posted by robert, muhani, chimp
Ahoi!
Starting the project in 2009 with the figure of King Maulg from Artefactory (now FIGONE) and the idea of making him a Captain holding the steering wheel of his own ship and being attacked by huge tentacles, it’s actually finished and a load off my mind- the final project name is now "Frutti di Mare".
Many work-in-progress-pictures have been taken during the process - this is just one of them - it's the most important to me - the main sketch:
After a long intermission, that was finally interrupted by some virtual kicks in my ass by a friendly gorilla followed by 12 days of magic in the heart of the jungle in Augsburg, that I will never forget, it’s done.
The mission was to finish it until the Duke of Bavaria, which took place at the end of April. I would have never been able to accomplish this without the help from my friends. I will never forget! Even though everybody had to finish their own projects, I had a helping hand whenever needed. Also i want to name Kurt (Darkezekiel) and Andi (Androsch) for their helping oppinions mostly every monday during our painting session here in Graz. Additional my thanks go on and on to those who followed the project via the blog and did motivate me all the time.
About 10 hours of carefully removing 4 pounds of modelling clay from the mold, without damaging the paint, another long hours of carefully removing the mold with scalpels and tweezers … kind of delicate things: Anna (girlfriend of Roman), Anke (girlfriend of Raffa), Max the Maxican, Peter (Baphomet) and Kurt (Darkezekiel) – without your help I would have become crazy.
When time went short, Raffa (Picster) demonstrated his new handkerchief-technology to make the sail and the flag, which he also painted. The shark he sculpted can be hardly seen, because of the amount of colour I used for the water. Same to the little fishes I sculpted and Kurt painted. - Accidentally missed the opaque color for the mix of polyester resin due to the darkness on the balcony or intensely smelling resin that made me feel like a brainless zombie. Gasmask strongly recommended!
Mati helped me with the rigging during the last night without any sleep and endless patience. The night of knotting knots. He also sculpted a new pecker for the bird. He did that, while the bird was already fixed to the lantern, that itself was fixed to the ship and it looks even better than before. Magic! Many fingers of different size and shape formed the white crests on the waves - nearly everybody touched them with acrylmedium-white - so I can hardly say to whom all the fingerprints belong, but it was mainly Roman. He was already familiar with the shape of the waves as he played a big part in forming them. Max also formed one, but it was destroyed accidentally. ;-)
The Captain. I applied the base colours, basic light and shadow. Roman asked me, if he was allowed to apply a little bit of oil-colour. Sure. From then the Captain went on to a mysterious hero from outer space and Raffa. Roman also helped me with the finishing touches on the tentacles and the ship. There would not have been a ship without his motivation, inspiration, advise and friendship. Thank You!
Thank you all, who helped me finishing this.
The night before I left Augsburg, Raffa took the photos and Roman did the collages as he wanted everybody to do what he can do best. – Again it was on me to stare holes in the sky. ;-) - I hope you like this mega project - here comes the photo drop in - enjoy:
I still can't believe that it is finished and I am so happy about it. This really took away "mind energy" over the last couple of years and now I'm free - I was really happy when the "Frutti di Mare" won Best of Fantasy Master Open at the Duke of Bavaria. I never dreamed about such a thing. If you want to drop a comment, please feel invited to tell what you think of it, this project was so long in my head I really want to know what you might think of it. If you want to leave a vote or a comment over in the big voting area you can do this by clicking the 4 following collages:
Frutti di Mare - Captain Roberto details
Frutti di Mare - Ship and Water details
Frutti di Mare - overview1
Frutti di Mare - overview 2
Pictures of the process of building can be found by simply typing “maulg” into the search-field in the right area of site, for example you will find pictures like this one. This will lead you to some pictures in early stage and chaotic order, ending up somewhere with a basically painted ship, a converted King Maulg, some tentacles and a plan.
If you are intrested in a lot of Work in Progress photos of the last 2 excessive weeks of work check the blog archives in the end of April 2011. As soon as there is time, I’ll try to bring everything into the right order in a separate article and try to tell as much as i can, for example about the water.
So much from my side - many thanks for your time and patience with me and my little projects :)
I hope you like it!
Robert
Wonderful my friend - i am for sure as happy as you about seeing this piece finished and it all started from this great sketch of yours...
ReplyDeleteI needed to do the first posting here :)
Spectacular. Best thing posted on CoolMini this year, without a doubt. The apes should all be proud, this is a real triumph for a the jungle as a whole, and you especially.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that I may have provided a tiny bit of motivation to help you push through to the end.
What a magnificent achievement...
ReplyDeleteInsane, and absolutely brilliant! One of the most impressive things mini- related I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteI was keeping an eye on this project for a while and it turned out to be fantastic.
There is only one little part, that i dont like: the suckers on the tentacles look a bit boring and flat... maybe they could be pimped a bit (not recrafted, but a bit more structure painted on them)
Jetzt habe ich lust auf Tintenfischringe ;)
ReplyDeleteHammer Diorama und herzlichen Glückwunsch das du das endlich fertig gemacht hast. Eins der schönsten Dios die ich gesehen habe!
BOOM Shakalaka ! Sail on Capitan Roberto !
ReplyDeleteMagnifique !
ReplyDeleteOne of the most breathtaking dioramas I have ever seen! My favourites are "Flasche Leer" and "Wasser Poly... Epoxy... Irgendwas" in the initial scribble.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards from Hannover,
Daniel
Absolutely jaw droppingly awe-inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThat water almost looks good enough to drink! =D
Marvelllous!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd now if Hollywood have thaught me anything, you will have to do 4 sequel of this piece, and each one more expensive than the last one!!!!
Release the Kraken!!!!!Again, doh!
Really liked the result, a beautiful diorama of tiny nuances add drama. With best wishes ...
ReplyDeleteMAAAARRIIIAAAAAAA ;)
ReplyDeleteSimply epic...
ReplyDeleteGREAT STUFF, WONDERFUL, RESPECT!!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Guido
This is really something you can be proud of your whole life long! You have my respects deep from my heart and it was a honor to participate in this project!
ReplyDeleteI can hardly find any words! This is just awesome!!! Each detail shot catches the dynamic and seems to be even real.
ReplyDeleteRespect!
I have to make a second post as the ship is double awesome ! ^^ Love the pics btw, they turned out greeaaaat !
ReplyDeleteReal art from the depths of the seas to mast top! I'm both, breath- and speechless...
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteRespect!
Hmmm, Calamares :-)
ReplyDeleteOh my, what a wonderful Diorama. Su much character, so many fine details. This piece leaves me almost speechless...
Holy Molly!!!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutly amazing, many many hous of effort can be reflected in this great work of art...
Well done and here my little comment to add to the many more congratulations
happy painting!!!
Fantastic work :)
ReplyDeleteYou know that you have to do a load of tutorials to make ;)
This water, those sails, including stuff in it and so on :D
simply incredible. the model has so much going on, so much life. i love it
ReplyDeleteThe most breathtaking thing I have seen in years. Congratulations to all the team
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing. I consider this truly art. My favorite diorama ever!
ReplyDeleteI especially love the mice, at first I could not figure out what the poem / words were referring to :)
Awe inspiring. A work of art. This has become a favorite piece from the jungle.
ReplyDeleteAll the hard work and long hours paid off. Congrats guys.
simply amazing...the athmosphere it's so thick that u can cut it with a knife
ReplyDelete!!! Thank you so much for your massive feedback !!!
ReplyDeleteSpeechless - feeling very lucky! :-)
[epic] Arrrrr [/epic]
ReplyDeleteAmazingly beautiful. Completely inspired by this awesome project.
ReplyDeleteAwesome is a word too often thrown about too readily. In this case Sir, it is truely merited.
ReplyDeleteAn absolutely fantastic piece. I must learn how you created the sea effects!
Astounding and simply *marvelous*!
ReplyDeleteI dont think I've ever seen anything as incredible as this.
ReplyDeleteThis is an exeptional piece of art, and I'm truly awestruck by how much time and skill it must have taken to scratch build this. Very well done!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely impressive. I've been enjoying the pics for a long time already, but only now got to ask the question: do you know - even roughly - how much time went into this projects? It's one of the biggest projects I've seen and it really shows... but it also leaves me curious.
ReplyDeleteGENIAL !!! Tu signes là une ouvre absolument originale et totalement maîtrisée !!! DU GRAND ART !!!
ReplyDeleteLUNE LOUP
@Mahon
ReplyDeleteWay too much time - so much time - it is not possible to count ...
Was there any update about the water? I'm building battleship and I'd love to use such effect but I didnt find anything except "mold" technique..
ReplyDeleteSadly no. Robert is out of the hobby since a while and we can not get hold of his knowledge. Sorry for the bad news.
ReplyDelete