This past week I wrapped up the Bones 3 Townsfolk set by painting the Half-Orc Merchant figure.
I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying it. I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then placed the figure in my painting grip.
I began by giving the figure a wash with Reaper MSP "Grey Liner"; and when that was dry, I painted his face with with a mix of Aleene's "Deep Khaki" and Americana "Shading Flesh". I then painted his pants with Anita's "Burnt Sienna"". and his coat with Crafter's Acrylic "Orange Spice"
Next, I painted his hat and gloves with Americana "True Blue", and then did all the trim on his coat, hat, gloves, necklace and the sign disk, with Accent "Golden Harvest". After that, I painted his collar and stockings with Folk Art "Platinum Grey", and then did his hair and shoes with Ceramcoat "Black".
While I had the "Black" out, I also painted his backpack frame. I then painted his belts with Accent "Real Umber", and the pouch on the front with Ceramcoat "Black Cherry". After that, I painted his side pouches with Reaper MSP "Turkey Brown", and his sign pole with Reaper MSP Bones "Cinnamon Red". I also decided at this point that I wasn't doing to make the sign disk gold; but instead I wanted to do it white like a sign board, so I painted it with Americana "Snow White". I also, thinking the gloves looked fingerless, went pack and painted his fingers the same mix of colors I had used on his face.
It was then time to work on his load. I started by painting the keg with Ceramcoat "Territorial Beige", and the small case with Folk Art "Hunter Green". I then painted the bundle with Folk Art "Barn Wood", and the chest with Americana "Light Cinnimon". After that, I painted the fittings on the chest with Ceramcoat "Bronze", and then painted all the rope with Americana "Khaki Tan".
Next, I painted his necklace and buckles with the "Bronze". When everything had a while to dry, I gave the entire figure a wash with Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade" wash. When this wash was dry, I painted the eyes and fangs, and then highlighted his face with a mix of the "Deep "Khaki", some Aleene's "Dusty Khaki", and a little Crafter's Acrylic "Flesh". I then highlighted his pants with Americana "Georgia Clay", and his jacket with Crafter's Acrylic "Pure Pumpkin". After that, I highlighted his color and stockings with the "Snow White", andhis sign pole with Americana "Opaque Red".
I then highlighted the trim on his coat and hat with Crafter's Acrylic "Bright Yellow", and his hat and gloves with Crafter's Acrylic "Tropical Blue". Next, I highlighted his front pouch with Americana "Burgundy Wine", and his side pouches with Americana "Sable Brown".
At this point went around back, and highlighted his keg with Americana "Bleached Sand", and the case with Americana "Festive Green". I then did the bundle with Folk Art "Porcelain White", and the chest with the "Sable Brown". I used the "Bleached Sand" again to highlight the ropes.
Next, I highlighted all the "Bronze" with Ceramcoat "14K Gold", and highlighted the backpack rack with Accent "Princely Pewter".
Keeping with the medieval tradition of merchants using signs which depicted what they sold, to help the illiterate populace, I tried to think of what kind of signage a general merchant would have (which I thought this fellow looked like.) I finally decided on a pan scale to represent "Trader"; and so, after repainting the sign with the "Snow White", I painted on the pan scale with the "Black".
Lastly, I painted the figure's integral base with Americana "Bittersweet Chocolate".
I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave it a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish. Then, when the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to flock the base. Another overnight dry, and I sprayed it with Testor's Dullcote".
I'm really happy with how this big fella turned out. I wanted him to look flamboyant, figuring he'd dress brightly to attract customers, and to show he's a man of means; but also because I thought he is probably self-conscious about being part orc, and considered by most folks to be "ugly", so he over compensates with his clothing. My only unhappiness is with his sign, which I saved for the last and ended up rushing. I'm not happy with how it looks (I think it looks more like a sailboat, than a pan scale!) and it just looks amateurish. I may go back and re-do it if it eats at me enough.
I like the interpretation of his clothing as flamboyant to make up for the fact that he is a social outcast, and I think your color scheme goes well with that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the sign, it is hard to have something iconic and also fit a small round circle.
Thanks, LP! Glad you like that color scheme. It was a little daring to do, so I wasn't too sure about it.
DeleteYes, the sign is very small; that's one reason I went simple..though I may have gone too simple... :P