Kumo Nest (2 kumo)

 I adore the L5R setting, and I have an extensive collection of the Clan War line. At this point I would consider these fellows a rather rare find. They are part of the Shadowlands army for that old game, which I always thought was odd. While they are definitely predators, they are more like spirit-animal-people rather than forces of evil. Some are definitely evil, though, and these sculpts are definitely on the creepy side with humanoid faces in their abdomens. The sculptor did a good job - I'll have to look 'em up and credit the work here.

These paint-jobs are on the older side now, but I think the effect really works. I wanted to emphasize their unnatural / spirit nature with the bright green (which I tend to use to convey "soul energy" in my paintings) and very sharply highlighted blue-black carapace. While the paint is old, the base is much younger; they have been re-based. Re-basing miniatures is a hassle, but I felt like the original base was way off theme. A few years back I ended up completely reworking the base and I am now pretty happy with how it turned out. I even like the little toppled shrine I sculpted to tie it in with my other L5R minis. So, while I have shared these elsewhere, they have never been photographed in their current form. 

From a presentation perspective spider shaped critters can be tough, so I went with multiple angles. It is a little busy, but provides a better sense of the actual miniatures.

Taki-bi no Oni, Greater and Lesser Elemental Terror of Fire

 While I am thinking about Rokugan, I figured I would follow with this pair of miniatures completed in 2013 - nearly a decade old! My Rokugan project is one of my first paint projects, and may be my longest running. I am not a fan of the Clan War model for the Terror of Fire, but I found a suitable pair of miniatures to represent both the Greater and Lesser forms in my collection of Reaper Bones. They are described as female forms of bright green fire, hence the unusual color for these elementals, but I have come to really appreciate them. This color palate is broadly used in my collection to symbolize spirits, so its use here has good continuity with the rest of my collection.  They definitely stand out!

Asahina Tamako, Crane Damio and Shugenja

 This model is part of my extensive Clan War collection and was originally completed in 2017. Progress on this project has been slow, but it is one of my most enjoyable; I hope to complete the entire line at some point.

Crane clan is my least favorite of the major clans (too prim), but they have some excellent and expressive character models. I plan on using this fellow more generically as a Shugenja magistrate, but it is nice to identify him as the named character. The Clan War line is long defunct and all traces of it are nearly scrubbed from the internet, so, actually identifying the miniatures requires a good amount of sleuthing. I guess that is half the fun of a collection of this type.

I don't paint humans too often, but I thought Tomako came out well. Its a subject I know is weakness of mine, so these clan war pieces are a good opportunity to develop my skills in a critical area.

Haniwa Clay Golem

 

A new paint job! Golems are one of my favorite subjects to paint, but it occurred to me that I don't have one of the most common varieties represented in my collection. I found a few options but a free STL by Clay Rade was the obvious first choice for me.. It is based on real world dancing clay sculptures from ancient Japan that were left in funeral mounds. I thought it might work well in both my generic fantasy and my L5R setting collections. 

The paint work itself was very simple - it is nearly a mono-color palate for the golem itself. I decided to paint it as a speed-paint to squeeze it in between the larger projects I am working on this year and it was an excellent "palate cleanser."  I'm not really happy with how the base turned out (I over did it on the sand/gravel) but I don't really want to commit time to changing it. I was hoping it would fit the description of the cave that the clay golem in The Lost Caverns Of Tsojcanth, and it was a near miss.

Shadow assassins (4)

 This set of models was completed in 2016, and was the start of my obsession with the AEG Clan War line of miniatures for the L5R universe. Since this time I have collected nearly every SKU ever released (and some that were not), and I have grand ambitions to paint them all. having 4 unique models for each blister of troops and many unique characters as well gives the line depth in the range that cant really be found anywhere else, even in the modern era of digital sculpting. I have a few more WIPs for the scorpion clan, so they should be a well rounded battle group before long.

Oni No Mizu (Water Terror / Elemental / Demon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a large number of elementals of various types I have completed, probably far more than I will ever need. Still, I want to do more! Similar to my fondness for animal minis, there is something very fulfilling about painting something that is naturalistic. It is also very forgiving with paint.

I wanted this (evil)  mini to be distinct from my already completed water elementals, so I went with a very green "pond" palate that was suggestive of some ancient evil or corruption lurking in the depths. the higher contrast this afforded lead one of my better attempts at painting water. 

I recall being conflicted about how to construct this mini - the hand emerging from water can face either direction. I opted to having it face inwards to emphasize that it was an animate creature capable of independent moment, but I have since seen it constructed as a wave. in retrospect I would have preferred that arrangement (I believe that was the intended configuration), but I am still satisfied with my depiction.

This Oni No Mizu is technically part of my extensive L5R/AEG/Clan War collection, and I look forward to really focusing on them at some point in the future.  

This is an archive piece I am just posting here now, and was originally finished /published in October of 2016.

 

 

Foo Dog

 This happy Foo Dog by Reaper is a fun piece, with a characterful face. It deserved a place in my Rokugan collection and the golden fur was pleasant to work on.