Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Day of the Dead

"See boy, with the power over death, you do not need to force people to work for you against their will. When they're forced, they plot against you. But when they're mindless automata, they don't care!" cackled the old mad man. But his assistant took the point well, he was more comfortable around the dead anyway...



When Thomas Foss announced his Renaissance Skeleton Kickstarter, I knew I had to get some of these models. I loved that they were sculpted in the style of Holbein, Dürer and Breugel. But I wasn't entirely sure of what to use them for. But I realized their look was perfect for Dark Age of Sigmar and my Ottersricht project. These models invoke a dark and mysterious feeling and are not as over the top as the Citadel skeletons are. 

The champion (pictured from the front, above) was my favorite model from the whole batch with his flaming skull. All four of the skeletons were painted the same way, beginning with a base of Kommando Khaki, and airbrushed from progressively higher angles with lighter highlights. The armor was painted in Chainmail and washed first with Nuln Oil, Agrax Earthshade, and the AK Interactive Rust wash. I stippled chainmail back on the high points and to emulate scrapes on the sword. The brass was painted in Runelord Brass and washed with various verdigris effects.



The horn blower was painted in the colors of Ottersricht but painted to look as faded as possible. Both this and the next model had portions that looked like they still had fleshed on them, specifically around their torso. To these areas I applied some red, red-brown, and purple glazes to give the impression that skin was there and was visibly different from the bone but simultaneously keeping it faded and bleached out looking.



The clock bearer is another favorite model of mine. His hourglass slowly ticking away and symbolizing how short the lives of those around him really are. The Stitcher would love such a show of drama following him around. I've also done a little bit of light reflecting off of his back, coming from the torch bearer would who likely be taking up the rear.




Finally, a torch bearer would follow the group, shedding light to the Stitcher during his late nights.




So if you get a chance, I highly recommend picking some of these up. They are great models to paint (if a bit fine, I kept finding mold likes I had missed!) and have such great character.

12 comments:

  1. Oh, one of the best undeads I ever seen! Great work!

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  2. Magnificent work. I regret not getting in that KS when I had the chance. Are they available yet? Your paintjob here is inspiring, now I do need those!

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    1. Thomas Foss said on Facebook that they'll be available in an online shop soon. However the address he gave didn't work yet 😟

      I think there will be a second KS soon too.

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  3. Most excellent. You've done those great sculpts justice

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  4. Andrew, as Anthony said above, you really did right by those sculpts! If I had seen beautiful paint jobs like that, I think I would have been compelled to participate in that KS.

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    1. Thanks, I do recommend you pick them up, they are great models!

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  5. Nice work on these. I need to get started on mine sooner, rather than later.

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