First, I want to thank you for hanging with me.  I needed a break after I poured so much time into my local 12-week long Journeyman League, and helped coordinate a weekend chock full of events at the NOVA Open.  I was tired, overwhelmed, and like with  anything, too much of a good thing can ruin it.  So a break was necessary in order to not get burnt out and quit completely, which would have been no fun for anyone.

With Templecon looming on the horizon, and the prospect of hanging out with all my Lost Hemisphere friends and drinking and gallivanting,  I’ve been gaining my energy back and I’m eager to get back to painting.  As I ponder how to apply my Khador Red & Grey scheme to things like Man-O-War and Iron Fangs, I’m working on some Holiday gifts for some friends.  I will be posting these for your enjoyment along with WIPs of my own models.

Again, thanks for sticking by me, and I hope you enjoy the things to come!

Going into this model, I didn’t know too much about Harlan’s character, other than the one time I faced him on the table.  He shot the crap out of my Bastions, because they had Defender’s Ward on them, and It was a pain.  I know he’s into Morrow, and I know he also has strong opinions about magic.  Knowing this little bit of information, I drew up a character in my head, and did my best to portray that.

Harlan’s an adventurer, so the cloak is meant to be worn leather, or perhaps old dirty canvas.  Either way, working up from Battlefield Brown to Hammerfall Khaki works.  The cloak was done almost entirely with the airbrush.  I then went back in and did the shadows of the folds on his arms.

I went with purple and off-white because it’s a regal, royal combo, and it works for religious characters, which Versh is.  The blue and gold book it a nod to Cygnar, the primary home of Morrow, Versh’s diety.

At first I thought the thing on his sash was a canteen, but it’s way too small, so I made it a medal.  I actually have no idea what it is, but it’s pretty.  Same thing with the medal on his chest, and the thing on his bandolier.  I don’t know what it is, but it looks cool, and it’s bling.

The bandolier is meant to be canvas, or a lighter cloth.  It’s cleaner, unlike his jacket, so the bright white helps convey the cleaner, softer cloth.  The black leather shoes are highlighted with Exile blue, and then that is further highlighted with Cygnar Blue Base.  I did it rough, and I only hit the brightest parts.  I didn’t bother with blending it, because it’s so dark, and I wanted it to look a little chunky.

Before you say anything, yes, I see the lick of blue.  I’m pausing now to fix it.

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Ok, that’s better.

The Beaten Purple is shaded with Exile Blue.  It’s inspired by another person’s scheme, and I liked how it looked, so I used it.  Often I see people on the forum or in comments ask if they can ‘steal’ a scheme, and in my opinion, there is no higher form of flattery.  Thus, I have no reservations stealing this cool combo.

The bronze is my usual recipe.  Molten Brass, washed with thinned Brown Ink, then most of the bronze reconstituted, leaving stark shadows.  It’s then highlighted with Solid Gold, focused on edges as reflections.

I don’t know why I made him blonde, it just fit into the goody-two-shoes vision I had of him.  It’s Cygnus Yellow, washed with super thinned down Brown Ink.  I love Brown Ink, it’s so versatile.

Anyway, this is what I have for you, this is what I’ve been working on since I posted the Conquest.  I currently have a Man-o-War in the airbrush booth, with a coat of Sanguine Base drying.  I’m going to post a WIP of it after I’m done with the Airbrush, and before I work on the details.  At that point, I’ll discuss more about what I’m learning as I use my airbrush.  Today, I just wanted to show off something pretty, and try out a new writing style for the blog.

I really dig comments and questions, so if you have anything to share, or have questions, please, please post them!