Under the Sea

We shall swim out to that brooding reef in the sea and dive down through black abysses to Cyclopean and many-columned Y'ha-nthlei, and in that lair of the Deep Ones we shall dwell amidst wonder and glory for ever.
H. P. Lovecraft

Under the sea, under the sea
Darlin’ it’s better
Down where it’s wetter,
Take it from me
Howard Ashman

Before Zomtober 2014 shuffles off into the night, there's time for one final post. The mermaid is done and pictured above with the rest of this year's crop. Only four of 'em to be sure, but for me that's a major accomplishment.

I thoroughly enjoyed the event and would like to thank this year's organizer, Simon Quinton from Brummie's Wargaming Blog, for his efforts in making it a success. Well done, Brummie.
 

Returning to the minis, I'm pleased at how the colors used tie the four together as a group. Thematically, I was working more of the "evil cult" angle as opposed to your classic "zombie apocalypse". As such, I view the poor unfortunates in chains as unwilling sacrifices to some sort of Dagonesque entity whereas the mermaid is a willing recipient of her god's dark blessing.

I have other minis languishing on the lead pile that would work well with the "sea-horror" theme. Perhaps I should have my head examined but I feel another project coming on.

All that remains for the moment however are a a few more pics.

A very merry Zomtober to all and to all a good night

The Dog Ate My Homework

Zomtober 2014 got the better of me I fear, resulting in the delay of this month's Helping Hand Challenge contribution. The completion of both October and November's minis is now a priority.

Zomtober 2014, Week 4

Is it Sunday night already? Drat!

My week four submission (Reaper's Aerakallis, Vampire Mermaid) is progressing nicely but won't be done by midnight I fear. It has reached a good point to share a work-in-progress picture though.

The two minis pictured above use James Wappel's shaded basecoat method. The mermaid has the base colors blocked in and highlighted. What remains to be done is the application of glazes (i.e. carefully targeted washes) to establish the shadows followed by touch-ups and a few details.

The finished zombie on the left shows how glazes really make the highlights pop. Get the shadows sufficiently dark and the highlights look nice and bright by comparison. Painting the negative spaces, as Wappel puts it.

As long as I'm dropping names, the base uses Delaney King's tinted greyscale method as its foundation. For bases, I find it produces great results and, unlike most things involving me and paint, it does so quickly.

I shall endeavor to finish her up, take some pictures of her individually and with the group, and put together a Zomtober wrap-up post by week's end.

The Rotting Sea

About, about, in reel and rout  

The death-fires danced at night;

The water, like a witch's oils,

Burnt green, and blue and white.

I looked upon the rotting sea,

And drew my eyes away;

I looked upon the rotting deck,

And there the dead men lay. 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

As promised, better pictures of this week's Zomtober miniature:

Some WIPs:

The attachment for the anchor-blade was replaced with part of a paperclip.

More fun with green stuff.

Next up: the leader of this aquatic ensemble.

Zomtober 2014, Week 3

Time got away from me this week, I'm afraid. That said, my week three submission is done save for a coat of matte varnish. Happily, the miniature looks better in real life than in the lousy picture above. A proper post with proper pictures to follow shortly.

In the Sepulchre there by the Sea

And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
Edgar Allan Poe 

Zomtober rolls on with the second of Wyrd's aquatic zombies painted in similar colors to last week's contestant. Putting a greenish-blue dress on a blueish-green zombie initially seemed dicey but in the end things pulled together nicely I think. 

Paints/washes used on the skin

 
The sea-creatures-on-the-base theme continues with my tribute to two of the more terrifying figures in today's popular culture.
 

Gary looks on, transfixed in horror.

 
I was trying to set a mood when I started this thing. Guess that's shot to hell. 

Some more pictures and I'll be on my way:

 

 

 

When the Sea Shall Give up her Dead

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
Revelation 20:13

The first Sunday of Zomtober has arrived and it's time to roll out my first mini. I've gone with a maritime theme this year... three Wyrd aquatic zombies and a "boss" character are queued up. The first to receive paint is the bloated fellow shown here.

There's lots of rusted metal to be painted on the Wyrd minis. Hopefully the sea-green fleshtone (aside from being apropos) contrasts well with it. 

 
The front of the mini is sculpted with repeated ridges and furrows over the entirety of the face, torso, and pants. This didn't leave much room for transitions between highlights, midtones, and shadows in some cases. The back of the mini was considerably less busy and yielded better results with less work.

I sculpted some sea-life on the bases of all the minis. This should provide the chance to add some splashes of color (albeit in washed-out, undead appropriate shades).