|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Also on the internet there are a multitude of web sites dedicated to JRR Tolkien stories and to the cinematographic trilogy, with many hundreds of photographs that
can be found, including designs and inspiring pictures from great artistic designers like Alan Lee, John Howe and Ted Nasmith. (See my links to some of these sites on this page)
20 February - the job continues...
Next I moved to the Oils (for this figure all colours oils used are Windsor & Newton) :
After a short period of inactivity,
I am happily returning to my figures, paint-brushes and paints.
My inspiration comes from the book and the images of the
"Lord of the Rings" films - "The Fellowship of the Ring" (seen last year) and
- "The Two Towers" -(On screen in cinemas now).
You'll find links to these on this page dedicated to Tolkien subjects.
All my passion for the fantasy world is returning, carrying me away and making me think about Orcs, Winged beasts,
warriors dwarves and other creatures. Some of these I want to recreate in miniature.
I have decided to begin with a simple one, an orc in the service of the evil wizard - "Saruman the white".
For my reference documentation, although it is fantasy, it is still possible to use the photographs from the films and in the many books published in recent months.
Now my conversion:
I have used the lower torso and legs of two small figures. The head has been modified by removing the hat and then using superfine white Milliput to add the ears,
increase the eyes and the mouth.
In the mouth I inserted new teeth and modified the nose, to give the characteristic UGLY look.
I have also created "pieces of armor" and applied these over a type of long smock. On the toes and fingers I've added large nails. The shield was partly covered with milliput and worked with a small brush in order to render a
rough skin effect, while the two parts of the strap are held with three large elegant rings - for what reason I'm not sure, but after all the orcs do seem to like to have these
sorts of things. The arms are derived from others kit parts and suitably modified.
I have still not decided how I will display him, either as a single figure or as part of a diorama or vignette. I'll wait until I see the final painted result and then decide.
After spraying two light coats of Primer Gray , our Orc is ready for painting.
I have begun painting the undercoats with Humbrol enamels, to give me a sense of the final colouring: for the body I used Dark Orange (100), whilst for the clothing two greens (30 and 111)
and for the equipment - Gun Metal.
First the flesh, for this I experimented several times using Garanza Tawny (a dark brown colour).
It's transparency helps to take advantage of the undercoat color "coming through" and in some areas I removed all of it, to reveal the orange base coat.
The result is an uneven colouring
that leaves the body of the orc with an mottled skin pattern. For shadows I added green black with blisters and for the highlights a variety of Dark and Light Cadmium Yellows,
with white added for the extreme highlights. Both the eyes and teeth also have this yellowish tinge.
As for the metal armour, over the Gun Metal base coat, I mixed a dark brownish metallic colour - a tawny Pewter mixture + Garanza + Dark Cadmium Yellow.
Then weathering to achieve a darkened rust
effect: Black bronze + Bronze + Dark Cadmium Yellow + Orange.
The upper garments have been painted with brown tones, pants with green tones and the straps to depict leather. All have been heavily weathered and soiled.
The shield was first painted with a base
of dark brown enamel, then a blend of brown and green oils. I added the design of the white hand then further weathering washes, getting lighter with each application.
The painting of the metal of the equipment
used the same technique as the armor.
