Back to Africa: Adventures in Somaliland

[Earther]

I thought it looked like they were holding hands in the first picture 

Me too!  Broke Back Mangrove anyone?… 

Stunningly good work and photos, as usual!

[Operator5]

Excellent! Love these and the new Ngoni you posted on the other thread.

So, how many painted Africans do you have? I'd love to see a shot of the whole lot of them in one picture.

[Ray Rivers]

 

Those King's African Rifles conversions are coming out a treat!   

[Galloping Major]

Very nice, especially "The Last Cartridge" pics 



www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[gamer Mac]

WOW
Just the sort of pictures that make the LAF great.
Stunning work.

[Hammers]

Good to hear that you're still at it, Dave. Maybe I should follow your example and give the henna thing a go. Yours didn't look stupid, after all. I'm just not that sure I like the idea of red hair on them.

I just found an interesting photo:


According to the caption, that is what a Somali tribesman with henna-dyed hair looks like.  Not how I imagined it at all. The direction I was going to go in was much more Clairol Nice-and-Easy than that. Not sure I'd like it much on a figure. In fact it does look rather stupid. 
 

I researched this a bit when I started to paint Pathans for the NWF. They have a tradition of dying their hair with henna to.Henna can look like that on white or grey hair. It looks quite different on black or dark brown hair.

[Plynkes]

Yeah, that's what Herby F said too, earlier in the thread. Makes sense.

So, how many painted Africans do you have? I'd love to see a shot of the whole lot of them in one picture.

Not nearly enough for my liking, considering how long I've been at it. Still, next time I'm getting figures out to play with on the big table I think I might have a go at that, just to see what they look like. Need to get one of those automatic panning cameras that they use to take school photos, though. 

[Hammers]

Need to get one of those automatic panning cameras that they use to take school photos, though. 

Don't. Those cameras just brings out the worst in people. At least one of the Ngoni is bound to make a goofy face no matter how sternly you warn them not to.

[Plynkes]

And one will run round the back so that he's on both ends of the photo.

[Poiter50]

Yes but you will see the dust from his footprints rise above the crowd! 

[mortimer]

great work as usual, Mr. Plynkes... very atmospheric photos and nices work with the conversions!!!

One question, please, which colours have you use for somali skintones? It's a foundry triad?

thanks!!

[Keith]

Looking brilliant! Inspirational stuff Mr Plynks Sir.

[Plynkes]

One question, please, which colours have you use for somali skintones? It's a foundry triad?

No, I've not tried Foundry paints yet, and so have never gone in for the whole triad thing. I don't really have a system, I just grab a few different pots and mix them around until I get a colour I like. I keep trying to make my Horn of Africa types a different colour to my other Africans, but they keep ending up looking pretty much the same.


For Africans it always starts with Coat d'Arms Negro, but that is just the base colour that will eventually be only seen in the darkest recesses. I do layers of lighter shades over it until I get something I like. I think on these ones I used GW Dark Flesh, Snakebite Leather and Elf Flesh as well as the original Negro.


I have no shortcut or trick to it, it's just practice. I'm not very scientific when it comes to painting. I just make it up as I go along and then go with the flow.  Hammers would ban me from Workbench if he knew.

[Hammers]

Hammers would ban be from Workbench if he knew.

You *are* banned from there. I thought you knew.

[mortimer]

Hammers would ban me from Workbench if he knew.

Hahahaha, thanks !!