Review: Private Coaching with Tobias

by Roman aka jar



Hello Jungle,

Time for another review on a two day private coaching.
This time Tobias was visiting me in the MV studio to improve his painting skills!
He travelled all the way down from Denmark, had a really crazy train ride experience and was full force ready to tackle our topic of the coaching.

This is what Tobias asked me to teach him:
"Basic principles-texture-grisaille-TMM-skin variation-atmospheric painting-speed painting-fucking smoothness- relaxed'n'fun painting-composition-OSL-display painting-free hand-color mixing-the way of the painter-mini BAM2-monochromatic-happy painting!"

Now for me this describtion feels like the actual studio situation.
A lot of chaos that is not moving and just confusing.

As a well experienced teacher

in miniature painting I knew what Tobias was looking for. He was not searching for all these technical approaches that he mentioned, not a recipe to repeat like a monkey, neither a certain material he wanted to conquer. He wanted it all at once. He was searching for a way to enjoy his personal painting time more without being lost in all the internet's knowledge and guides. He was searching for tools and a guidance that makes him happy and able to improve himself when he paints.
Something to understand the internet's offers in learning miniature painting even more!

... but first: Duckface training!


Second, theory ... not only in form of two wolves, but much theory that went before that to make everything build on top of eachoter and to make it logical. Two beginner classes and a basing class under his belt, Tobias has been a really grateful student to be pushed in that direction.


After theory we tackled the bust that we both agreed on painting during the coaching. Cormac, the Druid by Lucas Pina. We knew beforehand that we will not finish such a complex bust, but I knew beforehand that Tobias will arrive at a point where he will be very happy in what he learned ...


After all that theory it was time
to apply the basic colors.

Tobias says:


"With two Beginnners workshops, one basing class and countless hours of browsing the Massive Voodoo website under the belt, I consider myself a Massive Voodoo veteran, but at the same time a painting novice. I knew that a logical next step in my painting journey would, at some point, be a private-coaching session in the Massive Voodoo studio. So, I went.
Having read numerous reviews, I was well prepared. I knew about the wolf, the skin-tone-thing, the atmosphere setting, etc. At least I thought I did. It turns out that private coaching with Roman is one of those things that can’t be explained, you must experience it to understand it. In my case, anyway.

I don’t know if there is a difference between the two, but I don’t think I ended up learning anything,
I now understand it instead.

It’s like taking control of the steering-wheel in the color cockpit of the millennium Falcon and going smoothly through an asteroid field of – what used to be – problems at warpspeed without a scratch!
(I know, Trekkies
J).

At times, it felt like I could not see the next step, but through Romans careful Socratic questioning I heard myself answering, and to my surprise saw the effect on the pallet, the paper and the mini. And it worked!

Those of you who now the MV atmosphere, and Roman as a host, will know that it is truly a calming and homely feeling, from the minute you meet up and until you say goodbye.

On the final day, Roman took some close-up photos of my bust and seeing those made me feel like a real miniature-painter!

Going to the private coaching has been a true confidence booster for me and I am immensely proud of the result. I would without hesitation recommend anyone going, I am sure Roman will have something to teach you.

So, thank you for the lessons and the hospitality. I had a great time!

Tobias"






Like I said in the beginning the bust was not finished.
It is hard to finish such a complex bust in two days with the amount of theory I throw at my students. Tobias left me with all knowledge gathered that he wanted and a confidence to tackle the missing spots with joy and a clear guidance.





Tobias left me as a proud teacher.
Always when these click moments in my students appear I know why I teach what I know. I also know why I do not use patreon or youtube videos for it. It can not be thaught in these formats. It is something that has to happen between student and teacher and their very own personalities to make things reasonable in the end.

I am grateful to have you as my student and friend, Tobias.
Thank you for your trust, happy painting joy and the good and inspiring chats we shared.



_____________________________________________________________________________

If you want to learn from me
in your very own private coaching session, do not hesitate to contact me for further details via jarhead---at---massivevoodoo---dot---com.

Even though my schedule for 2019 is already full in terms of private coaching, we can slowly start making plans for sessions in 2020. I will be there for you and your personal growth as a painter!


You can find more information
about upcoming group workshops via this banner


_______________________________________________________________________________
You want to support Massive Voodoo? 
If you like to support or say thanks the monkeys of Massive Voodoo in what they do, please feel invited to drop a jungle donation in their direction via paypal or check their miniatures they got on sale here.
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FM: Cormac, the Druid

by Roman aka jar

'Cormac, the Druid' 
is now finished and off from my table.
A really enjoyable and peaceful bust by @lucaspina_sculptor that he sculpted for @blackcrowminiatures.



Everytime I think of druids I see two different versions in my fantasy.
One as a really dark, historical correct personality that offers the hearts of his enemies on dark forest altars and the other one will always be Miraculix from Asterix and Obelix. A wise and peaceful elder that collects herbs and speaks with animals. I went for option B with this one.

I just love the interaction between the two little birds and him. Do they bring important news or just try to sing a boring song over and over again? I love when the sculpt tells a deeper story that is open for interpretation.

Hope you like him!







This bust is for sale and you can make it part of your collection. 
Feel invited to check back with my PDF cataloge on miniatureart projects I got on sale via:
https://www.romanlappat.com/ Thank you for your support!

He is also up to Putty&Paint if you want to drop a vote:
https://www.puttyandpaint.com/projects/22404

Keep on happy painting!
Yours, Roman



_______________________________________________________________________________
You want to support Massive Voodoo? 
If you like to support or say thanks the monkeys of Massive Voodoo in what they do, please feel invited to drop a jungle donation in their direction via paypal or check their miniatures they got on sale here.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Review: Basing Workshop in Arvika, Sweden

by Roman aka jar

Hello beautiful Jungle people,

it is about time for another review on a Workshop I taught in July in beautiful Sweden.
We met up in Arvika, Sweden for my famous basing workshop.

A seminar I really enjoy teaching as basing is something so important
to be able to tell stories in miniatures. A good base is half the rent for a great scene and it is not only done by using different material that you put together with superglue ...

It has been a special edition of this seminar, as we
gathered inspiration of a nearby cargraveyard upfront




"Awesome class to participate in!
Much learned, fun was had, spectacular outing to the car cemetery and amazing company! Give my best to “Einstein”, your father was a really cool dude." 
- Jonas


Instructor: Roman Lappat
Duration: Friday/Saturday/Sunday (2.5 days)


Basing is a very important part when it comes to miniature painting.
A proper display base is the stage to tell a good story and to present your models. Creating a beautiful display base means more than just glueing material together. It is about balance, harmony and compostion rules. You can learn all this in my Basing Class:


 Main topics:
- Learn composition rules
- Learn how to use the golden ratio
- Learn about reading lines, balance and weight
- Learn to sketch your ideas with a pencil
- Learn where to position your figure
- Learn how to use different sorts of material
- Learn to make nature grow on your base
- and more ...

Student level: Advanced

For this class you should be prepared with an advanced skill level. You should know about zenital light,basic color theory, contrast range and how to create a blending.

Sweden's sky

I was not only heading to Sweden
for the basing workshop, I also packed for a two day private coaching with Linda
prior to the basing class ... lots of stuff to bring!


Many thanks to the support in class material goes to


The biggest gratitude goes to Markus
for organising the workshop, being an awesome host once again and a friend that made the full journey a beautiful trip.

Sweden's Sky from above

I also want to thank my small gang of students.
Unfortanetely some had to cancel very close to the event and were not able to attend. So it happened to be more of a private coaching in basing for everyone involved.


We started off Friday morning
with a bus trip that brought us into the deep forests ... our destination was inspiration in form of a car graveyard. Something you only see once in your life. Well, it was my second time :D


It was just the right thing to get in the mood for building post-apocalyptic themed bases. After a still a little tired morning speech by me, everyone went off into the woods to check the old cars there, collect and breathe moments and ambience of this magical place ...







You can find more information
about upcoming workshops via this banner





From amazing views ...

... to details.



For me the full trip to Sweden was not only special, because of it. It was also special as my dad joined me to go hiking around Arvika to start off his pension. A really good travel companion. He also joined us for the car graveyard and I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome you gave to my dad.




Inspiring, eh?
Well, everyone who took part can tell you - if you have not been with us - you missed something!
I will drop some more of my photos to the blog of Massive Voodoo in the next weeks. Just for some free inspiration for everyone!

Later that afternoon we arrived at the venue which was a studio in the middle of Arvika for cultural exchange of artists, musicians and the community. A really cool place to teach in. Again, thanks to Markus for organising this and a big hug to his lovely wife for preparing lunch/dinner for us after the trip to the car graveyard.

Friday afternoon we started off with theory first.
Lots of. Inspiration and composition theory on how my students can create, plan and execute a base that is balanced, harmonic, setup in the golden ratio and how reading lines will guide the viewer's eyes.


Everyone recieved a model toy car to be included in the postapo scenery and to bring in the inspiration we gathered on the car cemetery.





After several sketches
everyone was setup with his very own. From there on we dived deeper into composition rules and put these to a test by creating real life bases with people as figures. We were taking that place apart :D








Many thanks to the support in class material goes to




... but also to everyone of the seminar who brought their own stuff to support the material selection. Dayumn, we had plenty. A basing heaven.



During the seminar a handout for everyone was guiding my students through the stages ...

On Saturday it was time to start building everyone's plans ... tons of Juweela bricks were used and superglue became everyone's friend :D









I am always amazed as a teacher
what comes out of this Saturday.

When my students go from big stuff to smaller details and make the small scale of 32mm a thing to understand. It is all about scale and detail in the end to make it realistic.




Sunday
was all about finalising basing work and getting ready for painting.


We all were ...

So crazy ideas and storytelling occoured
...it was time for me to sculpt four turtles.

Bases before priming :)

A reporter, four turtles, a rat ... who gets it?

Focused working ...







At Sunday's evening the workshop slowly came to an end and it was time to take photos of our results ...















Well, thank you all for a
beautiful basing workshop weekend in Arvika, Sweden.

By your results I know that many lessons have been learned and always remember, a good plan is everything you need to get you through a big basing project!


You can find more information
about upcoming workshops via this banner


I will be teaching this basing class
- except the car cemetery trip - again in November 2019:

Augsburg, Germany
// 22th November- 24th November 2019  3 day Basing Class
german language - 4/16 - Information PDF 
It will be the last time I teach the basing seminar with the topic "after the postapocalypse - nature strikes back". After this a new topic with new material knowledge will happen. As there is still a small number of students it is your chance to not miss it.

_______________________________________________________________________________
You want to support Massive Voodoo? 
If you like to support or say thanks the monkeys of Massive Voodoo in what they do, please feel invited to drop a jungle donation in their direction via paypal or check their miniatures they got on sale here.
_______________________________________________________________________________