Dr. Mathias's Folk Horror Project

[Dr Mathias]

I've had a large stash of 'Folk Horror' miniatures for about a year, comprised of miniatures from Ainsty, Crooked Dice, Midlam Miniatures/Woodbine, and Meridian/Gardens of Hecate. I've liked the film Wickerman for some time, and when I found out that Crooked Dice had a range loosely based on that genre, I decided to acquire them and then hunted for more from other companies.

I decided to make 'Folk Horror' my summer project, and while it is admittedly off to a slow start, I have gotten somewhere in terms of painting and research. By 'research' I mean watching Midsommar, Blood on Satan's Claw, The Witch, and Spring. Next on the list is Witchfinder General, and I have been tracking down some literature as well.

I've been drawing packs at random- first up are some Crooked Dice 'Children of the Fields'. First draw was the 'May Queens', one of my favorite packs from the range. I decided to paint Lady Winterly at the same time, as well as a girl I had 3D printed (from Tiny Furniture) since they were dressed about the same.







Next draw was the 'Corn Dolls'.



More to come!

[marianas_gamer]

Interesting project and great painting. The floral garlands look very nice. I am also impressed with your whites - very clean.

[OSHIROmodels]

Superb 

[Ragnar]

Excellent project with some great influences.

[Sunjester]

Great painting and a fantastic concept. Do you have any idea of a ruleset/s you might use?

[2010sunburst]

Superb painting.  What is the shade colour on the whites?  It is extremely effective on what can be a hard to paint clothing colour.

[uti long smile]

Wonderful stuff! Great set-ups too!

[Orctrader]

Wow and wow again.   

Usual great painting but what an inspired project.

[blacksoilbill]

This is a really great setting. Your work on those women is superb with those whites and flowers. My favourite those is the little chap/thing peeking out from the grain on your signpost base.

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

Amazing - definitely going to be following this.

[Aethelwulf]

Great work on those.

[BeneathALeadMountain]

All beautiful and creepy (and this is from someone who lived in the house the hound of the Baskervilles was based on and slept in the bedroom guarded by the hound).

As others have said your whites are crisp and perfect. I’m guessing it’s due to your excellent use of a pale grey as the shadow, with pure white only being the top highlights? Currently painting tiny stormtroopers so I’m very envious of your technique.

Keep up the great work,

Balm

[Dr Mathias]

Thanks all!

Great painting and a fantastic concept. Do you have any idea of a ruleset/s you might use?

Not yet- I have 7TV 2nd Edition on the way, and Pulp Alley works for just about anything and has a horror supplement.

Superb painting.  What is the shade colour on the whites?  It is extremely effective on what can be a hard to paint clothing colour.

Whites are a mix of cool and warm undertones. I primed the miniatures red/brown from below, and white from above.

Next layer would be a thin wash of either blue-gray (I sometimes use GW Contrast Apothecary White) or a thin ivory yellow tone. Adding white for each new layer, up to the final highlight layer of pure white.

On the May Queens, if they had a bluish tone tunic, their hand scarves would be yellow toned. I alternated through them, so some have cool tones tunics, some warm. I also like using a pale green-gray for some whites on things, not sure I did that on any of these.

I switched to Monument Hobbies 'Pro-Acryl' for my white (and black) about two years ago. Vallejo white is decent too.

The trick I suppose is more layers than normal for coverage, especially for the final bright highlights, and priming white, or close to it. I tend to gravitate toward that old renaissance warm tone underpainting technique

All beautiful and creepy (and this is from someone who lived in the house the hound of the Baskervilles was based on and slept in the bedroom guarded by the hound).

That sounds amazing

[BeneathALeadMountain]

Aaah! Oddly I have an active shopping basket containing Pro-Acrylic white and a couple of others to try as I’ve heard good things. That bodes well I’d better pull the trigger.

That sounds amazing

It was amazing, I loved it, although having tour groups visit the house and then specifically my bedroom was always a bit weird. Had some great Halloween parties there…

Balm

[Dr Mathias]

A few more additions, from the "Some Are Islanders" pack.



"What's the matter with you MacGregor, you call that dancing? Cut some capers, man! Use your bladder!"