Painting class with Massimo Pasquali & Aleksander Michelotti

Hello guys!!!
Today I had a really great day! I spent 10 hours painting with two masters: Massimo Pasquali and Aleksander Michelotti. The class was supposed to be two days long but a series of unfortunate events lead to just one (I am one of those responsible for it, so sad!).

As I just said the class started at 9.00 and after a brief recess for lunch, we ended at around 19.00.

The day was planned as this:
- 1st part  EVERYONE painting human skin with oil colors
- 2nd part EVERYONE painting some cloth with acrylics

I will not share what secrets the two "Maestro"'s shared with us, because you were not there, but I will post the pictures I took of the day.
Obviously I am not in any picture but you can see the result of my WIP in a few shots.

I will not comment every picture except those deserving it  ;)

Admiring the pieces Massimo and Aleks brought for us to watch and oogle!

 My piece with only a basecoat on the jacket

Let's start the day with Massimo explaining the theory behind his oil colors.

Massimo's recipe for human skin. Just 4 colours (more or less).

Old but always amazing!

GNAM GNAM GNAM GNAM GNAM GNAM GNAM GNAM!

He was so intent explaining that he moved at the speed of light!

LUNCH BREAK

2ND PART: Attack!!!!

My oversized workstation!

He didn't know where to start from! So many questions and at a rate even a computer could not react!

It's me keeping working at it.

Massimo at work with acrylics! Un-be-lieve-able!

Aleks showing us a strange technique with Dino Pivato's typographic metal colors.

Matteo "Mù" Murelli dropping by. That's his first victim! After that he stopped painting. So sad, so sad.

Let's the contest begin! Divide which pieces are Massimo's or Aleks's.

CAKE! CAKE! CAKE!

Read More

King Maulg

Ciao Guys!

When I took it in my hands the King Maulg by Figone, I decided to try the new SkinSet by Scale75 'cause I was curious to see how It was.

As always starting with the double primer, first in black and then white zenith, (both by GW) I continued with a airbrush coat base with mix of Basic Flesh Flesh + Pinky by Scale75 more than a hint of Navy Blue Andrea.

Given the base I added to the previous mix a bit of Light Skin by Scale75 to set the first light on the volumes of the model.

At the end of this process I made a very diluted wash of GW scab red all over the skin to highlight and contrast vaguely volumes.

The first shadows are created adding Indian Shadow by Scale75 to the Base tone.

The second shadow was made with a purple tone (GW scab red + navy blue Andrea) and a bit of tone base.

Then I gave a second light to the model adding even more Light Skin Scale75 to the first light compound.

So I spent a couple of glazes on all skins with the same purple (GW scab red + navy blue Andrea), who allow me to give some complementary contrast to the yellow tone that the skintone has in the meantime taken.

I go down even more by using a shadow Navy Blue Andrea. So I increase the light adding Pale Sand by Valleyo to the second light compound.

Usually I alternate light and shadow to move away gradually from the middle tone, but then a glaze with a base tone colour allows me to strengthen the medium tone, which in the meantime had a bit muffled.

As a final touch I increase again the lights adding Pale Sand Valleyo to the previous mixing until the result satisfies me.

For the base I used a branch and then painted, and the ivy is “Poison Ivy” by the Army Painter. 

And here you can find the finished model, I hope you like it.

In conclusion, I am very satisfied by the skintone set by Scale75, the finishing is really dull and working mainly with hazing and glazing, I find it wonderful.

The only drawback is the lack of few tones that I necessarily integrated with other color brands.

Overall definitely PROMOTED

If you want to vote it or comment it, you found it on CMON and on Putty&Paint.

For all Facebook follower I would like to recomend my FB page  https://www.facebook.com/littleherozpaintlab

See you soon!

Samuel "Sam" Diociase

Read More

Painting demo with Matteo Murelli aka Mù - Metals - Milan 01 March

Hello readers,

Yesterday in Milan we had the luck to watch a live demo painting session by Matteo Murelly aka Mù.
The event was held at Maloma Games, a studio/shop opened just a few months ago, where the owners Marco and Alan will host events, gaming sessions and painting courses.

The session was about painting metals, what to do, the preparation of the miniature, what colors to be used and so on.
Obviously watchers could intervene and ask Matteo questions.

While watchers watched, the owner had some shady dealings in the back.

The final result, obviously crappy photos done with manual focus, battery fading and no tripod!!!

Than the host of the afternoon offered eats and drinks to those who wanted.

COMING SOON:
Painting course with Massimo Pasquali and Alex Michelotti

Read More

Weathering magazine issue 4 & 5 COMBO REVIEW

Hello readers,
Today I will offer you a combo review!
What is that, you say?
Well, simply put, I am lazy and I want to write only one big review instead of two.
Well, there is another reason, and one that I want to share with you:
two weeks ago I finally found some time to go and buy a few things to my favourite modelling shop in Milan. And by chance he had my numbers of "The Weathering Magazine": issue 4 and 5.
I went back home and started reading. Blimey! But the Mud issue was missing quite a lot of pages!!! And not just a few as I presumed when the shop vendor told me about "the few missing pages". Well, I said, let's try contacting the company itself.

I opened up my Facebook account and sent a message to Ammo of Mig. Honestly, I was very dubious about them answering me. During the years I contacted many companies (big, small and medium) asking for infos, but very few of them replied. Well, just after one day - ONE DAY - I was contacted by Rob, a team member. He told me the matter would be dealt by Spain headquarters. Well, after a few mail explaining in detail the problem (the issue was missing something like 12 pages), they asked my address so that they could send another issue replacing the one I had purchased.

THIS IS HOW IT IS DONE! WELL DONE! WONDERFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE! LEARN FROM THEM!

Yesterday I got the issue in the mail.
And here we are.

Issue 4: oil and engines

pages:  66
price:   8,00€

I have mixed feelings about this issue. As figurine and sometimes scifi vehicles painter, I found all these articles about engines and oil a little bit dull. Let me explain. The target for these magazines are vehicles painters (I want to be as general as possible). More specifically those who want to achieve a realistic look. For them the articles are a trove of references and techniques. For people like me who would like to do things more fantastic, they are a bit boring. What I need is plasma residues and Unobtanium scorch marks!!! Eh, eh, eh.
Infact my favourite articles are those treating scifi veichles/mechs.
Look at the pictures to get the idea of the contents

Issue 5: Mud

The first one and the second one, but with all the pages!!!

pages:   70
price:    8,00€

This is one awesome issue!
The numbers of techniques, the differente mediums, the different landscapes are incredibly varied and convincing. All the articles can be used in any scenario and world I can think about (mech, tanks, figurines, fantasy, scifi, historical...). Basically the articles present you a chance to learn how to make "normal" terrain (not completely dry) and muddy terrain.The first part usually shows how to prepare the base, then briefly, the terrain and finally the mud part.
Let me be clear, more than the other issue, you will be asked to use specific earth products to achieve those phenomenal results. Well, take it responsibly, because except for a few very interesting products(eg enamel earth effects), all the results can be achieved using one technique or the others. Well, using only acrylics would be an enormous enterprise, but you be the judge.

In my opinion there is one article that really shines for inventivness and creativity:Autumn Road by Rubén Gonzalez. There are no veichles but it's pure WWII diorama! Just love it!

I want to end this big review addressing one complaint I heard quite a lot regarding the product placements in these magazines. People grumbles because "They want to sell more of their products". Well, yes, that's the point of making those products for lazy modellers. SELLING. But unlike the rest of the companies that sell modelling products they are honest about that, and instead let people, in one single magazine, see what they get and what they can achieve with them. And be honest! How many of you doesn't know another way to make more or less the same effects using many other products and time consuming experimentations?
Personally I will not buy all those fluid/effects/serums/powders. I will select just a few that I whink will be useful in my future works. But here's the deal: I learn new things while I am at it!

So go buy the magazines! They are little treasures and worth every damn euros!!!

Andrea "Kraan" Buratta

Read More