The Shield of the emperor
A shield against the darkness, a captain among the Emperors finest creations! The new Shield Captain of the legio custodies seen here alongside a host of new processes to share. Set during the Horus Heresy, and sent to fight the endless numbers of daemons that have breached the webway deep below the imperial dungeons. This model comes to life starting from a discussion on Discord about working in a reverse order. To create a scene, paint it, and then use these colours as both a reference and pigment to help harmonize the subject to the base.
Bases for me have always been a love/hate battle and often an afterthought to tackle once the model is painted. Where working in sequence isn’t bad, it can feel at times that these areas feel more separated, or that even ideas striking later can’t be done due to limitations of the model painted etc. This also comes at a change to how I’m approaching painting overall. With a bigger emphasis on sketching, and blocking in areas to get a greater sense of composition and light. Having the base build and even painted to a degree I feel is an evolution to my process, and this shield captain is that theory put into practice.
Coming soon will be a series of videos featuring the Captain, first starting with the base, then moving into his gold NMM, the face, and finally ending with his cape. Speaking of the gold, to which there is a LOT of it going on here. This approach will see some similarities seen in the Stormcast Challenge, but also something new. Rather than a linear approach, this take is more akin closer to my build of light and shadow, but with important tweeks, a lot more temperature variations, and some new uses of inks in there that I think you’re all going to enjoy.
I truly enjoyed this new approach to the entire project. From the base, to the gold nmm, it was highly refreshing, energetic and inviting to pursue further with future projects to come. I hope you will all enjoy this project, with my process teaches, inspires, and gives you a new challenge to take forward.
Thank you to all my Patreon Supporters for making this piece happen, as well through these final weeks of my Golden Demon painting entry of Miao Ying. It’s the last few days of work before I put the brush down, take the plane trip to Adepticon, and enjoy everything the event has to offer!
Much love & Happy Painting ❤️✌️☺️
Bb