Spacemarine GW and Alyx Hasslefree - Make love not war

[vhaidra]

Because I have finaly off a couple of days,  I`ll take the chance to upload one wip project more. But that`s enough for the moment.

 

This will gonna be a diorama in the end and I started it as group project at my german home forum the Bemalforum. Sometimes we just consider a topic and the members of the forum try to keep to this topic with their projects. I started this as group project with the topic "Make love not war". I didn`t get it finished in time, but I don`t mind and nevertheless finish it as I have planned it.

 

Concept:

As said the topic is "Make love not war" and so this was a good opportunity for creating a battle scene with antagonists such as "Love" vs. "Hate", "Good" vs. "Evil" and so on. In the case here the Space Marine represents love and the good one. Haha. Alyx is representing hate and the bad one. This whole project has a meaning and a message and it is: "Hate is little fearful child and love is a huge, self contended Space Marine able to protect you."

 

I drilled a hole into the gun of the Space Marine and later he will shoot with flowers LOL. I will also add anything peaceful into his empty hand (I still consider what exactly, suggestions for the empty hand are welcome). The side of the base where the Space Marine is standing on will be very colourful with green gras, plants and most of all with a lot of colourful flowers. The side of the base where Alyx is standing on will be monochromatic black/white as herfself is also only painted monochromatic black/white. The only colour which will be added later to Alyx and her side of the base will be bloodred. Her fist will be covered with blood later and it will drop on the base too.

 

Base:

What I wish to create here are 2 different spheres. One colourful and bright, full of hope and love (Space Marine`s side), the other one (Alyx`s side) liveless dark and just dried  and dead plants and simply everything will be painted only in black/white apart from the blood at Alyx`s fist and on the base. Maybe I will put the Teddy (she is originally holding in her hand) on her side of her base too and paint it still colourful as a symbol of her lost childhood. The concept is finished and determined. I`m only open for suggestions in details which support the basic idea.

 

I had help by Mortimer and Ildfus Mahler (both members of the Bemalforum). Mortimer is my muse and he had the idea to add a Hasslefree child to the scene and Ildfus helps me to plan and execute my ideas for the base. So there are already other painters involved here for supporting this project and I will follow the advice by Ildfus Mahler mainly. So: Of course ideas are welcomed, but please be not upset if I let myself mainly guided by Ildfus, because I "engaged" him as my teacher for all concerning the base at this project. Thanks to Ildfus Mahler and Mortimer at this opportunity (for the case if they read it here).

 

Technique:

Oh well, this is really a hard task. I used this Space Marine for to practise maximum contrast which means I cover a range up from deep black to pure white.

This is inspired by the outstanding and excellent work of the amazing painter Glaze O also known as Glaze Over.

 

This means: Here are supposed multiple light sources (not only one from above like it is the case in zenithal highlighting) for determining the highlights/reflections. It is all painted in non metallic metal black, which was really a stupid idea Any other colour wouldn´t make this stress I have right now with all this greys, black and white aaaargh. The multiple light sources make the nmm looking intresting no matter from what angle you look at it and so this is advanced nmm painting.

 

I mixed in some dark blue into the black for increasing the metallic look. Pictures are more blue than in real, I have to change the white balance settings for the next wip photos.

 

In basic it is wetblending in the beginning, followed by layering (70%-80%) and partially I used two brush technique (30%-40%). Glaze Over has written on his blog that he only uses two brush technique for to create this wonderful shiny nmm effect, but I`m not very common with this technique and so I just used it partially until now.

 

Nothing is really finished here and I`m still working on almost all blendings for to get them smoother and for to get the contrast higher. I guess I have painted over 50 hours until now (mainly tedious layering without any end) at the Space Marine and this sucks a bit haha. This is a challenge for me and the only miniature at the moment where I really try to improve my skills as a painter. All other paintjobs at the moment are just on my recent level (not very challenging), but this one here is meant as challenge for me.

 

As always: All kind of feedback is appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry this last image is too dark at the lower part, but the wooden base is to see. Both will be put on the same base which is a wooden socket.

 

Edited June 12, 2019 by vhaidra

[Glitterwolf]

Cool idea!

[SisterMaryNapalm]

My feelings are split by this project.

 

On one hand I think:

 

 

On the other hand I can't stop myself thinking:

 

 

I guess I need a break ...

Edited June 12, 2019 by SisterMaryNapalm

[vhaidra]

@SisterMaryNapalm Your humorous input is always greatly appreciated by me haha. Thanks!!! For the case that you find more suitable images....feel free to share it here

[planetmut]

That's an awesome idea!

[Rigel]

Amazing use of light and shadow! 

[vhaidra]

On 6/12/2019 at 3:46 PM, Glitterwolf said:

Cool idea!

 

I feel a great relief that you like it. You are a teacher for me when it comes to bases, because I like yours very much

If you like the idea, it is mostlikely good haha. Great.

 

On 6/12/2019 at 5:45 PM, planetmut said:

That's an awesome idea!

 

One more. *Happy*. Thanks!!!

 

22 hours ago, Rigel said:

Amazing use of light and shadow! 

 

Thanks! In theory this is quite simple, in practise it is like hell

 

 

[Loth]

Are you trying for a deeper subtext about peace/war with the similarity in coloring the marine and Alyx?  The spots of color on the marine don’t negate tonally the similarities between the two figures. 

 

From your description I was expecting a brighter chapter for the marine; one of the newer bright colors. A youthful bright soldier against the noir old age bitterness of the child 

 

great painting regardless

 

Loth

[vhaidra]

11 hours ago, Loth said:

Are you trying for a deeper subtext about peace/war with the similarity in coloring the marine and Alyx?  The spots of color on the marine don’t negate tonally the similarities between the two figures. 

 

No I don`t. This is just an "accident". Explanation: I started the Space Marine long before the idea for the "Make love, not war" Diorama came up. I had no plans with him apart from practising black and going as far as possible with the contrast. Then this topic "Make love not war" came up in the Bemalforum and I  decided to use the Space Marine for it without having a clear concept at this time, but he was already started in black. That`s all.

 

11 hours ago, Loth said:

From your description I was expecting a brighter chapter for the marine; one of the newer bright colors. A youthful bright soldier against the noir old age bitterness of the child 

 

Correct. I completely agree to your considerations. The original plan (after it became clear that I will use him for this Diorama) was to add colourful freehands too, for making him more the "good guy" in colour too, but this was before I was painting over 50 hours at him

 

Means: Hell I wish to finish this guy still in this live and I guess I can live with this slightly imperfection in my concept. I don`t know. Maybe I actually add some colourful peace and love symbols later, but for the moment I just hope to finish this all soon.

 

But yes good point thanks for the feedback I see you have well considered the concept and I agree with you, but reality is that I rather would accept this imperfection than to add 30 hours more for making him fitting better to the concept. Apart from this, the consideration about the subtext is not bad, because in truth we are all the same under the surface of our ego and all reason for war would be negate if we would just be able to see this. And so there is actually space for interpretation in this direction and by thinking positive we could call this a happy accident.

 

11 hours ago, Loth said:

great painting regardless

 

Thank you very much.

 

 

[Glitterwolf]

11 minutes ago, vhaidra said:

 

No I don`t. This is just an "accident". Explanation: I started the Space Marine long before the idea for the "Make love, not war" Diorama came up. I had no plans with him apart from practising black and going as far as possible with the contrast. Then this topic "Make love not war" came up in the Bemalforum and I  decided to use the Space Marine for it without having a clear concept at this time, but he was already started in black. That`s all.

 

 

Correct. I completely agree to your considerations. The original plan (after it became clear that I will use him for this Diorama) was to add colourful freehands too, for making him more the "good guy" in colour too, but this was before I was painting over 50 hours at him

 

Means: Hell I wish to finish this guy still in this live and I guess I can live with this slightly imperfection in my concept. I don`t know. Maybe I actually add some colourful peace and love symbols later, but for the moment I just hope to finish this all soon.

 

But yes good point thanks for the feedback I see you have well considered the concept and I agree with you, but reality is that I rather would accept this imperfection than to add 30 hours more for making him fitting better to the concept. Apart from this, the consideration about the subtext is not bad, because in truth we are all the same under the surface of our ego and all reason for war would be negate if we would just be able to see this. And so there is actually space for interpretation in this direction and by thinking positive we could call this a happy accident.

 

 

Thank you very much.

 

 

 

To be honest I consider the girl to be the good party..

Space Marines are Evil! They follow the False Emperor!!!!

 

CCCHHHAAAOOOSSS!!!!

[vhaidra]

19 hours ago, Glitterwolf said:

 

To be honest I consider the girl to be the good party..

Space Marines are Evil! They follow the False Emperor!!!!

 

CCCHHHAAAOOOSSS!!!!

 

I really hope that this is a joke, because I assumed Space Marines are the good ones (???). I have no idea from all this GW stuff and stories and such. I know there are some Chaos guys and I supposed this are the bad ones. So who is good or bad in the GW universe? (serious question, no joke, because I have no idea)

[Glitterwolf]

Just now, vhaidra said:

 

I really hope that this is a joke, because I assumed Space Marines are the good ones (???). I have no idea from all this GW stuff and stories and such. I know there are some Chaos guys and I supposed this are the bad ones. So who is good or bad in the GW universe? (serious question, no joke, because I have no idea)

 

The Space Marines are supposed to be the good guys..

They Protect the Empire of Men together with the Imperial Guard.

 

I made a joke because I collect(ed) Chaos.

Always loved Slaanesh and Nurgle Chaos Marines more than the Imperial ones. 

 

[vhaidra]

Phew, great relief Thanks!!!

[Glitterwolf]

Evil miniatures are my favorites...Sorry if I misled you.

 

Of course such is to be expected from a Chaos Worshipping Wolf!

[Rat13]

Remember though they are only good from a certain point of view. And that's coming from a Guard player.