I): Armour - Phase 2

Now comes the fun part!!!

As a miniaturist, chromatic armour has to be one of the most enjoyable--and demanding!--under- takings that we will ever encounter. Successful renderings require that one understands the actual process, and is then able to convert the outcome to miniature--without the use of heat or noxious chemicals!

Before continuing, some of you might be wondering why and how I fast forwarded this step, since in the previous posting I mentioned that I would allow the lacquers to cure for a week before sub- jecting them to the stress of staining. This being quarter-end month, I know full well that I am not in control of my daily schedule, so I decided to accelerate the curing process (overnight in the oven) and jump-in first thing this morning. . .

And the basic russeting is now done! Images will follow as soon as the oils settle. As to the hows, that is for every miniaturist to work out for him- or herself--but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I will attempt to help as best as I am able.

What comes next will probably be more harrowing than the basic russeting, as it will involve the weathering and ageing of the armour. But in the meantime, there is undercoating to be finished!

More to follow. . .

Tyrion -- Painting (I): Armour - Phase 1

Phase 1 of Tyrion's armour is now done!

It has been a number of years since I have painted a major piece of armour, and I am happy--and relieved!--to report that it's just like riding a bike: just do it!

Since this is intended to be the metallic basecoat to a weathered, dark-russeted cuirass, I went with G-S Mr. Metal Iron straight out of the bottle, rather than one of my custom metallic lacquer "cocktails". For the latten trim, I went with G-S Mr. Metal Brass, applied as a series of controlled washes. PERFECT!

It should be noted that I also wanted to introduce a somewhat textured surface to represent age and grime. Thus, I applied a somewhat heavy coat of paint (rather than floating a thinned coat), which I then textured as it was setting. Do not concern yourself with overdoing it it--within rea- son!-- as any overdone areas can simply be burnished-out when polishing the lacquers. As I've always said, you have to go out of your way to screw-up with the Mr. Metal lacquers!

I will let the lacquers cure for a week before proceeding with the russeting and weathering. In the meantime, I will complete undercoating Tyrion.

As a final note, I would like to praise a new product that I recently acquired: Tamiya's Craft Cot- ton Swabs. I purchased these for the express purpose of polishing metallic lacquers, especially tight areas, and they simply shine (pun intended) in this capacity! No more scratches from cut- down Q-tip shafts, no more lint to carefully remove before continuing with your work. And at ~5- 10¢/swab, depending on your retailer, these are money well spent!

Tyrion -- Painting: UC'ing 1 - Armour

Let the games begin. . .

It was a long day at work, and I simply wasn't up to a lengthy, demanding session with the brushes. So I opted for a quick, somewhat "loose" warm-up: I undercoated the pedestal and the cuirass on the The Imp.

Stamina and focus aside, this was precisely what needed to be done, as the cuirass will be painted as it was forged: 'black' (UC; actually a mix of Vallejo Black and Reaper Blackened-Brown); steel (G-S Mr. Metal lacquers); and russeted (oils). Unless I want metallic pigments making their presence known at the most inopportune moment down the line, the cuirass will have to be painted first--at least through the pre-russeting stage. In fact, the plan is to first apply the lacquers, and then complete the UCing of the figure--going forward, I will then be working almost exclusively in oils.

UPDATE 04.06.2014. . . The pauldron was undercoated in "scrubbed" Vallejo Black. "Scrubbed" means the paint was applied in a layered, 'wet' dry-brush, which results in a smooth, satin finish that will yield a different textural quality to the shoulder armour. 

More to follow. . .

The time is nigh. . .

The figures are primed. . . and I have just completed cleaning my brushes, rearranging my painting bench, and sorting-out the acrylic undercoating palette. . .

Which means that as soon as the opportunity presents itself, painting will commence on Judge Death and The Imp. . .

Let the good times roll!!!

Tyrion -- Painting: Priming

Most of the executed mods should be readily apparent. . .