Historical Miniatures by Matt Springer

Ny Hussar Bust and SS Bust

2009-11-05T22:59:00.007-05:00

Here are some pics of two new ones on my painting desk. One is a German SS Soldier by Pegaso and the other is a soon to be relased kit from Michael Miniatures. Done in acrylics so far.

Matt

Montezuma and Cortes - Completed!

2009-11-05T22:53:00.003-05:00

Hi! It's been a while, so here's an update. These are some pics of the Monty and Cortes pieces I finished the day before the Chicago Show. Pics of Cortes taken by Bob Sarnowski at the show! Also is one of the completed Joker bust I had at the show as well. Not sure who took the other pics, but thanks!

Matt

Montezuma/Cortez Update

2009-09-29T17:51:00.007-05:00

Here is an update on this pair I'm finishing for Chicago in a few weeks. Still loads to do, but getting there. Thanks for checking in!

Montezuma II

2009-09-17T19:55:00.006-05:00

Here are some shots of a new piece I'm doing for Chicago. This one is being done as a set with the Cortes figure also from Pegaso. I've been looking forward to painting this one. Acrylics as always.....

More Joker....

2009-09-17T19:53:00.004-05:00

Some more detailing on the face done recently as well as starting to paint the straight jacket and hair. Thanks for looking.........

Why So Serious???

2009-09-07T17:23:00.003-05:00

Finally getting to the real fun painting his make up now. I like the effect of the oils on the acrylic flesh for that smeared, crazy look I'm trying to reproduce. I'll let these oils dry a bit and go back later and redefine some things a bit. Thanks for looking.

Matt

Joker Update 9-04

2009-09-04T18:36:00.004-05:00

A little more progress on the painting today. Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!

Painting the Face

2009-09-04T06:50:00.004-05:00

Hi! Sure, Gary. Here, I'll post some progress shots of the painting. Last night I started working on the "basecoat" of the face. I call it a basecoat because most of it will be covered by his make up, but some areas of flesh will show through. Here, the eyes have been blocked in and the face basecoated and 4 consecutive highlight stages done.

Primed and Ready....

2009-09-02T20:13:00.005-05:00

Here are a few pics of the completed sculpt of the Joker bust. I apologize for the pics being a bit off, but the black primer is still a touch wet in places. I'm pretty happy with the sculpt and I think the likeness is pretty good, though it's a bit hard to see right now. Once I get some paint on him, I'll post some more. I like the loose style of this piece. I think it fits the mood and I plan to paint him in a simlar style. The running make up will be fun to do. I've got some ideas on that. I think I'll paint the face in normal flesh colors with acrylics, then use oils over the top of that for the make up. We'll see how it goes.

Matt

Artist Preservation Group Bust Raffle Results....

2009-08-25T18:49:00.002-05:00

The winner of the APG bust raffle drawn at the Gettysburg Show was Randy Myers. He has elected to have me sculpt a portrait bust of Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana. I'm looking forward to this project especially since Randy has elected to paint the sculpt himself so it's more of a collaborative thing. Looking forward to starting the sculpt soon.

Coming Along Now...

2009-08-13T09:28:00.004-05:00

More progress on this piece since returning from a great time in Gettysburg, PA to support the Artist Preservation Group's first fundraiser/show.

Still tweaking things on the face and building up the hair. I'm starting to think about painting the make up and getting the effect of the skin showing through. Should be fun and could be a great way to use the non-mixing qualities of acrylics and oils to effect. Hmmmm......

Update

2009-08-02T11:31:00.004-05:00

More progress on one of my current sculpts. Starting to really refine the features now. As I tentatively start adding hair, more symmetry issues become apparent that will need to be addressed. I'm pleased by the straight jacket so far. More soon. I may even finish sculpting this one before I leave for Gettysburg. We'll see....

Matt

NCO Ardennes 1944

2009-07-31T08:38:00.006-05:00

Here are a few pics of the finished bust. It was a fun project and one I certainly had alot of interest in doing. I'll have this piece in my Gettysburg display August 7-9. Thanks!

Matt

More Progress...

2009-07-30T21:44:00.002-05:00

Here is one of my current projects with some more done. This piece is shaping up now. It has a looseness of form that I really like and I think suits the mood of the piece.

Big News

2009-07-30T18:20:00.002-05:00

Hello, everyone. Having lived in Atlanta and worked in the residential homebuilding business for the last 11 years, I've accepted a new job in another industry in Asheville , NC in the beautiful smokey mountains. I'll be working with a division of the Partnership for a Drug Free North Carolina as a case manager. It's a great opportunity to help people who really need it and use and develop my education in psychology. This is a great opportunity for me professionally, but I'll miss my family and friends in Atlanta. The good news is that we'll only be a little over 3 hours drive from Atlanta so we'll be back often.

On the hobby related side, I find the mountains to be very inspiring so expect some new work soon. Because of the great art scene in Asheville, I hope to further develop my sculpting to include life size busts. I'll be looking for a house in Asheville with enough space for larger sculpture and materials. I still plan to make it to as many Atlanta club meetings as I can and our annual show as well as the Chicago Show in October.

So, if anyone's in the market for a house in Atlanta, let me know and I can set you up with ours ;-)

Ardennes Bust

2009-07-25T12:55:00.005-05:00

More progress. Nearing completion on this one. Small details and more weathering to do. Of course, I have to add the obligitory ciggie hanging from his lower lip. I like how the textures are coming out on this one. Thanks for the opportunity to paint him, John!

More Progress

2009-07-14T13:29:00.005-05:00

Coming along now on the GI bust. This is a fun one to paint. Very crisp details make things alot easier. What's not easy is coming up with variations and mixes for OD. I want each OD garment, strap, etc to be alittle different to break it up a little and be a little less monochromatic. I've also been playing around with adding unrelated tones into the mix for effects in the shadows. The jacket, for example has some purple tones in it if you can see that in the pics. Thanks for looking...

Ardennes Bust Update 7/12

2009-07-12T21:38:00.004-05:00

Moving full time into getting this one painted for the APG Show in Gettysburg next month. The face was/is an experiment in just about every tone in my palette applied in light glazes to build up a worn and beaten look. At the same time I wanted to show his strength of spirit so I painted his eyes a bright sparkling blue. I hope that comes across. I have a huge amount of respect for what our guys went through in the Winter of 44. Starting the jacket tonight....

Ardennes 1944

2009-07-07T13:41:00.003-05:00

Here is my slightly modified Young Miniatures bust I'm doing for delivery at the Gettysburg Show. It has had his face resculpted and I also added texture to the coat to help simulate the heavy wool. The original was too smooth. I created the texture by stippling on some liquid magic sculpt with a stiff brush. This was allowed to dry and the process repeated to build up the right amount of texture. Also experimenting on the flesh tones with some blues and greens worked in. I want this guy to look like he's been through hell as the real guys were.

More to come soon.....

More work...

2009-07-07T13:28:00.004-05:00

Here is another update. Close to refining. Still some asymmetry issues and the forehead needs more volume too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Another Update..

2009-07-01T21:48:00.002-05:00

More volume definition. Getting there...

Serious Update....

2009-06-30T09:57:00.005-05:00

Here is the sculpt with a bit more volume definition. I have started to get more refining done on the rough features or structure of the face and am starting to get into the finished volumes. I'll keep refining these rough shapes until the final likeness starts to emerge! This is a fun one. It's a single piece so I have no concerns about size, casting issues, etc. Still working out ideas on facial expression and pose. I want to capture something of this great character. Not easy!

Portrait Update..Any guesses yet??

2009-06-28T07:39:00.002-05:00

Here is a small update to a new sculpt started a couple of days ago. Still in it's rough form, but the volumes are starting to go in now, so the likeness will start to develop a bit now.

Jack Aubrey Bust

2009-06-24T18:59:00.004-05:00

Here is my recently completed painting of the Young Miniatures Capt. Jack bust. I reworked the likeness to Russell Crowe a bit (see earlier post). Painted in acrylics with ink/oil mixes used on the buttons.

Why So Serious????

2009-06-24T07:05:00.005-05:00

Here's one I've been looking forward to starting for a while. It's another film character recreation from the fantasy/comic realm. Here he is after the first session. I have learned finally from painful experience to not rush portraits at this stage. It's a much better use of time getting the structure and forms/volumes right before starting the fine features. This will not be a commercial release, I'm afraid. I will have him completed and painted for the Chicago Show in October. Stay tuned for more updates on this one.