International Flat Figure Society - British Flat Figure Society
Flat Figures Painters Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: marko on February 19, 2014, 03:59:56 PM
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As it is quiet I thought I would put this out into the site once more, namely -
Does your flat painting/collection have a theme or special focus?
One of the things from the stamp collecting world I found interesting was some collectors specialized in things like barbed wire or chickens on stamps. From a Flat perspective, do you have any similar focus such as Engraver - Mohr is a favorite - time period or very focused - Fire Fighting or Erotica through the ages. Do you have one special thematic line going through your collection.
Personally I find myself drawn to anything that strikes my fancy with a weakness for Ancients, and France in the time of Louis XIV - Louis XVI, i.e. I am pretty slutty viz flats with many things striking my fancy. (I particularly enjoy all of the civilian subjects in flats.)
What about some of you?
Mark 8)
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Mohr figures are too much like caricatures. There is only one true genius, Ludwig Frank. Hundreds upon hundreds in all periods, and I increasingly seek them out to the exclusion of almost everything else.
Here are a few I bought at Kulmbach. Kieler, Heinrichsen and others.
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Personally I kind of like Mohr's caricatures - which is a fair characterization - but, agree Ludwig Frank is masterful.
Especially love the Ottoman's and Indians with the canoes here. Nice acquisition.
You will be pumping them out soon in great numbers it seems!.
mark 8)
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I agree Mark, I have quite a few Mohr figures. Just trying to stir up some opinions!
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My flat interests tend to be a mirror of my round subjects. Round-wise I tended toward medieval subjects with the occasional Greek, Roman, and early Celt. All are foot figures - no horses - and most are 54mm. I started painting 30mm fantasy pieces as a change of pace and palette, then started doing a few larger scale pieces and busts (also medieval or fantasy). Over the past two years or so, I've been dabbling in pin-up style girls - mainly Andrea's Pin-Up series.
My first flats were medieval subjects, but I quickly went to the pin-up style pieces. My conversions and scratch-built pieces are all fantasy or pin-ups with the exception of one cartoon character and one WW I airplane. All are 54mm or larger; I really don't have any interest in smaller subjects (although I did paint two pieces for the BFFS ACW display and I would do more). All told, I've painted 19 flats over the last few years. All were painted with acrylics.
I'm aware of a very general history of flats, but I couldn't name a single engraver or manufacturer (except Andreas Trost). I have no idea what they've done or when or how good/bad they are. I don't buy flats based on a drawing - line or colored; I've been burned a couple of times on that. If I can't see the metal, the cash stays in my wallet. All of my commercial flats have been purchased from the Little Tin Soldier or Squadron Mail Order.
I don't collect. At all... That probably removes me from a large part of the flat experience.
Cheers,
Glen
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Some nice figures there Charles. Some of the Romans look superb.
I agree L Frank figures are very very good. About 85% of my collection are engraved by him. Maybe we should start a L Frank page. There are lots of figures that you just don't get to see especially Kielers who only have lists or editors without websites or catalogues. I will try and post some unpainted figures by Frank with the editor named. It may help some collectors in identify figures from (in my opinion) the best engraver of flat figures.
Mike
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Glen, we couldn't be more different. I am almost exclusively interested in 30mm, always interested in who the engraver is, I collect many more than I will ever paint, but I totally agree on seeing the figure before you buy. I too have been fooled by excellent line drawings.
It's good that we can share the same website, I suppose an illustration of the wide diversity of flats.
Echoing Mike's comments on another thread, few people seem to post the smaller figures, I think it may be that the larger figures and fantasy subjects appeal to a newer group of enthusiasts who are more computer friendly and more likely to communicate on line. It's a shame for me because the things I like are getting less and less exposure and when you do post something it gets virtually ignored.
Mike, yes a few more Franks would be good, you can't get enough of a good thing.
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First and foremost, anything French Second Empire and Franco-German War, especially in 30mm.
The big dream is to paint hundreds of 30mm 1870-71 pieces and set them up in temporary, themed dioramas. It even dictates what I collect outside of flats. Got a collection of rusty Hornby clockwork locos to restore, just because I fancied the idea of having my Prussians displayed as mounting a train. What's happening to me?? :-[ ;D Does anyone else suffer from such an obsession?
I get distracted easily because sometimes the project seems like more of a chore, so every so often I have a few months of completely different subjects, flats and rounds, currently Reichswehr and wwii. Despite the intended Franco-Prussian theme, I guess the only [near] consistency in my collection is that it's largely 30mm
Bani
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I wouldn't say Im a collector-I just buy the things I like, however I have more Frank figures than any other engraver, with a large number of blue king hussars-amazing little figures they actually look hungarian! I like Fraundorff and Grunewalds clean engravingengraving too
Im turning to ancients next-there isn't the tangle of napoleonic reins to struggle with and lots more scope for expression.
I was amused to see that you only paint foot figures....I only paint mounted as I find the horse to be the most enjoyable bit. I've many figures with a beautifully painted horse with a blank rider stuffed in drawers.
If anyone out there knows of an engraver who does bare horses Id be very grateful....
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Yes, Peter, there is definitely something about horses. I certainly prefer a mounted figure.
Will we see your Blue King figure soon? So far only three out of eight returned.
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Hi Charles,
It's nearly finished, I've been putting off the embroidery on the saddle cloth.... but I've managed to paint the gun without mishap! It's been a slow process, I've been painting a section, waiting for it to dry in case I need to do a clean up job!
But I'm very pleased, it's definitely my favourite figure.
Barring misadventure, I'm hoping to get him finished by friday :)