GALLERY VI ARCHIVE

EMISSARY of ARCHERON
This model sees me using many varied colours in different combinations to achieve the colours used. Each colour was a blend of at least two colours with some being four or more. Most of these were colours that are very different in the colour wheel, that when combined resulted in fantastic rich/rotten colours. I was also able to use some of my new Vallejo paints to good effect. More pictures can be found here.

IRON PRIESTESS
This is the second time I have painted this model and the scheme is very different. This time I decided to do a spectrum iridescent scheme from purple through blue to green. The multi layered armour plates allow this to work in a very dramatic way. I also did a three colour scheme on the blades of the staff as well. While the colours are subtle they provide just enough contrast to allow the viewer to see the various shades. More pictures can be found here.

EXORCIST
This model carries on with the dark religious nature of the Griffons. The armour on the model has to be some of the best yet from Rackham and it holds the lighting effect very well. I did a lighting effect from the blade in a greenish grey and then did the secondary effect in a washed out jade tone. The base sees another rendition of marble stone work. More pictures can be found here.

WHITE QUEEN
This gun fighter model is a conversion from a Mordhiem special character. Her two hammers and her left hand were removed and replaced with space marine weapons. I had to reduce the hand holding the plasma pistol since it was way too big. This required me sculpting a new handle for the pistol and resculpting the lowest digit of her hand. She is in the same basic theme as the rest of the Escher models found in Gallery VI and V. However, like the rest of the models she is also unique in that she is dressed in immaculate white armour. The rest of the pictures can be found here.

Miss BLACK
This model was originally the Mad Donna model for Necromunda. I made her into a gun slinger like her companion the White Queen. While the sculpt is a bit dated it still painted up nicely in the fashion of the rest of the gang. More pictures can be found here.

RODEUR WOLFEN
This model is similar in many ways to the one a few models lower in this gallery but also very different. The robe colour is very dark giving the model a more dangerous feel. The skin is also a shade darker lending to the darker nature of this model. The pattern work is more natural and flowing giving the model more of an exotic feel. The base is obviously very different with this model being posed on a twisted old tree trunk. For more pictures of this model and a run through of the painting process with pictures look here.

TECLIS
This model has got to be one of the most complex and detailed models done by GW. It seems no matter how well you organize yourself for this model little bits keep cropping up. The complexity of the sculpt combined with the cool 'power pose' is likely one of the main reasons why I like this model so much. I decided to try to illuminate the top of his staff and I am happy with the way it turned out. More pictures can be found here.

ELTHARION
This blind character has been sitting on my table for some time since I originally intended to paint him when he was released. I really like the idea of a blind model and the sense of movement is pretty good for this character. I posed him on a green marble base and added pattern to his inner cloak, outer cloak hem and sword. I am pretty happy with the look generated by the 4 patterns, as it gives the model more of a 'for real' look. 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.

RODEUR WOLFEN
I have had a number of requests from clients in Europe to paint this amazing model. Once I saw the picture I was very interested to paint him. This is yet another model in the Wolfen range that has fantastic style and character. He was painted in a similar style to the one used by Rackham with some alterations. The gold hunters trim on his robe is different as is the reflective NMM of the hunting blade. The base sets of the pose of this model superbly. He is balanced perfectly on one leg, resting on a rocky ledge as he surveys his hunting area. The blue water of the stream was done to look like flowing winter water with its reflection of the sky and snow. More pictures can be found here.

SPASM ADVENTURING GROUP
These models, with their broad sweeping cloaks, have always appealed to me. I painted the cloaks to look like oiled leather with barbarian runic art at the rim. The two colours of angular swirls really complement the models, adding to their character. I thought that the cloaks along with the axes would mark them as spasm warriors, mundane items passed down from warrior to warrior. As such their patterns are different but they all look similar. The NMM of the axes is not as bright as normal since their weapons, being more primitive, would not have the high polish of other cultures. I posed them all on rocks bearing the swirl pattern since they would be great defenders of their homeland. The female model was done with fair skin to emphasize her femininity. I also posed her over a pool of lava, giving her a nice subtle lighting effect from the molten ground. More pictures can be found here.

DUKE TAMARIND
I really wish I could find the time to paint more of these new Bretonnians. The colours combined with the potential for pattern work is amazing and very satisfying. This model is done with a red and gold caparison with the gold being richly brocaded. The red portion has a small amount of embroidery at each corner. His device is a blue and silver [white] flure de'Lis on an oposing blue and white field. This device combined with the caparison make for a very striking model. I have also patterned the broad straps found over the caparison with a subtle swirl. More pictures can be found here.

SLANN MAGE PRIEST
This model is very large and quite a heavy piece of work. I had a lot of fun with the South American style art on the walls of the throne. The Slann himself was painted to look as though his brain was kind of showing through the thin skin on his head. The spikes on the bottom combined with the icon display on the top made for an awkward model to paint. This is because the number of spots to hold the model are greatly reduced by these aspects. While I am happy with the final product I can honestly say that this model is one of the most painter unfriendly models I have worked on. More pictures of this massive model can be found here.

CYGNAR HEAVY WARJACK 'DEFENDER'
This model is pretty crazy. A huge HtH weapon and a massive gun, I was liking it before I even started to paint it. The tiny legs took a bit of getting used to but in the end I really like this model. I did the model in the characteristic paint scheme but with NMM instead of metallic paints. I wanted to do a lighting effect and instead of doing an effect from the gun I opted for the shock hammer. More pictures can be found here.

CRALLAQHAN BATTLE STANDARD BEARER
for OVERLORD CYTHON
This mode was done in a truly striking pallet. The deep emerald green combined with the gold armour and the NMM blades makes for a regal character. The serpent on the banner was sculpted onto a banner that I made. The serpent adds a lot of depth to the model and the over all effect is one of noble power. The Overlords rune is the purple one on the right side of the banner. The green pattern work represents the ocean waves of the Overlords costal fortress. The emblem on the back of the standard bearers cloak tells the story of the standard bearers name. Crallaqhan was the first monster that died according to legend and when he died the gods cried out and night was created. The small grey and black orb in the center of the emblem represents the night that was created and the green drop at the tail of the serpent represents his blood [death]. More pictures can be found here.

DUKE EDWARD LEONCOEUR
As you can see this model is pretty detailed. I think my love of detail on these models stems from my interest in medieval Europe. On a lord such as this, rare would be the cloth that was not brocaded or richly embroidered. This is why almost every scrap of cloth has a pattern or a symbol. Over all, the effect is not overpowering since this model is very much the sum of it's parts but it gives the model a great depth. This sense of depth captures your eye as you try to see everything and makes this figure seem so much more alive. This model is another figure poised over waves in a dramatic scene. In my own defense it is not as though I am stuck for base ideas it is just that it looks so damn cool. More description and pictures can be found here.

HOUSE ESCHER LASCANNON
This model was done for the same band as the plasma and the leader in Gallery V. I used a lascannon end from another Necromunda model and then joined them with a bit of sculpted green stuff. The tubing for the cannon were also sculpted so that the gun tied into the energy pack. The pack is a cut down heavy weapons pack for the space marines. More pictures can be found here.

HOUSE ESCHER HEAVY PLASMA
This model is one that I have had in my possession for years. I converted her into a space marine scout with an autocannon and then lost interest. So I never painted her and now that I have the original model again I was pretty ready to lay down some paint. The model was done to tie into the Escher Leader in Gallery V but was done in her own scheme. The pinks look very striking and they totally fit with this house heavy. The sculpt has a stunning amount of detail for a GW model. In fact I am hard pressed to think of another model with this much stuff on her. More pictures can be found here.

MANTICORE AND ELZAK'IR 'The HEART WRENCHER'
This model is one of those projects that just kind of came together. After he was built it was pretty easy for me to get into the Dark Elf painting mind and turn out a dark yet bright model. The waves on the base really help to provide some lightness and to really enhance the theme of the figure. The blended purple of the wings is not so evident from the front due to the position of my lights and the angle of the wings. However, from the back you can see the nice depth that comes from blending the deep purples with the browns. More pictures can be found here.

ALDERAN CRANE WARRIOR
It seems that no matter how the Rackham sculptors pose their models they look good. This hand on the pommel pose is very effective at getting across the sense of relaxed prowess. This undead warrior looks very capable of taking down anyone that gets in his way. Since I have not done a lighting effect piece in some time I decided to make his sword glow with an evil red light. I then decided to do a secondary colour to the outside of the red effect not unlike the effect used in comic books. The blue works so well at accentuating the red and allows a good fade into the real colours of the model. More pictures can be found here.

GERZAKIK RED AXE
This fantastic ork model was a treat to finally paint. After waiting three years I knew exactly how I wanted him to turn out. His pose works perfectly with the squig on the base, commanding his toothy pet to 'fetch' his opponent. His huge mouth has got to be the best part of the model and is what originally attracted me to the figure. He has the perfect green skin physique and is a testament that 'green is mean'. More pictures can be found here.

The WHITE DWARF
The White Dwarf is a limited edition model that is made to represent the special character of that name. As you can see he is a dwarf that appreciates a large drink of beer after a hard days fight. I found the beer in the helmet to be one of the most characterful things that GW has ever done for a model. I also really liked the way the axe rests on his shoulder, due to the head being a separate piece. I placed him on a narrow rock ledge to accentuate the model and add to his reckless nature. More pictures can be found here.

BRETONNIAN LORD ARGYLE the CRUSADER
The swirl brocade on the caparison along with the pattern on the caparison holding leather make for a special looking lord. The heraldic dragons on the caparison shields and the fluer de'lis on the smaller shields further enhance the regal nature of the model. Knights, especially those with high station, had very fine cloth to wear and to cover their steeds with. This was the idea of the brocading of the caparison [horse cover], cloak and trim. He is obviously from an old and established house in Bretonnia since his device is a single rampant dragon on a field of red. The older the house the less cluttered the heraldry of the knight, in general. The armour worn by this knight is a nice blend of historical armouring. The padded coat he is wearing is the Aketon and when combined with the simple knee cops [covers] and the chain elbows he is somewhere in the 12th century [if memory serves]. The presence of the grieve [shin armour] was reserved for cavalry at this time IIRC since they were more prone to leg wounds. The sabaton [plate feet] were not actually present until late in the period. This rambling about armour is from my foggy memory so if I am wrong please feel free to let me know so I can correct myself. :)
His steed is simply amazing. One of the best, if not the best, heavy draft sculpt at this scale going. I have access to a heavy draft horse that is 18.2 hands and 2400lbs and he looks just like this guy. It was a treat to paint the horse and I am excited to paint another one since this one looks so real. I went with a Belgian Draft paint scheme since the deep rich browns look good with the blue caparison. More pictures can be found here.

BLOOD DRAGON DISPLAY BASE
This piece was made for a client that wanted both a display base and terrain he could use for playing. To this end the terrain in the wooden frame is able to be removed and set as an objective in a WHFB game. The three models were built to his specifications for playing and the mounted models are the result of some conversion work. The idea behind the piece of terrain was based on the history behind Vlad the Impaler. More pictures and thoughts behind the pieces can be found here.

GRAVE GUARDIAN
The wolfen continue to call for me to paint them. This is a great model with a fantastic pose and huge weapons! He is hunched way over and to prevent him from looking small I placed him atop a Wolfen tomb. It fits perfectly with his character and makes him look so much better. The tomb is rough worked stone with primitive flowing designs carved into the rock. His musculature is fantastic and I decided to paint him in a dark grey/black scheme so that it really stood out. The huge minotaur head is painted like sun bleached bone to give the model a strong focal point. More pictures can be found here.

SACRED VESTAL
This model represents the tightest paint scheme I have ever used and I like the effect. The cohesiveness is something that is not present in most of my pieces. I decided early on that I wanted to do a number of shades of teal on her and to only us silver NMM. This model is very similar to the Wolfen Vestal in Gallery V. My goal was to create a 'sister' model that is practicing on the same beach but in the stormy winter vs the calm summer. While I was not a big fan of the pose originally it has grown on me during the painting process. There are four different shades of teal, all originating from the same base paint. The model was a real study of paint blending and mixing. So, for those of you that request colours and such, I honestly don't know with this model. The base was Scaly Green [from GW] and other than that you will have to experiment. 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.

NECROTHEPIUS, DEFILER of CRYPTS
This is a crazy model, from the hanging guts to the strapped on claw this model is truly nasty. My first thought when I did this model was that the wings looked too clean. They are stock dragon wings from GW and look out of place on this rotten dragon. I ground out the lower wing tissue, added some textured green stuff in parts and replaced one of the top talons with a broken claw. The rest of the transformation took place once I added the mottled pattern to the wing tissue. The rider was done with brooding dark colours and bright NMM for his robe. His face was painted to look like the flesh is stretched across the sharp bones of his skull. This model sees me continue the green marble look that I used in the Griffon band in Gallery V. It adds so much to the model to have a built up base that is painted crisply. More pictures of this rotten dragon can be found here.