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CCV: Lady of Darkness
This mini from Reaper’s Exalted line was one of my Chick Challenge V entries, and probably the most ‘arty’ concept I’ve yet had for a mini. (You can see my other entry here.) I’m not that familiar with the Exalted game, but browsing through the books found the picture this sculpt is based on, in a section about death cults. Like the picture and sculpt, I wanted to try to achieve a paintjob that combined elements of beauty and death. I received the new Reaper Master Series paints while working on this figure, and used them on the dress, cloak, metallics and flowers. I added the roses (a gift from a misguided suitor, perhaps) as a symbol of her rejecting life. (Her eyes are turning away from the flowers as a further symbol of that rejection.) I tried to emphasize the life/death contrast by painting the roses and floor in brighter, truer colours than those used on the figure. I chose to use metallics partly to practice with them, and partly cause I thought they’d have a bit of a grungier look. The sculpt (and the ones I’ve seen subsequently in the store) had some crazing on the ankle. I chose to paint this as a wound, but I’ve seen other painted versions where people filed it down, so I really don’t know if it’s meant to be part of the sculpt or is a casting issue. I painted the skin using a natural gray, then glazed with a dark olive, layered up with lighter grays, then glazed again with a lighter olive. I used olive paints or glazes on most of the figure, including the hair, dress and the front dress placket. The eyes were done with a pale blue-gray to try to simulate eyes filmed over with death. I used blue-grays on the lips and nails for similar reasons. I did not try to highlight the hair so as to make it look shiny, rather I wanted it to look dry and dull.
Posted: 23 Jun 2005
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