Shieldmaiden (Nuts Planet bust)

[arj]

Hi Folks,

This is a superb and popular sculpt with plenty to paint, as evidenced by the number of excellent offerings posted to date.
My only 'problem' with fit was a slightly short shield strap provided with the kit. Hot water, followed by a judicious use of a hair drier, eventually solved this .... so, not much of a problem really.
It's been a long time on the bench. I started it at the same time as the Daenerys bust and the Ribald Dragoon, mainly because I was tinkering with female skin tones which I'd never attempted before. The detail incorporated into this sculpt, and my wish to have a go at the interwoven shield design, resulted in my following a familiar painting route of two dabs forward and three dabs back.
Base coats varied between enamel and acrylics, with oil top coats in the main. While most of the metals are a mixture of printers ink and oil paints, the axe head is painted in Darkstar acrylic metals which, now that I'm beginning to get used to them, I'm finding very effective.

Hope you like it, but please feel free to criticise anything you feel is wrong.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[swralph]

Beautifully painted Andrew.
The leather clothing and shield stand out for me.

 

[Dekiman]

Superbly done.

 

[John Bowery]

Superb and great pattern and leather.
Cheers
John

 

[Andrew Perren]

She's a ripper. Well done.

 

[Nap]

Andrew ,

A real cracker of a bust love the leatherwork as well as the shield design

Hair looks good as well ..how did you do this ?

Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[housecarl]

Lovely work on the various textures.

 

[arj]

Ralph, Dejan, John, Andrew, Kevin and Carl,
Many thanks for all your kind words.

Kevin,
The hair was started with a base coat of a mix of Andrea golden ochre and white.
This was then followed by a wash of Mars Yellow oil and, once dry, pin washes of Van Dyke Brown oil.
For the highlights I went back to lighter versions of the base coat.
A few days later I still wasn't happy with the highlights, so I went back to my oils and used a mix of yellow ochre pale and flake white, which was applied in ever lightening layers through to almost white.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Macca G]

Great work mate. I'm a huge fan of Darkstar's Molten Metals range of acrylic metals. They go on grainless and are ideal for doing fine work without having errant flecks of paint going where they're not supposed too

 

[anstontyke]

stunning work. a real pleasure to view.

tony

 

[arj]

Graham, Tony,
Thank you very much for your kind comments.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[phil_h]

Great job Andrew. Wonderful pale Nordic skin tones and some great texture work
Phil

 

[arj]

Thanks for the kind comments Phil.
I must admit I half felt that I'd overdone the lightness of the skin, so your encouraging remark is most appreciated.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Seraphim]

Awesome work on the freehand (shield). Also like the choice of colores and the metal of the axe.

 

[Dekiman]

I saw so many beautifuly painted Lagertha busts (this one above is in top class) so I think that Katheryn Winick should became honorary member of PF.

 

[Babelfish]

I think you've done a tremendous job. The shield in particular is superb. I prefer flesh tones with perhaps a touch more contrast, but that's more a personal thing than a "criticism". Very nice indeed!!

- Steve

 

[DEL]

Great job all round a very nicely balanced piece with all the parts, painting and tones in harmony.
Cheers
Derek

 

[arj]

Melanie, Dejan, Steve, Derek,
Many thanks for all your kind comments.

Cheers,
Andrew