Professional modelers and hobbyists
Hi,
I do not think feedback is doing much effect. I do not know about direct letters, but several recent releases have received critique about accuracy issues in forums, even here, and it would not seem thay have paid any heed.
Taking, for instance, the Minutemen vignette Gary mentions, one of the problem was the muskets were percussion instead of flintlocks. One would think they could have substituted these. They have not. What is more, later releases share the problem, with Napoleonic era figures carrying, again, percussion instead of flintlocks.
So, I would deduct neither them nor the sculptor saw any real problem calling for correction, nor for improving their ways as re: accuracy.
I doubt Art Girona would purposefully comission a deliberately wrong figure; rather, I would think they do not ensure the sculptor is provided with the necessary source material, nor do really have much interest in ascertaining if the sculptor is competent on the subject matter. In essence, they are able to live with it; and this is because there's no noticeable reputation nor cash problem for them in the present scenario.
Now let's turn to Latorre. It's fair to assume he does not deliberately sculpt an inaccurate figure, but that he is casual or cursory in his research
and this results in errors. I assume he does not see this as something that affects his reputation nor his earnings, so no need to put any extra effort in this particular area - and he's probably right, for what we see. He's able to live with it.
This said, it is my belief the majority of people agrees with the present state of things, be it through indolence, indifference or conformism, and accepts such products as perfectly adequate historical figures; if so, then we should simply be realistic and assume the hobby has mutated to this and its historical - oriented roots are deemed important no more. If a product does look loosely like the real thing, and does not include any glaringly noticeable inaccuracy, then that's enough for the majority of people. Sculptors and manufacturers do not need to take any extra steps.
Maybe this is just the way things are.
Please note what I have written is largely applicable to many other firms and sculptors; and that there are firms and sculptors with a different approach, just as there are customers who think differently.
Hello Dani,
There is a lot of presumption and application of motives going on in your posting here. This assumes that you understand the motives of the people who sculpt and sell miniatures. Unfortunately, unless you are the people in question here, you cannot assume that you actually understand such things. You can only guess at the motives of others.
Of course, I can only guess at such things as well. However, being a full-time professional sculptor and having been associated with this business for over 20 years, I can give a little personal insight.
I do not know Latorre well. He is a very talented fellow, there is no doubt about that. But I can tell you from personal experience, that doing this work as a sole means of income is not always conducive to good cash flow. I have seen several pieces done by Latorre which almost seem as if they are the work of another individual altogether. And, as you point out, these seem to be the pieces he does for Art Girona.
Of course, he also has his own company which seems to get the cream of his personal efforts. But alas, the stuff he does for himself does not give him a paycheck at the end of the job. In fact, it may be many months before a single cent is seen from such labors. While it may be nice to know that you have made a good effort, that does not pay the rent at the end of the month. No, when the hounds are at your door, you must do what you can to avoid being eaten!
In Raul's case, I have to assume that means pumping out a quick project for a reliable client who can be counted on to pay you in a timely manner. Sorry folks, that is just ugly reality. In a theoretical, world where money is not a necessary token for day to day survival, you can theorize about people's lack of motivations to make sure the correct number of buttons and M79 brickbats are present. But in the real world an artist does what an artist must to make sure that he is not pushing a shopping cart and dining on squirrel underneath and overpass at the end of the month.
I always endeavor to do a good job and make an effort to research my work as much as I can. This is not always up the expectations of everybody. We can't all be experts on everything. I also try to live in manner where I am not in constant debt. But not everybody can always abide by these things.
I am not being an apologist here. I am simply pointing out that one man's reality is not necessarily conducive to the pleasures of another man. With luck, and the occasional "phoned in" figure, perhaps Latorre can continue to turn out little masterpieces we can all enjoy.
But let's not be too hasty about judging another man's motives when we have not lived a day in his shoes.........
Cheers!!
Mike
