Crazed Owlbear

 

This is a really wild model from Reaper Miniatures. It definitely doesn't look like a classical owlbear, instead it is a slim, wild-eyed and berserk mutant. while this isn't what I had in mind for my run-of-the-mill owlbear encounter, I think it works perfectly for the crazed owlbear found in Cragmaw Castle of LMoP, so it found a home in my collection. The end effect with the tiny pupils isn't perfect but it is definitely unsettling. It was nice working with the different shades of brown on this model, but it wasn't an overworked piece so the work is otherwise unremarkable. I tried to play up the crazed angle in the paint by adding details such as a frothy mouth and bloodshot eyes for a "that owlbear isn't right" effect.

Because this model is so specific, I still want to complete a regular one for the random encounter table of LMoP. I'll do another with a very different aesthetic now that I am nearing a complete LMOP set.

 

Giant Spider, Forest (3)

 

 

These were fun! Every collection needs giant spiders, and I wanted to mix it up a little.  The  LMoP encounter in "Ruins of Thundertree" calls for a pair in a woodland setting and I thought that the classic black or brown spider wasn't the best fit. Instead, I elected to base them on the white-banded crab spider, known for its diverse and interesting coloration. Check them out; crab spiders are really cool. This splash of color was a refreshing change of pace from the color palates I usually work with -  beautiful and deadly! 

The awesome models used here are from Otherworld miniatures. I am a huge fan of their old school take on monsters. In this case, the sculpting style definitely contributed to the impression of a crab spider - they were a perfect fit. I have a few more things from Otherworld in the pipeline.

My giant crab spiders sit on 40mm bases.

If classic dark creepy crawlies are more your style, don't worry, I plan to do some underdark themed spiders for their next appearance.