For the First Time in Forever...

Introduction

Well, it seems like forever since I painted any models!  Actually, I think it's only about 2 months, but having recently got my workbench sorted out (the Big Tidy, I thought it would be nice to build something once more.

This wish to start making things again coincided with my birthday earlier in the month.  On that occasion, I was delighted to receive some figures from my family.  I'd previously pointed my wife very firmly in the direction of North Star Figures (definitely one of my favourite distributors) and amongst other things I received a pack of "Young Fire Elementalists" from their own Fantasy Worlds range.

The "Young Fire Elementalists" turn out to be 2 young women; one is wearing a long dress and windswept cloak while the other has what looks to me to be a Norwegian-themed dress and hooded cloak.  I've decided to name them "Elsa" and "Anna"; these names just seem to fit.

Elsa

Elsa is in an ankle-length, clinging dress and has a lightweight cloak around her shoulders.  At least, I assume that it's lightweight from the way it is billowing in the breeze.  She has long hair, worn in a single braid that comes forward over her shoulder, and is striding forwards purposefully with arms held back and head slightly lowered in concentration.  Perhaps she's about to cast a spell on someone?

I decided that a pale blue would suit the gauzy cloak very well and that her dress should be turquoise.  Both pieces of clothing needed to look satiny and shiny, so I added a fair amount of silver paint into these colours.  Elsa's hair is an off-white, making her look quite the ice maiden.  No fire wizards for me!

Anna

In contrast, Anna is wearing a long skirt, a bodice and a winter cloak with a fur-lined hood.  The model originally had one hand raised, holding a pillar of fire.  I decided that I'd prefer the model to be less obviously a sorceress, so I replaced the cast-on hand with an open plastic one (from a female zombie kit, if I remember correctly).  It now looks as if she's about to burst into song, or is perhaps reaching for a small songbird or other woodland creature.

For Anna's clothing, I went for dark, rich colours.  Her skirt is blue, the bodice is black with a gold trim and the cloak is burgundy red and has a black decoration along the edge.  She's got red hair, though possibly this is a touch darker than I had intended.

Conclusion

I've no idea when, how or if I might use these figures.  Sometimes I paint things just because they're fun to do - and I certainly enjoyed building these two models.  Even my daughter has expressed more interest in them than she usually does about my models...