A Thorough Washing. . .

Back in the painting saddle this evening after an amazing, yet very tiring, ski trip up north during the weekend just ended. Tonight's painting session was all about giving this company of Croats a good washing. The washes really helped define the basic larger areas of the figures, tone down the initial colors just a bit, and add some richness to those same browns, blues, reds, and yellows.

Various Army Painter products were used including Strong Tone, Mid-Brown, Blue, and Red washes. The figures are still wet in this photo, but I missed the officer's dolman, plus discovered the underside of a left arm still in need of its basic Mahogany Brown (Grrr. . .). Will have to attend to those first thing tomorrow evening.

But, they don't look half bad at this point. I'm even toying with the idea of not going back to highlight raised areas with the original colors as initially planned and just leave them as is. I kind of like their muted, slightly rough, yet still colorful appearance. It seems entirely fitting for Croats. What do you think?

Wednesday evening, I'll take a stab at the mustaches and hair queues. Still lots to do if that step goes well, but it's getting late and time to join the Grand Duchess for our nightly yoga and meditation, which really help the two of us relax when cross-country skiing is not an option.

Speaking of which, I'm heading back up north on Friday morning for another 2.5-day jaunt at Forbush Corner Nordic Ski Center outside of Frederic, Michigan. Lot's of things finally falling into place technique-wise, with some solid feedback from the two coaches I've worked with the last three years. As I quipped to my sister the other day in a text, "And it's only taken 25 years of practice!"

I am clinging to winter as long as possible, you understand, to practice on the 45km of groomed trails and solidify various skills before the long off-season interrupts routine skiing once again. Sigh. I'd be out on the snow six months of the year if I could. As the saying goes, think snow and embrace the winter.

-- Stokes

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!

Keepin' an Eye on the World Going By My Window . .

'The Nap at the Palace' by Jose Triado Mayol N ot much in the way of hobby-related activity happening here in the Grand Duchy lately. Sigh. And no surprise there really since there are only so many hours in the day, only so much mental and physical energy to spare, and you sometimes simply just have to give in and know when to say, um, "When!" A glass of wine and/or evening yoga by the hearth with the Grand Duchess (who has practiced for over 20 years), and then off into la-la land. Zzzzzzzzz. More immediately, I'm recovering, mentally speaking, from a grueling Friday in which I was involved with three (online) conference sessions, one right after the other, followed by a 90-minute meeting at the end of the day. Also virtual. My brain has been mush ever since, so an easy, completely unproductive Saturday watching intermittent snow fall outside (no accumulation however) and drinking coffee while the visiting handymen completed some repair work down h...

And It's the End of September!!!

Saxony's Ploetz Cuirassiers, an illustration lifted from the Kronoskaf website, which has thus far guided my spectacularly glacial painting of 30 28mm Eureka Saxon cuirassiers purchased all the way back in October 2016. A gray, cool Saturday here in Mid-Michigan with rain in the forecast. The Grand Duchess is away at a conference, so it's just "The Boys" here at home. The Young Master (almost 15) has retreated to his room for something or other following breakfast while I have stolen back down here to Zum Stollenkeller (masquerading as my office) with a second mug of coffee and both cats comfortably ensconced nearby. Enjoying the late morning and still in my pajamas! Not much planned for today beyond designing a couple of promotional flyers for workshops my department is presenting (small parties we will throw?) in October and November. With maybe a bit of on the next podcast script. More important, I am toying with the idea of returning for an hour or...

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

Search This Blog