40K

MARNEUS CALGAR, MASTER of the ULTRAMARINES
This model was painted in the standard Ultramarines scheme. Blue, gold and white being the primary colours. All the golds were done in NMM, giving the model a very regal look. I am very impressed with the way the lines on this model hold colour and move your eye around. I also added some gold scroll work to the cloak that rally helps to set the model off. More pictures can be found here.

GRODUK the WORLD SLAYER, LORD of KHORNE
This amazing model has been sitting on my desk for quite some time now. I really feel that the pose of this model tells a story better than any single model I have painted. I painted him with NMM gold, center highlighted reds and many other not so common colours. While this model maintains the sense of darkness that is chaos it is also quite vibrant. The only bit that people may have a hard time in placing is the chain of skulls below the Axe of Khorne. They are form the FW Bloodthirster model. I really like the way the Space Wolf head sets off the model, it is a really good focal point. More pictures can be found here

SPACE MARINE COMMANDER AUREX
This is another model that I have had built for some time. There was an on line contest some time ago based around this figure. The rules were that you could only use parts form the original model. I built the figure and then was unable to paint him due to my injury. I used parts of the extra bases for the stone work of his base and also for the centurion head crest. I painted him in a very cohesive cool pallet that makes him look very regal. More pictures can be found here.

COMMISSAR THRESAK
This model is a mix of three IG models. I really like the Yarrick base sculpt but have never been fond of the huge power claw. I decided to swap in an right handed IG powerfist [not many to choose from since most powerfists are left handed]. While I don't mind Yarrick's face I wanted something different form his cadaverous face. I chose the Cadian officer face and added Yarrick's hat. All in all it looks like a model that GW could have in production wich is what I wanted. Pictures of the model can be found here.

GREY KNIGHTS DREAD
The Forgeworld dreads never cease to hold my attention and always beg to be painted. They are all so very well done. This model was done in a similar style as the dread that I took to CDN GD. I really like the heroic base and the smaller icon in top seems to balance the model better than the large one I did for competition. More pictures can be found here.

LE SPACE WOLF LORD
This model has been sitting on my desk in a half done state for a few months now. I am very happy to finally have him finished. The model has some minor work to make it look more like a space wolf and I am happy that he looks like he could have been created this way. The paint work is very similar to my Space Wolf army except I did not use an airbrush on this guy. :) More pictures can be found here.

EMPEROR vs HORUS DIORAMA
This was quite the project. It was based on the last meeting between the Emperor of mankind and Horus the Warmaster of Chaos. It is not an attempt to copy the amazing art found in such books as the Horus Heresy [great book BTW] but is an attempt to bring it to life in my own way. All of us that know of the 40K universe know of the Horus Heresy. At the climax of that event was the final meeting of the Emperor and has once champion Horus. It is the great struggle between good and evil. In this diorama Horus and his two champions confront the Emperor in his throne room with two of his Adeptus Custodes.
This project was not limited to the six figures you see here. I also did 6 more that are copies of these but in different poses. They are on round bases so they can be used for play. Pictures of all the models with more dialogue can be found here.

GAMESDAY MARINE
This model is a very tough to get marine leader that was given out at the 2000 GD. The upraised power fist is about the best in the game and the tones of detail on this model make him look very cool. The dramatic edge highlighting on the armour really make this scheme stand out. More pictures can be found here.

EMPEROR'S CHAMPION
This is one of the most regal of the space marine models. Quite simple in detail but overall look is amazing. I really like this armour variant as well, lots of hard angles to hold highlights with. He was done in the Crimson Fist scheme in a way to further explore the need for sharp edge highlighting. More pictures can be found here.

LORD DANTE, COMMANDER of the BLOOD ANGELS
This model is a close approximation of the Dante model in the Blood Angels codex. The actual armour in the codex is more reddish than mine but I have found it very challenging to copy an exact NMM effect. I did use a different formula for this gold than normal, I worked through orange rather than the yellow brown I normally use. I am very happy with the brightness of this gold and think that I will use it more often. For the base I really liked the idea of him being poised for a jump or just landing from a jump. I weighted the base and due to his position on the I beam he is very stable even though he is so elevated. More pictures can be found here.

ARHIMAN of the THOUSAND SONS
Another model with a super tight pallet [about 6 base colours less than I wanted to use. :)] and featuring very bright edge highlighting. After all was said and done I really like the tight look of this model and the edge highlighting really makes the model stand out. More pictures can be found here.

DRAZHAR, MASTER of BLADES
I have not painted this model in about five years and it is still just as cool now as it was then. The sharp armour ridges make for great edge highlighting. I wanted a dark model with a very tight pallet so I had a look in some old WD magazines and other reference sources. I have been so obsessed with broad pallets dominated by blue/green pastels that I needed help breaking out of my rut. This model is the first in a series that sees me return to an old style of model painting. I really, and I mean really, like the brightness of this dark model. It is bright in a way that I have not seen in quite some time. More pictures can be found here.

SQUIGOTH, TANK CRUSHA'
This was one of the most fun models I have painted in a long time. The Orks in the 40K universe are a blast to paint and I tried to stick to their traditional look on this model. From a painting point of view the metals were very time consuming for me since I am only now developing my skill in painting real metallics. The metal layers and ink glazes were repeated many time until I was satisfied with the look. It is quite a bit harder for me to do metallics than NMM but I can see where I need to go and think that metallics look very appropriate on this model. I must thank Jacob Nielson for his tips on painting metallics. While I have a long way to go to catch up to his masterful skill his advice was priceless. More pictures can be found here.

SISTER of BATTLE CANONESSE
The entire line of new SoB models from GW are fantastic. This model has so many weapon and wargear options that I was torn as to which way to go for at least an hour. The dramatic pose works well with all possible options and really makes this model stand out. She also follows in line with St Celestine in overall detail. GW has really upped the ante with the level of detail they are including in their models. Not too much as to be over the top but just enough IMHO to accentuate the character. More pictures can be found here.

St CELESTINE, the Living Saint
What a great model. The pose, the sculpted details, everything is perfect about this model. I went with a rose armour since I wanted to see a more feminine look. This combined with the turquoise details and the gold trim really make the model stand out. I decided early on to keep the back cape dark and free of details. This decision turned out to be very good since the cape now acts as a frame for this model without taking away from the grandure of the model. More pictures can be seen here.

INQUISITOR DARIUS
This model is guite a deviation for me, in that I used metallic paints. I followed some advice given by a few European GD winners to make the metal look more real. While I am happy with the final product esp. the way the added parts look I found that NMM is just so much more enjoyable to paint. Possibly because I have focused so much on NMM at the expense of my skill with metallics, however I feel that it because my style is more cartoony than real. I did enjoy the challenge of the washes and glazes and layering and blending and re-glazing and so on for the metallics. A lot more work goes into it than is obvious at first glance. More pictures can be found here.

SPACE WOLF RUNE PRIEST
I think that this is fast approaching the Ltd DE standard bearer as the model I have painted the most. This model captures the savage nature of the Space Wolves very well and shows the most common wargear. While I am not a big fan of the close held plasma pistol, it is just not menacing enough IMHO, on this model it manages to look good. The focus is shifted to the axe which is done in the green crystal method I used on Inquisitor Octavius' halberd. More pictures can be found here.

COTEAZ, INQUISITOR LORD
This model is one that I have wanted to paint for some time. He has the best example of power armour going and his pose is so damn cool. My only complaint is with the big bird on his left arm. I added a force rod to that arm from the =I= weapons booster pack. The outstretched hand is from a chaplain and the eagle symbol above his head is from a banner pole. I went with red armour as it makes the character more menacing than most colours. More pictures can be found here.

SPACE MARINE CHAPLAIN
This model was based on the limited Christmas Marine from a few years ago. The power axe head was swapped out for a crozius and a plasma pistol was placed in this off hand. He is based on a Forge World resin base to fit in with the army has painted to lead. He has bright NMM golds, blended greys and aquamarine blue to lighten him up since he is a fairly dark model. Both purples were taken to Space Wolf Grey for their final highlight giving them dynamic lighting. His left shoulder was painted with an eagle in NMM gold as a symbol of his chapter. More pictures can be found here.

ULTRMARINE COMMANDER ROMULUS [BEARER of THE GAVEL of JUDGMENT]
This model is a deceptive conversion. At first it looks like a weapon swap but upon closer inspection it can be seen that some grinding was involved and a fair bit of putty work. The central housing on the chest was removed and replaced with the characteristic 'U'. I then covered all the runes on the armour since they are the hallmark of the grey knights. Lastly I added a large 'U' to the left shoulder. The green marble of the base really off sets the blue in the armour making the model look more regal. More pictures can be found here.

GREY KNIGHT LORD QUINTUS, KEEPER of THE LIBRE et MORTIS
This model was painted in a similar scheme to the other Grey Knights in Gallery V. The grey armour really stands out, creating a glowing finish while maintaining the darkness of the Grey Knights. The model is very converted, to create a unique Grey Knight character. The book in his hand is the tome that contains the roll of worlds put to the sword in the name of the Emperor, the Libre et Mortis. I painted the base to be highly polished green marble using a similar [yet better] scheme as I did for Asmodai in the 2003 Golden Demon Gallery. More Pictures can be found here.

RAGNAR BLACKMANE
This model was done to represent Ragnar Blackmane since the current model is tragically 2D. I based the figure on the new Rune Priest with some subtle but major changes. The right arm was completely removed so I could pose the pistol better and so I could use the wolf skull shoulder. His sword was made from 2 chain swords so that it is a truly massive weapon. I felt that the amount of hair on the original model was not sufficient for Ragnar so I sculpted more hair, giving him a full black mane. The base was painted using Vallejo Smoke and Flat Yellow for a natural rock look. Originally I had not liked smoke since it was so granular and thick but now that I am more comfortable using Vallejo it is a great colour. More pictures can be found here.

Originally I was not that excited to get this model for GD. It was posed like so many of the characters, in 2D. I was looking through my =I= bitz and found the power hammer and this was all it took for me to get excited about the model. I liked the idea of the hammer being slung over his shoulder ready to pound anything that comes within arms reach. The base I sculpted really accentuates his leg pose making him look like he really belongs on the two levels of rock. More pics can be found here.

I saw this model while I was at Clinton War in the beginning of August. It was given as a present to our leader and I knew that it was going to be high on my painting list. In fact, I bumped it into my schedule months ahead of any opening. I did a few things to the model that really make him stand out. The first was the addition of a larger axe head, from the =I= weapon pack. This makes the axe look so much more lethal. The other thing I did was give the model a storm hammer. I decided to make the hammer long hafted so that it projected out from the model, making it look even bigger than normal. More pics can be found here.

This has got to be the largest vehicle I have ever painted. The model is just huge! I went with a realistic desert warfare scheme that turned out very well. Each panel is worn and has internal plate highlights just like a historical model. The only bit of metal paint was on the hydraulics of the landing gear under the wings. The rest is done in a flat grey so as to not reflect light. The cockpit is painted with great care and detail, unfortunately I didn't take pics prior to inserting it into the hull. The model comes with a display base, seen here and a round Plexiglas base for play. The display base was done to a historical standard and looks like a real bombed out section of road. More pics can be found here.

This has got to be one of the best kits form Forge World I have ever seen. The detail is stunning and it is just so rotten! Of course I am very partial to Nurgle and just found this kit to be so perfect. I decided to alter the base and thus the pose to make the model look more dynamic. I also decided to do center weight highlighting balanced with edge highlighting. This allowed me to more effectively do three base colours and then blend them into one final product. I really like the way the brown/green highlighted with purple turned out, very rotten. While the model is colourful and has a diverse pallet it looks cohesive in a way only a Nurgle model can. More pics can be found here.

This massive model was a long time in the making. I ordered the Tyranid Spires from Forge World some 4 months back. I then had it built and sculpted on my table for months before I finally laid down paint. I wanted it to look like the tyrant was looking around the spire about to attack someone on the other side. I did the spire in very natural tones ending the blends far from white to make it look more real. I also kept the red of the talons and carapace subtle to allow the blue of the skin and wings to stand out. More pics can be found here.

This model has been in my 'to do box' for 2 years. I wanted to go with the natural colours and realistic highlights vs the harsh highlights GW uses most of the time. The flesh was done with a base of Vallejo Red Black and then brought up with Blood Red and Ochre Brown. The pattern on the sword was done with grey and yellow in a number of mixed blends. More pics can be seen here.

Green...how many shades of green can there be? Lots! :) This model is comprised of over 10 shades of green giving him a unified rotten look while maintaining a clean scheme. There are some little modifications to the figure to emphasize the Nurgle look but to me it all came down to the painting. I used mostly Vallejo paints on this one since I really like there natural tones. It was my first time using their airbrush line of paints with my paint brush. More pics can be found here.

A friend e-mailed me and said he was in dire need of three snipers and would I be able to help. I had a heap of models on my table waiting in line but I figured snipers would be cool. I used the sniper from Col. Schafer's Last Chancers and then did two total conversions for the other two. They are based on the storm trooper models and worked out well. I did an urban SWAT/special ops paint scheme and they should definitely get the attention of anyone my friend plays. More pics and a run through on the conversions can be found here.

These Grey Knights from GW are pretty damn cool. The new terminator sculpts are great with massive improvements over the old ones. I understand that the sculptor when a little insane sculpting all the little characters...I can sympathize. I was pretty tired of painting the letters after the 4 layer, they are very small and amazingly enough spell appropriate words. The pics for each model can be found here.

So, the New Emperor's Champion is IMHO a large improvement on the old one. To me it looks like he is stepping over a hill, a booming challenge ripping across a battle field, as he challenges the enemies champion. Great dynamic pose, while maintaining the style of the old model. I did a small sculpt for a Roman/Greek horse hair plume on the top of his head and added a banner. The pictures took pretty dark, but his loin cloth is a deep red which sets off the gold very well. More pics can be found here.

This model is one that I have been waiting for for some time now. After seeing it in person at USGD 2002 in Baltimore I knew I would be painting at least one of these massive models. I decided to make him more upright and in doing so was able to add the bloated belly. He is painted in a mottled/rotting scheme that works so well in real life. I also sculpted him to have a single eye like the Plaguebearers. This helps to emphasize his allegiance and makes him look even more menacing IMHO. More pictures can be found here.

This model is roughly inspired from the art in the new Chaos codex from Games Workshop. The model was done as a test example for a friends army after we had discussed a paint scheme. While the new Bloodletters are a vast improvement over the last ones they are still too static. This conversion/re-sculpt creates a bloodletter that is bounding into combat and is so much better for it. I had to place him on a 40mm base since the reach with his axe was just too much for a 25m base. Pics of his face and back can also be seen.

I took the pics and then promptly sent the model to a client prior to inspecting them. I had the wrong setting selected and no amount of post processing would eleminate the yellow tinge. NOTE: The images now are fixed thanks to advice from visitors to my site. Thank you. It turned out to be a great model. It is a librarian from the Soul Drinkers chapter [see Black Library fiction section for cover art] that is in the Death Watch. I did the figure without using any metal paints. More pics can be found here.

This figure is quite the deviation in colour pallet for me. It is a client specific pallet and as such I had to adapt what I would normally do. At first I was not all that fond of the colours requested but in the end I really like the way it turned out. It forced me to take a look at how I do colour and opened my eyes to almost a different style of painting. I added a third fin to the back of his helmet and posed his left arm so it looks like he is using some psychic power requiring great concentration. Two more pics can be found here.

This is the first vehicle I have done in quite some time. I am still sculpting on the rhino I have so I decided to do one of the new predators as soon as it was released. I went with the Annihilator variant as I have found it to be the most useful on the battle field. I decided to paint it in the Space Wolf scheme for a number of reasons, it is the closest to 'real' armour and I have always liked the look of Space Wolf vehicles.
I airbrushed the grey using GW paints. The depth and feel of airbrushed armour is just not possible with paint and brush. I then did the line highlighting and the paint weathering with white. I then added the metal chips and rust marks to complete the battle worn look. More pictures can be found here.

This VDR Imperial Guard dreadnought was built and painted in 14 hours. I did it the day [yes, day!] before our dreadnought battle day at my local RT store. It has been airbrushed with GW paints and then weathered in a tradition historical fashion. More pics can be found here.