Thanks for your comments Glenn, Keith and Pedro.

Started work on oil washing the cloak last night with Winsor Red to bring out a deeper, richer tone in the red colour. The wash creates an unwanted sheen on the cloak which shows up glossy in the photos, but will be neutralised later.

Also painted the first coat of the Vallejo bronze colour (mixed with Jo Sonja Burnt Umber ) for the helmet, chest armour and greaves.

Looking mighty fine Tony.
Watching the metals develop with interest.
Your work on the cloak is paying off.
All the very best,
Keith

Thanks Keith, I did a second darker shade of oil wash last night by adding some Burnt Umber to the Winsor Red and just focussed on the deep shadow areas of the cloak.

I've also laid in the shadows on the bronze greaves, chest armour and helmet in preparation for some highlighting and then some oil washes.

It's slow steady progress at the moment but its starting to look the way I envisaged it in my mind.

Hi Tony
Great WIP love the face painting I spend ages looking at the technics of painters with regard painting and it is always an inspiration , great face paint ,looks a cracking fig , will follow with interest
Cheers Chris

Thanks for your comment Chris, I appreciate it. Here are some more progress shots from last nights painting session.

Still working on building up the shading on the cloak. A darker wash of oils (Winsor Red & burnt Umber) over the red colour is starting to bring out the deeper tones in the shaded areas. I've also done the first wash of Burnt Umber oils over the bronze metals of the greaves, chest armour and helmet..

Hopefully I'll get some time over the coming weekend to start work on the highlighting of the cloak and armour, and get started on the leather. I also have to start on the shield and the hand carrying the sword.

Hope you like.

Looking really good Tony.
The cloak is a real tease, slowly coming to life very nicely.
Metal parts look excellent then you add another wash and the whole thing moves up a notch.
Good work,
Keith

Hi Tony, this is shaping into one masterfully painted figure, mate.
It was really inspiring to see it up close at the club this week - the painting on the face just blew me away!

Face looks great!!!

Hi Keith, thanks again for your comments mate. Much appreciated.
Hi Nick, cheers buddy. Hopefully by the time our next meeting comes along this figure will be gathering dust in the cabinet and I'll be on to another figure.
Hi Christos, thanks very much.

More progress over the weekend. Painted the sandals, detailed the metal pieces on the armour and helmet, glued the head on the body and strated work on the shield and the hand carrying the sword.
Hope you like.

Great work all around! Will follow with great interest!
Cheers,
Zeno

Love this, and one of my favourite history subjects.
Watching with anticipated interest.
Karl.

Looking good Tony will keep watching.
Brian

Looking fantastic so far Tony, the face is superb.


Cheers David

Outstanding Tony, the face and cloak are just super.

Don

Coming along beautifully Tony. As others have said face is superb.
Cheers
Derek

Zeno, Carl, Brian, David, Don & Derek, thank you very much for your comment and encouragement guys.

Last night I started work on the elaborate Praetorian shield design. Unfortunately Tommi Whorton doesn't make shield stencils in 200mm so I've had to go back to basics with a pencil and some tracing paper. I've copied the shield design from a text book. Rather than go for the scorpion motif which is the one most commonly associated with the Praetorian Guard, I've gone for the moon and stars motifs. Trying to keep the design looking symetrical is the hardest thing.

Here it is in its raw outline, and the shield design (in blue) I used as my inspiration.

Looking really good Tony, love the look of the leathers
Ben

Thanks Ben,

Still a lot more work needed on the sandals, but the pterges are looking good now.

I spent last night outlining the shape of the painting on the shield with my paint brush, following the pencil lines I drew on the night before. Hard to keep everything symetrical on a curved shape like this.

Loving the shield, mate. You've done a great job making the design symetrical.
It's going to look very impressive once those wings are painted!

Cheers Nick

Here's a progress pic on the shield. Still a lot more detail to be added.