Monday 26 May 2014

If wishes were fishes..................

 I have always admired wargamers and modellers who could transform a piece of plastic or metal into a beautiful piece of history, making it look either realistic or just a work of art. I know it is all very subjective but most wargamers have a favourite painter or painting style.
 The painters I always wanted to emulate were many and varied. Number one was Peter Gilder, who went for a broad stroke approach. Up close they could look a bit ropey, but when they were put down on the table they came to life. Doug Mason was another painter who added something to every figure he has painted. Best of all he still paints and takes commissions. My longstanding wargames opponent  John Reidy has always had a wonderful painting style, I know he wont thank me for this, but John could always make even a crap figure look good. I still trawl E bay in the faint hope some of the many armies he sold on come up for sale. Not surprisngly they dont.
Mark Allen who doesnt paint figures very often now, was always one I tried to emulate and fail to copy. I always wished Id had the money to buy his collections when he put them up for sale, sadly I was never well enough off. The list just goes on, Barry Hilton, Dave Thomas, Simon Chick and of course Dave Jarvis all could create a wonderful figure out of a piece of lead. Then of course there are the military modellers, number one for me was Shep Payne who created a story with ever figure he painted. I was inspired early on by Madame Desfontainnes whose figures even in the 1960's cost a fortune, sadly she went blind, probably from her painting efforts. I never really bought into the Kevin Dallimore style of painting. Clever yes, but somehow too cartoonish even for me. I was impressed by the paints that were created by Foundry to go with his style of painting. And the reason for this painting post? The figures that are attached. I am currently looking for painting inspiration for my next project, a Polish Renaissance army when I came across the above figure which is for sale on E Bay. Who wouldnt want to own this wonderful work of art, all you need is over £1000 for the one 54mm figure.Why is it I never won the Euro lottery? maybe because I never bought a ticket. But if I did, this painter would be commisioned to paint me a Polish army. Sorry Dave youre sacked!
Then of course if I only won the local lottery I would commision the painter of these Gendarmes to cobble together a modes army. Anyway back to reality.


10 comments:

  1. Agreed. Although there are many other skilled painters who have come along since, Gilder and Mason are still the tops to my eyes. No one manages, even today, to animate figures through painting and/or conversion they way these two have done.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Evening Stokes,
      I never met Peter Gilder, but even his early painted figures were in advance of anything else of that time. I would love even just one of his renaissance figures.
      Thanks Robbie.

      Delete
  2. The 54mm Russian pieces are superb, I have looked at many of these at the Toy Soldier shows, breathtaking.
    Robbie get yourself on the AMG forum Doug posts a lot, loads of pictures etc his work rate and talent are second to none.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Evening Graham,
    I joined at the weekend.By the way, I thought you'd have bought a unit of lancers.
    Thanks Robbie.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Robbie,
    Way out of my league! Don't forget to keep visiting the forum and chipping in, John has a habit of removing people who join and do nothing!!!
    Graham

    ReplyDelete
  5. Graham,
    The forum only survives on members like yourself!
    Lurking is no good to anyone, more so, on a private forum.
    John

    ReplyDelete
  6. John,
    and what a forum it is, I've gained access to more information, talent and skill in the last few weeks than the last ten years!
    Graham

    ReplyDelete
  7. Graham,
    The forum is blessed with many riches. AMG is very lucky to have such a membership.
    John

    ReplyDelete
  8. For me its always been chaps like Bill Horan or Mario Venturi or perhaps Max Longhurst or Shep Paine- none of these are wargames figure painters since I was a 54mm painter before I laid brush on the smaller stuff. I'd also cite Nickolay Bokarev of Drabant- I have a couple of his early pieces.
    I do find some of todays wargames painting very stylistic and dead comapred to Yes Perter Gilder or Doug Mason.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Evening Andy,
    Thanks for that, I couldnt remember Max Longhirt's name. Its a senior thing.
    Thanks Robbie.

    ReplyDelete

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating