Vasily Zaytsev: Second Sighting
About a year ago I posted a few images of my first figure painting, famed Soviet sniper Vasily Zaytsev, the bust itself modelled on the period of Stalingrad 1942.
I recently used the base for this figure for the Sgt. Masterson bust (posted here). Rather than buy another base for the sniper, I took a few pieces of part-rotted conifer, and a little undergrowth and leaves, and created a natural scene-with-base.
I also took the opportunity to repaint the face and hands, and to rework parts of the uniform and cape, which changes I think are an improvement on the original offering.
I should add that the first photos here show the timber with a brown dye in places to add depth to recesses. I took the photos forgetting to go back and apply a wash of grey enamel to 'silver' the wood overall. The last two images were since added to show this detail.
Enemy at the gates! Love it mate!
Thanks Richard.
Astoundingly realistic Rob. Like it very much!
Cheers, Morne. Nothing like a bit of creative recycling...
Fantastic Rob, the same as Richard enemy at the gate.
I like the base as well.
The base I spent only about two hours setting up. The 'pedestal' the figure sits on is the residue of a knot in the wood where the surrounding timber has rotted away.
Well done Rob, the ground work on the base really enhances the bust by adding a context that, for me at least, just grabs the eye with a complete picture. I really like it much better than just the bust alone, but I can't explain why coherently. My Arkansas educations bite me again.. 🙂
I think it helps to set the subject within the context of the story. I've observed, strangely, that a single bespoke figure set to the back story at its most dramatic can produced an effect as pronounced as, say, several military figures in a 'standard' diorama.
Thank Rob, that's exactly what I wanted to say. 🙂
It even LOOKS a little like Jude Law...nice work, sir. 🙂
Cheers, Craig.
Very cool, great looking wood effects.
Great build, that captures this bitter fights really good,great diorama
Good imaginative use of natural materials here, Rob. The textures of the base definitely help to create a realistic atmosphere, and the improvements you've made to the figure raise the standard even further.
Thanks, George. I've since gone back (yet again) and treated the wood high/low points with pastel dusts - Russian Earth and Panzer Grey etc., which give everything a subtle, subdued quality. I thought I might have made a mistake using the dye but now with dusts added the dye is more of a faint shadow, so all's well!
Rob,
I just can't say enough of how much I am in awe of those tat paint figures. You are an artist.
Cheers, Frank. Presently doing a couple of others, also 19th century British Army pieces - a nice change of pace.