Curt & Sarah's Challenge XV Wrap-Up

Hey All!

Sarah and I finally managed to get ourselves organized enough to arrange the stuff we had completed during the Challenge. First up is a few words from Lady Sarah...

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Hello Everybody!

What a terrific group of folks to have spent the past three months painting toys!

I’m only sorry that I wasn’t able to paint more... my work schedule changed to mostly weekends/evenings and well, world events have been exhaustingly chaotic of late. 🤷‍♀️

My modest output included a couple of buildings (no points for this year), 6 character figures and a swan.

My favourites are the fancy Venetian Couple - elegantly mysterious in their dark clothing, and the mesmerizingly lovely Green Dancer.

Thank you for the Challenge everyone!

Be Safe, Be Kind

Sarah 😊

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As to myself, I found that my Challenge was a little hit an miss. After a reasonably credible start I ran afoul of a nasty flu, and that along with a much-needed trip away kept me from from the brushes for almost a month. Nonetheless, all winging aside, I'm very happy with what I managed to get done over the three months. Here are a few of my favourites.

Hapless Mooks

The Emperor and his Thunder Warriors

Ned & Norri

Wretched Royalty for Mork Borg

Greek Ships for Thalassa

10mm Dogs of War

Shikigami Boss for 'Hametsu'

If I'm not mistaken I think each of my 15 entries covered a unique genre, with no repeats, which very much pleases the squirrel in me. But really the best of all was the wonderful camaraderie and the simple joy of seeing the work of my fellow hobbyists. Mark up another great Challenge!

Tomorrow (Sunday) I will publish the voting poll for Challengers' Choice, so keep an eye open for that, and on April 20th I'll make the announcements for it along with Sarah's Choice and Snowlord's Choice.

Have a good one!

Curt

Sunday's with Sarah

Hello Everybody!

Its late Saturday night and I've had a long day, I'll be back in the morning to assume minion duties!

There is a great roster of talent to look forward to, get your beverage of choice and settle in.

This photo I took Wednesday morning 7:37am on the morning dog walk, just before sunrise.

- Sarah

Sunday's With Sarah

Hello Everybody!

Very happy to report that we here in Saskatchewan have emerged from being the coldest place in the world (Tuesday was -45C!!) and are enjoying single digit temperatures (still negative temps but hey ... this weekend has been lovely with sunny blue skies and the sun is sooo warm).

As the voracious reader that I am, I have finished the Fourth Wing and have just begun the second book in the series, The Iron Flame. 

Thoroughly enjoying it so far... I am only on page 54, but I do like the direction the series is headed... political coverups, rebellion/revolutionary factions, strange & nasty beasties to fight and of course dragons. All very entertaining and I'm so pleased that my local library had plenty of copies available. No long wait list!

I worked late tonight (Saturday) so will be doing the 'minion thing' during the day on Sunday. So please check back later and admire the goodness that the Sunday Team has for your enjoyment.

Have a great day!

- Sarah

From Sarah: ‘Leda and the Swan’ [Lust] (30 Points)

In Greek Myth, Zeus was infamous for his lust and the objects of his lust transcended gender and species.

Here we have Leda and the Swan in which Zeus, disguised as a swan, seduces Leda, wife of Spartan King Tyndareus. Later that day, Leda also has relations with her husband and consequently hatches either one or two eggs. The eggs are two sets of twins, Helen & Pollux and Clytemnestra & Castor.

Most of the paintings and sculptures depicting this myth are both violent, graphic and NSFW, however Leonardo Da Vinci’s sketches for an unfinished painting survive and show Leda with her newly hatched children and the Swan.

The Swan is a 3D print that Curt found on Thingaverse and the Noble Greek Lady was a figure that Curt had already printed.

Straightforward paint job on the Swan, though the black/orange markings around the beak were a little tricky!

Leda, in a simple white robe and pale yellow shawl, also a relatively easy paint job.

However, I really struggled with skin tones so I had to ask Curt for a bit of help. :)



Leda 28mm 5pts

Zeus/Swan 5pts

Location bonus 20 pts

30 points for me!


Thanks for reading!

- Sarah

 

Sylvain minioning for Greg: A very interesting choice of figurines. Despite the simplicity of the white paint job, details of Leda's dress can be easily distinguished, hinting at a Grecian pattern. Another great entry for you! 

 

 

From Sarah: Carnivale Dancers (10 Points)

These two lovely and flamboyant Dancers will be colourful additions to the gaming table.

Dancer #1 with swirling pink skirts is a 3D print from the Great Grimoire. 

She is a beautiful sculpt however I thought the mass of skirt was very heavy looking, so I thought to paint the skirt to resemble a light, floaty sari-like fabric. After much thought, I used Vallejo Rosa with smatterings of GreenStuff World colour shifting Red Goblin & Nebula Copper.

Dancer #2 with the green pantaloons was a much easier figure to paint. Maybe because I decided on a simpler colour palette?

Another 3D print, this one from Galaad Miniatures.

Once again, Curt dashed to my rescue to help with the skin tones, faces and the dancers’ abs … they are fit!

Both of these Dancers will join my first entry of the Masked Carnival Couple as part of an upcoming Venice/Carnivale Game. Though, I hope Curt will find they’d fit right in in any bar/tavern setting too!

2x28mm 5pts each = 10points

I have a few more Venetian characters that I hope to have ready for next week … but firstly the 3D printer needs some maintenance & I’m not sure my place in the waiting queue?!

Thanks for reading!

-Sarah

 

Sylvain minioning for Greg: Nothing static in these two figurines. Their limbs are extended and  the apparent imbalance of their pose as well as the position of their hair suggests dynamic gestures. Dresses and accessories add to the illusion of twirling motions. Very well done!

 

 

 

 

From Sarah: Two Sweet Wee Buildings Started Last Year (Limbo) (20 Points)

Hello Everyone

These two buildings have been primed and patiently waiting for colour since at least last Challenge. Me thinks they are "seasoned' and now ready for their close up!

My foray into painting  buildings in an "Impressionistic Style" a la Monet continues with these two slightly eccentric villas. 

I've chosen a coastal colour palette of muted earth tones -  to reflect the windswept environs of the Holiday Beach Villas. I think the lavender and pale blue shutters add both a whimsical touch and a holiday vibe.

Here is a group shot with some buildings from last years Challenge. I really like the sense of whimsy and fairy-tale quality of the wee buildings. I've had a lot of fun with these and I hope Curt will indulge me and let me paint more buildings for him. :

I know that buildings/terrain have no Challenge points, so I'll be claiming the 20 bonus points for fulfilling 'Limbo'  and this entry will start my descent into the Abyss. 

Next week ... Lust! 

20  more points for me!

- Sarah

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Hello again Sarah - so nice to see more work from you! 

Ah, terrain...you are so fortunate to enjoy painting it! Personally, I struggle with painting terrain. Not that I never do it, but rather that it always finds a way to sit at the very, very bottom of whatever painting queue I might have in my mind. 

But enough about my hobby-mental-hangups! This is about your work, and your work here is tremendous - at once warm, whimsical, and tuned to just-the-right sense of otherwordliness. Such is the power of well-painted terrain, it helps us set the mood and adds so much more not only to a display, but to a great game!

Well done - that will be another 20 points for your total. 

GregB

Sundays with Sarah

Local boys playing night hockey on a neighbour's home-poured ice-rink.

Good Morning!

Most of Canada is under a Polar Vortex for the next few days. As I write this on Saturday evening the current temp in Regina, Sk is -30C with windchill -38C, and overnight lows of -39C with windchill -44C.  Yikes!

But, we endure ...  the Campbell Household is stocked up on groceries, media/entertainment and are in our coziest clothes and will really try not to leave the house too much.

Currently, I am reading and thoroughly enjoying "The Cloisters" by Katy Hays - a story of Renaissance magic, tarot cards, academic obsessions, pursuits of power and the search for personal truth.

Huckleberry "demands" that his photo is included

There are some great posts for your Sunday perusals ... Napoleonic Highlanders, vintage Talisman figures, more Dwarves from Rhys, Space Marines, and checking off some more levels of the Abyss

Enjoy and everybody stay warm (or cool if you are in those parts)!

- Sarah

Sunday's With Sarah - January 12

 Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to the second Sundays with Sarah!

This week I have discovered music by French artist, Zaho de Sagazan, "les Symphonie des eclairs"... cool indie/techno/post modern sort of vibe. Totally recommend to any of you keen on new music. I think this album may even make it onto Curt's playlist!

Huckleberry and I enjoying the winter sunshine.

Huckleberry has my back while I compose the Sunday missive.

Now, to the business at hand. We have LOTR from RhysH - Fili, Kili and Bilbo, and Benito's Uruk Hai warg riders, and a reminder from MartijnN That Winter is Coming.... Rumour has it Teemu may have a late entry.... stay tuned!

- Sarah

Sundays With Sarah

Sundays With Sarah

Welcome Everyone to Sundays with Sarah! 

It has become tradition for the Minion to personalize their weekly posts, so this space will feature some of my favourite things. We are fortunate to live in a very quiet neighbourhood with a lovely park all around. One of my favourite tasks is going out  walking with the doggo:

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

-25C, with windchill -38C, Extreme Weather Alert

I'm currently reading The Housekeepers by Alex Hay. An inventive and thrilling heist novel set in Edwardian London. 

The Snowlord is happily ensconced in his painting corner, our most excellent hound, Huckleberry is satisfied after a cold and snowy walk and I have settled in spend some time reviewing the  Team Sundays painting efforts. What a treat this will be!

There is much goodness ahead ... Arabs to Wizards, something for everyone to enjoy.

- Sarah

From Sarah: Happy New Year and Two Venetian Carnevale Dancers

It’s great fun to be back for this years Painting Challenge and I really hope to meet my modest target of 300 points.

Curt has ‘enlisted’ me to also minion the Sunday Team which will definitely be a challenge for me both on the technical side and comprehending the sheer variety of models, genres, vehicles, game systems etc that will be put forward.

Bear with me everyone… (I’m not really a gamer - I just like pretty colours and cool models), and I’m sure Curt will be exasperated with all my questions before posting on Sundays with Sarah.

My first entry are these two Venetian Carnival figures. I’ve always loved the mysterious look of the masked Carnival and this pair really caught my eye. (Printed Obsession via MyMiniFactory).

I wanted the couple to look mysterious, elegant and even a little nefarious hence the deep black and metallic blue colour scheme - evoking night and water - all the better to blend with the shadows while plotting in the Venetian plazas.

Full disclosure … Curt painted the hands/masks and did some detail touch ups .. Truly, I don’t believe any figure could be painted in this house without the Snowlord adding his brush strokes.

Curt will be using these figures for his upcoming Carnivale games.

2 figures, 28mm = 10points

Next week, I’ll be visiting Limbo and then journeying through Dante’s Inferno, hopefully I’ll make it through Paradise by Challenge end.

- Sarah

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Welcome back to the Challenge Sarah! I know I speak for all AHPC vets when I say your contributions are eagerly anticipated. These two figures look amazing, and the metallic blue is a particular stunning success. I feel like a dance with this couple could lead to all manner of outcomes...everything from an assassination plot to the launch of some sort of new crypto-token scheme...

Exasperated by questions? Don't be silly! One might assume that closer engagement with the hobby lowers the number of questions, but in fact the opposite is true. It is the nature of the gamer and hobbyist to ask more and more questions, of increasing levels of inanity! For example, someone, somewhere is seeing these two beautiful, mysterious carnivale figures, set for a secret ball or sinister celebration, and asking themselves "I wonder if I can get a metallic blue like that for my Alpha Legion Space Marines?" So I'm sure you'll love Sundays :)

Great opening entry Sarah - we look forward to more! Happy New Year to you and all who dwell in the land of The Snowlord!

GregB

Sarah & Curt's Challenge Wrap-Up

Hi All!

Sarah and I had a great time with the Challenge this year with the Library setting providing lots of fun for themed entries. I'll hand over to Lady Sarah before chatting about the awards for this year.

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Hello! Sarah here,

This was my third challenge as an active participant and I’m super pleased that I surpassed my goal, but I also think this was my most enjoyable challenge yet!

The Library Theme was quite inspiring since I don’t paint armies (haha... Curt probably wishes I would) but instead figures that appeal to my sense of whimsy.

The book stacks will see good use in Curt’s Moonstone Games, the Baker Oostwaert will soon be shipped off to my minion Martijn, the Wuthering Heights trio will live in our library alongside with the Brontë book, while Elfio and the rest of the library denizens will reside in my own little display case in Curt’s Gaming Studio.

The Regina Public Library accepts donations of all kinds and also receives funding based on circulations, so that's how I chose to offer my support.

During the Challenge, I checked out 8 books, two of which may be of interest to this group:

'The Librarian of Burned Books' by Brianna Labuska

Set in 1933 Berlin and 1944 New York, a story of the rise of fascism, complicity, banned books and of course difficult romantic relations set against the chaotic times of war.

'The Blue' by Nancy Bilyeau

Huguenot refugees in England, political intrigue and espionage and a quest to discover a new shade of blue in the high stakes world of the European porcelain industries.

Thanks for the terrific Challenge, now back to Curt!

-Sarah

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Hi There,

As to myself, I'm happy with what I got done, though as usual, I found myself constantly distracted along the way, especially with all the excellent work being displayed by others during the Challenge.  

I did manage to keep my eye on the ball to get the majority of my figures done for 'Hametsu'. This has been great as I've managed to host a few games with them over the winter and its nice to see them all properly done up in colour.

I also managed to complete a load of 10mm Warhammer Fantasy stuff. I now have a good start on a Beastman herd, added a sizeable reinforcement to my Night Goblin mob, and made inroads on a few detachments of Undead and Daemons. Fun!

Probably my favourite project of the Challenge was working on the Trojan Horse and Odysseus' raiding Greeks. I really enjoyed doing the research, scoping the scenario and collecting the miniatures for this little diversion.  I hope I can keep-up the steam and get enough done to have a skirmish game sometime in the near future.

The rest of my efforts ran the gambit from Moonstone, to Metis with many stops in between. All of which I really enjoyed as well. A terrific Challenge to be sure! 

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I want to remind those who haven't yet, to please send in your nominations for Challengers' Choice. I'm hoping to get a voting poll up next week and a post up announcing the awards for April 21st.

Have a great weekend everyone!

- Curt