Marijn's WWI vignette

[quang]

Hello figureteers,

Here's a couple of pics of Marijn Van Gils WIP.

They were taken last week-end at the Ransard show and I'm posting them for your appreciation at Marijn's request.

Enjoy,
Q.

 

[Marijn Van Gils]

Thanks a lot Quang!

of course, this is a WIP, so the painting is not nearly finished (one hand is only undercoated, most of the shading on the jackets still needed to be done, many details painted and weathering finalized before moving down).

I still have one bread-bag, two canteens, a helmet for the guy on his knees and the lid of the gasmask container separate, to be attached after painting as they are flying in mid-air.

The title will be: "survival of the fittest".

Of course, any comment are welcome. I already received some very helpfull constructive criticism from Quang last weekend, so don't be affraid to hurt my feelings! :lol: Thanks again for those by the way, Quang!

I'll try to take some additional pics soon.

Cheers!


Marijn

 

[Joe Hudson]

Marijm,

I really like the look of this vignette. I like the sense of urgency. The nice touch of the open cap pouch, really nice. I would like to know what the figures were originally and what you have done. I can see the bottom but just curious about the rest. I look forward to seeing this one finished.

All the best,

Joe

 

[Marijn Van Gils]

Thanks Joe!

the commercial items I used were two hornet heads (but the gasmask and hairs are sculpted, and the eyes of the kneeling guy modified) and four hornet hands (two had their fingers cut of and resculpted: the hand on the face of the kneeling guy and his stretched-out hand). The gasmask container started as a verlinden WW2 german asmask container, but I could have used round stock plastic just as well, as I removed all detail, resized and hollowed it and added the detail in duro. For the feet, I used some verlinden feet as a base (adding all detail later), which I shouldn't have done since they are slightly oversized...
All the rest, including all equipment, is sculpted.


Marijn

 

[Chazman]

Looks great! Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[Lou Masses]

That's beautiful work. Really exciting presence.

 

[Ghostrider]

Hey Marijn,

In a word, fantastic! Sheer inspiration. Look forward to the completion of this piece (as with all of your projects!).

Cheers,

Bob Waltman

 

[Einion]

Excellent idea Marijn and nice body language.

Strange to see the figures half painted like this for me, painting in acrylics everything is always primed before painting begins. One thing I might suggest, the standing figure's left thumb should maybe be digging into the eye more, as you would :lol:

Einion

 

[Marijn Van Gils]

Thanks a lot for the nice words guys!

Hello Einion, thanks for the comments. That thumb in the eye was not really planned, but came naturally during posing and sculpting, hence it is sculpted on top of the face, instead of really in the face. You are right that it could look more dramatic when digging deeper. This teaches me to plan really every detail ahead! :lol:
Anybody: more of these kind of comments please!

I never prime my figures anymore, as I always hold onto the figure itself while painting, to get enough support for my painting hand. This causes any primer to rub of and collect in the corners and folds, which is something I don't want to clean up ever again! The Humbroll is strong enough and adheres very well to putty, resin or metal anyway...

Cheers!

Marijn

 

[Dani A.]

Hello,

Very good poses and movement, and I would specially remark the faultless interaction between the figures!
And the grimness that pervades the composition... so far from any romantic conceptions... very down-to earth, and suitably dramatic, in my opinion.
It is bold to suggest anything to such outstanding artist as you are, but... have you thought of further emphasizing the conception by adding, for instance, a discarded, unusable, gasmask (with a broken eyepiece, or a similarly noticeable damage), on the ground?
Excellent!

Dani

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Hi Marjin!

I think the vignette is great and a very dramatic one. Also it brings out the horrors of war and especially the using of gas in the trenches of WWI.

Id suggest that you take a closer look at the angle of the kneeling figures left leg. Id suggest a sharper more square-like bent of the knee?

I dont know if youve thought of it. If you have the standing figure with no gasmask container it would be suggesting that he has took it from the kneeling figure (with an empty container) whos trying to get it back and then the title would be more fitting. Perhaps even "Survival of the strongest".

Should the circumstances be the opposite then a title that refers how men turn on their comrades in situations like the one portrayed would be better in my opinion.

Anyway you chose to do Im looking forward to see it finnished.

Cheers

 

[captnenglish]

That's a beauty!

 

[Figure Mad]

What a brilliant subject, you can feel the anger and tension between them

Brilliant......

Dave

 

[Evan August]

Incredible work! I'm assuming two Germans are fighting over a gas mask, if so, it really captures how horrible and terrible that war was. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

 

[Roy]

Hey Marijn..this is looking to be a great little piece, and you certainly make me think which of the soldiers will eventually survive the next few minutes...what might happen next....??

I like very much the interaction between the 2 men, Einion's remarks on the thumb a little deeper into the eye is a good idea...but it looks pretty vicious to me as it is....it is difficult to imagine what lengths you would go to in an effort to retain the mask.

I can't wait to see the additional accesories that you mention when they are added as this should add lots of movement into the whole piece which will help to enforce the situation of urgency and panic which I think are the strongest feelings going on here. And the damaged gasmask idea from Dani is worth thinking about too I think....but knowing your work, I would think that the groundwork has been meticulously planned and will be as exciting as the figures.

All the best to you Marijn

Roy.

 

[Roc]

Excellent work, my friend, they look fantastic.


Cheers

Roc.

 

[MarkL]

Hello Marijn,

lovely work, can't wait to see it finished.
How did you do the suble dirt effects on the sleeves and what kind of putty is it for the "beige" parts.
I guess there will be a lot of mud for the groundwork and on the lower parts of the clothing - will be interesting to see how you paint this.

Best wishes

Mark

 

[RobH]

Hi Marijn!

Glad this had been shown, I was curious after you mentioned it the other day.

As much as I like your large dioramas, I'm pleased that you're starting some smaller pieces because it should mean we see more from you, so to speak!

The movement and drama is so very well and instantly conveyed in this piece - I realy like it!

As Einion said, it's strange seeing something part painted but with different putties still being visible - in our world it seems that priming is drilled into us from our initiation into the hobby, but if it works, then it works!

Will be very intrigued to see the finished piece!

Rob

 

[Marijn Van Gils]

Hello guys!

thanks a lot for all the comments! They are really appreciated.

Dani: excellent idea about the gasmask! I thought of it myself also :lol:
I will put the filter and gasmask next to each other but detached, showing some kind of malfunction. The filter is already ready, but the gasmask will be sculpted directly onto the groundwork. I will try to include a broken glas, but I fear it will be almost invisible.

Jeanne: you are right. Quai suggested me last weekend to have to other leg less stretched, which would in fact have the same purpose: make him look less like his crotch must be really hurting. It would make his pose more balanced indeed. Thanks!
I won't be able to include this in this vignette anymore, but this is how I can learn for the next projects. More comments like this please!

Evan: they are two french. I would have liked to make two Belgians, but unfortunately they wore khaki uniforms, and the horizon blue was too interesting (and perfect for contrast with weathering) to pass by...

Roy, you are right. I think these loose accessories really add a lot to the final atmosphere. Wish I could show them now already...

Mark: the dirt is simply natural wood 110 and flesh 61 mixed in while the paint was still wet. I will still add to it later on, giving more variation and making it more obvious in spots, and also make sure to get it on straps and equipment. The lower parts will of course be almost only mud. If some guys in history ever saw must, it must be these!
The beige putty is Magic Sculp, the light green one MS with a litle duro mixed in.

Hello Rob! Actually I also really enjoy to get projects finished more quickly. Well, more quickly than one year per project anyway! :lol:

OK, I "borowed" the digital camera from work and took some half-decent pictures. The contrast is lacking, but you can see more detail at least. Apart from the loose accessories and the extra weathering to come, the upper bodies are ready. The botom parts of the overcoats is undercoated.

 

[Marijn Van Gils]

and another