Acrylics Vice Admiral Nelson.

[keith_christie]

Good Evening,

For my first project here on Planet Figure, I would like to present the Hawk miniatures 1/12 scale resin figure of Horatio Nelson, sculpted by David Grieve.

My first two Figures were painted in a rather muted style, for this project I wish to try and adopt a higher contrast method of working which seems to be the preferred method here on the Planet and on the competition tables.

Here are some images of my progress so far



Any hint's, tip's, comments or criticisms would be greatly appreciated to help me progress this.

Best Regards

Keith

 

[e-junkie]

Hello Keith; I would be very happy if I had painted this head... I must say it perfectly fits my taste. The front view is stunning, I wouldn't change anything from this angle. The only thing I would rework (but that's my taste) would be the highlights below the eyes socket that I would blend a bit with the top of both cheeks to get a smoother profile view; it wouldn't kill the contrast at all but make it appear even more natural.

Anyway I think you did great with this face; looking forward to seing how the uniform will come out.

Cheers
e-j

 

[Barke02]

Hi Keith,
Looking very nice indeed!

I had the privilege of watching David work on the sculpting of this figure in his studio : The man's a genius!

He did an incredible amount of research for this bust and the full figure, it helps that most of Nelson's uniform that he wore on that fateful day still exists.

I don't think he wore cling film though........that's just darn right kinky!

Cheers,
Jon.

 

[housecarl]

Looks a very good start Keith, hope to see a lot more of your works.
Carl.

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Keith,

Having already commented on this excellent figure on another thread, please allow me to say a few words about your ambition to develop a high contrast painting style favoured by many here on Pf and on competition tables.

There has been a debate now for many years between those modelers who favour and embrace the high contrast (and artistic) style of painting, and those who favour a more muted or lower contrast (and perhaps more realistic) style of painting. It is a debate without end, and will never be resolved because there is no right or wrong style. They are two sides of the same coin and eveyone is entitled to support the style they prefer.

The bottom line is that both styles are equally valid, equally attractive to the eye when well executed and the only true measure of the painters' art is how well they can develop their own fusion of styles and techniques to make their own distinctive and unique style.

Some judges at competitions seem now to favour the high contrast style of painting, but this is a reflection of the current fashion for high contrast painting styles. Like a pendulum, this style will go out of fashion one day and we will move towards a different fashion style. I believe this is already starting to happen.

The point I'm trying to make here Keith is that you should try to develop your own style of painting, one that you like and you feel reflects your sensibilities and your artists' eye, not merely follow the fashion of the day, or try to win the eye of fickle competition judges.

Good painting is good painting, whether it is high or low contrast and judging from what you've shown us so far, you are more than capable of taking the best of all styles and blending them together to develop your own unique style of painting.

 

[keith_christie]

Good afternoon,

Thank you all for looking in on this.

Florent, Thank you for your kind comments, I will be blending the cheek bone highlights to give a smoother transition. I am also keen to see how the uniform will progress.

Jon, Thank you for looking in and taking the time to comment, you are certainly correct David certainly is a genius. This is the full figure and is packed with detail, I only hope I will be able to do it justice.

Carl, Thank you, hopefully by posting my work here I'll be able to improve my abilities.

Tony, Thanks for your very kind comments, after reading your post I feel you are correct, and that I need to develop my own style from what is available to me rather than try and "copy" other styles.
After reading my first two posts and then thinking about it, what I meant to say was that I need to add more contrast into my painting style as the first two figures seem to be very flat to me and with out definition.
Hope fully I can improve on this as I progress.

Thanks again to everyone.

Best regards

Keith

 

[keith_christie]

Good evening,

I have now blended the facial tones and made a start on the shirt collar and stock.
I have also blocked in the blue and gold colours for the collar of the tunic to get an idea of the overall colouring.

Here are some images of the progress.




I would be very appreciative of any criticism or comments to help me improve this where possible.

Best Regards

Keith

 

[John Bowery]

Keith,
Really nice looking so far.
Cheers
John

 

[megroot]

Looking really good so far.

Marc

 

[Einion]

Keith, as a general thing I would recommend you paint for yourself, not along with any prevailing trend.

That aside the face looks a little pasty in the first set of pics but better in the second set so it could just be the photos. On the skin, I would add a touch of redness to the nose area and the cheeks too, plus a touch of added gloss (on the nose in particular).

With eyes of this size it's often tempting to do the irises a little small but you didn't fall into that trap I would dull down the blue though, as well as darken the upper third. If you're not painting a catchlight I would apply a gloss coat as the final step (taking care not to get any onto the lower lid as this can make it appear the subject is crying).

BTW, in case it's not obvious his eyebrows should be dark.

I would personally make the shadows less pronounced on this bust, partly because that's the way I generally paint but also due to the deeply-sculpted forms and the scale (larger stuff needs less shading to 'work' visually).

Einion

 

[Hawk_Uk]

Hi Keith,

Nice start to this figure and I will look forward to seeing it progress.

One comment on the eyes is that Nelson had lost the sight in his right eye during the siege of Calvi on Corsica in 1794. Although most people barely noticed any outward sign of this, some said the eye had a pale milky film over it.

I have attached some photos of the bust which might help with all those medals.

Enjoy painting the rest of the figure.

 

[Einion]

Thought this might help Keith, it should be closest to the colours in the original painting of all the images available online:

Einion

 

[keith_christie]

Good Evening Gentlemen,

John, Marc, Thank you for the kind comments.

John, Thanks for looking in on this and posting the extra information and the pictures of the bust. they will be helpful when I come to do the medallions etc.

Einion, Thank you very much for the honest criticism and points for me to tidy up on and also for the Image of the original oil painting. this will be very useful for me whilst I finish off the painting of this figure.
I think in the first set of pictures, the face was a little pasty, but I tried adding some different colours and some blending to try and remedy that in the second set. I also think that your idea of adding some red and some gloss to the nose and cheeks would also help a lot. can you recommend the best way for me to do this?
Can you also recommend a way to darken the upper third of the eyes also please as this technique is new to me?
I will darken the eye brows now also, after seeing the portrait this is quite a prominent feature.
Thank you again for all of your help.

Best regards

Keith

 

[e-junkie]

Hello Keith; with the blending you did I find this face looks great. Once again this is a matter of taste, but globaly I wouldn't change it anymore now except little details like the milky film on the eyes, etc.

I think your painting respects what seems to be the sculpting intend, and even reinforce the strict appearence of this face. Moreover the high contrast you applied makes it looks like it is lighted by a candle or something like this; nice effect.

To me if you paint the uniform in the same fashion this can make a great result at the end of the day.

Cheers
e-j

 

[Einion]

Welcome Keith, glad to try to help.

I also think that your idea of adding some red and some gloss to the nose and cheeks would also help a lot. can you recommend the best way for me to do this?

For the ruddy colour this can be done with thin glazes of straight red/crimson but it's easy to go a little too far so I think the best way is to mix something like the finished colour (base flesh mix plus a dot of red) then glaze this on in thin layers.

For the gloss, I use heavily thinned acrylic medium or varnish; the medium I usually use to add a slight sheen has a satin finish but if all you have is a gloss varnish that can work fine too. If you only have a gloss varnish don't be afraid to dilute it way down, apply a coat and speed-dry it with a hairdryer, check the finish and apply one or more coats if needed - easier to add another layer than come back from too shiny!

Can you also recommend a way to darken the upper third of the eyes also please as this technique is new to me?

No particular technique here, just paint a darker colour onto the upper portion of the iris. This would be in shadow anyway from the shape of the iris - irises are shadowed on the side toward the light, lighter on the opposite side - but there's a heavy lid above it to cast a shadow there as well (onto the white of the eye too).

Seeing it done graphically might help in showing the basic way this looks:

The blue should be toned down a bit since few people have eyes as blue as a young Paul Newman but it would appear his irises were more grey than blue anyway. This is trickier now you've done the irises (and they're perfectly centred too) so just go with whatever you're comfortable with.

Einion

 

[keith_christie]

Good evening Gentlemen,

Florent, Thank you once again for looking in on this and for your generous comments. I agree with you and I think that the overall colouring and blending of the face is now almost complete. I just want to try and improve it further by trying the points that Einion has raised.

Einion, Thank you for taking the time to explain these points to me. It is very much appreciated. The graphic explanation of the eye detailing was very useful indeed. I will now practice the recommendations you have made on my "practice" head, before adding them to this piece.

Thank you all once again.

 

[keith_christie]

Good Afternoon Gentlemen,

Whilst I have been practicing the Techniques Einion, has outlined for me for the face, I have also progressed the figure by making a start on the coat, guilt work and blocking in the sashes and waist coat.



The painting instructions included with the figure outline the colouring for the Order of St Ferdinand sash to be pale blue green with a white edging.

On the National Maritime Museum website I found an image of the sash this is described as being dark blue with a red border (here is the image I will post it for discussion purposes only. if there are any problems then please remove it)



Here is a link to the image on the NMM website

Can any one throw any light on this subject? I'm inclined to go with the findings of the museum and not the painting instructions.

As always all criticisms and comments are greatly appreciated.

 

[housecarl]

Keith on wiki it does say that it is blue edged in red, but it also shows it blue with white. http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...ERITO&hl=en&rlz=1B3GGLL_en-GB___GB358&prmd=iv
I think it must be due to there being two classes of award.
Carl.

 

[winston]

I like too much your work paint Keith!!! Bravo!!!

 

[keith_christie]

Good Evening Gentlemen,

Carl, Thanks for looking in and posting the link to wikipedia. I saw the text relating to the different levels of the award and listing the colour as blue and red, but I did not see any mention of blue and white? did you mean the photo, If so I think this is just showing the sash with it's original faded blue and red silk? what do you think?

Phillipe, Thanks for looking in and for your kind comments.