dks Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Here is a figure that I finally finished yesterday, more than two years after I called it "done for now" and couldn't decide what freehand to paint on the tunic or cloak. (The "done for now" version won Best in Show at KublaCon that year.) A year ago, I touched up the eyes and added the freehand borders to the tunic. Yesterday, I spent the evening reworking the face and hair, punching up several other highlights, and finally adding some simple wavy-leafy freehand on the cloak. (The freehand relates to the forms of her cloak pins and the tunic border.) I sculpted this figure, too. Shaelin was one of my characters in the RPGA's Living Greyhawk campaign (3rd edition D&D) for six years: a woodsy sort of bard, dabbling as a ranger and druid. The peregrine falcon is her familiar. The rune-covered black longsword and the blue ring are magic items from her adventures. She holds a "tater-bug"-backed soprano mandolin, just the right size to be cradled in one arm. I sculpted the left arm as bare and exposed so I could paint tattoos. I also kept the tunic and cloak fairly simple, so painters could add freehand without a lot of folds. Perhaps if I had made them more intricate, I wouldn't have been paralyzed over the freehand! Anyway, now that 4th edition D&D has rules for bards, I hope people will rediscover this figure, and come up with their own stories about the bird, the sword, and so on. Comments or questions, fire away. I could go on and on -- you know gamers and their characters. Derek 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimL Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 WOW! What an amazing sculpt and work of art painting it. The way the base pulls all the colors in is great as well. The freehand is awesome, the runes on the sword are my favorite by far. Fantastic work. Well deserved award. Truly remarkable piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versutus Vulpes Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 My word... That is a really nice piece... Nothing I can say will truly do it justice - so I'll just have to vote with my dollars so-to-speak and pick one or two of these up. And thanks for the side by side btw - really cool to see the tweaks and changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliekickflip Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Derek, you are amazing and I want to have your love child!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beowulfthehunter Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 pardon me while I burn my brushes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 da*n here we go again just as I feel good about my progress. NOW let me get this straight, you won an award with the original, and you still couldn't leave it alone, you had to go and crush my spirits on top of it? Derek she is super I love her , similar to Beowulf that snapping you hear are my brushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerebro1974 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Simply amazing, what a difference it was from the done for now to the done. WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruggs Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 very nice:) I love the stories you share about all the figures you paint. Thanks and Beautiful work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaGeek Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Oh, wow, Derek! She looks fantastic! You are an incredible artist, and we're so lucky to have you working for Reaper. Thank you for sharing, and for continuing to produce such lovely work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whizard Hlavaz Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Derek -- As Mamageek said: we are so very fortunate to have you here. You continue to inspire again and again. She is absolutely gorgeous. An amazing figure. And then there's your paint. So detailed. So natural. Well... you know all that. Suffice it to say I think she's super. You absolutely remain one of my most admired artists. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilwarin Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Simply stunning work.. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Lurker Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Really really nice Derek. One thing I love about your style is how even with softness of you palletes they still come out crisp and distinct. The blue on the cloak is just enough. If you had done the whole thing in that blue it might have been overpowering to the rest of the muted tones. And needless to say I love the freehand, especially on the blade and her arm. Did you bring up the hihglights on her skin too? I know you said you reworked the face in general, but in the after shots she seems to have a slight sheen of perspiration on her brow, cheekbones and bicep. It looks very realistic! How on earth do you bring the highlights up that far without going chalky and still keep them so tight? Beautimus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshuaslater Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 My favorite part of your post is the description of the character herself. I wish more sculptors would share stuff like this from time to time. You are fortunate to be able to sculpt your own characters in greenstuff and have them cast!! I always work backwards. I find the model, convert it to my tastes, paint it, and then create the roleplaying character around it. I can't imagine going back to creating the character first and then looking for the right model. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warlady Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Waaah! I want to be able to paint like you do! What a *gorgeous* job - I especially love the way the swirly design of the tattoos and the freehand reinforce each other. Seeing your painted version has totally made me change my mind about this sculpt. I now have to go out and get her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awong Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Really beautiful! I'm always impressed by your work. Love the fold back cloak and how you worked the colors on that! -AW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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