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Ciao a tutti,


Here is my last figure, is the beautiful 54mm sculpture from Andrea Jula, commemorative piece of 2002 World Expo in Rome, the first and last one I attended.

Is also an important piece because the uniform is dated around 1861, the italian unification.

So you know, this year is 150 years celebration, AUGURI ITALIA!

For the first time ever I painted the piece out of the box, I haven't even changed the base!

Hope you like it.

Ciao

Giovanni 

Ciao a tutti,

After a while I've produced my third video tutorial, has been a really long and painful process, and I realised I've so much to learn on shooting videos and editing them, but this is only my third attempt!!!

Anyway, I've explained how to paint in acrylics one of the nightmare of us painter, the BLACK!!

Let me know what you think and as usual, let me know if you need more information.

Ciao

Giovanni

Ciao a tutti,

Again my life is keeping me away from modelling, but I promised myself to post at least once more before the end of January, so here I'm!

This time I'll show you the progress of the " Marinaio" where you can see progress on the lower part of the figures: gaiters and trouser, essentially.

Let's start from the gaiters, I've dig into my books, asked friends and search the internet (I always do it in this order...) nothing, I can't find a precise reference to the gaiters, only the original drawing I used as inspiration and one from a book I have on the Italian Marina.

I have found a picture and drawing of  gaiters of the army of the same period, and even if these are the Army and not the Navy one, I don't think were very different.

Here is the picture of the miniature witht he gaiters done, but way to tall , I had to shorten them in a second phase.


You can notice that there is another issue with the hat, which is too small compared to the pictures I've found on my books.



I've then proceed to model the trausers, I used A+B white putty, which I had for ages and I think is off now, look at the brownish colour.., then I corrected the trouser with a cutter and fine sanding paper.

I then modified the sculpture adding milliput white, that's why you can see the difference in colour in the trouser.


Also notice how short are the gaiters compared to the picture before as well as how bigger is the hat (which has just been roughly shaped to add volume..).

Well, that's it for today, I hope to write something new soon and maybe post a new video.

Ciao

Giovanni

Ciao a tutti,

Has been a long time since my last update, but I have been out and about for work and then holidays!

Well I haven't work on anything new but I had the opportunity to take pictures of some of my old work that haven't been seen before, owned by a collector.

The figures portrays the death of the colonel Frederick Gustavus Barnaby at the battle of Abu Klea.

I modelled this piece in 2002 for a great show, now gone.., in Nervi (Genova) where only few modellers where invited each time and that had every year a specific theme.

Danilo Cartacci, did painted this piece has he only can do, making it a masterpiece.

Let me know what you think.

Ciao

Giovanni

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

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

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