Battle at the Black Gates Finished 15/08

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:03 am

This will be my next project and one I'm a little excited about.
My idea is to have Aragorn in his kings clothing fighting a troll, with the assistance of a giant eagle attacking the troll.
I've put the troll and eagle together and tested out how they will join. The best and most dramatic look will be the eagle attacking from behind and grabbing trolls shoulders. The position of the eagles feet is a little awkward so I think the attack will be at a slight angle from the vertical.
As I tend to get carried away I am trying to keep this relatively small and not have loads of figures. However I may include an Orc or two, these won't be fighting but falling from a ledge as the ground fractured and gave way.
That's the idea so far and I promise not to include any colour scheme that will put people off !!!!!!!!

JamesR · **Posted:** Thu Jun 05, 2014 12:37 pm

Well I for one am certainly looking forward to seeing it. I always enjoy your projects

Fëanor, the mighty elf · **Posted:** Thu Jun 05, 2014 3:39 pm

This looks like an amazing idea! I'm sure it will turn out as amazing as your work always does.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:54 pm

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate your comments.
I'm just working out how to do the base at present and looking the different options. As I don't get the time I would like to paint I tend to spend odd moments doing my research.

Aulë, the Valar · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2014 2:54 am

Bookmarked eheheh

ja33 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2014 3:46 am

You could also include Legolas rushing over to try to help Aragorn also - just like in the movie !

Sounds like a great project - can't wait to see it unfold !

Rognarr · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2014 6:43 am

Sounds like a great project again! I think we can expect another fantastic piece from you!

Son of Fundin · **Joined:** Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:04 pm **Posts:** 258

I am really looking forward to this project, I expect the best!

paliouras · **Posted:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:36 pm

Looking forward for this.
If I were you, I'd try not to add many figures other than the necessary. They might distract the eye more than you'd like to. Maybe more casualties than others figures.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:47 pm

paliouras wrote:

Looking forward for this.
If I were you, I'd try not to add many figures other than the necessary. They might distract the eye more than you'd like to. Maybe more casualties than others figures.

This is liable to be one of those that will develop and I will see how I feel about any extra figures apart from the main three.
I have my idea for the base and thankfully for me, it won't be too large.
The first licks of paint have gone on the eagle with emphasis being played on getting the face full of rage, quiet simple really !!!!!

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:44 pm

Here I am so far, working on the head of the eagle. There is a little too much light in the photo so think of everything a shade or two darker.
I have tried to give him an angry look as well as working on the warm / cold colour transfer for added depth.
The blend on the beak doesn't appear to be quiet there yet and I haven't fully worked the bottom of the beak.

I would welcome any feedback though, thanks for looking.

In fact, now I see the photo, its an awful one and does not represent any of the subtle shading and detail that I have applied - back to the drawing board and I will try to get some better photos soon.

abcdefg · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm **Posts:** 273

It may be a bad photo if you say so but it looks damn good to me. That has to be certainly the best eagle painting I have seen to date. The eye in particular is very well done. I look forward to seeing the rest of him!

Amy · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 8:50 pm

I really like the eye of the eagle, looking forward to seeing the completed model!

Harfoot · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2014 2:46 pm

Perfect eye on the eagle, look forward to seeing lots of progress shots please.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Sun Jun 22, 2014 7:22 pm

I have progressed a bit with my eagle and I could be at the stage of just the feet and claws to do. Although I did a bit of dry brushing I have used a lot of glazing and fine lines to pick out the detail. I did this as the feathers just looked too flat.
Again I have worked on a zenithal light approach.

The two photos below show some of my photo issues. The feathers are basically a black with a touch of blue, grey has been used for the highlighting, however I have two completely different photos and cannot quiet capture the correct look.

The top photo is the more accurate but still not there.
Thanks for looking.

Amy · **Posted:** Sun Jun 22, 2014 7:24 pm

Brilliant work Gandlaf! I really like the feathers, they look great!

abcdefg · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm **Posts:** 273

Wow. Just wow.

Dezartfox · **Posted:** Sun Jun 22, 2014 8:42 pm

Eagles look great

I drybrushed most of my eagle, as long as you slowly build up the layers it can work well ( no way I was line highlighting 5 eagles )

And yeah they're a pain to photograph!

JamesR · **Posted:** Sun Jun 22, 2014 9:02 pm

As always your work is tremendous. Your style of painting is probably my favorite on this forum

Crucium Giger · **Posted:** Mon Jun 23, 2014 10:54 am

Fantastic work so far.

Battle at the Black Gates Finished 15/08

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