Feberuary 15th-May 15th, 2013 Painting Challenge Output. . .

The title of today's post says it all! The results of the recent painting challenge.

Here's a photograph of everything I've managed to accomplish in the last three months. . . wife, child, career, students, and life notwithstanding. Approximately 74 figures (if my addition is correct), some horses, musical instruments, picnic items, and artist's equipment either wrapped up, or painted from start to finish, in some cases some scratch-building and/or figure conversion, everything glossed, and scenic effects applied to the bases. A delightful mix of figures by Minden Miniatures, Jackdaw, Eureka, and RSM95 along with a few more by Fife & Drum Miniatures, Miniature Figurines, Spencer Smith, and two or three extra pieces of picnic paraphernalia by Foundry on the lower left-hand corner of the plastic tub shown above.

Among theses are some civilian vignettes as well as those with a more military theme. Each vignette is quite a bit different from its fellows. A refreshing and fun painting challenge all around. This is perhaps the biggest reason why I enjoy the hobby so much. It always provides an artistic outlet of some sort and a chance to practice, refresh, experiment with, and/or refine painting and modelling skills.

Of course, a number of other similar small tableaus wait in the wings here in Zum Stollenkeller in another large plastic storage tub -- 25 figures on foot and mounted plus 19 horses -- but I won't get to those until July. Once May Term is over, the Grand Duchess has another conference for a few days, and then we pack for an almost three week vacation in Mexico, where the three of us will visit my mother in Merida and spend several days at the beach just outside of Progresso on the Yucatecan coast where she has rented a fantastic beach house for the four of us.

In the meantime, I plan to put up my painting feet for a little while and get to some other pressing work, including an article that needs writing and a Norwegian-English translation that needs, well, translating. Coincidentally, today, May 17th, is Norway's National Day. God Nasjonaldag alle!/Happy Independence Day everyone!

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!

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

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 her

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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