The invitational is ended... Hail Iron Sleet

So now, all the entries are on the web site...

14 entries and a bonus by no one else but John Blanche... What a great source of inspiration all around those minis... Go take a look at "The Invitational"

I'd like to congrats all the artists / contributors of this creazy project... and also a BIG THANK The Iron Sleeters for the idea and sharing this.

Why forums and other sites are so important

Hello followers... Today, I wanted to share with you my point of view on the forums and sites speaking minis.

I do not know if I can quantify the number of hours I spend to visit the different forums and solo artists sites. 

The fact is that I always find interesting things that either ignite my inspiration, or gives me additional information as a tutorial of paint for example. I'm hanging on the forum Ammo Bunker since May 2013, and I must say that I have made wonderful encounters. To name a few, I would say mainly Julian Bayliss, KrautScientist, Jeff Vader, Logan, PDH, or more recently, Drazul and Weirdingway. I forget a lot, and that those who do not read their names do not feel insulted ... you will be all in my hobby. 

Forums, are in my opinion the basis of everything (virtually speaking of course). It includes topics "basic" just dealing Warbands or killteams but there are also fantastic initiatives like Jeff's "Inspiration" or  Thistle's "Lord Nurglii versions - the remix's" . It is also an opportunity to participate in small challenges as Masterbuilder "March is make a mini from a movie" . 

Subsequently, the sites are "solos" as Ironsleet, Officio Convertorum Eternal Hunt, Four go to war ... that we always visit for read and reread. But the main point is that we can find common ground with this or that artist and, suddenly, it is based on his experience and his designs for progressing. 

I come now to what prompted me to write this article. Here is a warband of the standard type I painted it there for two years :   

Inquisitorial warband 25 May 2013

The buildings were more than basic, no real conviction. There was no treatment other than the wash, I knew nothing of Highligting and I refused to dry brush. The result was bland, tasteless, and lacked a touch of color to enhance the figurine itself as a focal point.

And there is my latest one :

Radical Ordo Xenos Inquisitor "Methus Swaire" 17 March 2015

In my opinion, although I am far from being the painter of the year, it's quite much better! There something living on it... Both, painting and modeling evolved thanks to everything I've read at the expert advices that were given to me.

So, this is why I found all of those important for the hobby life. Stay tuned!

Thank you for reading

Half way done to the Invitational...

So Iron Sleet post a pinch of WIPS pictures yesterday.

The building time is gone.... Long live to the painting time ! But for mr it's the hardest part.... All the posted entries can be seen here .

There are some really good things to see, and some big suprises too...

My work is base on that concept. It's about a type of sales by auction.... The guy on the mechanic chair is the auctioneer Léon Stravos, the mule with the cherub on the top shows the differents articles and the chrono-gladiator is just here to discourage the thieves.... Léon Stravos is monitored by the inquisition because he's selling a lot of stuff recovered from cadavers... imperial equipement, power armour pieces and sometimes chaotic relics....

Thank you for reading

The Iron Sleet Servo-painters... part 2 Kari

The second for today... and not least

Hi Kari and welcome to Legatho's warehouse!

Could you introduce yourself

Hello everybody! My name is Kari Hernesniemi, I'm 32-years-old and live in Finland. My first encounter with the hobby was back in the early 90's when I stumbled in to the Old World of 3rd edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle. I grew up collecting and painting a small army of Dwarves – and some Squats too. I've been painting miniatures for 10 to 15 years, depending the way of calculation.

Around 2004-05 I came back to the hobby, with new skills and visions based on nostalgia and memories. I started collecting old miniatures, building armies I used to paint and play with when I was a keen young teenager. This "Old Hammer" period lasted for nearly half a decade. I never finished an army, but started many – One of them being another old school Dwarf army.

In 2011 I traveled to Nottingham to take part in Golden Demon. I got my entry (The Goblyn Slayer) to finals (even though it was in three parts) but left without a demon. That didn't really matter at all, as I had a chance to meet and greet the artist whose art has had a great influence in me – John Blanche. That was a beginning of a new era in my hobby.

Could you tell us your vision of Warhammer 40k/ Inq28?

The dystopian future of the mankind is grim as hell, graphic and murderous place to try and survive. It's a realm of fear, Lovencraftian some could say. Even beautiful is bias, just "less ugly" or grotesque. This is the theme that I try to wrap my miniatures in. My vision is very much build around the images drawn and painted by John Blanche and Ian Miller.

What are your main sources of inspiration?

I get inspiration form many things, but the primary sources are – of course – John Blanche's art and the books like old Realm of Chaos and such. Horus Heresy novels are great too, though some of them maybe a bit too "heroic" for my liking. I could also pinpoint timeless modern design as an inspiration as well, as I like to make things look like if they have a reason and a function in the universe they serve. I like to balance this with chaos, so I get myself familiar with the abstract art, sometimes doing it myself too. I thing some Finnish artists like Akseli Gallen-Kallela have also given me some inspiration when it comes to adding that extra "Nordic Grim" touch in to what I do.

How do you choose your paint schemes? Do you stay on a coherency or did the mini told you how it want to be painted?

Keep it simple. One main colour and maybe one accent, very pale skin tones, rust and other weathering effects. That's pretty much my current style that I'm comfort to live with.

What are your favorites bitz?

Empire Flagellant heads are a must! I could have a fist-full of them and still run short.

Do you have any project on your workbench?

Indeed I do. Iron Sleet's INVITATIONAL (http://ironsleet.com/category/invitational/) is keeping me busy. I'm currently building my third art-scale Renegade Astartes that will be the part of All Your Bases Are Belong To Us challenge.

Last step, choose one of your minis (your favorite one) and tell us why. I'll do the same with what you made I prefer.

Hmm... I would have to go with the first Arco Evisorator, the Stryderre. The semi-original design that is strongly based on Arco Flagellants makes the thing also stand out. The Stryderre spawned the lot of Arco Evisorators that I made for John Blanche, the ones that were introduced in Warhammer Visions #12.

... It 's the same for me.... as I have already said in "Portrait of an usual slaughter"... 

Thank you for  reading

The Iron Sleet Servo-painters... part 1 Mikko

So... Mikko... an ex-Spiky Rat Pack... and now an Iron Sleet...

Hi Mikko and welcome to Legatho's warehouse!

Could you introduce yourself

Mikko Luoma,30, Helsinki, Finland, Been painting and converting GW miniatures since I was 10 year-old and I think I'll be continuing this until I die;) 

My work has been published couple of times in Blanchitsus but never slained a Daemon tho;)

Could you tell us your vision of Warhammer 40k

My vision of 40k is VERY Blanchian if you know what I mean;)

I literally grew up studying John Blanches artworks and that left me with a mark of Blanchitsu forever. Basically everything weird and grim fascinates me.

Fortunately there is still some unexplored territories in the 40k universe where I am free to roam and create my art.

My mission is to study the 40k mythos and create my own interpretations, this means that if I choose to re-design Squat warrior for example I don't try to replicate what was made, no, I want to go my own way! its re-designing not a retro-trip;)

This often confuses my fellow hobbyists who expect me to re-create rather than re-design.

I used to love when 40k was full of mysteries, half of the troop types in the army lists didn't even have miniatures, so you had to convert your own. Horus Heresy was only briefly noted in Codexes. See my point? Everything tends to get over-explained when they write not just one book, but whole god damned series of books about every aspect of the 40k universe and that my friend kills the mystery out of 40k unfortunately. 

What are your main sources of inspiration

John Blanche's artwork. John is a master creator extraordinaire. His Art is all you ever need to know about 40 mythos, you know, every thing is there in a way. Its 40k in a purest form.

How do you choose your paint schemes? Do you stay on a coherency or did the mini told you how it want to be painted?

Nowadays less is more for me, I try to work as little elements as I can. I have recently discovered that its not about what you paint but its what you want to tell. Its a story in a way and to me, its more about what you dont paint rather than what you paint. Things you can't see is what feel most interesting;)

What are your favorites bitz?

I really love every single bit GW has produced. Im a GW fanboy hard core.

Do you have any project on your workbench?

At the moment I'm working on a very interesting project that takes me back into the birth of Astartes. Please follow Iron Sleet to know more about it;)

Last step, choose one of your minis (your favorite one) and tell us why. I'll do the same with what you made I prefer.

The answer to your last question is very simple - whatever project I'm working at the moment.

Thats my favorite. I try to look forwards, never backwards;)

So those are the latest....

My turn now... And I've choosed your entire Squat army "The Brotherhodd of Steel"... Both ideas, kitbashing and paintings deserve all the attention...

Just a little sample of the army.

Thank you for answering!

Thank you for reading

Iron Sleet Invitational – ‘All your bases are belong to us”... The trailer

I finaly got all the elements....

Iron Sleet Invitational – ‘All your bases are belong to us”... part 2

A small teaser...

The 60' base project for the invitational...
Stay tuned for more...

Thank you for reading

Iron Sleet Invitational – ‘All your bases are belong to us” ... part 1

Uninvited but here...And yes, after all why not me?

So I decided to put my contribution on this fantastic challenge from Iron Sleet.... in case you were hibernating in recent days, here's the thing :

"What an amazing first month of Iron Sleet! We are most grateful and excited about the support and activity and have something special in store for you. The Invitational’s aim to be the most amazing celebration of Games Workshop miniatures and storytelling. The first one looks at the exciting new bases released and lets the participants to pick any three of those available.

Iron Sleet Invitational 1 – All your Bases Are Belong To Us

• pick a strong theme that studies the Warhammer 40000 universe, or it’s history!
• build and convert 3 models that are
• each based on a differently sized citadel base that have been creatively enhanced to really tell the narrative and make it a group. (25, 32, 40, 50, 60mm… or biker base, or flyer or…)
• we encourage to make the three individuals as different in physique, stature, movement, category as possible, while maintaining the group identity.
• start and announce of invitational February 1st
• WIP pictures in Black and White from all contestants March 1st. (but many bloggers intend to share their progress as they go, including us!)
• Final results of finished miniatures April 1st

We’ve collected an incredible cast of friends and creative hobbyists and given them this brief. We also have pretty exciting plans ourselves to tackle this in style. However – Everyone should feel free to do this. We will make sure we feature and provide a forum for all the work born from this. And invite more people next time. Reason we have gone the invitational route is to make sure we have dedication and focus instead of big excitement and talk and very little results and walk as happens in almost all online challenges. These three models can be part of your on going project too, but equally creating something new that you’d like to explore for 3 models only.

Stay tuned,

Kari, Mikko and Migs"

So here I am.... the first entry will be the chrono-gladiator... 

The second will be the mule.... 

and I'm thinking on the last one.... Stay tuned for more!

Thank you for reading