WIP Glorious Empires 40mm flat vignette

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Colin_Fraser

Colin_Fraser

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Starting a slight change of pace project. This cool little flat grouping is an excerpt from Baron Lejeune’s large tableau of the Battle of the Moskowa (i.e. Borodino). The grouping depicts Napoleon’s overall artillery commander General Lariboisiere holding his son Ferdinand’s hand as he expires on the battlefield.

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There is more background at these links if you are interested:

https://www.miniaturesandhistory.com/laboriesiere.html (sp?)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Ambroise_Baston_de_Lariboisière

My flat painting style is a little less “artsy” than some so I’m not sure how this will turn out. It’s only my second flat ever.

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Acrylic and inks. Maybe some gouache as needed.

Colin
 
A very nice flat, one that has tempted me in the past but not that keen on painting group scenes. You're off to a good start and your choice of medium is interesting, I knew a fella who painted the whole thing in gouache back in the day, always good to stuck to what you know best. The best advice I can offer if you want it is to follow the play of light on the original painting when placing your light and shade. I'll be following with interest.

Cheers Simon
 
Briggsy said:
A very nice flat, one that has tempted me in the past but not that keen on painting group scenes. You're off to a good start and your choice of medium is interesting, I knew a fella who painted the whole thing in gouache back in the day, always good to stuck to what you know best. The best advice I can offer if you want it is to follow the play of light on the original painting when placing your light and shade. I'll be following with interest.

Cheers Simon
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Thanks Simon. I should have said that it’s not my intention to replicate the painting. I want a realistic miniature scene, not a rounded 3D oil. To the extent that is achievable with such a romanticized death tableau.

So I will be passing on the high contrast style one sees with some flats. Personal taste…but they can look a bit cartoonish to my eye. For example, see the version of the same flat in the first link I provided above. Great skill but I don’t like the result much.

We shall see how I go.

Colin
 
Fair one, one of the reasons high contrast is used is to try and bring out the third dimension as opposed to a flat looking flat figure. Many different school of thought on this subject have arisen since I last painted one and they all produce some stunning results, as always in this hobby each to his/her own. The only reservation I have is watching this come to life must not rekindle my former flat addiction, I must resist I don't have the time to relearn oil paints!!!

Cheers Simon
 
Briggsy said:
Fair one, one of the reasons high contrast is used is to try and bring out the third dimension as opposed to a flat looking flat figure. Many different school of thought on this subject have arisen since I last painted one and they all produce some stunning results, as always in this hobby each to his/her own. The only reservation I have is watching this come to life must not rekindle my former flat addiction, I must resist I don't have the time to relearn oil paints!!!

Cheers Simon
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I’ll do my best to suck a little so you aren’t inspired LOL.
 
Hi Colin

My first question is how do they get some much detail , the engravers a very talented man

Great subject and a lot different figures to get done , looking good so far

Interesting comments ref the painting approach , and using acrylics ......are you adding a retarder at all ?

The version in the links very impressive ........like Briggsy must not get dragged screaming into flats ...though Mrs Nap does like them !

Look forward to seeing more

Thanks for sharing

Happy benchtime

Nap
 
Nap said:
Hi Colin

My first question is how do they get some much detail , the engravers a very talented man

Great subject and a lot different figures to get done , looking good so far

Interesting comments ref the painting approach , and using acrylics ......are you adding a retarder at all ?

The version in the links very impressive ........like Briggsy must not get dragged screaming into flats ...though Mrs Nap does like them !

Look forward to seeing more

Thanks for sharing

Happy benchtime

Nap
Click to expand...

Happy so far although the faces are challenging. I would almost prefer painting on a blank oval than try to make a face with sculpted texture and perspective look “right.”

Like most hobby projects, I come up with my own style even if it seems foreign to veteran painters in that genre. I learn more that way. And I am happy my stuff looks a bit different, even if it doesn’t always fit into the approach preferred for awards.

I have never used retarder in my life. I assume it is intended to get acrylics to dry slower and be blendable, making them behave more like oils. I prefer to paint in glazes with lots of diluted inks. I also add thicker artist’s acrylics (Liquitex Pro and Golden Pro) to get texture on things like buttons, lace, piping etc. Almost an impasto approach. I agree that some of these little groups are really well rendered given the small size.

Colin
 
Hi Colin

You’ve hit the nail on the head with the comment “I’m happy” , personally like you I am happy , awards are not the be and end all .

It’s always good to hear of others painting approach , like the idea of a thicker acrylics for texture

Your right about blender

Look forward to seeing more from you on this complicated flat

Have fun at the bench

Nap
 
Nap said:
Hi Colin

Now the figures are beginning to fill out nicely ...are you treating the goldwork any different in this scale ?

Following with interest

Have fun @ the bench

Nap
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Not really. Raw sienna base highlighted with ochre, Naples yellow, parchment will be the likely approach for lace….plus inks like sepia.

Colin
 

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