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And They're Off!!!


The 36 horses in question all base- and undercoated, just waiting for their oil-based glazes.  Just under 2.5 hours of time at the painting table over two days.


Tally ho!  I've actually started the Minden horses, slated to become the mounts for three squadrons of Austria's Batthyany Dragoons.  The human part of the regiment will be clothed primarily in dark blue with red distinctions.  As far as their mounts go, and in an effort to combine the two steps of base- and then undercoating, I have mixed white acrylic gesso with acrylic tan, yellow ochre, and gray paints, which were applied liberally with an old #8 round brush.  While the three grays at lower right will be given a slightly different treatment, the rest will next get the old Peter Gilder treatment, more or less, with oil-based Sepia and Burnt Umber. 

Bridles, reins, martingales, etc. will be applied next before finishing with white markings on muzzles and leg.  Then, it will be time to focus on the 36 riders.  The aim is to get 'em all done and glossed in a reasonably short amount of time, since the summer is shaping up to be much busier than anticipated (recasting formerly face-to-face courses to be offered as asynchronous online), while still turning out attractively painted figures that fit in with the rest of the Grand Duchy of Stollen collection.  Let's see how things go.

-- Stokes 

Comments

warpaintjj said…
Great start.
I never got around to trying "Gilder oil wipe" technique, maybe one day?
I'll watch you efforts with great interest.
Very best wishes Stokes,
Jeremy
Big Andy said…
That is an awful lot of Gee-Gees all at once ....
Carnoe said…
A fine looking herd that will no doubt look better and better with attention from your brush.

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