Hi everyone
This month we are travelling to Canada to highlight a artist and a member of PF ....namely Colin_Fraser
Colin’s been a long time member if this forum on and off since 2004 so it’s a pleasure to share the interview
In the past he’s sculpted some great busts and has mastered the art of painting gold lace and decoration.....we will see more after the text
Meet the artist - Colin Fraser
1 Tell us your background and details about you ?
I live in what is purported to be the prettiest town in Canada: Goderich, Ontario. Goderich is a fresh water port on the shores of Lake Huron. I studied modern European history/classics at uni but worked in finance and accounting. I’m retired now. I have five adult children and I’m still with my first wife, which is a testament to her patience. We’ll reach forty years in August and we still like being around each other. Lynne is very supportive and proud of my modelling art and she enjoys checking my faces for crossed eyes. In addition to figure modelling, I enjoy British TV, chick flicks, board and miniatures wargaming, and collecting historical documents and autographs.
2 How long have you been painting or sculpting figures, what got you started into this form of art ?
I started in 1970, inspired by my neighbour and the release of the film Waterloo. My neighbour mobilized all the boys on the street to paint up a bunch of Airfix HO figs so we could game Waterloo and I kept with it, never looking back. From Airfix HO figures I moved to Airfix figure kits like the 1815 Coldstream Guard. A trip to England that year allowed for visits to John Tunstill’s “Soldiers” shop in Lambeth, “Tradition” in Mayfair, and “Under Two Flags” in wonderful St Christopher’s Place. I think I also visited “Seagull” and “Willie” but that might have been on a later trip. Those shops got me firmly interested in 54mm’s. I bought my first Historex figure at Bagnall’s in Stafford on that vacation. Since then, I have worked in every scale from 6mm Napoleonics to 1/5 scale busts. I don’t usually sell my figures or do commission work but exceptions are made. For example, I painted all the 28mm display figures for Gringo40s’ BoS award winning “Black River Debacle” display game at Salute 2019. It was set in French colonial Indo-China in the Victorian period.
3 Who if any artist is the main influence and has motivated you to your current level ?
My major early influences were Peter Twist at the Ontario Model Soldier Society (OMSS) and Shepherd Paine (MMSI), who I met when he was a guest at OMSS shows. Peter’s sculpting and painting was world class and Shep’s dioramas and vignettes, as seen in the hobby press, made me visualize what was possible. His 54mm “Eve of Essling” diorama, incorporating a swathe of Historex Napoleonic personality figures, left a lasting imprint on my hobby soul. Ray Lamb’s legendary Historex rendition of Gericault’s Chasseur was the most inspirational single piece I saw early in my hobby life.
4 Are you a member of any club?
I am a bit of an introvert and find that I don’t really thrive in a club environment. I’m not currently a member of any clubs.
5 Do you have a favourite paint product or medium ?
I have used enamels, oils and acrylics at various times and enjoyed them all. Currently, I mix hobby and professional artist’s acrylics of various brands - both in liquid and tube form. I recently discovered Liquitex acrylic gouache and like it a lot. I use a lot of diluted acrylic inks and metal powders in my painting. I would say acrylic inks are the key to my personal painting style.
6 On average how long to complete a piece?
I can work on a complex piece for months or even years, particularly if my motivation is fluctuating. However, in general I finish a painting project from primer to completion in one to two weeks. I tend to work quickly and sometimes too quickly, particularly when sculpting. If I don’t, I tend to lose momentum and interest. I hate painting “below the belt” on a figure (pants and shoes), groundwork, and horse tack, so I am at higher risk of going too quickly or bogging down there. Another reason I love busts. My speed record is completion of a commission of Life Miniatures’ Winston Churchill bust in three working days. I only work on one piece at a time. That forces me to complete projects. I won’t let myself start the next figure until I “earn” the right by finishing the current work.
7 Have you a preferred subject and in what scale to work on ie: historical/ fantasy?
I am primarily an historical modeller but have done specific fictional characters like Indiana Jones. I have an interest in all aspects of history but my main interest in modelling is personality figures, particularly those of the Napoleonic Period. Given my love of doing specific personalities, I really enjoy busts. I recently completed my first mounted figure larger than 1/48 in over 50 years of modelling and really enjoyed it. I expect to be doing more of these.
8 Have you a favourite piece in the display cabinet ?
For several reasons…I would say my favourite is my scratch portrait bust of Canadian Major General Romeo Dallaire. He commanded to UNAMIR mission in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. I tend to model personalities I personally admire for some reason and Dallaire fit this criteria well. He was my first personality bust sculpt and everything just went right. My wife immediately recognized his face without any prompting from me, my painting of his uniform details worked out beyond my expectations, and my kids all want to inherit him.
9 Is there a subject you’ve not done yet but want to?
I would like to sculpt a portrait bust of SOE agent Violette Szabo. Her story fascinates me and I remember watching the bio pic “Carve Her Name With Pride” as a kid. I’m intimidated by the idea of capturing a specific female likeness but I expect I will actually have a go at some point.
9 Is there a favourite manufacturer you’ve worked with?
My favourite manufacturers would be Alexandros (for their expanding line of Napoleonic and other personality busts), Castle Miniatures in Montreal (for their varied and superbly sculpted ranges), and recently Kuton Art (for their large scale digital sculpts of entertainment industry characters).
10 What’s your favourite model show?
I’m not much of a show attender as we have limited choice here in Canada. We have access to quite a few good IPMS shows here but I find they treat figures as a poor cousin to hardware. I rarely attend these now. I went to the excellent OMSS shows held in the mid-seventies and early eighties before the focus of that club shifted the emphasize toy soldiers. I have been to the MMSI Chicago show twice and loved it. We have a relatively new local show here in southern Ontario, Canada (Sword & Brush) that is small by international standards but still full of excellent quality work. It is lots of fun as most of my local friends attend and it’s a great social opportunity. So that is my current favourite.
11 What’s your thoughts on the current world of Miniatures?
I won’t delve into the historical vs. fantasy thing as I like both. I miss the old hobby press and show reports that I used to look forward to in mags like Military Modelling and Figurines. Despite the availability of various internet platforms these days, good written show reports are hard to find. Research is easier and more enjoyable now that everything is online, so I don’t buy many reference books any more. Acquiring new or collectible older miniatures online is easier too, although I really do miss the inspiration I found from figure shops I used to visit on vacations to major cities. The main negative stemming from online availability is the enabling of piracy on sites that have no respect for copyright (like Ali Express).
12 Where do you see the future of the hobby heading?
I’m not much of a futurist. I expect we will continue to see the effects of evolving technologies, both in the creation of figures and in the introduction of new hobby products. I’m sure there will be many new “must have” paint formulations and new tools and weathering products etc. I expect we might see smaller and less popular historical conflicts get more play as subject matter but I doubt there will ever be a time when we don’t see new Napoleonic or German WWII figures released with regularity.
13 Any thoughts on 3D compared to traditional sculpting?
I admit I was resistant to digital sculpting at first because early examples looked too stiff, too mechanical and a little soulless to me. Recent examples are much better. For example, the large scale portrait pieces available from Scale Collectables are examples of astonishing digital portrait work. But I hope there will always be a place for traditional hand sculpting in the hobby. I am also hoping that AI doesn’t take over digital sculpting. Many AI 2D illustrations I have seen are impressive at first glance but are clearly exaggerated. I’m not convinced that AI will be used to produce historically accurate and anatomically correct models. I already see AI illustrations harvesting faulty data and perpetuating errors in 2D illustration. I expect digital sculpting and 3D printers may reduce the number of traditional manufacturers and retailers supporting the hobby.
14 Do you much sculpting/ conversion on your figures?
I still enjoy sculpting my own figures but find I have to be in the right mood to do it. I also tend to sculpt too quickly, with the result that I often don’t see my sculpting flaws until it’s too late to correct them. Covid lock down-related depression led to my sculpting going through a dry spell that has lasted a few years. I haven’t produced a complete original sculpt in five plus years. I often adjust commercial pieces slightly to correct inaccuracies or to personalize them.
15 Is there anyone you’d like to see featured in “Meet the Artist”?
No specific names to suggest. Most of the big names in the hobby have already been interviewed and profiled in the hobby press or on podcasts like the excellent “Small Subjects.” Therefore my suggestion would be to focus on interviewing lesser known veteran participants in the hobby (including painters, sculptors and company owners) who have seen a lot of change and who have their own interesting recollections to share.
A BIG THANK YOU to Colin for the very interesting comments , ...particularly like his reply to #15
Let’s have some pictures now of Colins’s work both sculpting and OOB paints .....ENJOY
Sculpting first
More in next post
Nap
This month we are travelling to Canada to highlight a artist and a member of PF ....namely Colin_Fraser
COLIN FRASER
Like many modellers Colin’s benchtime is assisted by several mischievous cats
Like many modellers Colin’s benchtime is assisted by several mischievous cats
Colin’s been a long time member if this forum on and off since 2004 so it’s a pleasure to share the interview
In the past he’s sculpted some great busts and has mastered the art of painting gold lace and decoration.....we will see more after the text
Okay ...Microphone at the ready?...
Meet the artist - Colin Fraser
1 Tell us your background and details about you ?
I live in what is purported to be the prettiest town in Canada: Goderich, Ontario. Goderich is a fresh water port on the shores of Lake Huron. I studied modern European history/classics at uni but worked in finance and accounting. I’m retired now. I have five adult children and I’m still with my first wife, which is a testament to her patience. We’ll reach forty years in August and we still like being around each other. Lynne is very supportive and proud of my modelling art and she enjoys checking my faces for crossed eyes. In addition to figure modelling, I enjoy British TV, chick flicks, board and miniatures wargaming, and collecting historical documents and autographs.
2 How long have you been painting or sculpting figures, what got you started into this form of art ?
I started in 1970, inspired by my neighbour and the release of the film Waterloo. My neighbour mobilized all the boys on the street to paint up a bunch of Airfix HO figs so we could game Waterloo and I kept with it, never looking back. From Airfix HO figures I moved to Airfix figure kits like the 1815 Coldstream Guard. A trip to England that year allowed for visits to John Tunstill’s “Soldiers” shop in Lambeth, “Tradition” in Mayfair, and “Under Two Flags” in wonderful St Christopher’s Place. I think I also visited “Seagull” and “Willie” but that might have been on a later trip. Those shops got me firmly interested in 54mm’s. I bought my first Historex figure at Bagnall’s in Stafford on that vacation. Since then, I have worked in every scale from 6mm Napoleonics to 1/5 scale busts. I don’t usually sell my figures or do commission work but exceptions are made. For example, I painted all the 28mm display figures for Gringo40s’ BoS award winning “Black River Debacle” display game at Salute 2019. It was set in French colonial Indo-China in the Victorian period.
3 Who if any artist is the main influence and has motivated you to your current level ?
My major early influences were Peter Twist at the Ontario Model Soldier Society (OMSS) and Shepherd Paine (MMSI), who I met when he was a guest at OMSS shows. Peter’s sculpting and painting was world class and Shep’s dioramas and vignettes, as seen in the hobby press, made me visualize what was possible. His 54mm “Eve of Essling” diorama, incorporating a swathe of Historex Napoleonic personality figures, left a lasting imprint on my hobby soul. Ray Lamb’s legendary Historex rendition of Gericault’s Chasseur was the most inspirational single piece I saw early in my hobby life.
4 Are you a member of any club?
I am a bit of an introvert and find that I don’t really thrive in a club environment. I’m not currently a member of any clubs.
5 Do you have a favourite paint product or medium ?
I have used enamels, oils and acrylics at various times and enjoyed them all. Currently, I mix hobby and professional artist’s acrylics of various brands - both in liquid and tube form. I recently discovered Liquitex acrylic gouache and like it a lot. I use a lot of diluted acrylic inks and metal powders in my painting. I would say acrylic inks are the key to my personal painting style.
6 On average how long to complete a piece?
I can work on a complex piece for months or even years, particularly if my motivation is fluctuating. However, in general I finish a painting project from primer to completion in one to two weeks. I tend to work quickly and sometimes too quickly, particularly when sculpting. If I don’t, I tend to lose momentum and interest. I hate painting “below the belt” on a figure (pants and shoes), groundwork, and horse tack, so I am at higher risk of going too quickly or bogging down there. Another reason I love busts. My speed record is completion of a commission of Life Miniatures’ Winston Churchill bust in three working days. I only work on one piece at a time. That forces me to complete projects. I won’t let myself start the next figure until I “earn” the right by finishing the current work.
7 Have you a preferred subject and in what scale to work on ie: historical/ fantasy?
I am primarily an historical modeller but have done specific fictional characters like Indiana Jones. I have an interest in all aspects of history but my main interest in modelling is personality figures, particularly those of the Napoleonic Period. Given my love of doing specific personalities, I really enjoy busts. I recently completed my first mounted figure larger than 1/48 in over 50 years of modelling and really enjoyed it. I expect to be doing more of these.
8 Have you a favourite piece in the display cabinet ?
For several reasons…I would say my favourite is my scratch portrait bust of Canadian Major General Romeo Dallaire. He commanded to UNAMIR mission in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. I tend to model personalities I personally admire for some reason and Dallaire fit this criteria well. He was my first personality bust sculpt and everything just went right. My wife immediately recognized his face without any prompting from me, my painting of his uniform details worked out beyond my expectations, and my kids all want to inherit him.
9 Is there a subject you’ve not done yet but want to?
I would like to sculpt a portrait bust of SOE agent Violette Szabo. Her story fascinates me and I remember watching the bio pic “Carve Her Name With Pride” as a kid. I’m intimidated by the idea of capturing a specific female likeness but I expect I will actually have a go at some point.
9 Is there a favourite manufacturer you’ve worked with?
My favourite manufacturers would be Alexandros (for their expanding line of Napoleonic and other personality busts), Castle Miniatures in Montreal (for their varied and superbly sculpted ranges), and recently Kuton Art (for their large scale digital sculpts of entertainment industry characters).
10 What’s your favourite model show?
I’m not much of a show attender as we have limited choice here in Canada. We have access to quite a few good IPMS shows here but I find they treat figures as a poor cousin to hardware. I rarely attend these now. I went to the excellent OMSS shows held in the mid-seventies and early eighties before the focus of that club shifted the emphasize toy soldiers. I have been to the MMSI Chicago show twice and loved it. We have a relatively new local show here in southern Ontario, Canada (Sword & Brush) that is small by international standards but still full of excellent quality work. It is lots of fun as most of my local friends attend and it’s a great social opportunity. So that is my current favourite.
11 What’s your thoughts on the current world of Miniatures?
I won’t delve into the historical vs. fantasy thing as I like both. I miss the old hobby press and show reports that I used to look forward to in mags like Military Modelling and Figurines. Despite the availability of various internet platforms these days, good written show reports are hard to find. Research is easier and more enjoyable now that everything is online, so I don’t buy many reference books any more. Acquiring new or collectible older miniatures online is easier too, although I really do miss the inspiration I found from figure shops I used to visit on vacations to major cities. The main negative stemming from online availability is the enabling of piracy on sites that have no respect for copyright (like Ali Express).
12 Where do you see the future of the hobby heading?
I’m not much of a futurist. I expect we will continue to see the effects of evolving technologies, both in the creation of figures and in the introduction of new hobby products. I’m sure there will be many new “must have” paint formulations and new tools and weathering products etc. I expect we might see smaller and less popular historical conflicts get more play as subject matter but I doubt there will ever be a time when we don’t see new Napoleonic or German WWII figures released with regularity.
13 Any thoughts on 3D compared to traditional sculpting?
I admit I was resistant to digital sculpting at first because early examples looked too stiff, too mechanical and a little soulless to me. Recent examples are much better. For example, the large scale portrait pieces available from Scale Collectables are examples of astonishing digital portrait work. But I hope there will always be a place for traditional hand sculpting in the hobby. I am also hoping that AI doesn’t take over digital sculpting. Many AI 2D illustrations I have seen are impressive at first glance but are clearly exaggerated. I’m not convinced that AI will be used to produce historically accurate and anatomically correct models. I already see AI illustrations harvesting faulty data and perpetuating errors in 2D illustration. I expect digital sculpting and 3D printers may reduce the number of traditional manufacturers and retailers supporting the hobby.
14 Do you much sculpting/ conversion on your figures?
I still enjoy sculpting my own figures but find I have to be in the right mood to do it. I also tend to sculpt too quickly, with the result that I often don’t see my sculpting flaws until it’s too late to correct them. Covid lock down-related depression led to my sculpting going through a dry spell that has lasted a few years. I haven’t produced a complete original sculpt in five plus years. I often adjust commercial pieces slightly to correct inaccuracies or to personalize them.
15 Is there anyone you’d like to see featured in “Meet the Artist”?
No specific names to suggest. Most of the big names in the hobby have already been interviewed and profiled in the hobby press or on podcasts like the excellent “Small Subjects.” Therefore my suggestion would be to focus on interviewing lesser known veteran participants in the hobby (including painters, sculptors and company owners) who have seen a lot of change and who have their own interesting recollections to share.
A BIG THANK YOU to Colin for the very interesting comments , ...particularly like his reply to #15
Let’s have some pictures now of Colins’s work both sculpting and OOB paints .....ENJOY
Sculpting first
Colins favourite
Out of the Box paints
Out of the Box paints
More in next post
Nap
as you took inspiration...now you give it to others.
