2 WWI busts - Owen & Sassoon

[Colin_Fraser]

Here are my completed 2 busts of British war poets Wilfred Owen (Manchester Regiment) and Siegfried Sassoon (Royal Welch Fusiliers) c. 1917. My own little WWI centenary project. I have to admit I lost traction in this project and, after doing some colourful Napoleonics, these were a bit boring to paint. Perhaps it shows.

I posted the completed Sassoon in the WIP thread so I won't concentrate on him this time.

Modelled in sculpey firm and painted in oils.

Colin

 

[bwildfong]

Colin, these are stunning, whether you "lost traction" on them or no, and are a very fitting tribute to the centenary. Their poetry is an apt reminder of the ugliness of not just that particular conflict but of all war, a thought that I constantly must remind myself of as I enthusiastically indulge in painting largely military-themed figures and vignettes.

Though they may not be as colourful as a Napoleonic, they are top drawer depictions of men in khaki. Well done sir!

Cheers,

Brian

 

[tiberius57]

They look excellent, together!
Excellent work and an awesome WWI project! Canadian talent, poetry and bravery in one display! Awesome!
Cheers mate,
Zeno

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Thanks gents. Nice to hear you like them. After a while they just looked bland to me. I will be doing Col. John McCrae once I overcome my aversion to khaki.

Colin

 

[megroot]

Very good work on these busts.

Marc

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

The fact you tackled this tribute to these two young men & taught many of us along the way is most important Colin.

I've enjoyed the story behind each of them.
They both deserve a place in your neat portfolio of personal works.

Thanks so much for taking time to share here with us.

Stay safe
Mike

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Colin! .. Both of these are absolutely lovely! and very well rendered, very clean painting. .. As a slightly bizarre thought, ( Which is me all over), I would transform both of these into 'Bookends'. which is what I always think when something is worthy.

High Regards,

Mark

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I love the bookends idea but I get they would then need dusting. Thanks gents.

Colin

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Colin! ... I have a 'Pink' feather duster its really great.

Mark

 

[Wings5797]

Right up there with your best works Colin.
Very well done.
Keith

 

[Ventress]

Brilliant stuff. Captures both characters.

 

[ChaosCossack]

AWESOME!!!
Well done, from putty to paint as usual.

I did warn you about going from the Napoleonic peacocks to the khaki drab

I like the bookend idea... flanking a shelf of leatherbound poetry volumes. It will leave room in your crowded display case and give you a classy backdrop when you relax in your smoking jacket drinking a sniffter of brandy and submerging yourself in a book of verse. Not sure about the pink featherduster though, Mark... I don't want to know why you have that

Great job Colin

The Other Colin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Colin...you describe my lifestyle perfectly. Here I sit in my cravat with my 15 year old malt with my book of Maugham short stories pondering life....actually it's 4:00 on Sunday and I am still in PJs eating stale nachos. Oh well, it's the thought that counts. Thanks for the nice words.

BTW - don't pink feather dusters generally go with French Maid outfits? Ugh!

Colin

 

[Grod]

Top sculpt, paint job and subject.
Gordon

 

[ChaosCossack]

We are on parallel life paths... I too was in my PJ's all afternoon but I usually eat my nachos with cheese around 10pm. This afternoon it was a big hunk of kolbassa, swiss cheese and crackers.

Between snacks I try to take a break and hit the workbench to slap some paint around.

Colin... The one getting fatter on a daily basis

 

[Joe55]

One can't help but admire your research, sculpting, and painting skills used in giving tribute to, and keeping the memory alive, of forgotten heroes.

Joe

 

[Nap]

Hi Colin,

Nice finish , Kharki by way of the colour is certainly difficult to bring any glamour as such to and you have handled both of these well ...a great SBS and final finish and a wonderful tribute to the war poets .

Don't bother with bookends though ...send them to me !!

Thanks for the usual excellent high standard of work

Nap

 

[billyturnip]

Excellent finish Colin.

Roger.

 

[Chris Mortimer]

Many thanks for teaching us both some history and as always it was a joy to watch the projects develop. Very nice work.

 

[swralph]

Great sculpting and painting as always Colin.