“We are twice armed if we fight with faith” – Plato, Philosopher, Ancient Terra
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The Specialist
Myriad are the tools of the Ordos, for an Inquisitor has at his or her disposal the service of any citizen of the imperium and servant of the emperor. Acolytes, Assassins, Savants and Servitors as unique as the planets that make the Emperor’s realm.
And I’ve certainly indulged in this resource. My legend built by the remarkable tribe that has been ordained to follow me to hell, and worse. From Storm Troopers to Flagellants my foot soldiers, and from librarians to ministers my teachers and guardians. Loyal, religious, enhanced and enchanted by the Ordos. Except the Specialist. The Specialist. He is a ghost. The Specialist serves no master and knows no fear. He comes and goes – disappears and reappears – with chilling, unfathomable stealth and punctuality.
Things I know of him. He chooses not to speak, but can do so, I am certain. He is not one of The Avenging Son’s warriors, despite the engravings of his armor suggesting so. He has many names, but Omicron is anointed into his soul. The Specialist is individually capable of capitol punishment at an unfathomable scale. He has saved my life over and over again. Yet will one day will kill me. That I know. That is his destiny. And mine.
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Grimdark of Darkbaroque
Feth yes! I’m in awe of the creative process. Baroness Aretha had sat in one of the dozens of drawers in my draw top desk, midway an experiment gone too far where I lacked conviction I could turn the at that point looking like a three year old’s finger painting into something, but kept calling my attention. The pose and the pure black and white start promised it would go places… And I have for a time being contemplating diving deep into using oil paints. If it’s the old dark northern european masters that most inspire me, let go. Give in, loose the control of acrylics for the magic of oil. I’ve used oil paints tentatively for years, as filters for weather, a shy flirt with what I decided to do now.
The humbling fact is that as I hopefully start to understand this new medium, these first forays may appear really vulgar and raw in months and years to come. And will forever stay curious, niche, futile offsprings of Rembrandt and his disciples.
That aside, back to the creative process, from the steam of finishing the Baroness, it wasn’t exactly that special, an interesting step to a genre of black Inquisitorial things, but to me it was a start, a map to a path previously hidden. And there would be hidden treasures there.
First of many, the specialist, which I finished with passion, painting every little moment I could escape the mayhem of real life to my little grim dark corner. This is perhaps the most grim dark model I’ve ever made, somehow the essence of how I see the hobby. My description of it in miniature form. (I’ll need to come back to figure out how to show the skin, it’s completely washed out around all that non black black, which also appears grayer in images, despite my best camera trickery.)
A surprise joy was also carrying me forwards, a gift from a stranger – Rob Morphew – @ghostflame_design – a beautiful HHH (humble human henchman) carrying a chest and a pile of equipment. This HHH had found his way to my inspiration folder ages ago. I decided to remove the overtly Karl Franzian detail and add a touch of Dante from the Inquisitor Rule book, a 54mm HHH that now lives in the collection of another friend, Tim.
So this is coming next, the curze, the flagellant, then big decisions about the theme and dynamic of the team as I have exciting ideas assembled in Eshcher bits, but the idea of this lithe female Inquisitor with an all male support cast is perhaps too strong of an image to shake.
IRON SLEET 
Possibly the coolest marine ever…
The way you’ve made the mask into part of his face is superb. Once again, the dark palette works beautifully and really enhances area of metal, parchment and flesh – all on top of a great background story. A truly inspirational piece! 👌
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That’s a bit special (pun intended!)
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Bloody hell, Migs – this is incredible.
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Beautiful, imposing, brutal, evocative… this is a stunning piece.
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Nice work, when you talk about painting with oil paints, do you mean literally grabbing a brush and slapping it on the model? If so what implications does this have for durability and how do you finish the model? leave it for a few weeks then spray varnish?
I always prefered oils to acrylic and have plenty sitting around so any direction would be greatly appreciated!
Feel free to reply via email.
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…or please reply here, would love to read the response 🙂 Thank you!
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Yes that’s what I mean. Just diving in the deep end. I thinned with turpentine and applied thinner than would on a canvas so it dries faster when the thinner evapirates. Still hours of time to play and tune. When ready, I apply a coat of ak interactive varnishes thinned with mission models thinner that promises more durability, cure and flows so nice from the airbrush.
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Nice, so do you think thinning with regular oil would work or would it leave a greasy finish? Also would average matt varnish spray work ok given the soft vs hard finish leading to cracking?
I’ve found any information on 40k oil painting limited to washes and a few hints and passing mentions so would appreciate any additional info/links/references that you can provide before I take the dive..
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That size difference is just incredible! Not only the difference in height but in the broadness of shoulders and thickness of pure adamantium armour. A venerable iceberg of muscle and metal in a sea of ice-cubes!
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This is genius and one of your best…If not the best.
Despite the tough competition with some of those XX and Vlka, which for me is where you really pushed the boundaries and where my mind was blown away like it had never been blown away before. The Vlka is the most stunning 40K army I have seen that also inspired the approach to the Crataegus Legion.
But this one is just mind boggling and beautifully baroque. Looks to have walked straight out of a weathered Blanchean dream…
Bows from Denmark!
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🙏🏼 thank you!! Deeply appreciate you always being there when these key models happen. Always being an inspiration with your Crategus.
With both the Vlka and Legion I’ve stretched things. Combined imagery from rich references. The Specialist is a distillation. Pure grimdark. Pure Ironsleet. Pure migs.
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Lovely work all around, especially on the marine’s build.
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Truly humbled by the reception. Thank you for taking the time to share your reaction guys!!! It is so appreciated and cherished.
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I must ask – what elements were used to create the Marine? Awesome work!
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Forge World roboute guilleman and primaris Reivers head and bolter. Green stuff and removed a lot of detail carefully to get a plainer look.
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