Completed Oberst i.G. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg

[Nap]

Colin,


Great start mate love what you have done so far with the collar insignia, breast eagle , awards and the wound as well

..this is going to be a really nice piece

Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[Gaudin]

Looking ace.

Just for curiosity's sake, how old is the wound supposed to be in timeline of this bust? Is it fresh?

The reason I am asking is this thought process: the tunic is likely to soak up blood from the wound and this usually results a oval patch of darker red that is elongated downwards as blood soaks by gravity. If even few hours pass, it is likely to coagulate which means it will go deep cherry red + even darker due to grey of the tunic. Venous blood is darker anyway.

There is another cool thing you could do - some one has shown me an idea recently - some paint is put on light bulb and you wait for it to start drying but not quite fully, take this paint with a needle and transfer it to the bullet hole, make it a little ragged and allow to dry, then paint over it - this should simulate the fretting of the fabric that will make it look more realistic.

Another way of doing it is probably with good old salt crystals and acrylics.

Just a thought. Looking forward to face.

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Looking ace.

Just for curiosity's sake, how old is the wound supposed to be in timeline of this bust? Is it fresh?

The reason I am asking is this thought process: the tunic is likely to soak up blood from the wound and this usually results a oval patch of darker red that is elongated downwards as blood soaks by gravity. If even few hours pass, it is likely to coagulate which means it will go deep cherry red + even darker due to grey of the tunic. Venous blood is darker anyway.

There is another cool thing you could do - some one has shown me an idea recently - some paint is put on light bulb and you wait for it to start drying but not quite fully, take this paint with a needle and transfer it to the bullet hole, make it a little ragged and allow to dry, then paint over it - this should simulate the fretting of the fabric that will make it look more realistic.

Another way of doing it is probably with good old salt crystals and acrylics.

Just a thought. Looking forward to face.

Thanks Gaudin....mere minutes old Stauffenberg was shot in an exchange of side arms fire when the coup collapsed. He and his main compatriots were almost immediately, and illegally, condemned to death by Generaloberst Fromm. Von Stauffenberg, Olbricht, Mertz and von Haeften were shot by firing squad about an hour later.

I thought of darkening the material and not showing the blood so clearly. Perhaips more realistic but less impactive to the viewer.....consider it artist'ic licence.

Colin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Some progress on his head. Fkesh is still riugh looking. Lips are not started. Eye patch and hair are only base coated. Still more work to do on the collar, tunic etc.

Given I am depicting him shortly after his wounding (again) and after the collapse of the coup on which he had pinned all his hopes for Germany, his friends and family, I am trying to paint him looking tired and shocked. Still lots to do to get close to that look.

Colin

 

[bwildfong]

Awesome job as usual Colin! Really like the way you've handled the field grey of the tunic and the shoulder straps and Litzen are your usual master class in gold bullion. Like your painting stand - Heineken - or Moosehead, and do you have enough to share?

Cheers,
Brian

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Beck's Brian....but the family is probably not related to Ludwig Beck.

Thanks for the nice words. Sorry to miss you guys in Ajax......looks to have been a good outing.

Here is the head with some more work. Eye patch and hair still relatively untouched.

Colin

 

[bwildfong]

Beck's Brian....but the family is probably not related to Ludwig Beck.

! Nice one Centurion - like it!

Cheers,

Brian

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Head attached. Still fine tuning.

Colin

 

[ChaosCossack]

Looking good Colin!
Definitely some of the best fleshtones you've come up with to date... what did you do differently?
Tunic, collar tabs and shoulder boards all look fantastic. You've really captured the "rumpled" look of the subject.

Well done my friend

Colin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Colin....I took my time instead of rushing. Still have more to do as well. Seeing the standard of painting in Chicago was a major wake up call for me. As you know that was my first major show in decades.

Lessons from that trip....take your time and keep going back to touch up the weak spots.....and that huge busts are very difficult to paint to competition standard. Digital photography is a good in-progress check.

Thanks

Colin

 

[ChaosCossack]

What ever you did... It worked!!!!
Fleshtones look great! Five o'clock shadow is spot on. The character of the subject really came through.

Cheers

Colin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I tried to paint more in the technically accepted way for acrylics. light applications of paint using gradual shade changes with the brush wiped on paper towel to discharge excess paint before applying. I have never done that before. Takes patience, which is not my long suit. The five o'clock shadow is flesh mixed with diluted blue and purple inks....whatever else changes I will never drop the inks

Thanks for the pep.

Colin

 

[Wings5797]

Great work Colin.
Superb changes to the original piece to give an amazing rendition of Stauffenberg.
Paintwork looks really sharp with the flesh tones coming up exceptionally good.
Top draw Colin.
Keith

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Thanks Keith

 

[tiberius57]

Love to follow your work! As you said, you changed few technical approaches but it's still you... and I'm very glad. Love your distinctive style. Walking around the tables at Chicago and admiring and analyzing the awesome pieces is really something that helps a lot.
Cheers mate and will follow closely.
Zeno

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Thanks Zeno and congrats again on your best figgie award at IPMS Ajax.

Colin

 

[tiberius57]

Cheers Colin! Much appreciated!
We missed you! Hope to see you soon. Maybe in early December!
Zeno

 

[Joe55]

Well, whatever it is that you are doing different or doing the same, I think looks pretty darn good !

Joe

 

[solitaire]

I am curious about what sources the sculptor used for the authentic portrait, if it is not too late to ask,
Thank you,
Anne

 

[PEIPER]

I saw the above explanation about Stauffenberg's ribbon.

The next photo is said to have been taken at a party held at the Hannover Cavalry School in Krampnitz on 14 June 1944 to celebrate Stauffenberg's transfer to the Fromm's office of the command of the Reserve Army and his appointment as Chief of Staff.

This is the first time I've seen it, but you can see the ribbon bar on his left side chest.
I agree with you up to the third ribbons.

Stauffenberg, who was Rittmeister at the time, was assigned on August 1, 1938 as Ic (Chief Quartermaster) to the 1st Light Division (1. leichte Division), which was reorganized from the 1st Light Brigade on October 12, 1937 and placed in Wuppertal under the command of Generalleutnant Erich Hoepner.
This 1st Light Division entered the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia on October 4, 1938, and it is likely that he was also awarded the "Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938", which was awarded to soldiers, officers, and civilians who served in the area.
Therefore, it is likely that the 4th ribbon is this one.

I also think about the 5th ribbon is the "Bulgarian Royal Order of Bravery".
He was awarded this "Bulgarian Royal Order of Bravery IV. Klasse, I. Stufe" on October 25, 1941.
However, there seems to be no miniature sword on the ribbon.

On April 20, 1943, he was awarded "Decoration For The Campaign Of Northern Afrika(Deutsch-Italiänische Erinnerungsmedaille für Afrika)".
It's true that Stauffenberg received this medal for those who participated in the North African campaign, which has deep ties to his company, and there is no problem with wearing it.
However, from the looks of the image, it doesn't look like this medal and I don't know what is 6th ribbon.
I can't understand if the white thing in the center is "miniature" or just the overexposed, and the ribbon itself is hard to identify.

I believe the 6th placed ribbon was the "Finnish Cross of Freedom, IV Class (Finnisches Freiheitskreuz)", awarded on 11 December 1942, possibly with a miniature(silver version).

Therefore, I think the Stauffenberg's ribbon bar should be as following.
Incidentally, Stauffenberg's one is narrow bar type with vertical width of 15mm x 11mm.

What do you think?