Just found this Mordheim Instagram collection of fantastic modelling skills-
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mordheim2019/
Not all the figures are to my taste but l am bowled over by the creativity and artistry on display. Amazing terrain too. Do pop over for a look.
P.s l wonder where the upbeat,quirky and non dark fantasy is to be found or is it just me?
I know what you're saying - where's the whimsey? I bought some wooden toadstools recently, they're quite whimsical!!
ReplyDeleteCan’t go wrong with wooden toadstools in any scale!
DeleteI really like Ana Polanscak's work, modelling and painting, but some of that Mordheim stuff is just too gribbly for me. I like weird, but not disgusting ... Each to their own though.
ReplyDeleteMe too on both counts.
DeleteIt's not just you. "Grimdark" is pervasive. Grittiness and dark themes are often considered more "realistic". But I've always strived for whimsy and light-heartedness. My inspirations tend to be things like Laurel and Hardy and other comedians/comedies of that ilk, brighter fantasy, space opera, and the like. It's why a lot of my minis are quirky dwarves and the older more comical sorts of goblins and such. You can find whimsy and farce and more serious but still light-hearted stuff here and there, but it's not usually as easy to find as the dark grotesque stuff that seems popular these days.
ReplyDeleteA good point. I was influenced by the art of Brian Froud for example and the Narnian books. I must look out for brighter fantasy stuff but don’t really know where to begin...
DeleteMaybe we should have Whim-Dark (Whimsical Dark)? Did you ever get those Kickstarter medieval Marginalia warrior rabbits?
ReplyDeleteMaybe there is more WhimDark out there than we realise. Sometimes unintentionally I think the Grimdark stuff unintentionally looks a little Monty Python and the Holy Grail anyway. I quietly thought the same at school about a lot of the posturing 70s 80s sixth form Heavy Metal graphics, leather, lyrics and performances after seeing "This is Spinal Tap".
(Man of TIN tin hat on - Preparing to be disliked by any hard core fantasy gamers without a sense of humour - d6 dice at dawn?)
Whim dark l like it. I did get the bunnies ( magnificent sculptures they are too) and poured over medieval illustrations as inspiration. They are in a painting queue with oh so many more. Maybe l can move it forward in autumn or winter or late summer? Your Python,Spinal Tap comment is an interesting one. Both films l know well and still return to. The iconography of grim dark l find interesting with it’s referencing of Bruegel, Theatre of Europe etc. Yet there is other material like Brian Froud, lvan Bilibin and John Bauer which show other ways. Finally at wargames shows l see the range of 28mm Monty P and the H G figures, great but not cheap. Northumbrian Tin soldiers do really whimsical and lovely figures.
DeleteRoger Dean and Rodney Matthews were great influences on me both as album covers and posters. Still holding their own brilliantly in the fantasy art world today.
DeleteSorry ,- late to the conversation! I am also a bit uninspired by the current dark fantasy. In terms of Whimsey, I like the 'old' Games Workshop Snotlings - although sadly pricy to pick up now. Interestingly, I met Brian Droid at a Fantasy Festival over the weekend, and he made a similar point about 'modern' fantasy trends. By the way, Netflix are going to realise a Dark Crystal prequel so we may see some Not Skeksis, not Mystics and not Geldings produced!
ReplyDelete