Dan Morton
A Fixture
While Khudadad Khan's primer is drying, I started messing around with some parts, thinking vaguely about what was next. I had planned to do a WWI multi-figure vignette, but one thing led to another.
Raffaele Ruggeri's illustration of Gen. Skoboleff in the Osprey MAA 277, "The Russo-Turkish War 1877" is superb and dramatic. To be more accurate, the guy looks like a wild man! Hair flying, mouth open and teeth bared, wild-eyed, a broken sword in one hand with arm cocked back and ready to swing. So - I was hooked even though he's not from the Great War! I just hope I can do him justice!
I hope Mr. Ruggeri won't mind my showing a small excerpt of his illustration.
Ian Drury's text describes Skoboleff as probably the most competent Russian general among a group of hopeless losers. To be sure he was brave, often leading his Cossack division from the front, but unfortunately he was also a shameless self-promoter, making sure the British journalists reporting the war always had 'good copy'.
I took a British Sudan officer's head, ground off part of the beard and all the pith helmet. The pose Mr. Ruggeri looked familiar somehow and then I realized I had a 'parts' figure of a gladiator in exactly that pose. I ground off the gladiator costume, removed the head, found some boots, etc.
The head is nearly finished. Accented the frown lines between and above the eyes, shaved off more of the Sudan officer's spade beard and added LOTS of hair. Thought you might like a peek.
All the best,
Dan
Raffaele Ruggeri's illustration of Gen. Skoboleff in the Osprey MAA 277, "The Russo-Turkish War 1877" is superb and dramatic. To be more accurate, the guy looks like a wild man! Hair flying, mouth open and teeth bared, wild-eyed, a broken sword in one hand with arm cocked back and ready to swing. So - I was hooked even though he's not from the Great War! I just hope I can do him justice!
I hope Mr. Ruggeri won't mind my showing a small excerpt of his illustration.
Ian Drury's text describes Skoboleff as probably the most competent Russian general among a group of hopeless losers. To be sure he was brave, often leading his Cossack division from the front, but unfortunately he was also a shameless self-promoter, making sure the British journalists reporting the war always had 'good copy'.
I took a British Sudan officer's head, ground off part of the beard and all the pith helmet. The pose Mr. Ruggeri looked familiar somehow and then I realized I had a 'parts' figure of a gladiator in exactly that pose. I ground off the gladiator costume, removed the head, found some boots, etc.
The head is nearly finished. Accented the frown lines between and above the eyes, shaved off more of the Sudan officer's spade beard and added LOTS of hair. Thought you might like a peek.
All the best,
Dan
