Completed Young Aztec bust done!

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Sambaman

A Fixture
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
5,331
Location
Tazewell, TN
OK, so after a quite a long time, I've finally fnished this piece. Young's Aztec Warrior bust. Basically box stock. I didn't use the weapon I scratch built earlier. Thought it was a bit wonky, and besides, this helmet needs to be the focal point!

The photos are a work in progess so sorry. They are a bit flat for my tastes. The flesh tones are a much deeper native redish tone in person.

I added only one face paint stripe after getting some valuable info from fellow Planeteers on tattoos and face/body paint. I made the stripe go across his eyes, mainly as an artistic decision to bring out the eyes more under the helmet (they're lost a tad under there!).

I made the beads on the necklace in jade, as well as the piercing on his chin. I also made the embelishments on the feather tube-holder thingys jade as well. I used a coat of Future floor wax on those items when done to give them a natural bit of shine. I tried to make the tubes holding the feathers (top of the helmet) look like bone. Not sure whether that is what they were, but since they are likely hollow and bone would be a natural material for that application, viola, bone-like tuby things!

Fit and finish are typical Young quality. All painted in oils as per usual. I did not dull-coat the feathers so they maintain a slight sheen to look a tad more real. Although it is not evident, I actually blended some pearlescent powders in with the blue-green paints used on the big feathers (Pearl Ex Pigments I found at the local art supply store, I used "Micropearl"). I'll have to experiment with that stuff more later. I need to tweek my mixtures a bit more.

This was a fun piece to paint to be certain! Loved all the color opportunities it offered. Thanks for looking, please feel free to comment, good or bad. I was going to keep my statement brief this time, so much for tryin' LOL! ;):D

Jay H.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I re-sculpted the upper lip on this guy as well. I didn't like the somewhat open mouth that Young did, so I sculpted it closed.
 

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Jay, that's so cool mate. The red paint band across the eyes is inspired thinking. Looks authentic and servesyour artistic needs as well. Great job and lets hear more about those pearlescent pigments.
 
Jay,
Your bust looks great.
Actually the skin color in your photos is just about spot on, these indians skin color was not really red in color but leaned more to the color brown or beige-brown.
As far as the jade goes that was an excellent choice for his accouterments.
Jade was connected to their worship of their god of rain and fertility Tlaloc.
It was even more valuable than gold to them so naturally used it in many decorations.
And as far as the feathers go a lot of the feathers they used had a natural iridescent look to them of course depending on the type of bird it was.
Its just nice to see a bust like this painted to such high standards along with historical accuracy.
Gilbert
 
Joe, Carl, Tony, Gilbert, many thanks for the kind words Gents!

Carl, no tattoos. After some very valuable info forwarded to me from Augie R. in the form of an article specifically about Aztec body art, I decided to go without tattoos!

Tony, as I experiment more with those pigments I'll see if I can't put a little info together for ya. They also have several other colors, old coppers and brass, golds and old golds, silvers etc. I also bought a copper pigment to see if it would work. The best way to describe them is like printers inks, in a very fine powder form (not clumped together like printres inks). They can be mixed with any viscous medium. I think with some experimentation they could be quite handy!

Gilbert, glad you like him and glad I got my details right. I spent some time looking and reading for this one and specific info for this helmet and some of the details were a bit scetchy, but it was a very fun project to paint and learn about!

Jay H.
 
Hi Jay
Really good job with some good work both in skin color and the colors of the head and wings.
I agree that there should be a tattoo, but maybe what brightly colored in green or yellow on the wings of others gave picture, however, so it is very good!

Amicably

Alexandros
 
Alexandros, Rodrigo, Jim, Dimitrios, Guy, thank you all for the kind words.

Alexandros, I agree completely, this bust is a canvas for tattoos, I have to admit, I was VERY close to adding some! But after I found out that Aztecs didn't practice tattooing, I ered on the side of "less is more".

Jay H.
 
Jay,

Excellent result!
I like the stripe over the eyes very much; you're right that this brings out the eyes!
Too bad about that scratch-built weapon, but if it doesn't look right, it just isn't right!

Cheers,
Adrian
 
nice work Jay. I am glad to see you haven't totally quit painting the figs. The helmet is my favorite part of this guy but the rest is awesome too.
 

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