Native American Flute Player

[JamesOLeary]

Here is the bust that I will be working on for this Campaign. In honor of John Bowrey, it will be a non-military piece to try to broaden my horizons. I am making this for the Native American Exhibit Gallery I am working on at the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum. It is kit B10019 Autumn Song by Black Dog Miniatures.

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I first painted in the shadows and whites of the eyes.

 

[JamesOLeary]

I then mixed up a base coat and applied it.

 

[JamesOLeary]

Then I mixed up several highlight tones and started applying them.

 

[JamesOLeary]

After painting the face, I continued on to the exposed skin of the neck and shoulders.

 

[JamesOLeary]

I then painted the eyes, the base color of the hair, and pre-shaded some of the other areas of the bust.

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Thanks for looking. Take care and stay safe.
Cheers,
James

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Excellent photos James! Thanks for showing your process and how you brought his face alive!

 

[Iron Mike]

Skin tones and highlighting are very natural and lifelike.

 

[moon puppy]

Wow, it's like he's coming to life.

 

[sharkman]

Oh, that is looking good!

Still waiting on my figure... tracking says it is stuck in customs!

 

[JamesOLeary]

Thanks, Guys.

I like how this figure is turning out. It has me motivated to do another bust once this one is done.

Here is the bust with a dark base coat for his buckskin shirt. It is Formula P3 Battlefield Brown. I don't remember if I added a lighter color to it or painted it on straight as is. Damn, that was just yesterday or Friday.

 

[JamesOLeary]

Then I used Formula P3 Rucksack Tan as the base color, mixed it with Formula Ps Battlefield Brown. I started with a darker mix, then kept adding Rucksack Tan until I was using straight Rucksack Tan as the lightest highlight. I think the colors really captured the texture and color of the buckskin shirt. It is pretty darn close to to one of the examples that we have in our Museum's collection.

 

[JamesOLeary]

Here is the figure with the fringes painted, the jewelry painted, and ready for the hands and flute.

 

[moon puppy]

James these progressive updates are great we can really see the techniques in play.

 

[JamesOLeary]

Thanks, Bob. Once I get the hang of posting photos on this new site, I might be able to do a better job explaining what I did. That is, if I can remember what I did. Perhaps I need to write some of that stuff down since it is usually a day or two between me doing something and taking a photo and then actually downloading them to my computer. I'll get it figured out, though.

 

[JamesOLeary]

The figure is now complete. Getting the hands to stay in place was a pain in the butt, and I don't think I got them quite right, but the kit did not match up very well in regards to the hands connecting to the arms. Here are a bunch of photos. Not sure why there are some with color differences, but that is how my phone took them. Perhaps it was when a cloud passed over or something. Anyway, I think this bust turned out fairly well. Now I have another to work on, some figures from Tartar Miniatures, and a diorama in progress of some Masterbox figures breaking camp and packing their travois.

 

[JamesOLeary]

And more photos since you can only post 10 images per post...

Thanks for looking.

I hope everyone stays safe and in good health.

Cheers,
James

 

[Iron Mike]

Looks awesome, James!

 

[Brokeneagle]

Nice!...different subject than the usual too.

 

[JamesOLeary]

Thanks, guys. Yup, it sure is a different subject than the normal Vietnam subjects I usually model, but you will be seeing more Native American pieces from me in the near future.