I am starting a new WIP string for painting my 1/6 bust of Pat Cleburne, the Confederate general killed attacking the Union works at Franklin Tennessee in 1864. Cleburne was a massive loss to the Confederacy as he was one of its best fighting generals.



Sculpted in Sculpey firm and Magic sculpt. Will be painting him in acrylics and inks. Primed in Citadel skull white spray.



Colin

Looking forward to your WIP Colin, this will be very interesting. Regards, SG

To sculpt and then paint your own busts and figures is the mark of a true artist Colin. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

Hello Colin, I forgot to ask you in my last post. Are you familiar with the painter John Paul Strain? His civil war paintings are unbelievable, showing great detail and authenticity. He has done a few with Gen. Cleburne. His Guns Of The West portrait shows Forrest, Cleburne, and Granbury, at Spring Hill Tennessee, on Nov.29,1864, and it is excellent. His site is at http://www.johnpaulstrain.com/ Regards, SG

OK Colin

Pitter-patter-let's- get-at-'er!

I am dying to watch this develope with colour. You have developed a distinctive style to your painting that I personally quite enjoy. I find you develope depth with shading instead of the current trend towards exaggerated highlighting. I find that depth through shadow is more natural... but that's my own opinion

Carry on

Colin

Thanks guys and thanks for the perspective Colin. And thanks for alerting me to Mr Strain SG. I had not been aware of his work before, although I may have seen one or two of his pieces without knowing the artist. The two paintings I saw in his catalogue with Cleburne are very well done. I really like his use of light and colour and his portraits look to be well researched and accurate.

One of the reasons I decided on Cleburne rather than a better known ACW general was a jigsaw puzzle I bought quite a few years ago. It showed a mounted Cleburne about to launch his division into the hopeless action at Franklin. The Rick Reeves painting that formed the basis of the puzzle was called "Twilight of an Army." Its amazing how artistic inspiration is seeded.



Colin

Hi Colin,
The sculpting is really well done.......your best to date?
I love your handling of the cuff detail, truely awesome.
Great work Mate looking forward to the colouring in.
All the best,
Keith

Colin excellent sculpting and looking forward to seeing him painted. Just back from visiting Franklin and coincidentally I bought the book you mentioned "Stonewall of the West" an interesting character and a great place to visit .

Cheers Ken

Thanks Keith - yes I think this is my best so far and I learned a lot, including lots I would do differently next time; which is as it should be.

Thanks to you too Ken. I envy you getting to Franklin although I understand that a lot of the battlefield is gone. The preservationists are making inroads though and they have bought a property formerly occupied by Pizzahut where Cleburne was killed (?) I will get there soon I hope. Can't wait to see Carnton. Franklin is a long way from Cheshire!

Colin

Great sculpt and subject matter.
Gordon

lovely stuff Colin, your bust is a cracker and then to prime and paint it. The work of a true artist.
Cant wait to see your finished results.

Don

Hi Colin,
Eagerly waiting on the sidelines for some colour, good luck with this one.
cheers
Richie

Starting his face and eyes. Base is Liquitex Pro Deep Portrait Pink. First shadows are Vallejos. Eyes are Liquitex.



Colin

Added some Liquitex raw umber ink to pick out shadows.



Colin

Blended the undercoat of Liquitex a bit more. a
Added some Vallejos fairly roughly - sunny skintone + basic skin tone + old rose. Undercoated his hair and facial hair. Lots more to do but it's starting to look like a model.



I dropped him and broke his sword .....knew that would happen. Just saw from the pix that I damaged his kepi too. The perils of working on large heavy pieces.

Colin

Well on the way Colin. Always a challenge to do a character piece.
I just can't get my head round acrylics particularly on a bust, they just don't give me anywhere to hide.
Oils Rule
Looking forward to further progress
Cheers
Derek

As always, great brush skills Colin.
Sorry to hear about the breakages but welcome to my world of make break and re make.
Brilliant work Mate.
Cheers,
Keith

No worries, my friend! You are not the only one. Happens to me all the time, specially when is done. One of the Murphy laws, I guess.
Nice work, so far! Will follow step by step!
Cheers mate!
Zeno

Looks really good.
Maybe you should hit the gym once in a while

Colin

Added some Liquitex inks and some more shading.



Colin