With university out for the summer, I finally have some time to sit down and work on my warhammer miniatures, in hopes that I can build up a set of heavily converted miniatures to actually sell via Ebay and Coolminiornot- that's just a pipe dream though, let's focus on the works for now.

The first image I have to show you is a completed (albeit grainy) photo of the angel I sculpted and painted over christmas break. As it was a gift to someone, I haven't taught her how to take a have decent picture yet, so this is the best I have so far- a better picture is pending. But, thoguht you all would like to see this one. Pictures of the work in progress can be found in the link under the photo.


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v308/Rog...lpts/Angel%202/


Next is a full sculpt of my take on what an Eldar Avatar of Khaine should look like. While I am a fan of the Forgeworld miniature, and am basing the pose off that work, I do not like the ridiculously sized helmet piece with the faux-wraithbone protrusions that come on bot hthe GW and the FW models, so I figured I would make one of my own. By the time the piece is finished, it will have a rather dark feel to it, as evidenced by the concept art. It is not attached to the base yet, which may explain its lopsided feel



The last piece I have to show you is a druchii lord- specifically an executioner. Still a work in progress- the proportions are in fact a bit off, namely in the hands, but it is also the photo exaggerating the difference in proportion. I should also mention the discolorations in the greenstuff is due to the fact I used a 1500 grit wet sandpaper to make sure the cloth was extra smoothed... sonce I runn it under some water with a toothbrush it'll look better.



Criticism welcome... really... like, tell me they suck and why if you want. Also, apology for the less than optimal photo, I kinda rushed these. Next batch will be better.

I'm exhausted over here, so I'm unable to think terribly critically at the moment. However, your executioner lord does look a little stooped to his right (our left).

Other than that: HOLY CRAPAMOLY.

Well, they are amazing: I don't know what else you want us to say :D

However, the executioner doesn't look particularly well themed as an executioner. Everything about him looks too similar to the 'Wood Elf highborn with great weapon' model. He also seems a little too static, although that probably can't be changed without major alterations.

I would try to turn his weapon into an executioner's axe of some sort. I'm not sure what it is now (hard to tell from these photos), but if you can give him a really menacing looking axe it might give the model a focal point, and tie him in as an executioner better.

Dark Elf Executioners wield swords, not axes.

But it's true that he looks like a Wood Elf. It must have something to do with the fact that he's not painted yet... His weapon is weird, and I must admit that I fail to guess what it is exactly. It just doesn't seem sharp, pointy or heavy enough...

How are you going to undercoat him without accidentally painting the rock under him?

As benedictus said, executioners of the Dark Elf Hosts wield Driachs, or great swords, instead of axes. Viewed for the side, the weapon makes a whole lot of sense- the weapon is made for a dark elf spear head (since the spearmen have RIDICULOUS weapons).

As for the look of a wood elf noble... it was kind a the look I was going for, so... go me! Seriously though, I'm going to reposition the right hand and resculpt it to be pointing into the distance in a general-like fasion.. I think that will add to the pose much more. I've also ripped of the hair I made- didn't like it, and added to the wood elf feel of the figure. After I do all this, as well as add a bit more decor to the model, I'll post new pictures.

Lastly- even if I were going to paint these things (which I probably won't- I just like sculpting) I would spray the rock and paint it. I can make rocks look more suitable with the rest of the model if I add a coat of paint to the blasted thing. In fact, the rock in the Angel Picture is painted.

Odd, I remember executioners as wielding relatively light looking, curvy, ornate axes :S The executioners in the GW online store have light, curvy, ornate swords, like you said. Maybe I'm thinking of white lions or something.

And removing the hair may help him look less woody (since that was one thing that really made him look like the highborn model: to the extent that your amazing work would usually look like a minor repositioning / conversion once the green stuff was covered).

The angel looks pretty good (what we can see of it from this photo), and the avatar looks amazing so far. I think these are some of the best scratch-sculpted works I've seen outside of Golden Demon / 'eavy metal works. How did you learn to sculpt? What tools do you use? And I never thought of that trick to use a toothbrush to remove the roughness of greenstuff (though my sculpting is probably too fragile to rub with a toothbrush).

The 5th edition Dark Elf Executions wielded axes, though they were far from ornate and curvy looking- you are probably either thinking of white lions are the new white lion hero that GW put out recently.

I've changed the hair, and must say I like the new result greatly... I'll post pictures when the sculpt is finished.

As for where I learned to sculpt- I didn't learn anywhere, per say- it's all just a combination of applying my college sculpture classes, my personal learning of how to use Greenstuff, and just natural talent and understanding of scultpure.... it's a fusion really. For tools I use wax carving tools of various sorts to create different surfaces. I also have heard that clay shapers work wonderfully, and I plan on buying a set soon to test them out. Lastly, the toothbrush doesn't smooth the piece down- it's the 1500 grit wet sandpaper. The only problem is the water dried to leavebehind residue- that's where the toothbrush woudl come in, to clean it.

Wow.. Wish I could sculpt like that - I'm restricted to fur and hair.

I really like the dark elf model.

Just one minor gripe: IIRC it's the avatar's left hand that drips blood, not the right one ;).

Fantastic sculpting skills! I can only echo Maelduin that your work looks great! :)

An update on my work:

With the exception of joining the hilt and guard of his sword together, the Executioner is finished- I resculpted his hair to give him a more Druchii-ish look (as opposed to a wood elf poser). I'm quite happy with the results:



I've also started on a female corsair lord, which is in it's very beginning stages. She can be found here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/Rog...ut-together.jpg

Druchii related projects aside, I have three other sculpts which i wanted to show the progress on. The firstis the avatar of khaine, which is now afixed to his base, has the beginnings of feet, and has his upper body furthered:




The next photo is a work in progress of a nightmare sculpt I have been comissioned to complete. I mainly am posting it to show the pose:



the last piece is just a model i was fooling around with, thought it was coming along well though- nothing more than a nude figure (without certain bits).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/Rog...Partial-man.jpg

I really like the nightmare thing. What's that for?

As I said, the Nightmare sculpture is a comission piece I have picked up from an individual who would like a more interesting nightmare mount for his vampire counts blood dragon. He wanted something a bit more snakelike, to represent the blood dragons a bit better, and didn't really give me many specifications beyond that. I have some concept art at my apartment which I will post up when I get home (which should e pretty soon). The nightmare is posed as taking off from an obelisk that it was mounted on....

That's all I really have on the piece right now.

Oh, right, a Nightmare for VC. I just thought it was someone getting you to sculpt a nightmare they'd had in a dream or something. Ha! I look foward to seeing how it goes.

The executioner definitely looks more of a Druchii than an Asrai now. Good job.

Its all looking great. It would be even greater to see a quality photo of your angel.

You deserve a great deal of respect, very few people attempt to sculpt from scratch. Keep it up.