WIP WWI Major British Cavalry. Nuts Planet.

[Graham]

Well, thank goodness for Windsor & Newton water Soluble oils. Blocked in the tunics with acrylic yesterday afternoon and did a thin, what I thought was a flesh colour, coat of acrylic on the face. Later last night I started to blend in shadows and main highlights with very thin softened out layers of the W&N oils but I got the feeling they were not lightning up.

Left them to dry a bit in the airing cupboard overnight but this morning looking at them in the dull, it’s snowing in Peterborough today, daylight the faces were far too dark. So, gently with a soft toothbrush (hope my better half does not realise I used hers) I cleaned off the faces with no effect to the tunic painting.

Turns out the pot of what I thought was Vallejo flesh was in fact rust.........looked ok when I did it under the bright light but I will re do with a much lighter base coat and start again when they have fully dried.

Must try harder and buy some proper paints lol

 

[Nap]

Hi Graham

Toothbrush = dangerous ground ...at least it wasn't yours !

Rust = suntan effect .....LOL

Honest I am not laughing ....

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Graham]

Hi Graham

Toothbrush = dangerous ground ...at least it wasn't yours !

Rust = suntan effect .....LOL

Honest I am not laughing ....

Happy benchtime

Nap

More Zulu than suntan...... I bet you are not laughing......

 

[Graham]

Ok, so the drama of finding out I had cocked up on the face base layer and subsequent washing off the water soluble oils, I have now re based the faces ready for oils again in the next session. This is how they look blocked in

 

[Nap]

Hi Graham

Great recovery there , neat blocking in .....I have varied the shirt, and tie colours otherwise I feel it could be too much Kharki .....also added a Imperial Service badge on both and texture on tie

If I migh suggest I wouldn't go to far from the blue as a high ...possibly tone it down for highs when you come to it

Look forward to seeing more

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Graham]

Hi Graham

Great recovery there , neat blocking in .....I have varied the shirt, and tie colours otherwise I feel it could be too much Kharki .....also added a Imperial Service badge on both and texture on tie

If I migh suggest I wouldn't go to far from the blue as a high ...possibly tone it down for highs when you come to it

Look forward to seeing more

Happy benchtime

Nap

Thanks mate. Yes the blocking in is really the highs, I find it easier to work in the shadows than building up highlights. Currently the khaki shirt is a slightly lighter colour than the jacket, the tie and jacket are the same but these will change.

Thanks for the tips and advice, always appreciated

 

[Graham]

Is this the badge you refer to?


How on earth do you make something like this lol

 

[Nap]

Is this the badge you refer to?
View attachment 401372

How on earth do you make something like this lol

That's it ..you can see it in the film stills if you google .......get the basic shape and then paint/ hint the Details

Happy putty pushing

Nap

 

[Graham]

Faces starting to take shape, in oil

 

[Airkid]

Looking good Graham. Is that water soluble oil? Must admit not tried it yet.

Phil

 

[Graham]

Looking good Graham. Is that water soluble oil? Must admit not tried it yet.

Phil

Thanks Phil. No, this isn’t the water soluble which are very good but I don’t have the right colour for what I wanted in the water soluble.

 

[samson]

Looking good

 

[Graham]

Looking good

Thank you, plenty of time to mess it up yet

 

[Nap]

Hi Graham

That flesh is looking good , oils work well for you .....and you seem to be enjoying the painting ...we are

Look forward to more from you

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Graham]

Hi Graham

That flesh is looking good , oils work well for you .....and you seem to be enjoying the painting ...we are

Look forward to more from you

Happy benchtime

Nap

Thank you

 

[Graham]

Bit more progress. Patience is something I have learned on this project so progress is slow but, for me, all the better for it.

Started to build up the tunics now with a base coat of oils, this time W&N water soluble. Faces to be left alone now as I want the oils to set before I decide what, if anything else, to do on them.

Base coat on tunics is so thin, I hope to be able to start building the shadows more and hitting the highlights in the next session. Still a lot to learn but the second thing I have learned is that a superb cast not only makes you want to do as good as you can, it also makes it easier. Oils still very shiny in the pic.

 

[Airkid]

Looking good Graham. Agree with you, a quality sculpt brings out the best in the painter.

Phil

 

[Graham]

Looking good Graham. Agree with you, a quality sculpt brings out the best in the painter.

Phil

Thanks Phil, your comments and support are very much appreciated

 

[Nap]

Hi Graham

Coming along well now , personally I wouldn't touch the flesh on either , looks good

Thanks for sharing

Look forward to more from you

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Graham]

Hi Graham

Coming along well now , personally I wouldn't touch the flesh on either , looks good

Thanks for sharing

Look forward to more from you

Happy benchtime

Nap

Cheers Nap. Yep, I think the flesh is finished. Might darken the brow if it needs it when cap is on but I don’t think it will. Concentrating on the uniform now but a bit unsure how to deal with the silver looking sash and shoulder boards on the Capt.

Also, as a matter of interest, there are two silver darts or mini arrows on the sash. Does anyone know the significance of these? I assume they are decorative rather than practical but, as usual, I have no idea.