Well boys and girls. Here's my version of Young Miniature's Ardennes US GI bust. Sculpted by the more than capable hands of Mr. Huroyuki Ishii (I bow in humble respect!), and cast perfectly by Young, this bust is one to write home about! Flawless details, great subject, just can't say enough good things about it! I did a little research and found out the 1st infantray division was deployed to Bullingen, Belgium in the Ardennes, in Dec. of '44 at the onset of the Battle of the Bulge. My version is painted as an early deploy from that time period. This allowed a bit of fun with painting the "Big Red One" shield on the helmet. The only thing I added to this piece was the extra "ring" towards the top of the gun in wire. All painted in oils over acrylics, and the metalics are printers inks mixed with oils. Oh, and about the brass buttons on the jacket, I was told that the early jackets had these and the later ones (aproximately this time period) had the greenish plastic buttons. I decided he was wearing an NOS ("new old stock" for those that know custom and classic car tems) so that I could get a better contrast visually. I don't want to start a debate about "history vs artistic liscense" here, just thought it looked better, and created a better contrast visually that's all! I really pushed my usually darker flesh tones to be much more lighter this time. I really wanted the look of "cold". I added extra reds to my flesh palette to emphasize this (much more on the nose and under/around the eyes). I have a couple close-ups of the face, and one of the hand (that one just because I was proud of the way I was able to detail the fingernails with the cuticle and all!). Hope you like it, any and all comments are welcome. Thanks for looking!

Jay H.
Okc

Excellent work Jay. I had the opportunity to see this in the flesh and the photos do not do it justice........simply awesome painting.

Great work Jay!!

You certainly know how to chuck a bit of paint around my friend. Truly fantastic!

Very Well Done !!!

Carl

Lovely piece Jay. Very realistic. Thanks for sharing it with us

Xenofon

Fantastic work Jay.

Roger.

fantastic!

beautifully clean and spot on!

Mark

Wow a true work of art, great painting.

Cheers Ken

Hi Jay,

Fantastic paint job mate. This is an awesome bust and you've done a great job on it. Interestingly, all the versions I've seen of this bust on pF look very different and unique.

Beautiful work my friend. This piece is the evidence that a well sculpted piece helps painter a lot. Your skills rise a lot over a well defined sculpture. I like all details and effects you have performed and i think this one is definately among your best works, if not the best yet !!!

My congratulations

Costas

Hello Jay,

It is very heavy to say which part of this figure is good or better .I like very much your painting and entire colour spectrum you used. Its appearance looks realy cold and is responsible to the situation.

Kveto

Excellent Painting

Superb and subtle work on the blending Jay, but the eyes are just great !

Thats a real nice job Jay, exellent result.

Steve

Hi
Superb paint, congratulation .Martin

Hello, Jay.
The feel of a material of the soldier's clothes is wonderful.
Very artistic.

Mitsutaka

Nice work my friend. Hope to see it live in Chicago

Stephen Mallia

Well done! I like it.
M.

Excellent job!! The photograhy is spot on!! Can't wait to see whats next form the Sambaman!

Hello Jay,Fantastic painting.Very realistic.Great attention to detail.

Kind regards,John

Excellent paintwork on this marvelous bust.

Marc

Great work, Jay! I've got this one on my workbench and will keep your version as reference.

Matt