Skip to main content

Pontonier Painting Progress Update #2. . .

Here is where things stand this late Sunday morning.

You know, it's funny.  Sometimes it seems almost like figures paint themselves, and that has been the case so far with these Minden pontoniers.  Painting is, most of the time these days, a real chore, especially since free time is such a rare commodity.  However, the ol' brush and painting hand have been fleet of foot this weekend.  Yes!

The next step later this evening after a preschool Christmas presentation, in which the Young Master is singing (hopefully), will involve damp-brushing white on various shins, calves, shirtsleeves, and the exposed chests and tummies of those figures who have unbuttoned vests/waistcoats.  Then, it's onto the boards and oars as well as various smaller details like hair, stocks, buttons, and shoe buckles.

 The uniform depicted is imaginary, but my painting has been informed by various Kronoskaf illustrations of Hanoverian artillery and engineers as well as Bavarian artillery.  

For those who might be interested, oil colors used thus far include: Fleshtone, Ivory Black, and London Yellow (Winsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd Fast Drying Oil Colors) and an ancient tube of Grumbacher Manganese Blue that once belonged to dear ol' Mom, along with healthy doses of Liquin Original to thin small blobs of these colors down quite a bit and help then flow nicely over figure surfaces.  Bases have been painted with two thin coats of Citadel Goblin Green (when it was still labeled as Goblin Green).

 -- Stokes


And here is today's seasonal illustration, from Sweden this time, depicting 'Tomten' delivering gifts and goodies to (presumably) good little Swedish boys and girls.  I wonder if there are any Holger Eriksson figures in his sack?  The letter J is for 'julgran,' the Swedish word for Christmas tree.  The Norwgians are more straightforward -- some might say characteristically blunt -- and use the more obvious 'juletre.'


Comments

Scheck said…
Stokes, the same situation with us - kids, wives, work - spare time to paint... and the Xmas stress all around.
The pontoniers look great, already in this status.
Go on - you have a creative hand for interesting uniform compositions!
All the best, Peter
1:37 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Here's an RSM Painting Update

Here's a picture illustrating my (S-L-O-W) progress with the second company of Stollen's Leib (Grand Duchess Sonja's Own) Grenadiers. You can see I'm doing things a bit differently this time, altering the painting process to keep it interesting basically. This evening, I'll do the white gaiters and, if that goes reasonably quickly, and time allows, the red breeches. Still lots to do, but I like the way these fine fellows are shaping up along side the completed 1st company that's standing in formation just off camera, to the left here. Until tonight then!
3 comments
Read more

Presenting the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere!!!

Here they are, with the rearmost nine figures still drying, three squadrons of the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere, now in the service of the Grand Duchy of Stollen. And now, it's onto that artillery!
14 comments
Read more

Having a "No Day". . .

  F or the almost 20 years that she lived in Mexico, one of my late mother's Irish friends frequently mentioned having a "No Day."  A day with no social obligations, chores, tasks, or other work that interfered with whatever personal interests took one's fancy on the day in question. Since today -- a gray and chilly Saturday -- is Mom's birthday, the Grand Duchess is out with friends, and the Young Master is ensconced on the sofa in the TV room with a cold, yours truly is taking his own such No Day.  I think Mom would approve of my decision to make the world go away, as the old Eddie Arnold song intoned, even if only for a little while. So, I will spend Saturday afternoon focused on that first squadron and small regimental staff of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers.  These have stood waiting  untouched over on the painting table for almost three weeks while we skied and otherwise gadded about with snowy, winter outdoor activities. I hope to share a painting update Sunday a
3 comments
Read more