Gentleman Jack Mini Part Two

Progressing on to the next stage of the Anne Lister miniature, this is the more-or-less finished base. This was done using some very simple modeling grass, as well as various vegatation tufts produced by The Army Painter. I used four different kinds to add visual interest and variety to Miss Lister's Yorkshire setting. I also added some stones found in my back alley. I positioned these specifically so that they "point" to the figure's feet and lead the eye towards it. The pathway is Sand manufactured by Citadel.

Not too shabby.

Moving on to the figure itself, I needed to do some add some details in order to make the figure more closely resemble the photo image I am working from. Which is this:

Suranne: Call me!

I felt I really needed to add to the miniature's nose, which is one of Ms. Jones' defining features. As well, integral to the image of Anne Lister are the "croquettes", the false hair pieces you can see at her temples, very fashionable in 1835. We know she wore these from her portraits, and the actual hairpieces are on display at her ancestral home, Shibden Hall, near Halifax in Yorkshire. The nose, croquettes, collar and neckstock were all modeled from Milliput epoxy putty. 

After the putty set, I went on to give the figure an overall acrylic basecoat.

From here, I will start on applying oils, as I did with the boots and gaiters. I like to work in oils, especially in this kind of scale, because I prefer the freedom the wet-in-wet method affords me. I will probably start (as many modelers do) with the face and flesh tones.

There is also a fairly high gloss on the neckstock that I didn't anticipate. I will have to correct that with the oils, otherwise it will look as if the cravat is made of vinyl.

The challenge with this figure overall is the large, unbroken area of black in the coat and skirt. Not all blacks are the same--the textiles they are made of will reflect light differently, but they still have to look black when I apply highlights.

So I have a number of challenges to meet with this project, and I am anxious to see how it goes.

Stay tuned!