Good Morning Jungle,
welcome to another step by step I got on my list t1o write.
That list is huge you can not imagine. Soon I will have a inspiring article about the "36 chambers of mastering the toothpick" for you, but I am stuck in chapter #34. Got to master it, until then I hope you enjoy the step by step insight into this project of mine I did in 2017.

Sculpt by: Jean Jacques Delorme
Thank you, Debbie for getting me one!


This bust was a must to be painted.
In a miniature world packed with warriors, chainswords and boobs it is a beautiful thing to paint animals at peace. I do know that it is not a "water buffalo", it is a "cape buffalo". Yes I know. I still name this project "Water Buffalo" as it was the first project name I called out for it.

Want to know the difference between Cape- and Waterbuffalo?



I used some blue and green greyish glazes to calm down my initial energy output.


By using brushstrokes in one certain direction I was able to pull off the look of fur.


I needed more contrast so I slapped that in again, Whites and blacks. Bam. Bam.



This stage was important again to get back control on how to display the busts volumes and shapes.



Fur has a growing direction. Keep that in mind.
I actually sculpted the fur with thick paint.



Fur.



After I recieved enough contrast
I wanted color back and imagined the buffalo in a very relaxed moment in his life. He is in the middle of a water area, tons of seaweed or whatsoever water plants available, everything is calm, he dips his heavy head in the water and crunches on, gets out, butterflies again on his head and hey he now stares into my camera. #WildlifeMiniaturePainting.

I glazed all colors in that I wanted. Browns, skintone-greys, blues, greens and more and used the painted contrast that I have painted earlier.


I decided for a part of wood
as plinth that I had lying around since a while and was a beautiful gift:
A piece of ancient wood roman's took to build a bridge. The bridge was renovated and some parts of the wood landed in the hands of a friend. He gifted me this and another piece and I knew that this bust had to be on a special plinth. I taped it to protect it from everything that I wanted to paint, still.


Well, I used some basing material, grass alike and did put it in place with matte varnish. How did I pick these spots? Well, I do not know, I just imagined the buffalo just raising his head out of the water and ... yeah :D


I still continued to push contrast. Now in smaller areas and more focused on detail work.


A lot of texture
was added after I checked back with references via google. Horns, fur, water buffalos that are cape buffalos.


Water is a highly reflective surface
and will create a bounce light back. Of course there is no water on my bust, but I wanted to create the magic by including a strong bounce light from all that green and tourquise beauty around his water spot.


From the top you can not see it!


I painted small animal butterflies
from the company "Busch" and dadded them to the buffalo.
This was the final work after the painting was done. I removed the tape from the plinth to see it in full and was really happy about the overall look. So happy that I had to make one butterfly land on the plinth to connect both in poetry.






In the end I did gentle color games with glazes of purple, orange, yellow, green, blues and painted the tourquise water reflection in his eye. Eyes are wet and are also a more reflecting surface than for example, wool.



Painting this bust
was one of the most enjoyable paintjobs I ever did.
I love animals, their grace, their pride, their instincts, their nature. They are so beautiful.

I took photos in the big photo booth and was really happy. Calm and happy.
I really loved this process.

You can also find final photos via www.romanlappat.com or www.putty&paint.com








It has been pure happy painting joy and I am thankful that this bust found a good home at a collectors home. Thank you for your support in my art, work and life, Sir.

I hope you enjoyed the process insight :)
Thank you for your time!

Keep on happy painting!
Yours
Roman