Italian Wars- Up and Coming Vignette- Page 20- UPDATED- 05-04-2023

[Malatesta]

First rate as always. Quite inspirational.

[Atheling]

Cheers guys, appreciated. 

I've got two blocks of 64 pike to paint next so I'm taking a breather and doing six Italian mounted Arquebusiers 

The Sword and Buckler are actually merely the front ranks of the pike blocks!  Four bases Sword and Buckler then 16 bases of four pike a piece!

[Orctrader]

Sword and Buckler figures are brilliant.   

(Incidentally, apart from great painting the photos are really sharp.  What camera are you using?  Anything on your blog detailing camera \ lighting set up?  I couldn't find anything.)

[Roo]

Lovely work as usual…and always…irrespective of period!  Go steady chap as we all love your work!

[Atheling]

Sword and Buckler figures are brilliant.   

(Incidentally, apart from great painting the photos are really sharp.  What camera are you using?  Anything on your blog detailing camera \ lighting set up?  I couldn't find anything.)

Thanks mate

I'm just using a Panasonic DC FZ82. The lighting is an old OTT Daylight lamp that I've had for over 20 years. There are also two ordinary lamps either side- if you look at the pics close enough you can tell as the left side is warmer then the right. Technically it could be edited  out (or the bulbs changed!) but it would be a lot of faff, the editing that is not the blubs. Ideally I would not use the lamps projecting light from the sides but my painting desk is miles away from the window. I have got space to set up a spot just for the camera but I need to clear some space first.

I'll probably put together a blog post on the photography. It's pretty basic so should be very easy to follow. I should probably think a little more about the quality of the photography but I tend to get carried away once I have (finally0 finished a unit 

[valleyboy]

Great painting and photography as usual Darrell
One problem I find with close ups is that they inevitably reveal tiny bare patches or flaws that I cannot see with the naked eye (even with magnifiers) and so this means that I often have to touch up and photograph again. I never see any such flaws with yours though - is this something you have to do - I suspect the reason it happens to me is that I paint quite quickly but i get the impression you are very methodical and diligent in your approach, the result of winch is the superb quality

I'm interested to know

[DalyDR]

Just.  So.  Good.  Such great work.

[OB]

Exceptional work.  I really like how you've used the green.

[Atheling]

Exceptional work.  I really like how you've used the green.

Just.  So.  Good.  Such great work.

Thank you for the very kind words and encouragement guys

Great painting and photography as usual Darrell
One problem I find with close ups is that they inevitably reveal tiny bare patches or flaws that I cannot see with the naked eye (even with magnifiers) and so this means that I often have to touch up and photograph again.

Thank you mate

Not really. On occasion it has happened but it is quite rare. The last piece I did for my Italian Wars collection the Spanish Cannon really needed touching up as it had a great dollop of the basecoat I use for the bases over the half an arm on one of the mini's. Usually if I detect any mistakes they are minor and I just let them be. A decade ago I might very well have jumped up and sorted them out bit not now, life's too short.

I never see any such flaws with yours though - is this something you have to do - I suspect the reason it happens to me is that I paint quite quickly but i get the impression you are very methodical and diligent in your approach, the result of winch is the superb quality

I think the best way to answer that is to say that I've done quite a few speed painting exercises over the years but only on miniatures that I think would suit that style- and my speed painting might very well be slow for some! Normally, I am indeed quite methodical. I tend to paint one area on a mini then the next rather then putting down all the base colours then highlighting etc. I'm quite lucky in that I can visualise what other colours would be complimentary etc and might be useful on any given model. Part Art School (i.e. real paintings) and partly gleaned in over two decades of painting miniatures.

I have to add, I was alo very lucky in that my first real (attend every week) club was SESWC (Edinburgh Wargames Club) which included members like Brian Phillips and David Imrie. I learned a hell of a lot from both of them in terms of technique and we would spend more time than is probably healthy talking about painting miniatures! I got to see the work of Andrew Taylor "in the flesh" at Claymore most years which was a real eye opener too (his work still astounds me- almost certainly the best in the business).

I'm interested to know

I hope that all makes sense mate?

[levied troop]

Gorgeous painting, what a magnificent army

[skip]

Great painting on your Rodeleros, i was planning on building and painting a
Spanish army next mainly from TAG, keep up the good work !

Brian

[Atheling]

Gorgeous painting, what a magnificent army

Thanks mate

Great painting on your Rodeleros, i was planning on building and painting a
Spanish army next mainly from TAG, keep up the good work !

Brian

TAG are oft overlooked, which I find surprising as they are very well sculpted, beautifully cast and spot on for the early-ish parts of the Italian Wars. Of course, their German Maximilian Imperial and French Valois are perfect for the late stages of the series of conflicts and Ceresole 1544.

[Atheling]

Spanish Sword and Buckler/Rodeleros- Single Bases Added















Cheers

[magyar]

Absolutely love the minis, great painwork!

[Lord Raglan]

More beautiful additions to the collection mate 👌