Monday 1 February 2016

From IanW Curtgeld Schindlers List 20 points

I came up with an idea for Gamblers and Risk Takers which I planned to go with but my wife Cath came up with this one, far better than my original. I think Otto Schindler not only took massive risks once he realised just what he had been doing but poured so much into his ever increasing risks he took to create a safe place for the people he was trying to save.

 The hunt was on for two suitable figures, I knew immediately what I wanted to produce, just needed to find it. Both Cath and myself spent an evening looking for suitable figures with Cath finding the little girl whilst I ended up on Dixon's site looking at Gangsters!

It was clear right from the start I would have to tackle greyscale, something that I was rightfully worried about, given the skill set of the recipient. I then set about searching for images that would help with the painting. Both film stills that really helped and grayscale images to give me a better idea. I went on Curt's blog and very nearly called it off given that one of the figures Curt had already painted as part of his WWI Greyscale Project!

My risk taking came in the form of conversions, you have to keep to the theme you know. The best looking figure for Schindler had the wrong headgear on, a cloth cap really would not do but I had a Artizan Partisan who's hat worked but face did not. Hat swap rather than head swap then. The girl simply needed cutting away from mum and hand re-cutting a bit. I also raised the arm just a fraction as I wanted her to be reaching. On the other hand (the gags keep coming) I wanted Schindler to be reaching down so cut the gun out of his hand and bent that downwards. 

After a lot of filing the hat was in place, mind you the back of his head was not. On taking the cap off I had cut away a chunk of his head and had to replace the hair with some white putty. The hat also looked far too small but it was the only one I had so would have to go with it.

The greyscale was challenging and whilst it's no Curt it captures what I had in my minds eye. I have tried to keep to the depth of colours from the film though he wears both light and dark shades of coats the greatcoat seems to have been always rather light.

The coat had great definition to work with and as it was about the last part to be painted I was starting to feel more at home with the process. Good job as it's the most obvious part of the figure. In the end, once painted the hat actually looks about the right size, panic over.

The girl was much easier to work on, though I spent a lot of time on that coat before giving up and adding a wash to get as close to the look as I wanted. It was at this point I knocked a new and full pot of GW Nulin Oil over the table wrecking my other work meaning I had to go back to primer on my next submission, oh joy.

I was originally planning on having the girl on a snow covered section with Schindler on the summer base, in the end I thought it would work better just bleak on her half of the base. I was trying for them reaching over the impossible void and she obviously is the "could have saved one more" from the movie.

So hopefully Curt will forgive me my use of a none standard sized base, I could not get the look I wanted otherwise. I have to say that I am rather pleased with the result and maybe just maybe I can be forgiven for Dylan last year ;-)


Wonderful and very poignant vignette Ian.  You have captured some iconic imagery from a powerful movie.  Well done with the figure search, the hat swap and the conversion work.  You also done a wonderful job for your first foray into grey scale.  As someone who games with Curt on a regular basis, I fully understand the trepidation in venturing where Curt has gone before.  His painting is intimidating to beheld in comparison to.  

39 comments:

  1. Nice conversion work Ian, and a great first attempt at greyscale painting - I know how difficult it is from my Curtgeld of last year :)

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    1. Thanks Tamsin, I was relieved I did not screw it up :-)

      Ian

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  2. An excellent Curt guild piece I think you did a good job on Grayscale something I haven't dared to attempt.

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    1. Thanks Adam, I think I will call it a day after this one just to be safe LOL

      Ian

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  3. Really poinient figures. It works really well and is one of my favourite submissions this year. Be proud of it

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    1. That's big praise indeed, many thanks

      Ian

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  4. Brilliant idea and brilliantly executed.

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    1. Thanks, obviously Cath takes a big chunk of the praise here

      Ian

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  5. I'm almost speechless Ian. This is a tremendously brave piece to undertake and I think you've done a masterful job on it. I love the simple but elegant conversions, especially the addition of the fedora and the arm positions of the two figures. Your greyscale is very good and the saturated red of the little girls dress adds drama to the piece as a whole. Wonderful work and a great vignette underlining this year's theme. My thanks to you and Cath.

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    1. Thanks Curt, I was worried you might not "like" the subject as it's uncomfortable but seeing your rendition of the original women and girl I was put to ease a little

      Ian

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  6. A really excellent piece on many levels!

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    1. Thanks Edwin, the thinking level is all Cath

      Ian

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  7. Wow - very, very well done, very moving.

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    1. Thanks Greg, that was what I was aiming for

      Ian

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  8. That is a sensational idea and really well done.

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    1. Thanks Michael, Cath made me do it :-)

      Ian

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  9. A good idea, well executed Ian

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  10. Excellent little vignette! You've definitely managed to capture the feeling of the film.

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    1. Thanks, it's made me want to watch it again

      Ian

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  11. Poignant is the word, very well done.

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  12. Tugs on the heartstrings. Well done!

    Christopher

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  13. One of the coolest entries I've seen this year. Well done Ian (and Cath)!

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    1. Cath was the catalyst so she deserves most of the praise

      Ian

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  14. Excellent interpretation of the theme and excellent result. Well done.

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  15. What a fantastic idea and brilliantly executed. You're right in that it is a little uncomfortable, but that means you've absolutely nailed it. Great interpretation of the theme!

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    1. Thanks Jamie, I only get 50% of the credit though, Cath is now charging me an idea tax!

      Ian

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  16. It is less comfortable than breezeblock underpants! The Grey-scale has come out very well. All praise the mighty Cath and Ian.

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    1. Thanks Clint, Cath did laugh at that

      Ian

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  17. One cannot watch this movie without getting the shivers and not understanding how people can do these things to one another, but your vignette displays just that what the movie intends to do: show people that war doesn't only bring out the worst- but also the best in people. "He who saves one life saves the world."

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks Sander, really pleased with how it came out

      Ian

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  18. Beautiful work, brilliant concept.

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  19. Beautiful work, brilliant concept.

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