Gros Napoleon at Jaffa (2 Viewers)

[blaster]

Worked more on the native physician. Completed most of the upper body half and head. Noticed the cartridge-like box under the left arm.

Refining the drapery and musculature of the two lying figures. The writhing figure is pulling his hair with his clenched fists in agony.

Added more drapery to the seating haunted figure. There are several other bodies to the left of this figure.

 

[blaster]

The figure of the dying soldier tending to a plague victim is being shaped. I've actually gone further than this but haven't taken updated photos yet.

 

[Markster]

Awesome !

 

[blaster]

Hi Markster,

thanks. This piece will definitely extend into the new year. I plan to take a long vacation in Europe in Dec.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Hi All,

Here's an update on the project. I took the assets out and displayed them for FY accounting.....

Closed up together, the disparity in size can be noticed between foreground and bkgd figures.
I still have about 5 more figures to sculpt before I start to finally detail them.

 

[Ivanhoe]

Hi All,

Here's an update on the project. I took the assets out and displayed them for FY accounting.....

Closed up together, the disparity in size can be noticed between foreground and bkgd figures.
I still have about 5 more figures to sculpt before I start to finally detail them.

Thank you for posting !

You have made outstanding progress on this massive project.

 

[blaster]

Hi Matt and all,

Now that I've put my laurels back to hang on the plinth in my Paris and Helen diorama, time to revisit this monster here.

I built up a box and a stage for this project and tested the setting with the figure groups. I placed some cardboard cutouts to stage the scene.

In retrospect, I really need to have my head examined.

Rgds Victor

 

[Obee]

Victor,

that's looking wonderful, with the figures now boxed. Keep up the good work, and posting images as you go,

John :smile2::smile2:

 

[blaster]

Hi John,

Good to hear from you. The box and frame are well built and fit well. My carpentry work is improving...

I restaged the figures. The proportions of the architecture are weird. The archs have no keystone. etc. The stage was tilted more to accommodate the size variations in the figures. I will emphasize the perspectives in this piece.

Now reworking the two arabs feeding the sick. The back arab has been trimmed down in height by a few mm. I've also started to detail the other figure groups and will paint them in stages as I proceed along.

I think that this empirical method of working is unavoidable in making shadowbox dioramas as constant adjustments have to be made.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

After another round of scrutinizing the painting, here are three figure groups which are undergoing resculpting and being further detailed.

Napoleon has had his head elevated. I intend to sculpt higher shoulders for him to create a longer torso.

The sick man being helped by the arab has had his face, torso and upper legs completely resculpted. The left hand has been extended and bent.

The dying intendant has had hair added.

 

[blaster]

I had a really busy and fun weekend doing my favourite thing besides watching a remake of Mary Poppins. Not bad but it's not the original.

As there were several figure groups being worked on in various stages, I thought that it would be clearer if I recounted each figure group in sequence. At least, the WIP pics would show the process of development.

Starting from the left of the picture, I started on tthe two soldiers leaning against the wall reaching out for the bread dispensation. These figures are seen partially and the bodies and lower legs are purely conjectural. I try to use up parts from rejected figures where possible.

 

[blaster]

The two arabs dispensing bread loaves. I finished the drapery on the front figure.

 

[blaster]

The spooked figure leaning against another figure. After making some adjustments to the drapery, I've started to add washes of dark paint to the figure.

 

[blaster]

The shrouded figure. The figure is really quite dark and the dark washes are to capture that likeness.

 

[blaster]

The two lying prone figures.

 

[blaster]

Meanwhile, the backdrop of the piece has been covered with gesso, ready for painting. As this is a big project, I am just trying to improve on the efficiency of execution.

 

[blaster]

The Napoleonic group. Napoleons shoulders have been elevated by a few mm.

 

[blaster]

The sick figure being assisted by an arab has had his left hand extended and bent. The lower right leg has been substituted.

 

[blaster]

The soldier figures being examined by Napoleon has had the trousers completely resculpted and and painted.

 

[blaster]

The dying intendant and dead patient. Most of the sculpting has been done. I have started adding strong shadows and highlights to create the dramatic mood expected from this piece.