Painting the Archduke of Mousin
This project came about as an offshoot of the recent Red Dragon project. As I submitted images of the Dragon to a painting contest, there were several variants of this guy submitted. I really like the idea of a little mouse community where one of them braves the wild and fights the snake that had been tormenting their village. Along the way he befriends a Red Tailed Shrike which would normally eat a mouse. I was generally amazed at the quality of the sculpt and thought it would be a lot of fun to paint. I've never painted feathers before and it was definitely a challenge but I think it turned out quite well in the end. Lot's of really thin layers to work up to the appearance of detail. I did a lot of research into the bird itself as well as field mice and different nuts, the shield is the shell of a chestnut and his helmet is an acorn. I even looked up some leaf variations to see how far I should go with the heart shaped leaves on the base. The blue feather is a reference to the book Illusions by Richard Bach.
Check out the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-3xm7jZr52k
Amazing, Brian, brilliant detail, an incredible world that I didn’t even know existed.
Thanks George!
That's definitely some incredible paintwork, Brian. A beautiful result.
Thanks Tom, much appreciated!
Stunning painting results, Brian!
Thanks Spiros!
Amazing paint work, Brian @brithebuilder
The brownish effect on the feather edges gives a very nice effect.
Thanks for sharing the informative video.
Thanks John, I appreciate it. I'm glad you liked the video!
Why, I've met the Archduke of Mousin many times and his cousins have been over for lunch at several of my out door job sites. Just recently, the cats dropped the ball while watching Bird TV. One Channel very basic but, it has a captive audience. One of the cousins broke through the defenses and put the Mrs into a panic. Something about the mouse Zombie apocalypse with the visitor quickly being sent out the door.
Brian,
What a neat demonstration of painting and observing the great out doors. Something folks can miss out on when confined to close quarters. Especially during the winter if your lucky to live where there is snow and ice. Being one of Gods frozen ones I, make it a point to have several bird feeders around the house and your interpretation of the bird and the mouse bring things a little closer to the story line. It works and looks like great fun.
Smashed the like button.
@stephen-w-towle - Thanks, I live in Wisconsin, so, yes definitely have snow and ice. I also have, I believe, a few of the mousin folk living in my attic.
I appreciate the Mouse Zombie Apocalypse reference as well. My wife is similar. She had a bit of an issue recently as she heard 'something' when she opened the garage door.
I do attempt for most of my builds and paints to at least add as much realism as possible. Obviously things like Warhammer Knights & Red Dragons don't exist but it's still fun to paint them as though they do. The mouse and bird were great on this one as I could actually reference photos of all the real things. Also a challenge due to the amount of variety in them.
Keeping with the mouse in the attic theme. I've not only experience the same . . . I'm a veteran of the Wood Pecker in the attic. The enemy/bird has pecked holes through the wall of my house. I've met the enemy at the top of a ladder 2 stories up. I can relate with the bird theme.
That had to be quite an experience. I'm laughing, but it would not be fun to fall off that ladder. Damn...