Day 12 of the self-imposed art, model and crafting challenge.

All kinds of work going on. Besides basecoating a ton of 1/72 ACW's, I've been plugging away at more wargame scatter terrain. Some river/stream and road sections. Those are made of plastic "FOR SALE" signs with acrylic caulking for the banks. The stream is painted a dark brown color with Liquitex gloss medium for the water. A modular section for  Islandlwana  mountain. Even on top of an existing hill, its way out of scale. Experimented with Fall type trees. Still not sure about those, maybe mixed with bare trees it will work or have several in a group?

Breaking out books for reference and inspiration for various subjects. Lots of time on my hands makes a mess of the "library". Having blast doing it all.

Day 11 if the self-imposed art, model and crafting challenge.

Gave this guy a faux bronze paint job. I used Vallejo acylics. I like how it turned out. The touches of green in the recesses gives it that tarnished look.

Day 10 of the self-imposed art, model and crafting challenge.

A little bit of everything of everything today. Making some river sections for the game table. More work on the Bunker Hill vignette and starting to paint Captain " Slim".

Day 9 of the self-imposed art, model and crafting challenge.

While cleaning and organizing my workspace, I took a peak inside this case of oil paints, perhaps to find motivation and inspiration. It worked. I had this small 8×10 canvas prepared several years ago, just waiting for a day like this. Roughly 3-4 hours later this is the end result. The subject is from a figure I sculpted many years ago. I basically, cropped an image I had of him and transferred to canvas.  I'm happy with it. I originally wanted a gestural painting with heavy, broad strokes, but alas, I'm a tinkerer. I play too much. Besides, I think this canvas is too small to play like that, at least it is for me. I'll settle for a alla prima. I may start on another subject while I have the paints out.

Day 8 of the self-imposed art, model , craft challenge.

Not a lot of progress today. Mostly cleaning and organizing my workspace, taking it easy. I dont want to burn out, I'm only half way through! The "plowed field" scatter terrain piece looks pretty good for the game table. The rocks I made some time ago. They're made of aluminum foil, crumpled up and lightly hammered into shape. Painted with grey mixed with Mod Podge. Hopefully, a little more active tomorrow.

Day 7 of my self-imposed modeling challenge afternoon update.

This morning's and afternoon's work. Mostly priming. Dullcoted some Zulus. Primed some Nap 28's and a couple cannon. Gave a couple coats of black primer to Captain "Slim". I noticed some bare spots that need another coat. Making a plowed field for the gaming table. I'm using a cheap vinyl floor tile for the base. A hand made comb is used to make the furrows. So far, a fulfilling hobby day.

Day 7 of self-imposed art, model and crafting challenge.

Up late again last night. Made some cardboard bases for painting minis. Cut in lengths of 5" by 3/4" wide. Hot glued five layers and wrapped with electrical tape. The tape gives a good surface for the mounting putty or fun tac. Also put together a couple movement trays for my Zulus. More posts later today. I have a feeling it will be quite productive.

Day 6 of self-imposed art, model and crafting challenge.

Working on a little bit of everything today. This morning was the "Bunker Hill" vignette, then onto finishing up my impi of "Unmarried" Zulus for, hopefully, a game with my son this weekend. Gave Captain "Slim" a liberal coat of Mod Podge to give some protection and sealing of the surface. I took Cap out to the pole barn office and sat him in front of a fan and an ancient space heater to thoroughly dry. May get a chance to prime him tomorrow.

Day 5 of a self-imposed art, model and craft challenge.

Productive day. Finished some trees for the gaming table. The figures are from Perry, these particular minis make a perfect vignette stand. Thank you to my pard Gary Dombrowski for giving them to me. Check out Gary's blog where he plans on updating his current projects. I also sculpted the boots on Captain "slim". Yeah, that figure didn't bulk up like I thought he would by adding boots. Anyway, it is a character piece and still looking forward to giving it that faux bronze paint job.

Day Four of the self-imposed art, model, crafting challenge.

Seeing light at the end of this project. A few things I've learned from this if I decide to do another of such scale. One, use heavy gauge wire for the armature! I underestimated the weight of this dude. Thankfully, I didn't start sculpting from the bottom up, the constant tilting would have cracked or snapped at the ankles. Two, compensate for shrinkage. Das clay, or any air dry clay, will shrink considerably. Three, is pretty much the same but more careful observation of proportions. I pretty much winged this one, which really didn't matter because I went into it knowing I was doing a rough sculpture. Right now it looks like something you'd buy in a tourist trinket shop, but maybe with with a good faux bronze paint job, it might pass a smell test. Anyway, I had a blast sculpting him and learned a lot. Todavia estoy aprendiendo.

Day 3 of self-imposed art, model, craft challenge.

 My son was eye balling this kit at a Hobby Lobby a couple years ago. Now, I haven't built a model car kit since I was like ten years old. The way I have to look at, a few impulse purchases never hurt anyone. It's a snap-tight kit, how hard can it be?

Day 2 of self imposed art challenge.

Worked into the late hours last night and a few this afternoon. I've gotten quite a bit done since starting this project yesterday. But, still far to go. I think I'll stop here for now, while I'm still hungry to continue, and start something else. Even though I started this piece knowing it was designed to be a quick project, I dont want to continue this losing motivation.

Day 1 of self-imposed "art" challenge.

I am using a Frederic Remington study of a Indian Wars cavalry officer as the subject. This will be more of a gestural sculpture, rough and unpolished. I'll be using Das air dry clay.