Huge Snow Golem and Friends

The biggest of the bunch! This huge snow golem is truly a massive threat, and represents the apex of my current snow golem project from Schlossbauer. I really enjoy that it appears to be an amalgamation of the other forms - distinguishable heads of small golems cover its body, which mirrors the shape of the medium golems, and it has a crown of ice from the large golem. There was some fun discussion surrounding whether the other forms coalesced into the huge boss, or were shed from it, or both - no matter what it seems like a fun series of encounters to run. As with the other snow golems, I wasn't totally happy with my execution, but I'll look to improve in future cold themed monsters (e.g. the ones missing from this current series). The combined effect is pretty satisfying, though, for such a speedy project.

 

Large Snow Golem

This big fellow is clearly a threat. The cute grins of the small snow golems and the oafish maws of the medium snow golems have shifted to a grimace of cold malevolence. The spines, crown and tusks of ice and slush, along with sheer size clearly mark him as as leadership. Given how scary the normal sort are, this thing looks to be a TPK in the shape of a snowdrift. A perfect post for a winter day.

 

The progression of this series from Schlossbauer is fantastic; the pieces are simple but gradually ratchet up the interest level.

 

This model was painted similar to the others, but has some semi-transparent effects. The method needs work, but that's the hobby! 

 

Snow Golems (2)

These brutes are the big brothers of the Small Snow Golems I posted last week. While they are "medium" sized they represent a significant increase in mass relative to the small versions. Their considerable bulk overhangs even a 32mm base - much bigger than your average snowman. The stat blocks on these monsters are pretty threatening, with heat sources being their only real vulnerability, and their frosty fists capable of pulverizing even experienced snowboarders. 

They were painted as before, only bulkier - very quick to the table with a solid end result for something with such a simple composition. I was pleased with the depth I managed - shades of white are surprisingly difficult. In retrospect I should've made at least one additional medium snow golem, if not more, as they are typically encountered in groups (drifts)? Fortunately it should be relatively straightforward to add some additional poses in the future. 

 Despite being much bigger and more dangerous than the smaller snow creatures, they are dim witted and slow to mobilize;  something else must be directing their coordinated attacks on travelers in mountainous areas......

Small Snow Golem Avalanche (12)

 

Whew, the end of one year and the star of another - it is always such a hectic time. In addition to more traditional activities, I'm always racing to complete my annual painting goals. I failed miserably as I usually do, but at least the effort propels me into the new year. 

For January I wanted to work on a complete series of winter themed models that  were very different from my standard meticulously highlighted stuff - these super cute snow golems!

 

The models are part of a series of winter critters released by Schlossbauer. They are very simple as individual creatures, but the the progression of related models really captured my imagination. Snow flock is a basing material I often use for wintery subjects, and I wanted to carry that effect through on these guys for consistencies sake. It was a delicate balance, though, because I wanted them to reflect the original artistry of the sculpts. To achieve this I spent a good deal of time painting and shading the model in an icy white palate, most of that work was then covered with a thin layer of army painter snow flock. It seemed like a waste of time at first, but a test piece reveled the added depth and tone from the process carried through to the final effect. The bluish mouth isn't very realistic, but breaking up the snow by adding a simple focal point the helps emphasize how cold they are. A lesson I learned from animators & film is that a feeling conveyed by a visual queue is often more important than realism in art. 

 

These charming powder-balls are small, and based on 20mm bases I 3D printed (without a doubt, I print more bases than anything else!). They seem harmless enough, and make me think of the hapless snow constructs from Adventure Time. In numbers, though, they might pose a noticeable threat to hardened adventurers. Well, at least they might perk their curiosity - where did they come from, and just how many are there? A foray into the deeper snow drifts might reveal additional clues....

Giant Four-Armed Gargoyle

 

Gargoyles are a fantasy staple; if you don't have gargoyles, you're doing it wrong! While standard gargoyles are a recognizable classic, this mountain of living, flying, rock with four arms and loads of animosity isn't what most people picture. It is a classic for the lich Acererak, though, and his opinion holds some weight around here. This model will make a nice leader / centerpiece for a clan of gargoyles I have been working on at the same time, but are just a little behind this fellow in terms of progress.

This very nice model is made by Threat Factory, who have earned an increasing share of my time at the paint table.  Their sculpts really appeal to me because of sheer paintability. This model was completed just in time for TF's paint contest. I don't expect to place, but I love to participate for the brief moments of community the events foster. I am a fussy painter, and models tend to slow down the closer they are to being done. I always want to touch up this-bit or that-bit, and I take twice as long to finish the last 10% as the preceding 90%. A paint contest and its deadline give me a good reason to just say "it's done" and just move it to the display cabinet. Heck, I should do more contests for that reason alone - a similar outcome for a fraction of the effort by forcefully bypassing my own indecision and procrastination. 

 While I personally love painting heaps of rock, I imagine it isn't super thrilling for others. The pop of orange eye-glow gives it that little bit of visual interest / focal point the model needs.  Normally I avoid the glowing eye trope, but it really fits for a gargoyle mauler. 

 

Mud Elementals / Mudmen (2)

 

These are a pair of classic Ral Partha mud elementals. They are simple to paint, and really fun on the game table. Mud elementals are among my favorite adversaries because of the interesting tactical challenges they present by merging with terrain. These were painted roughly 15 years ago (at the time of writing), when I was first experimenting with gloss effects, but I have never shared them before. 

Living Icicle / Iceheart Lamproid (5)

BRRRRRRRR!

with the cold snap I decided to shake off my painting slump of the new year with a speed-paint. not one, but five models in a single evening session! these little fellows (from PrintYourMonsters) are definitely fitting for the deep chill outside. they are notable for a few reasons, not least of which is that they are possibly the fastest time-per-model I have achieved, ever.

 This is the first time I have worked with transparent models. while I typically use clear resin, I have never once tried the painting techniques for clear pieces that have become popular these days. The method is very fast, relying on clear inks and, in this case, a light drybrush. I have some alcohol based inks I received as a gift awhile back, and have never touched them until now. Now, I'm glad I have 'em because it was fun to try new techniques and materials. A word of caution, though: transparent models and paints are unforgiving! I think I went a little too blue here, but there is no way back once that pigment is down. I think it still works, though - I have seen some pretty blue icefalls, and maybe the magic that makes them tints their color. While it isn't super realistic, it is definitely visually striking. Definitely a technique I'll try again.

Also worth mentioning is that these are an example of prints I have been making lately where I print the model already attached to the base. The supports are a little more tricky, but darned if it isn't fast, and it seamlessly integrates the model with the setting. Well worth the upfront effort, so it is something I plan on doing quite a lot moving forward. These were slightly reduced in size (80%), so the bases here are 20mm.

Finally, I should mention my true motivation with these models: they are for an adventure! An aspect of my gaming hobby I don't often discuss is that I enjoy collecting adventure modules (the old school ones, mostly), and I enjoy tying in my painting efforts to them. In this case, they aren't for an old school module, but the new free "Peril in Pinebrook" introductory adventure, which I thought was cute (& perfect for my kiddos). These Living Icicles are one of three or so encounters I want to prepare for that mini-adventure over the next few weeks. 

Stay toasty!

 

Sand Paraelemental / sandman (2)

 Following up on my elementals theme I seem to have going recently, here are a pair of "sand elementals" from Ral Partha's crucible line. These are great little sculpts that really capture the feel of beings made from sand very effectively - simple grainy details with exaggerated humanoid proportions. The styling works *perfectly* as D&Ds "sandman" monsters, which havn't seen much action, but are definitely very cool. These were painted ages ago - just simple drybrush and wash and the sculpt did the rest.

Water Elemental Daemon

 

The third in the cycle of Ral Partha elemental Daemons. These were the first elementals I ever worked on (many years ago), and they remain a passion of mine. Its nice to see a proper evil elemental. This was an early attempt at sculpting a base with greenstuff to integrate it, and I think the sense of motion is decent enough, even now. 

This may be my favorite of the four.

Earth Elemental Daemon

The second in the series of Ral Partha Elemental Daemons I have in my collection. This is my least favorite of the bunch, but I still think he is nice after all these years. each of these elemental daemons certainly bring something different from your standard elemental stuff. The fire elemental had a skeleton, this fellow has some plant elements, and they all have a definite sense of malice.

 

Smoke Paraelemental, Medium

 This is a great little model from Ral Parth's crucible line that really hits the spot for me. I like the coals effect and cinders on the base, and it strikes me a "moody" for an elemental creature. He its in perfectly with my other paraelementals.  

Edit: I just realized this is another MM2 monster! added the label.

Fire Elemental Daemon

 This toasty fellow is one of the oldest pieces in my collection, both in terms of the paint job is a very early one and because the model itself is a classic Ral Partha piece. I think it holds up pretty well after all these years.

Gargoyle

I completed this impressively large gargoyle made by reaper miniatures in 2015. This guy is solid metal and weighs a ton! I really like how it turned out and I want to to a whole bunch of similar but more conventionally sized gargoyles for my collection. I haven't posted this mini widely because I found it very difficult to photograph - any angle that shows its face tends to make its tail look......inappropriate.
 

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!

Inferno Spider

 

 

 I was looking for something to serve as the BBEG of the excellent introductory module "A Most Potent Brew" by Winghorn press, and I was delighted when I came across this STL! I can no longer find it, but it is a simple remix of an undead spider from one of my favorite 3D modellers, Schlossbauer, and a simple flame sculpt. Very effective, I think. I am running this adventure with my kids, and this piece definitely created the moment I was hoping for. 

In terms of painting, it isn't a very clean piece, even for a speed paint, but the fire looks good and hot, and the spider looks ....spidery, so I am calling it a win. The OSL on the floor isn't quite right - I still haven't mastered that technique without being paralyzed by fear that I will ruin the model and spending waaaay to long on it. So, even there it is a step in the right direction - I was faster at least!

 

Rockmaw and Rockmaw Whelp (Xorn)

 This is a nice pair of not-xorn from Reaper miniatures. as soon as the large rockmaw came in from the KS, I knew I had to pickup the whelp.  I love having multiple variants of monsters, even more so when there are young. I like a touch of realism in my high fantasy, and it is nice to have miniatures reflect that these creatures have an ecology and lifecycle of sorts (even if completely fantastical). 

I might need to get another adult to round out the family.

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.

 

 

Graveyard Elemental

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finished this big guy in March of 2019. Really easy and fun speed-paint, but rough on the wrist - he is a BIG chunk of metal. I like the concept of graveyard elementals from a painting standpoint - the earth parts are a snap to paint and the bones add some detail to make them pop, without being too time consuming. the glowing eyes and mouth leave something to be desired here. I think this piece would be better without the OSL (too quickly executed maybe? not dark & creepy enough?).  Its best not to overthink / overwork speed-paints, I suppose.

Oni no Jimen, greater and lesser (lava elementals)

I really enjoy the setting of Rokugan, and here are the first minis from that fantastic setting that I am sharing - the massive Oni no Jimen, the "Elemental Terror of Earth." these guys are portrayed as massive lava elementals  rather than the traditional earth elemental, which suits me just fine as I have a place in my collection for both ( I really enjoy painting elementals).
 The smaller "magma" elementals (some of which were reposed) are from the crucible line and were painted in 2014, while the large Elemental Terror is from AEGs clan war line and was the last mini I completed in 2015.

The painting and modeling itself is very simple, with bases created from polymer clay and GS, then painted quickly with a limited palate. while the work is noticeably rough in places it is the cohesive  feel that really sells these guys.