1st Entry from MartinN: Not "Dorian Gray" Entry Fee Figure (20 points)

To bring myself and my brushes up to operating temperature for this years challenge I wanted to stay within the theme of the challenge with my first submission.

Ever since Curt has announced this years topic I knew what I wanted to do for the Entry Fee figure. Back then when West Wind did their "Empire of the Dead" Kickstarter I almost joined in because of the dark and menacing look of the Steampunk world they created which I liked a lot. But as I had (and still have) much too many distractions on my table I passed on the chance and said to myself that one day I could still paint the one or other figure.

So when looking for suitable figures I knew it had to be something from that range and indeed I found a figure which to my mind perfectly matches Curt's description of the to be Entry Fee figure.

So I present to you Mr. Dorian aka as (Not) Dorian Gray.

Having myself set the target of doing as much Greyscale figures as possible and get my First Indochina project off the ground he too now suffers of a little monochromity. Also quite fitting in regard of his surname me thinks.

I have to say I came to love this kind of painting and the more you practice it the easier it gets and it can safe quite some time compared with my regular way of painting. I also quite like Curt's idea of adding some eyecatcher in red (I assume films like Sin City and 300 being his main inspiration for this) and so I had to copy it shamelessly.

So I hope you like him Mr. Curt especially as he reminds me of some amiable Canadian with similar fancy facial hair and a preference for tweeds.

From Curt:
Ahh, wonderful stuff Nick! Thanks so much. He's a marvellous figure and I'm flattered you did him up using a greyscale approach (a technique which I think you've eclipsed from my original efforts).

The facial hair is spot-on. Now, if I could only come up with that impressive mane of hair...

20 points to you Mr. Niklaus!