Acrylics S.B.S. Officer of The 42nd Highlanders circa1854

[Nap]

Hi Keith ,

Blimey those hose look great now they are both done .."spots before the eyes" eh!!! and lik e the way the jacket is looking glad you chose red though ..fairly accurate mate

A good idea putting the arm and sword on to get the feel of the piece ..going to look rather cracking I reckon ...so get those brushes swirling

...its nearly the NMM on teh lacework ...watching with interest.

Thanks doe the SBS and sharing your project.

Nap

 

[Wings5797]

Hi Keith ,

Blimey those hose look great now they are both done .."spots before the eyes" eh!!! and lik e the way the jacket is looking glad you chose red though ..fairly accurate mate

A good idea putting the arm and sword on to get the feel of the piece ..going to look rather cracking I reckon ...so get those brushes swirling

...its nearly the NMM on teh lacework ...watching with interest.

Thanks doe the SBS and sharing your project.

Nap

Thanks for your support Kevin......I will wear it always.
I am pleased that you like the hose tops, spots before the eyes is an understatement. This method is not for anyone in a hurry.
With the jacket I didn't want to get a scarlet similar to the tunics worn today, almost orange. Most jackets I have seen from these Victorian Armies are almost a brick red.
NMM base coat of Mars Yellow is on and ready to go. This is a reversal of my usual method of start dark. You never know it may just work.
Thanks again Mate.
Cheers,
Keith

 

[smudger1960]

Hi Keith,this looks like a real challenge for a painter with the kilt and the hose and you have done a brilliant job so far mate,looking forward to seeing it finished

Brian

 

[Wings5797]

Thank you Brian,
My painting is passable but lacks the out of the box thinking that you paint into figures.
All the best Mate,
Keith

 

[prhayes68]

Keith,

Now I'm going to steal all your techniques. I've just primed a Scots Guards officer from the Crimean period and I think I'll try your red recipe on his tunic. I like the results you've got.

Pete

 

[Wings5797]

That's good Pete,
Look on it more as a gift to you than stealing Mate. After all of the info you have sent to me I think I owe it to you.
Please use the colour mixes as a guide, you may find the reds come up differently with with different paints. I adjust as I go.
Will you paint in the deepest shadows first? I find this is a good method that I picked up from Ron Clark.
Which figure have you chosen to paint?
You know where to come if you need any help.
Oh yes steer clear of the Dulux it didn't work for me.
Good luck with it Pete.
All the very best,
Keith

 

[prhayes68]

It's the recent release from Grod at Mitches sculpted by Moz Corry. It was a Christmas present from SWMBO (how did she know?). I usually block in the main colour first and then work on shadows and highlights but I'll give your method a try and start with shadows. I assume this helps in blending the transitions. I'm considering trying the acrylics too (my mother-in-law works at a craft shop so I can get the staff discount on Winsor and Newton acrylics!). Dulux was a bit too glossy, huh? Thanks for the offer of help and good wishes.

Pete

 

[Wings5797]

What a lovely Wife you have Pete. Knowing exactly what you wanted for Christmas is amazing. Maybe she noticed your passing interest in the British Guards Regiments. Add that to Her Mum working in the craft shop........where do you live Pete? in the US or Utopia? Lucky Man.
Yes, painting the shadow first and adding thin layers (lots of them) of the middle tone with some coats painted over the shadows will help with the blending.
Looking forward to your start on this fine sculpt. I must say that I find Moz's work very good and enjoyable to work with, I hope that you find the same pleasure.

Keith

 

[John Ballard]

Keith
Still watching with interest. Red is a tough colour to paint especially since you must avoid adding white or yellow to the mix since this changes the colour completely. I find that red works best with very low contrast from dark to light. I like your version so far.
John

 

[Wings5797]

Thanks John,
The scarlet that I used here was very bright and I managed to use that as the highlight and come down from that using varying measures. I think I got away with it.
All the best Mate,
Keith

 

[prhayes68]

Keith,

Daft question - are you thinning the acrylics with water or are you using some other medium? Thanks.

Pete

 

[Wings5797]

Keith,

Daft question - are you thinning the acrylics with water or are you using some other medium? Thanks.

Pete

Hi Pete,
Not a daft question at all.
Yes I only use water but quite sparingly. I tend to mix or soften paint with brush and a dip in water is more than enough.
This is necessary, I have found, during painting as well as my desk lamp and the air temperature here at the moment dries the paint quite quickly.

 

[prhayes68]

Keith,

Many thanks. I'll give it a try.

Pete

 

[DEL]

Hi Keith, I've been quietly following this with great interest. It's one of my favourite models of the last few years and a real credit to Moz's skills and Stu's casting.
The adjustments and techniques you've developed here are going to be invaluable when I move on to painting my version which is sitting primed and ready.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Wings5797]

Hi Derek,
As you say this is a peach from Moz. In reality my only minor problem was the kilt on his left knee. My two options were to lift the leg or cut out that part of the kilt and remodel it onto the knee. Of course I could have left it with a wind coming up to his nether region. Did you find the same thing?
The other addition that I forgot to mention here was a brown leather belt for the Dirk, knife and fork. Just to make it a little different.
The casting is very crisp and easy to paint. The jacket has very deep drapery which makes the shadows very evident. Kilt wise the Government Tartan is nice to paint, you can be almost be as simple or complex as you wish.
I am pleased that this SBS is of some use to you, makes it all worth while. If there is anything I can help you with your version feel free to drop me a line.
I know that you will enjoy painting this little gem Derek and I look forward to seeing what you do with it.
All the very best,
Keith

 

[ChaosCossack]

Looking awesome Keith, the kilt and hose turned out dead on. The shade of red you developed really has some balls. Reds always are in danger of getting kinda thin during the highlighting stage... you seem to have overcome that issue.

Still following with interest... but no frigging alerts when you post your progress

Colin

 

[Wings5797]

Looking awesome Keith, the kilt and hose turned out dead on. The shade of red you developed really has some balls. Reds always are in danger of getting kinda thin during the highlighting stage... you seem to have overcome that issue.

Still following with interest... but no frigging alerts when you post your progress

Colin

Many thanks Colin,
I am pleased that you like it thus far.
With the red, I have seen and indeed painted jackets etc that positively glow Orange, I really wanted to get away from that just released from the Regimental Tailor look. I know that the current Guards Regiments in the UK and Canada have this bright colour but when you look at the jackets from the 19th Century they are edging toward crimson (not the crimson/ maroon of the officers sashes). To this end I took my scarlet and looked on that as the highest highlight and went down to almost out of tube Burnt Umber from there.
You may have picked up from my scribble here that I have found a new substitute for white cross belts and hoes, Pale Umber. It is not so good as a part of a colour mix as white is but on its own and shaded down works well for me.
Thanks again Colin and all the very best,
Keith

 

[DEL]

Hi Derek,
My two options were to lift the leg or cut out that part of the kilt and remodel it onto the knee. Of course I could have left it with a wind coming up to his nether region. Did you find the same thing?

Keith

Hi Keith. My solution to the left leg was to file it at a slight angle and to sand away a little from the underside of the kilt.
Worked well and only took a few minutes. Still very slightly proud of the leg but checking with my own very heavy grade kilt this is how it sits.
To be honest if I'd looked at it first I'd have happily left it as it was.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Wings5797]

Hi Derek,
That's good.
I wrongly worked on the premise of the heavier military kilt being too heavy to hold up that high unsupported.
Looking forward to your rendition of this great figure by Maurice. I really enjoyed doing it and hope that you are too.
All the very best,
Keith

 

[Wings5797]

Hi to all out there.
I have finally stirred myself to get this fine fellow to a point that I will call it a day.
With the pose that Maurice Corry sculpted here I thought that he should look a little war torn and exhausted (the figure that is not Moz). To achieve this; the face flesh tones were redded up more than I would normally paint and added a barrel water canteen that He had just drained dry.
I must thank Ron Tamburrini for the super wooden base He crafted for me and the people from Name It for one of their great nameplates. It goes without saying that the help and advice from the members at pF has, as always, proved invaluable.
These photographs are not too good but I hope it gives you an idea of what I am aiming for.
All the very best,
Keith