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Marinaio in Uniforme da Sbarco 1873 - the beginning

Posted by Giovanni on venerdì 10 dicembre 2010 , under , , , , | commenti (0)



Ciao a tutti,

I'm back with a small update, after a long weekend skiing!!

5 days of pure fun and good company!

Enough of me now, let's talk about my new effort, the Sailor I've decided to sculpt from scratch.

I've used resin casts of shoes, chest and pelvis I sculpted long time ago to to shape the basic anatomy and set the pose.




Also you may notice the head "impaled" on a copper wire, made of milliput white on top of a rough  magic sculpt skull I did.

The pose is the done, I have also completed a good 75% of the head as well, need to finish the hairs, nose and clean up the neck and other minute items.

The hat is at a really early stage.







The figure will hold a rifle which I'm in the process of sculpting just now (what a pain!!!!).

Let me know what you think and if I should make this a one off or cast it!

Ciao

Giovanni


The perfect technique? The perfect medium?

Posted by Giovanni on mercoledì 1 dicembre 2010 , under , , , , | commenti (2)



Ciao a tutti,

I can't recall how many times I've read or been asked about the best technique, the best medium to paint or the perfect colour mix.

Well the answer is simple, there is no perfect technique, neither the perfect medium or the right colours mix.

Painting historical miniatures is all about own taste and own abilities.

Look at the miniature I'm painting at the moment, loof at his face and compare to the one that has been painted by Maurizio Di Matteo (aka Mao) and, last but not least, the one from Ernesto Reyes.

All different version, all really well painted (clearly I'm talking about Mao and Ernesto ones..) but different styles, different mediums, different colour mix. You may like one more than the other, but again is your sensibility and taste.

I found all of them fascinating and really well done, I will surely pick up some tricks and effects from them, but I will never be able to paint like them.

I do prefer oils for leathers and flesh tones, because have a satin finish and are easier to blend, while for fabrics I prefer acrylics because of the opaque finish, Ernesto and Mao may prefer acrylics or enamels, doesn't matter!

So which is the perfect way? again, there is no perfect or right way, find your own way! experiment, paint, ENJOY!

Ciao

Giovanni














Great start!!

Posted by Giovanni on lunedì 22 novembre 2010 , under , , , | commenti (0)



Ciao a tutti,

This post is not for me or any of my works, is for my very first pupil and sweethart.

She always look at me when I work on my figures and make comments on my pieces, she's also a great photographer of minis as well!

A couple of days ago, she asked me if I can teach her how to paint a figure, after looking at the video tutorial I made.

I'm so proud to show you the outcome of her very first miniature, so far she has painted the face, but I think she's incredibly talented, the figure is not an easy one as well!


Let me know what you think!


Ciao

Giovanni







oldies but goldies volume 1

Posted by Giovanni on giovedì 18 novembre 2010 , under , , , , , , | commenti (0)



Hi all,

I'm extremely busy with work lately, modelling has been quite slow..

I've dig in my old computer and found few pics of previous figures I've modelled, which have been painted by great artists.

This first lot is the English civil war display who won the BoS in St.Vincent in 2001painted by the mighty Danilo Cartacci, one of the greatest model painter and, more important, person I know.

Let me know what you think.

Ciao

Giovanni
















Dubat completed

Posted by Giovanni on giovedì 11 novembre 2010 , under , , , , , , , | commenti (0)



Ciao a tutti,



I've completed this Dubat figure from La Meridiana, a really nice figure to paint if you are lucky with the casting!



I decided to add the rifle strap, and I could have added the "billao" the typical Somalian small dagger these warriors use to wear.



I've attached at the end a picture of the Billao and a photo from the period.



Also, so you know if you want to paint it, these warriors used to wear different pattern for their futa (the long skirt) sometimes checks, stripes or even tartan patterns, what was always white was the turban, again check the photos at the end of the table.



Keep in mind that after 1935 the "futa" became khaki and not white anymore.



Hope this help; let me know what you think!



Ciao



Giovanni