That Devil Forrest

[Len K.]

I just completed painting this magnificent Tunison sculpture “That Devil Forrest”. It depicts General Nathan Bedford Forrest on his favorite mount King Phillip. The sculpt and composition are amazing. Not the easiest Tunison I’ve painted. The sculpture is approximately 250mm scale and is painted in artist’s oils over enamels. I try to be very historically accurate, but it was difficult with this figure. There is only one known photograph of Forrest in uniform and he was buried in in his only surviving uniform. I could not find any written description of him in uniform either. As for king Phillip there are no photographs of him and the only written descriptions of him describe him as a big steel gray gelding with a black mane and tale. So I took a little artistic license painting this sculpt. I painted King Phillip based on a couple of photographs of a gorgeous steel gray dapple and I decide to paint Forrest in a medium gray coat with captured sky blue kersey union cavalry corporal’s trousers. The sword is a model 1840 heavy cavalry saber based on a picture of Forrest’s actual sword. I attached a photo with a 90mm figure for size reference.

 

[Nap]

Hi Len

Great to see what you’ve been working on

Fascinating details ref the subject , both rider and horse

It’s certainly a massive piece to paint and full of gray , really like the horse dapple

Must have been interesting working on this scale

Thanks for sharing

See below for link to competitions info

Looking forward to seeing more

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[MoboSchreuder]

Beautiful work

Mobo

 

[clubcat]

Lovely work. The dapples are well done on the horse. The splash of blue of his trousers gives a nice contrast to the greys. Like his face too.
Melanie

 

[marco55]

Beautiful work.
Mark

 

[Briggsy]

Impressive piece, love the horse.

Cheers Simon

 

[Steve Ski]

I really like your brush work, Len!

 

[KenBoyle]

Fantastic work Len!

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Len K.]

Here are some better pictures. I played with the camera settings. These show the horse much better.

 

[Briggsy]

That does look better, love the colour and apples on the horse.

Cheers Simon

 

[Nap]

Hi Len

Thanks for the newer pictures certainly do highlight the fine artwork on both horse and rider and of course the sculpt

Nap

 

[Banjer]

Superb work, both your painting and Tunisons sculpt.
Great combination.

Bill

 

[David Spencer]

Very nice indeed.
And I didn't know his horse had such an exotic name; even better than George McLellan's "Daniel Webster".

 

[Len K.]

Forrest’s previous favorite was Roderick, described as a beautiful chestnut. Roderick was known to follow Forrest around camp. At Thompson station Roderick was wounded three times. Forrest had him removed to the rear. Roderick soon ran off and jumped a number of fences to find Forrest. He was soon hit again and died. It is said that Forrest found him and wept. Later when Forrest was convalescing from a wound he saw King Phillip and asked the owner to buy him. The owner said he could never sell him. The owner ended up gifting King Phillip to Forrest, who rode him through the end of of the war and beyond. King Phillip was known to charge anyone wearing Union blue. So painting either horse was really fun.

 

[David Spencer]

That kind of bond isn't possible with a machine. Cavalry are much nicer than tank units.

 

[Len K.]

My granddaughter and her horse Dutch. Their bond is amazing.

 

[David Spencer]

It's great to see a youngster having such a positive experience. I hope your granddaughter enjoys the hobby for a long time.
My daughter rode till she was 14, then the riding school closed and she gave it up. A pity.

 

[MalcC]

Very nice work.

Malc

 

[Blind Pew]

A super piece. Very well done, very accomplished painting.

 

[Rocco82]

Very nice!

Lovely piece!