Colleges of Colour Magic: Celestial Wizard

It's been a long time since I posted anything here, and longer still since paint met brush at my work station. My absence from anything Oldhammer, beyond a few minor admin duties online, has been far too long and has been caused by illness. At least I now know what is up, having previously been told I was suffering from a hernia, and I am waiting my date to go under the knife. I have found sitting, even for a short time, quite uncomfortable and concentrating on painting intricate Citadel miniatures to an acceptable result, impossible! 

In the interim I have taken up cooking. I have learnt how to make a roux, butterfly chicken and use a plethora of new spices. My wife and I have never eaten better! Miniature modelling and cooking have much in common - selecting colours, fine knifework and success through careful preparation and planning just three. Still, its hard seeing others base out quality figures while you stand idle. 

However, having implemented several lifestyle changes since my diagnosis, the discomfort of sitting down has decreased and I decided to have a go at knocking out a miniature this morning. I set myself a limit of two hours painting time, with plenty of getting up and pacing about and the Arabian wizard you see before you is the result! 

I am very pleased with him, having thought that my skills would have gone soft. He is of course one of the Citadel/Foundry 'Time Warped Wizards' that were released last summer at Oldhammer IV, and which have since become part of the Warmonger range. He has all the trappings of a celestial wizard; telescope, pince-nez and astronomical symbols on his attire. 

According to the Collages of magic article I am using as inspiration for this project, celestial wizards are rather ostentatious in dress, flamboyant in speech and delicate in general disposition. In most cases, this manifests itself in grace and fine manners. The popular view of the college across the Old World is slightly different with celestials being portrayed as overdressed fools who spend a fortune on fine foods, majestic wines and finely wrought artwork - they sound uncomfortably like the author of this blog!!

Whatever their personality type, celestial wizards are rarely seen during the day as they are said to dislike bright lights. Being obsessed with the heavens means that celestial wizards are in high demand for horoscopes and are said to be able to determine astral events with absolute accuracy.

So plenty of background material for games! 

Orlygg

Colleges of Colour magic: Amethyst wizard

The weather was pretty bad this weekend, but I still managed to snap two photos between the raindrops of this wonderful fellow, my Amethyst wizard. He isn't one of the Time Warped Wizards models, but an original Citadel casting with a slotta tab. Not that you'd know unless you peered underneath the base, there is absolutely no difference between the two castings, save the basing method. 

Though I decided to use this model to represent the Amethyst Order, with hindsight I wish I hadn't. Re-reading the Colleges of Magic articles which inspired this little project revealed that the falling star motif on his clothing actually represents the Celestial College - again making me wonder if these models were originally produced in support of 'something' more than two articles in White Dwarf and their beautiful Gary Chalk artwork. 

With their reputation for excess (and heavy drinking) the Amethyst Order seems the best to represent me. Gladly, I still have all of my hair. 

Next time, Skaven. I need to catch up lost ground on the City of Lead project. See you next week! 

Orlygg

Colleges of Colour Magic: Golden Wizard

It has been a long week with two parents' evenings at school keeping me up late but I still managed to find the time (I am not actually sure how!) to finish off this fellow - my Golden Wizard. As is my whim, I have continued to use the Time Warped Wizards to represent the Third Edition colleges as best as I can. This fellow seemed just perfect for the wealthiest group of wizards in the Old World, though I cannot help wondering if he wasn't originally intended to be a wizard at all.

He looks more like a villager or nobleman to me. But then, what does a wizard actually look like, eh? Do they all require robes, a long beard and about fifty years to qualify? I think not. The background to WFB3 (and by association WFRP) is flexible enough for you to be creative without nerdist fluff-lawyers restricting your imagination. 

As seems apt for his college, I chose yellow and gold as the main colours. I used the absolutely excellent Foundry yellow triad to paint his fine jerkin and upper hose. As yellow has the lowest pigmentation in nature, it can be a challenging colour to get right - especially when highlighting as too much white can really bleach the shade. The Foundry paint is superb and only needs a little additional mixing to bring out the best in the tone. 

Go buy some now - you won't regret it!

With the yellow complete, the white was easy to work up with a light grey being used to create depth in the folds of the cloth. Red always compliments yellow well, and so I used it to paint up the rather large bows that adorn his clothing while purple served as a striking spot colour to off set all those fire hues. 

I am very pleased with the face and skin tones, as I have switched my flesh paints to the Foundry system and found it rather challenging to achieve my signature look in my recent work. Smart brown shoes, no doubt of expensive but practical origin, completed the model. 

I hope you like him. I feel he is the best paint job yet in this little project. 

Right, time for work and to ponder which college is next. 

Orlygg

Colleges of Colour magic: Bright Wizard and Grey Wizard

I have had a prolific little spurt of painting today, largely thanks to the absence of the wife and kids. They have all gone off to one of those 'soft play' children's parties that are my idea of hell. Despite the poor light (we have a rather wet and dribbly English November day) I have been able to crack on and finish off three further figures. 

Two of which I am talking about in this post - my SECOND post of the day as well! You better move along, it might be catching. 

As described earlier, I am trying to use the Time Warped Wizard models to paint up a wizard for each of the original Colleges of Magic. This first model is a member of the Bright College and is dressed in the suitable hues for his background - reds, oranges and yellows. the colour of flame. The background fluff from back in the 1980s links these wizards with fire even then, though their relationship with the element is not as pronounced as it would become. They are a thin, active and warlike group and these qualities are presented quite well with my figure choice, don't you think? 

I imagine that the thurible in his hand is full of pungent burning embers to help him cast his spells. Or, judging by his hand gesture, it hides his '80s Walkman as it pumps out MegaDeth. 

The colour text from the Colleges of Magic articles go on to say that these Bright Wizards are often blamed from the fires that start around their houses or workshops. I have a fire on as I type, and my little white metal companion seems happy enough drying on the mantle. Here's hoping he doesn't encourage a spark to a burn a hole in the carpet. 

What would the wife say?

The second figure I completed today is this Grey Wizard. I chose this figure as it was closest to the Gandalf the Grey archetype that obviously inspired this College. The background from Warhammer Third Edition has none of the later interpretations that these wizards were secretive spies, though a reference to them having their own agendas when joining other travellers are all present and correct. They are lean-bodies wanderers always 'passing through on their way somewhere' but who are sought after as retainers due to their shrewd bargaining skills and judge of character. 

This figure was really easy to paint and seemed to get completed all on his own. Like the model I chose for the Bright Wizard (and the Jade Wizard for that matter) this model seems very similar in style and size to the 1987 Wizard and Cleric ranges from which I suspect they originate. 

Apologies for the dodgy photographs, but the light is very poor and I had to dash outside to take these between drizzle patches. 

Right, I am enjoying this. Which wizard will be next? You will find out after a slight interlude next post. 

Speak soon, 

Orlygg.

Colleges of Colour magic: Jade Wizard

During my last visit to the Foundry, I was lucky enough to pick up the Time Warped Wizards set and painted up two of the Russian looking models for the City of the Lead project. Now, I have switched my plans around and opted to go with Skaven (and more on that project in another post) but I was keen to press on with painting up the rest of the figures in that set. 

Being a fan of a project with an over-riding theme, I decided to paint a figure for each of the Colleges of Colour Magic mentioned in two articles published in '80s White Dwarf. Here are the articles if you are unfamiliar with them. 

Collages of Magic by orlygg on Scribd

Now having studied the Time Warped Wizards, there are several clues that lead me to thinking that some of the models may well have been designed with the Colour Magic background in mind (more of those ideas in a later post) though the models Foundry cast up in the summer come from a range of different periods. For example, the model I have just painted is very similar to the 1987 cleric range (or which a number of models saw large scale production) of which I have a number of examples.

Sorting through the seven wizardly models, this figure with his 'druidic' look and owl familiar looked perfect for a Jade Wizard. Always being a fan of old school Warahmmer fluff, I re-read the articles to uncover as much as I could about this particular college's place in Third Edition Warhammer.

I paraphrase thus:

A Jade Wizard has an almost symbiotic relationship with the seasons and the agricultural cycle. During the summer months, they are full of energy and enthusiasm as the natural world swells with the sun's warmth. As the year turns and the plants fade and die, so the Jade Wizard's power diminishes and they suffer from a reluctance to use their magical arts. It is no secret that Jade Wizards regularly sacrifice agricultural animals or crops to appease natural deities, though there are darker rumours of human sacrifice in gigantic wicker men - though few believe them possible.

With this background in mind, you will no doubt agree that this miniature is just a perfect choice to represent this college. The countryman's cudgel, the sturdy leather shoes and the druidic toga all fit this theme and it was quite simple to mix two different naturalistic greens for the wizard's clothing. Browns, oranages and purples are colours closely linked with the agricultural world outside my window, so I included them as spot colours here and there too.

I love him.

I have two further Colour wizards that need my attention on my bureau and hope to have finished them soon. Though, like many of my painting projects this one might just slip away into the ether unfinished and unmourned.

For now, I am just glad that another lovey Citadel miniature is painted and can be added to my collection. 

The Magic of Warhammer Third Edition: The Colleges of Magic

I always love this time of year.

 

The nights draw in, and this results in candles flickering on fireplaces, the roaring glow of the fire itself and the need to draw back the curtains a shut out the long night of winter. With a great deal less time spent outside, the opportunities for miniature projects increase. I am sure that the sight of the enthusiast, bent in concentration over his desk, warmed by the mellow light of the modelling lamp is a familar sight in your home.

 

It is in mine.

 

My family and I have lived through about six months of chaos. Building work, extensions, new jobs, young children... the works. Now, things seem to be settling down and getting back to normal. In fact, I am typing this at work, just before I head off to remove my vast lead collection from storage. Initially, I thought it would need to be store for a couple of weeks, but problems just dragged on and on and freeing my collection was right down at the bottom of my wife's priorities! Largely due to the success of the Oldhammer Weekend (my wife could see pictures of what we do, rather than the mess of miniatures that is my usual working space) she has authorised a new miniature painting storage area alongside the Welsh Dresser display I posted up a while back. I have a new desk, mini gaming table set up and she has even warrented a new computer/printer/scanner set-up so I can blog with greater ease then ever before!

 

At last! I'll update you, loyal followers, of my 'Oldhammer Area' once its set up. You shoudl also see lots of new painted models from me, including the Nightmare Legion, Foundry Bretonnians, the Marauder Giant and Old Spiney himself in the coming weeks!

Before I depart to the secret lead cave and remove the weighty boxes of old school goodness from their dust wreathed sheets, I want to talk about Gary Chalk. Now, if you are not aware of the man, here's a little video from his website that will enlighten you further.

 

As you will have seen, there are plenty of illustrations here that make you aware of his bright, distinctive style. In fact, his style is so distinctive that he deserves to sit alongside the likes of Ackland, Blanche and Miller for his contribution to early Games Workshop (Livingstone/Jackson and Ansell eras) though, of course, his work is in no way gRiMdArKtm so hasn't a hope in hell of being mentioned or refered to in the mainstream GW hobby these days. One of the images shown on the video is that of a wizard casting a spell. This image is important to the nature of today's post, namely the rather unknown articles published across WD113-114 about magic in Warhammer '80s style.

What follows is a major article (or should that be articles?) that give us the most indepth look at magic in Warhammer Third Edition, with details about Colour Magic, the Colleges, New Spells for games of Third Edition and plenty more. All richly illustrated by Gary Chalk himself. Now, this article has been a bit of a mystery to me for some years. It is just so different to everything else that ever appeared in the magazine, partly due to the art style. Now, we know that there were several projects (most notably Confrontation) that were initially intended to be supplement released, but later saw publication in White Dwarf. Could these pages reflect something to do with magic that never saw the light of day? Or perhaps material that was part of the cancelled 'Realms of Sorcery' project to support Warhammer Third and WFRP in the later '80s? Who knows, but what we get is a wonderful article full of old school wonder. Additionally, its is interesting to note how the background has changed regarding the nature of magic in the Warhammer world and how the colleges have developed. Now, I won't spoil this for readers, I'll just leave you to enjoy the articles, but if you have an opinion about what you have read, please do share it below.

Orlygg

Collages of Magic by orlygg