Glossies painted by Beating Retreat (2 Viewers)

Very late to this thread but...

Art in numerous forms can really raise my pulse. Great artworks - perhaps a Samuel Palmer watercolour, fine furniture - maybe a Jacobean linen press, wonderful pottery - 16th century maiolica, beautifully engraved coins - think a Victoria gothic florin and, after going through this post and the website and having calmed down sufficiently to type, now simply glorious glossies.

I am not sure which adjectives remain unused on this thread but these are simply masterpieces. Someone mentioned the finish creates a porcelain like effect and I have to agree. If you have seen a collection of early Meissen figurines (there is a fabulous one in the Fitzwilliam museum in Cambridge) and compare them with the best that Chelsea or Bow produced in tribute there is simply no comparison. These are by far the best gloss toy soldiers I have had the pleasure to see. Thank you so much for sharing so much.

On another note I have the mortar model in the very first set of pictures which I purchased a while back from John Eden and which has sat unassembled in the lead pile for far too long. Having received the parts but no instructions as to how the final assembly should look I had relegated this potential gem to the back of the queue. Thanks to your post I can see how it should look and it's time in the dark is coming to an end. I would love to know how you did the rope for the hoist?

All the best
M.
Hi Malcolm

Thank you so much for your kind comments. When I first started painting in this style it was my intention to try make the completed figures look like porcelain. I mainly use Vallejo and Rowney tube acrylics with two coats of miniature paints gloss acrylic varnish which is very tough and non yellowing.
I use humbrol Matt white to prime all my figures usually two very thin coats being careful not to obscure the detail.

The rope on the mortar was made from two lengths fuse wire wound together using a small metal vice to hold two ends together while the other ends were secured in a dremel tool and wound slowly together. Painted in white primer then various colours and washes to get the desired effect.

Hope this has been helpful, thanks again for your kind comments.

Regards John

You might like to see this www.beatingretreat.com
 
John

Thank you for your reply. Art is about creating an emotional response. Your glossies certainly did that in me.

Very kind of you share some of your painting materials / technique and also the rope "trick". 😉

I have been off the forum for too long due to various circs. but have been having a good catch up over the past couple of days and am being inspired by what I am seeing. I have never tried acrylics but they seem to be "the thing" these days and look to be better for achieving detail. I am going to have to give them a go.

All the best

M
 

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