Good Morning Jungle people,

it is time to catch up with the end of 2015, in detail with some private coachings we held in the MV Studio pit. In the end of 2015 we welcomed Erwan from France to a private coaching. Roman already meet him in 2015's MV's Jar's Beginners Class in Versailles, both had several mails up front and are frequently in contact. Knowing that Erwan is a really nice guy Raffa and Roman were both looking forward to meet with him.

Roman, Erwan, Raffa, Bene ...


Erwan's learning goals for the two day private coaching were the following:

- Learn to plan a figure upfront ---> color choices, materials, readability, focus areas
- Learn how to paint that plan to your miniature
- on the way we will check for material effects (Textures) and painting techniques to improve them

Well, what can we say as teachers?
It was a real cool coaching with Erwan. Very relaxed athmosphere with tons of stuff to learn for our student. Thank you for the trust in our skills as teachers and miniature artists, Erwan! Thank you for the cool days we had!

We do not like to talk too much on the coachings ourselves, rather let the student tell you his/her impression. Thank you for the write up, Erwan!
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Two days painting with Massive Voodoo
MV Private Coaching Review by Erwan

 I've been waiting for a long time before I was able to travel to Augsburg. So you can imagine how anxious and excited I was when I arrived at the workshop...


And I discovered two guys, waiting for me with a breakfast and a cup of tea, listening to very cool music... Great!!!

We started very quickly to talk about what I wanted to learn. But what surprised me first, is that we talked about an emotional approach of painting, and not the technical approach I was waiting for... Why? Because Roman told to Raffa: "This guy can paint, we need to go further..."

And that's the point: I just had to trust in my own choices. Sometimes, it's the most important thing a master can teach his student. Roman just exactly found what I was looking for...


 
Here is what happened to me during these two days: 
painting without any complex, thanks to my two teachers... Lucky me! Words like hospitality, kindness, are not strong enough to describe Roman and Raffa, and let me tell you time ran really fast in these conditions.

These two days were really intense, and a real success, as they changed my way of painting. So, one more time, thank you guys. This coaching was on of my best events in 2015.

Take care.

Kind regards, Erwan.

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, 

time for rolling out the result of your decision from this years first Tutorial Voting. 
You voted and we are very happy to see over fifty people going with us carrying on tradtions.
The results are in and this weeks article is not Boudica. String won the race with thirty-eight votes.
Let's Boudica another day.

Roman will take you through the following article. We hope you enjoy and always  remember if you like what we do here on MV feel invited to support us via jungle donation.

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 Hey there,

usually I say that 99,8% of all basing solutions can be done with the power of superglue and luck, but sometimes you want to have a construction that looks attached to something, not only glued. If you want to add more realism to your bases explain the viewer and gravity why something belongs where it is. Attached, not glued. Get inspiration from the real world, most common things around you are not just glued to the world.

Very important when working with string is: SCALE.
Check the scale your project is in, think about how big a small string must be if you scale it down. Take care by choosing the right scale for your project. A way to unrealistic big string on a 28 mm base looks ... weird, if you do not attach a ship to your base.

Different strings I use
I started working with string by accident years ago. I was in need of some and used some sewing thread from my girlfriend. Which is in fact in a good common scale for many projects and easy to get. I got three sorts of strings in my pockets when it comes to miniatures.

From left to right: 
1. Mantua Model makes several sorts of strings (ship modelling),
2. Honestly I have no idea where I got this one from, but it's the smalles string I got
2. Sewing Thread (still the same from back then, it lasts a life time!)

The best friends you need when working with string:


CONVERSION WITH STRING
Let's start right off with a small conversion I recently did on Hasslefree's Haydn in 28 mm.
I created a Wasteland Raider and thought about giving her a quick and easy shoulderpad of a skull plate. In this case the string is meant to be a small part of a robe to fix something.

I cut off some sewing thread - take care to rather take too much, maybe in my example it is a little bit too much, but in fact it is better to end up having some room to play instead of being out of string. Take your toothpick, pick up a tiny drop of superglue, place it where you want to add the string and add the string.


Now fix the string as you see fit.


Glue the skull plate. Looks properly attached now. Skulls are from Origen Art.

Another example, but bad quality mobile photo, sorryio. I did a conversion from a Hasslefree Resin Model. Changed the head, the weapon, added armoury and a bag, attached with string.

Another example of strings being used to make something unique, I carefully glued roots and leaves to it later on.


Massive use of string here on this huge model. 


While doing miniature conversion with string I recommend doing your build up first and using the string in the end if you want to attach something to something else.

For works like this I recommend listening to traditional japanese music to find your inner place. The place where you have enough patience to learn the mastery of string threading on miniatures.


Simple way of making a spear or a pipe more interesting or even hiding bad glueing areas is using string around it. Works really simple: Superglue, string and roll it.




Conclusion:
Use it wisely, try to find sense in the things you connect and enjoy working with string. There is nothing you can do wrong badly. You might glue your fingers to the string, to your other fingers, to the toothpick, to an area you did not want to glue and so on. All mistakes you will find for yourselves and no one else can protect you from them. Just do it. Enjoy it. Work with your mistakes and learn from them.

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BASING WITH STRING
Let's start right off with a small conversion I recently did on Hasslefree's Haydn in 28 mm.
I created a Wasteland Raider and thought about giving her a quick and easy shoulderpad of a skull plate. In this case the string is meant to be a small part of a robe to fix something.
Again for basing it matters that you make your thoughts about the scale. The scale of your base, the scale of the miniatures on top and finally the scale of the string you want to use to imitate some rope or wire from the real world: SCALE.


Recently I started building a bigger base which is heavily inspired by Fallout 4. The base build up might look very chaotic so far, but for example string was used as rusted wire here:


... or rope. I see when I paint it and have to decide for a color.


Here some small parts of string where used as rusted wire to hold the remains of a fence:

In fact applying it is the same like doing a conversion. Toothpick, Superlgue and patience. In the next example it was used to build a rope where I attached small prayer flags, which were cut out of paper and superglued to the string.

Heavier and bigger strings can be used for miniatures in a larger scale or if you want to give barricades more weight. They look much more heavier if the rope used is big.


Can you find the string in here?


String used to keep the column standing. Well honestly superglue did already but it looked very fragile. With the string attached it feels much more secure now, eh? :D

A wild Troll by Red Box Games Miniatures, who has a collection of things he killed and found in the swamp. He plans to build up a castle in that style, but he did not come far yet.

In combination with the content of the article "Making easy tattered cloth" you can even add a wind direction in your game of flags and ropes. If you want a piece of rope hanging in the right wind direction play the game of superglue toothpick and move it to the rope that you hold still in the right position. Learn to master patience.


And another one that shows wind and on the upper area two wood parts connected with rope.

Conclusion: 
Ropes, wires and strings can be used on miniature projects to add a whole new level of detail. If you think about your construction work you will realize how often you might need them. I usually go fine with mainly using the sewing thread for most of my work with string.

There is no best way to do it. All I know has been mentioned in the article. That's how and what I use. I am sure some of you find their own ways. Enjoy!

Keep on happy painting!
Best Wishes
Roman

Good Morning Jungle people,

we announced MV's year of the painter 2 as our Christmas gift 2015.
We want to thank all readers, friends and supporters of MV with this and we are looking forward to show you these great articles we have in stock for you!

2016 will bring you excitment every tuesday via Tutorial Voting and knowledge and wisdom every Thursday/Friday via the article you ladies and gentlemen voted.



Ready? 
Rules are simple: Post your choice, your vote under this posting and we count on Thursday/Friday before the article appears. One person, one vote. Your vote counts! Bring 'em in! Of course you can write why you want to see an article so bad or why not or what you expect of an article or what you wish for next year's Christmas and so on ...

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#01
Step by Step - Boudica
Roman takes you on a ride through his work on this bust by Origen Art. This is about his thoughts while painting from the early start, techniques through the painting process, how to catch athmosphere and how to catch a moment.


#02
Material Article - Working with string
In this article Roman takes a close look on strings. Different ones, explaining how you can use them for basing or conversions.


Your choice now!
Keep on happy painting!

Hi Jungle people,

let's start MV's Year of the Painter 2 with a finished miniature, shall we?
I have painted Boudicca from Origen Art. It is a great sculpt in scale 1:9. A powerful and emotional sculpt by Pedro Fernandez Ramos.

To understand what I did with my version of this bust I have to tell you some stories. True stories.
First of all: Do you all know who Boudica was? No?



Boudica
Back in those ancient days when the Roman Empire conquered and enslaved most of the common known world, they did meet with the Tribe of the Iceni in Britannia. The Iceni were allies to Rome and their chieftain "Prasutagus" was known for keeping his word to the Emperor. Boudica was his wife, they had daughters, no son. So it was Prasutagus who declared that after his death the lands and tribes of the Iceni will be lead by his daughters, all in alliance to Rome and the Emporer. He died. His will was ignored, Boudica got flogged and her daughters raped.


This was indeed no fair behaviour of the Roman occupying forces and Boudica promised revenge. She became the queen of revolt. Revolting against Rome. Bad idea many historians say, but well, if nobody stands his ground the world will end. Whatever if it is in ancient days or nowadays.

Boudica gathered several tribes around her banner and had an immense force to control, which is not easy if the tribes are usually fighting eachother for glory, sheep and land. She and her force destroyed several cities and settlements of the Romans and spirit was high. They won a battle against a complete roman legion and many say that an estimated  number of 70,000–80,000 Romans and British were killed in the three cities by those led by Boudica.

The Battle of Watling Street 
The Battle of Watling Street took place in Roman-occupied Britain in AD 60 or 61 between an alliance of indigenous British peoples led by Boudica and a Roman army led by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. Although heavily outnumbered, the Romans decisively defeated the allied tribes, inflicting heavy losses on them. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in Britain in the southern half of the island, a period that lasted until 410 AD. Boudica then either killed herself, so she would not be captured, or fell ill and died. The extant sources, Tacitus and Cassius Dio, differ.

Source: Wikipedia 
+ Roman's half knowledge from reading historical fantasy novels

I've learned that the blue warpaint is completly wrong
for the Iceni Tribe. The tribe who were famous for their wartribe were the Picts, who lived in northern Scotland. In latin "Picti" meaning "the painted ones". Thanks to Christian for setting historical facts right in a nice chat. I will ask you for future projects, maybe. I know I should, but when I am painting something up I mostly never find time away from the brush. If I am away from the brush I sleep. It's always a little difficult for me to paint something very emotional from my personal perspective and combine it with historical correctness. When I paint I try to paint without limitations. The results sometimes can be what they are ... but thanks, many thanks.


Words on my paintjob, my version
As some of you might know I am very into the theme of ancient Rome. Of course I am well familar with the name of Boudica and her history. I am not a professional historian - by far not - but I call myself informed. When I imagined the Iceni queen I never thought of her as such a beauty Pedro Fernandez sculpted. I imagined her as a powerful woman with the lookalike to beat up barbarian warriors. An ogre of a girl you can say.

I love the sculpt of Pedro for his company Origen Art. 
I love the promotianal paintjob Pepa Saveedra did on her.

... but for my taste I wanted to catch a moment. This moment. The moment she saw the battle against the outnumbered forces of Rome go to hell. Her army remains running or being slaughtered. All hope gone from her eyes, a dream dying and many bodies on the ground. I wanted to see her inside a battle, beaten up, tired, but still with a will to fight like a tigres, but with sadness in her eyes. A strong contrast to Pepa's version. I wanted to paint her as a powerful redheaded queen, with freeckles and blue warpaint. I had to study the one or the other to achieve my version. I will talk about that all in an extra step by step about the work that I did on her via MV's year of the painter 2. 






Even the plinth is unique on this piece. I want to thank Michael aka Dellolyn for this great gift. The plinth was made out of wood from an ancient Roman bridge in Trier, Germany.

I hope you like my version of this wonderful sculpt of the Iceni queen, Boudica.
If you want to see more photos of her please check my Putty&Paint Gallery.

For size comparision I made a photo of my cabinet in the MV's studio showing Boudica beside other models. Please be aware that the photo was done with lightning from the camera and that the light situation looks a little weird due the yellow lamp of the Ikea cabinet.


Let me know what you think and prepare yourself for an upcoming step by step on her!
Keep on happy painting!
Best Wishes
Roman

Hey Jungle,

first of all:
A healthy and good year 2016 to everyone!


From my personal perspective 2015 ended really crazy.
My girlfriend, my cats and I moved to a new appartment. Several weeks without a proper head for painting miniatures or working as a self employed artist.


Long weeks of preparations for the move, followed by the move itself, followed by a succesful fight to get the chaos of a move in good order. I thought about relaxing after this was done, but then Christmas knocked at the door and then more and more dropped in to make a crazy end of 2015. The end of 2015 truely put a spell on me, it seemed.



Well, but no spell lasts forever. It feels good to have survived all this and the horizon shines some light through the fog. 2016 appeared and with it MV has big plans. That means I do too as I am a very active member of the MV-Team. On January 9th we will have this years first meeting of MV Members in Augsburg (Bene, Peter, Roman, Raffa) to put the magic spell of happy painting on you all through 2016.

Why not make this post as crazy as the end of 2015 actually was.
Impressions, things that influanced my december, inspired me or made me crazy. First the last month of 2015's REEF Calender promised an inspirational month:








Then hunting Christmas tree - all family at our new flat, more christmas days, recharging batteries, simple new years eve and there we are: 2016. I want to thank all of my friends who helped me through these days of chaos december. Arrigato!

I am looking forward to work my passion through the upcoming year and plans are made, plans are ahead and some are already announced. I am looking forward to see the blog give me a little more structure once more, as 2016 was announced as the year of the painter 2. We will have tutorial voting every Tuesday and the voted article on Thursday/Friday. This will be so cool and I am already prepared with more than a handful of wonderful articles for you .


MV Workshop Roadmap 2016
Also January starts with two painting classes of mine. One MV's Jar's Beginners Class and one MV's Jar's Basing Class in Augsburg, Germany. In February I'll head to Graz, Austria to give my MV's Jar's Advanced Class a reality check. Really looking forward too meet my students there.

I can only recommend to you to stay put to daily blogging in the massive jungle.
You will not regret it.

I have no idea if this post has any weight, it was just written to get these crazy days of my chest and brain. Now it's time to arrive in the new home and spend time there and find the every day routine. The blog will help me with that and I am looking forward to meet/read you there!

Keep on happy painting!
Best Wishes
Roman