The '3rd Annual Painting Challenge' was always going to be difficult for me given my snaillike painting speed, but having been blown away but the ingenuity and beauty of Curt's 'Great War in greyscale' project, I'd been harbouring a notion to have a go at this technique myself and when the theme for the challenge was announced as Samurai an idea started to form.
Like a good many I adore, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and this wonderful piece of cinematography became the inspiration for my own greyscale project - 28mm Seven Samurai! Now I'm here to tell anyone who listens that this isn't as easy as it appears and I certainly should have given the palette more consideration before diving straight in; as a result there is a definite blue hue that I had't envisaged.
I just couldn't resist a spot of hollywood red blood on the drawn katanas and, now that it is complete, I'm jolly pleased with the results. These have become my entry fee for the challenge and although Curt only asked for one painted miniature I couldn't bear to break up the group. Just for his continued hard work and heroic efforts in managing the challenge, I can think of no better recipient for the 'Seven Greyscale Samurai'.
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These were originally the 'Perry Miniatures' Samurai fighting in everyday clothes with the addition of one of the banner men to carry the 'Seven Samurai' motif on the sashimono.
A little bit of edited fun to try a convey a feeling of the miniatures as if through Kurosawa's lens.
Super work - I'm very impressed by this greyscale trend. The red blood is well done too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Donogh, certainly would consider having another go, but perhaps with a little more consideration to palette next time.
DeleteGreat job indeed! Love it, and although you say there is a bit of a blue hue going with them, I think it fits nicely. Curt is one lucky guy to receive these!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr Lee, that is very kind of you to say so.
DeleteThis is fantastic, so many hues and shades!
ReplyDeleteThank you Andrew, it becomes quite addictive in the end.
DeleteJust stunning, I did not fully appreciate the face detail first time round. Also the blood is just right, totally a class project
ReplyDeleteIan
You are extremely generous with your praise, thank you Ian.
DeleteAwesome!!!
ReplyDeleteToo kind Sir.
DeleteStunning!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you.
DeleteBeautiful figures.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Sir.
DeleteGreat work Michael, and a really different way of painting. Very nice sir.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr Smillie, great fun to do too.
DeleteWhen I saw these on Curt's blog I was blown away. Excellent work Michael! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is really kind of you Tamsin, thank you so much.
DeleteVery nice it looks really easy to do, but I imagine choosing what tone of grey goes where is what the hardest bit is, Like the blood it gives it a bit of anime quality to it for some reason
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon, I tend to paint in three levels - base, main and highlight so I tried to apply the same principle here. In the end I lined up all my grey paints and tried to rank them tonally, using this as the palette throughout.
DeleteVery, very nice miniatures!
ReplyDeletePanagiotis.
Thank you so much.
DeleteQuite lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Clint.
DeleteGreat work Michael , great idea the monochrome i like this !
ReplyDeleteGreetings
Thank you Vincent and good fun to do too.
DeleteThank you Andrew and greyscale Vikings would be amazing - you must give it a go.
ReplyDeleteSuperb work Michael, loved them when I first saw them on Curt's blog and still do!!!! Are we going to see anymore of these, or is it just a one off?
ReplyDeleteThank you Ray, I think a one off for the time being, but I might be tempted to have another go at some point, if only to replace the seven.
DeleteWow! Very good and a great period for the effect.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pat.
Thank you Pat, it certainly did lend itself to having a go at the greyscale, but plenty of other possibilities.
DeleteAs said over at Curt's, fecking brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThank you my good man, that means a lot.
DeleteDid you hear that noise?
ReplyDeleteThat was my jaw dropping. Bounced my chin off the floor.
What a splendidly kind thing to say, thank you my good man.
DeleteBreathtaking.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the images, they really are something very special.....
Tony
Thank you Tony, that is very kind of you.
DeleteGreat stuff just as impressive at second viewing
ReplyDeletePeace James
Thank you James, I really appreciate that.
DeleteVery cleverly done.
ReplyDeleteThank you Scott.
DeleteGrisaille by another Master painter. Well done, sir.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the master bit, but I appreciate the compliment, thank you Jay.
DeleteFantastic!!! Love them!!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYou just blew my doors off Michael. None of the adjectives I can think of express what I feel when looking at this. I own every one of Kurosawa's films and they have had a big impact on me. Have you seen Dreams?
ReplyDeleteIt is very touching that you would give this gorgeous piece of work away. You are a class act sir.
Thank you Anne for your very kind words, I am ashamed to say that I've not seen dreams, not sure how this one passed me by either!
DeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lou.
DeleteMichael, The grey scale Samauri are magnificent. Really inspirational results and a cracking twist exercising the paintbrush, the eye and the brain. I think that I will be tempted to have a go at a Falklands era Milan firing post in grey-blue scale as an interpretation of some of the magnificent Daniel Bechennec Falklands paintings. Thank you for sharing your superb work. Aye, Rusty
ReplyDeleteRusty, that is really kind of you to say so and I do hope that we might see the same technique employed in a Falkland’s setting; I know just the paintings that you are referring to, which would certainly make a fantastic vignette.
DeleteI say Michael that is damn clever and really quite fitting tribute of the Seven Samurai, one of my favourite films. Great paint work on display and I love the touches of colour on them. Top Draw Old Bean
ReplyDeleteMissed these somehow, but darn glad I've managed to spot them! They look just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Inspirational work Sir. The red blood on the blade is a standout.
ReplyDeleteOUTSTANDING!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love what you guys are up too. This sort of clever work and
ReplyDeleteexposure! Keep up the good works guys I've added you guys to our blogroll.
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