Kusma Krjutschkow, 4th Don Cossack Regiment, 1914

[Martin Antonenko]

28. Day, December 8, 2017


Even before breakfast I primed my Cossack head this morning - again with the proven stuff of "Army Painter" ...:






And as I pounded and had the necessary coffee in the bloodstream, I started to paint the eyes.

But let's take a closer look before:


Kusma Kryuchkov is always depicted with dark brown eyes in colorful pictures ...:






The problem:

All these images are either drawn, painted or hand-colored black and white photos! There are no color pictures of him (at least I do not know any!) And almost all pictures are based on the only two portrait photos that exist of him.

One of these Pictures is not exactly a portrait but the detail of a full body shot ....:




This picture has been printed a lot - for example on postcards, in newspapers or on posters and, as shown above, also colored by hand - the rifle and the order were sometimes preserved and sometimes retouched ...:





The other picture on the other hand is without blemish and blame - I suppose, a glass plate shot ...:



And in this second picture, we see that our Kusma Kryuchkov had unusually bright eyes ...:



So I worked less in the direction of "dark brown" rather than in the direction of "amber".


For the eyes these colors were used ...:



The "white" in the eyes is mixed with a trace of gray (outside) and "scarlet" (inside), the "red triangle" in the corners of the eyes is made of "Scarlet" and "Brown Rose" and the color of the iris from "Cocolate Brown" and "Yellow Ocre".
For the pupil then simple black.

And finally the - as I always find! - most beautiful moment when painting a figure: The small white reflex points, which awake the eyes - and thus the whole figure - to "life" ...:







Next week ist going on with the face - I'll take oil paints for that ...


Cheers

 

[Martin Antonenko]

29. Day, December 11, 2017


Today I started painting the head.

As far as the skin color is concerned, I oriented myself to the hand-colored template ...:



Just not so pale I wanted it!


My skin tone is mixed together from the following colors ...:




Since it is a very young face, I deliberately held back during contouring. That's why I did not add the addition of dark green and purple for temples and cheeks - that would not fit in my opinion.

I have emphasized only the relatively pronounced nasolabial fold, which is clearly visible on black and white photographs by Kuzma Kryuchkov ...:




And so it looks so far. Unfortunately glazes a little bit, I've only ten minutes ago the brush laid aside ...:








Cheers

 

[Nap]

Martin

Now he is coming to life and will soon be charging in the attack

Following with interest

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

30. Day, Dezember 12, 2017

I started today to implement the improvement tips of a friend!

On top of the visible forehead, which is released from the "Furashka" cap, on the yoke legs and the nasal wing and mouth lifter muscle (musculus levator labii superioris alaeque nasi) I have packed more lights.

The same thing happened with the nose that I painted today. It becomes brighter and brighter as the tip rises from the shade of the cap.

Something more limited happened at the chin tip.

I left out the lips and the little mustache, because I want to paint both later with acrylics.

And because I was already correcting, I optically withdrew the two nasolabial folds. They were too dark and too broad for me.

So it fits better in the young face of my Kuzma Kryuchkov.

What should I say: The guy falls to please me ...!








(Sorry for glazing - but I just finished ...)

One question: Kusma is quite young and has a rather sparse beard growth, as you can see on the little moustache quite well ...:



Would you paint a beard shade for the Cossack? For me, he looks for the time being, as if he was glad to find on the cheeks at all one or the other stubble stub, which he can scrape off ...

There is even nothing to see on the other old photo ...:




So - what do you think? Beard shadow or none? Recommendations very much requested ...!


Cheers

 

[Landrotten Highlander]

Great SBS, many thanks for this.

Regarding the beard: you always incorporate a lot of research in your work - the visual appearance of horse hair and cap, etc. What is the general thinking within the Cossack community regarding beards? Were they seen as something that adds prestige, or as something that has unwanted (military) drawbacks.
From the pictures of your subject, it is clear he preferred not to have a beard (or even a shadow of one). I think it would honour this if you paint it without, but that is my opinion.

Slainte
L.H.

 

[Nap]

Another great update Martín

As regards the facial hair ...I agree with LH leave it off , it would give him the young look and allow you to define that well styled moustache that he is clearly proud of!

Great research as always

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Hi L.H.!

"Daring" appearance was almost a basic principle among the Cossacks! Therefore, the cap was worn as wrong as possible!

Mustaches were expressly allowed - almost all Cossacks wore them!









As powerful it possible he had to be - as with the later Marshal Semjon Budjonny, He came from the Cossacks.



Beards were mostly tolerated - at NCOs and officers anyway!





At that time there were no gas masks that could disturb beards ...

Cheers

 

[Martin Antonenko]

31. Day, December 13, 2017


Today I painted the neck and ears.

With the skin tones on my face I am ready so far.

Unfortunately:

I can only deliver pictures tomorrow - because in order to illuminate against this dirty weather out there I would have to have an anti-aircraft headlight ...


Cheers

 

[Nap]

Hi Martin

Great pictures ref the facial hair some very dashing styles there !

Look forward to the pictures when you can

Happy painting

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

30. and 31. Day, December 13 and 14, 2017


Yesterday I painted the ears and neck of our hero. Now it is finally so bright that I can deliver pictures of it.

I have spent today's Maltag, making the face of the Cossack a little younger!

Around the nose and on the upper lip, around the mouth and on the chin, I have painted the whole thing a bit "softer" with countless small and minor corrections - and especially the nasolabial fold a little bit withdrawn.

Also, the relatively "hard" wrinkles on the chin and around the corners of the mouth are no longer there!

On the one (visible) temple and on the cheeks, on the other hand, I have painted very slightly some deeper shadows ...:












Unfortunately, the pictures shine again - but next week should it be the past.

So - that's it for now with oil paints and facial skin!

Now the head is allowed to dry through - and next week we will continue with eyebrows, hair, mouth and Furashka ...
Cheers

 

[Nap]

Martin

Looking really good ....like the subtle fleshtones , once dryer this will really come to life

Thanks for sharing this it is as always a pleasure to see

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

33. Day, December 18, 2017

Today I painted the lips - with these colors. With them you can contour the mouth nicely ...:




And then the hair. I chose a dark to medium brown tone, matching with the eyes. Mustache and eyebrows are - as in real life! - are a little bit darker.

All hair parts were first painted black and then painted brighter by dry-brush method ...:










For the hair of the head, of course, the light / shadow situation is taken into account ...:

What I'm really excited about right now is the skin tone! Of all the figures that I have painted so far, this is the most natural one, I think!

Now when nothing glazes any more you can see it better!

(Yeah, I know, self-praise stinks! But it really is!)

And now?

Face and hair are ready - I think I managed to get a "young" looking face that looks very similar to the real Kuzma Kryuchkov ...:

Tomorrow it will go on with the Furashka.
Cheers

 

[Nap]

Martin

The face is really good and the youth of him has been achieved well , nice hair as well possibly highlight a bit more ?

Looking forward to the Furashka

Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

possibly highlight a bit more ?

Good advice Nap, I will do!



Cheers

 

[Martin Antonenko]

34. Day, December 19, 2017


Today I started my Painting sesson today with the fact that I strengthened the high lights at selected points of my Cossack's hair.
Tanks again, Nap!

Next I started to paint the "Furashka" (= peaked cap) by Kusma Kryuchkov!

First of all a little theory:

Each Cossack host had its own "colors" that were found on the Furashka and the pants.


Don Host:




Astrakhan Host:




Orenburg Host:




Semirestschenk Host:




Siberian Host:




Transbaikal Host:




Ural Host:




Ussurij Host:




Even the both Cossack Host from the Caucasus had their own Furashka.

Kuban Host:




Terek Host:




But in these two cases the Furashka had more of a theoretical meaning, because members of these Cossack Hosts usually wore Papacha (or "Kubanka") fur caps all year round - and the respective colors on the top ...:






Well, as far as the theory goes!

Here and today it is about a Furashka of the Don Cossacks, who has a dark blue cap and a crimson cap band ...:

Foto


I started with the bonnet - and after patient work, I was rewarded with wonderfully soft light-dark transitions.








As a next step, I painted the red piping that runs around the cap - whereby I "took" lights and shadows ...:








And here you can see the lights that are initially brightened up on your hair ...:




So much for today!


Cheers

 

[Nap]

Hi Martin

Great reference for the headwear , all saved !

Like the way the top of the cap is looking.....painting has brought out the textured surface you put on ......nice see the red piping highlighted

Looking forward to more updates

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Thank you, Nap!

------------------------------------------------

35. Day, December 20, 2017

Today I had a pretty good painting day!

The blue part of the cap is ready - and also the damn russian cockade, here hardly bigger than two pinheads, on which I usually break off regularly, has succeeded straight away!

No idea why...

I donated a drop of "Gloss Varnish" to the orange-black thing as a finish ...:









Cheers

 

[Martin Antonenko]

36. Day, December 21, 2017


The red cap band and piping is even finished now!











Unfortunately, I had to use the daylight lamp again, because it's so dark outside. Otherwise it was not possible to photograph the subtle lights and shadows on the red cap part.

Unfortunately, the colors falsify a bit ...

Cheers

 

[Nap]

Martin

The "orange-black thing" looks good

The red centre band again nicely painted , the highs are looking good and contrast well with the band towards the back .

Thanks for sharing

Soon be time for the festivities to start and a well earned rest for you I feel !

A happy Christmas to you and the family and friends

Still time to look forward to a bit more of the SBS

Nap

 

[anstontyke]

great progress martin
seasons greetings to you and the family.

tony