With some trepidation... I've taken the plunge and painted Lord and Lady McDeath. I've had these for a while but was waiting for the 'right time' or some special occasion to paint them. But like the quote from the film Sideways, "The day you open a ’61 Cheval Blanc, that’s the special occasion". So when Jamie Loft's White Dwarf Monthly Painting Challenge asked us to paint something from or inspired by White Dwarf #76, and I found that it was the issue that contained the McDeath 'prequel' Glen Woe, I thought now was the time.
Ok, so readers of this blog have probably heard enough about my hobby psychodramas, but actually I found it was very hard to really enjoy painting what are basically a pair of antiques, because I felt more pressure than usual to 'do them justice'. Has anyone else had this problem? It's probably one of the problems I have with archaeogaming, too much pressure to 'do it right' rather than just to do it your own way. Anyway, they're done now and I'm glad of it.
In the scenario, King Dunco is on his way to visit Lord and Lady McDeath - but he really should have some very strong suspicions about Lord and Lady McDeath's motives based on the fact that their clothing is covered in skulls. Or maybe he just assumes they're goths? Anyway, to keep with that theme I gave the "King hereafter" a shield with a skull - it's one of the plastic Marauder Orc shields, I believe.
I remember going to see Sideways at a little independent cinema in York with my lovely wife (pre-kids) and loved it - great movie and a lot of laughs as we were both employed in the wine trade at the time! Having worked for some time in that "industry", I totally agree with that sentiment in terms of posh booze XD! I also empathise with your feelings in terms of rare and expensive miniatures and bravo for tackling them - awesome job! They look like they're straight out of Polanski's version of Macbeth, especially with that backdrop! I get what you're saying about archeo-gaming and the pressure to do it right. However, I'd ask who's that pressure coming from and who gives a shit? I spent an awful lot of time recreating Orc's Drift with only a few of the proper scenario miniatures at first and only Gary Chalk's black and white illustrations as a guide for the main characters. I just painted up the Orcs as I saw fit, whilst including some shiled and banner designs from the original artwork and ended up parodying the old red and white Colonial uniform of the British Army with Brommedir's Bows just as a nod to the real world inspiration for the whole scenario. Mind you saying that I do have an Ozrim Chardz (probable bad recast unfortunately) and Mayor Leofwine in the paint queue who I have been vacillating over painting for some time now...
ReplyDeleteSure I'm under no illusion, the pressure comes from myself and myself only. Doesn't mean it's not real though! File under "ways of making your hobby into a stress", which is something I'm working on kicking to the curb, just trying to paint stuff for enjoyment's sake. Of course, with BOYL around the corner who knows what bad habits will re-emerge...
DeleteOn Polanski's Macbeth, apropos of nothing in particular one my favourite poems is about that film, Paul Farley's " Keith Chegwin as Fleance"... not sure which McDeath character Keith Chegwin should play though
Damn I forgot he was in that! Great poem too - thanks for pointing me to it.
DeleteJust don't stay in that hotel you did last time you had minis still to paint the night before the game ;)