cfraser Posted 17 November , 2012 Share Posted 17 November , 2012 This series of photos shows my progessive work on a scratch 1/6 sclae bust I am doing of Lt. Col. Sir George McCrae, the Edinburgh politician and soldier who personally raised and commanded the 16th Service Battalion Royal Scots. This is the battallion resurrected for the mists of history by Jack Alexander in his book "McCrae's Battalion." Jack was also instrumental in design and fund raising for the memorial cairn at Contalmaison, which reflects the design determined by the battalion's survivors after the war. The original memorial idea was never brought to light due to lack of funds. This battalion was the original football battalion containing the whole Heart of Midlothian football team, several other Scottish professionals from other teams, and many supporters. The model is done in sculpey, an oven baked polymer clay. It is being painted in artists' oils. It was a quick, sketch sculpt, done in 6 days. Comments are welcome, included constructive critiques. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 17 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 17 November , 2012 Some more shots of the bust ready to take paint. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 17 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 17 November , 2012 Painting commences. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 17 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 17 November , 2012 More progress. Uniform is just undercoated. Still need to attend to a lot of detail on the face and his hair. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 18 November , 2012 Share Posted 18 November , 2012 Colin, Amazing to see the progress of the transformation from the face mask to the almost finished bust. What a talent you have! Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 18 November , 2012 Share Posted 18 November , 2012 Amazing! Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moggs Posted 18 November , 2012 Share Posted 18 November , 2012 I feel privileged to have seen the progress just in photos. How exciting to actually be there and see it grow. Brilliant. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 18 November , 2012 Share Posted 18 November , 2012 It seems churlish to say anything that may be taken as being critical because it is marvellously done. However I quite l like in its unpainted form. I found my mind was filling in some of the gaps and asking questions rather than simply admiring your skill and talent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Owl Posted 18 November , 2012 Share Posted 18 November , 2012 What an amazing talent you have--do you take on commission work? If so, you may well receive some enquiries. Looking forward to seeing the finished article Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted 18 November , 2012 Share Posted 18 November , 2012 Superb work and skills I am envious........Any chance you could give us any idea of size/scale of the bust? Perhaps with it next to a ruler or everyday object. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 18 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2012 Thanks all. The bust is 1/6 scale (the size of a GI Joe or Action Man figure). The bottom of his chest to the top of his hat is about 3.5". I will try to photograph him with a coin or something next time. I haven't done commission work to date but would be willing to consider it. I may be retiring in a few years and thought this might be a cool way to supplement the income while having a good deal of fun. I did do a portrait for a friend, of his father - one of the last survivors of Stauffenberg's July 20 bomb attack on Hitler - but that was a gift. Nothing churlish about preferring the unpainted version Gunboat - I often feel that way. One of the problems showing an in progress string like this is that you see all the blemishes before they. are ironed out. Also I suck as a photographer. i will keep posting in process shots and the final version. Thanks Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 20 November , 2012 Share Posted 20 November , 2012 A resin bronze would be a good way to go Terrific work. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyneside Chinaman Posted 21 November , 2012 Share Posted 21 November , 2012 one very small comment you missed the colours on his medal ribbon But fantasic otherwise. regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tn.drummond Posted 22 November , 2012 Share Posted 22 November , 2012 A remarkable insight into your art. Would it be possible to post the original image(s) you used for the sculpt as a point of comparison ? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 23 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2012 Thanks very much for the encouraging feedback. I am not sure what colours on the medal ribbon I missed as the medal is supposed to be a VD and my understanding is that this was grecen. I took several screen aptures off the BBC doc on youtube to get reference pix but I don't own the rights to these shots and won't post them here. Best I can do is the cover of Jack's well reviewed book on the battalion. Hope that helps. I will post better shots of him when he is done (almost there). Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Owl Posted 23 November , 2012 Share Posted 23 November , 2012 Hi Colin, The ribbon for the VD is indeed green and very similar in shade to the Avatar belonging to Suddery--see previous post to your last post--possibly a shade or two darker than his Avatar. I am sure that some kind person will post a picture for you with the correct shade of green. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 23 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2012 Thanks Robert - perhaps John was thinking DSO but that would have been post-Somme I think. Cheers Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 24 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 24 November , 2012 Some more progress - I mostly finished his uniform -just need it to dry and wash with raw umber to get hte more brown/yellow Brit khaki of WWI. The leather webbing is only undercoated. Still need to finish facial tones, grey hair, blue shoulder flashes, buttons, cap badge etc. But you get the idea. The final portrait will not be glossy as I dullcoat my oils. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Owl Posted 25 November , 2012 Share Posted 25 November , 2012 Hi Colin, This is looking really good now and I am sure that once finished it will be superb!! Looking forward to the finale. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RupertDubrecht Posted 25 November , 2012 Share Posted 25 November , 2012 is really nice, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 26 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2012 Thanks very much for the generous feedback. colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 26 November , 2012 Share Posted 26 November , 2012 A resin bronze would be a good way to go Terrific work. David I had the same thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfraser Posted 10 December , 2012 Author Share Posted 10 December , 2012 Had a bad chemcial reaction with the oils and the dullcoat varnish so had to strip him with oven cleaner and start over - this time with acrylics. I like this in progress version a lot better. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Owl Posted 10 December , 2012 Share Posted 10 December , 2012 Hi Colin, Well, that was a pretty steep learning curve!! but at least you managed to strip it without loosing the bust, and I have to say that it looks even better than the original finish! I am sure that this will be worthy of further praise when completed Keep up the good work. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewBelsey Posted 10 December , 2012 Share Posted 10 December , 2012 Colin. He's excellent and I can't imagine how gutted you were when you had to strip all the paint off! Well done for starting over again and he's looking even better. I'm looking forward to seeing him complete. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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