Sunday, January 1, 2017

Welcome to 2017

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2017! 


I'm back from my holidays and ready for a new year full of model making possibility.

I saw on facebook a lot of posts in the last few days where people were showcasing the models they built in 2016.

Tragically, I only really have three to show. A 1/32 Stuka which I completed in February 2016, my Tiger diorama, and my Japanese Kurogane diorama. (Four if you count my partially completed SU-122).





But, while there may not be a lot of quantity, I can honestly state that these three models are the best I have made in my life.

I can also honestly state that I have pushed myself more in 2016, and learnt more new techniques and experimented more with advanced painting and building than ever before.  If I compare my last few builds, they are exponentially better and more satisfying than my earlier work.

How satisfying is it to be able to say that?

What more can you ask from a hobby, than to push yourself and constantly learn?

While we were away over the holidays, I was chatting with a friend who is a professional artist. He makes his living painting in oil paints, on canvas, and has sold out many exhibitions and is extremely collectible in art circles.  He was talking about techniques he has been trying, like thin filters of highly diluted oils, and washes, and pre-shadowing, and the whole time I was thinking, "Well I do that with my models".  It gave me insight into how he works, and it also did a lot to legitimise in my head what many people sometimes think of as essentially playing with toys or building Lego. We modellers make mini artworks, and at a certain level it most definitely is art - a mix of traditional painting, and sculpting.

I guess this all boils down to: I love this hobby, and it is very, very satisfying.

Here's to 2017!

Cheers,

Dave

Here's how I saw in the New Year.
Home-made gin, soda water, lime and elderflower cordial. Rather refreshing for a warm summer's night.



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