Commission Work: Holiday Sorceress

This whole project started as a commission piece for a Secret Santa exchange. How awesome is that? To run with the theme, the client asked for some conversion work completed in a “holiday” motif. Several Legion models were on the list, which was great because I play that faction and feel comfortable painting their color scheme. All signs are winning!

After a few suggestions, the client picked the concept I had for the Blighted Nyss Sorceress. Essentially, I mimicked a “Green Goblin”-like pose with the Sorceress on her Helion, but instead of having her throw bombs, she would be chucking presents to match the yule tide spirit of the occasion. In order to carry out this depiction, I would have to sculpt up some presents in addition to making a few minor exclusion changes to the existing model.

To being, I removed the original model’s spear. I needed the hand that held the spear, so I trimmed out the haft, leaving the enclosed fist. After a little more trimming, I was able to open the hand and placed it and the arm so that the sorceress looked like she was ready to hurl an item.

Once I completed the physical alterations, I began the holiday modifications by sculpting a loose “sack” shape to the rear of the model. The material used for sculpt was epoxy “Grey Stuff” (P3). My intention was to create a bag which could hold several packages or presents that the sorceress would carry, in addition to the item she would be hurling.

After I finished sculpting the sack, I set into a miniature production line creating tiny parcels. This turned out to be an extremely difficult task. In order to keep the putty moist and pliable, I kept water at hand to soak and mix with the epoxy, increasing its set time. The rudimentary box shapes were fairly easy to sculpt, just requiring a few gentle pushes of the bulk epoxy into a flat surface until the desired shape was created.

The ribbons, however, where an ENTIRELY different animal with which to wrastle. Between my novice abilities with clay-work and the natural molecular forces of water and material, I had to fight to make these damn tiny accouterments to packaging. I eventually found that rolling small pieces of clay with my finger in puddles of water were the easiest ways to create thin strands of epoxy which would soon become the wrapping trim.

Once I created enough ribbon, I  assembled a small contingent of presents for the piece. At first, I attempted to pin the presents in pace while they were still curing and crushed the tiny wrapped scroll in its process. Pinning probably would have been better to attempt after curing, but I was impatient and wanted to get the model assembled. In stead, I glued the presents in place and filled the void spaces with bits from Dark Elf and Blighted Nyss models (bow and sword sheaths).

So far, so good…

Come back next time and I’ll delve deeper into the paint work and finishing touches for the project.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Chris