Witch Hunter vs. Vampiress

 

I’ve mentioned before that every model you paint tells a tale, is a snapshot in time, so the more information you can get into that snapshot the more character the model has.  The ultimate example of this is the diorama, and it’s an opportunity to convey a real story in miniature form.

 

Over the years I’ve had so many ideas you could fill a book with them... in fact I probably should have noted them down in a book – instead I thought a better idea would be to buy the models and components needed, group them into the ‘to do’ drawer and promptly forget about them in favour of an even better idea.  That leads to not many finished dioramas and a huge pile of unpainted minis.  It might be better and easier on the pocket to draw your idea and come back to it later; if you are still as enthusiastic in 6 weeks then go and buy the models.

 

My Witch Hunter vs. Vampiress is one of the few that made it to the build stage, and one of the even fewer that had some paint thrown at it.  Fewer still are the ones I finished, but this one enthused me throughout and it’s one of my favourite pieces.

 

Empire Witch Hunters are great.  I’d owned this model for a while, trying to think of what I could do with him.  Vampires are also great, and I had picked up a set of the cool female Coven Throne Vampires in a collection of bitz.  It was destiny that the two should meet, especially since the Hunter is looking down and the Vamp was meant to be reclining!

 

Once I had decided on the models it was time to develop the story – what have they been doing immediately prior to the snapshot?  The book of ancient script and chalice of blood give an idea… Why is the Vampire on the ground?  There must have been a battle as the chalice is spilt and there is a huge great sword in the book, as if some ritual has been interrupted… Why is the Hunter looking down at her, pulling out the pistol?  He had obviously bested the Vampire in combat, he is a pretty mean dude, and he is about to administer the coup de grace… or is that the case?  Look closely at the detail (her right hand)… it may have all been a ruse, and the Hunter is the real loser.

I know what I think the story is, and will convey as much of that as I can in the model, but the beauty of it is that everyone will see it slightly differently and imagine their own scenario.  That to me makes the best sort of diorama.

 

There was a bit of converting to make sure that the arms were in the right position, the eyes pointed in the right direction, the sword was no longer in the sheath on the Hunter’s back, etc.  Don’t forget that not only should you think about adding things, but also taking them away from your model – it wouldn’t seem right for him to have had a huge broadsword on his back as well as in the altar!

Painted in GW paints and Vallejos, the four main components were painted individually – Vampire, Hunter, Altar and base – but at the same time to ensure the colours tied in.  Spot colours such as the flowers on the altar and Vampire’s hair; the Hunter’s feather and the Vampire’s fingernails; the bone altar and skulls on the Hunter’s gloves all add some coherence to the piece.

 

One conscious decision I made was to have the Vampiress painted with lighter colours while the Hunter is darker, more gloomy.  She is a thing of beauty (albeit on the evil side) while he is more shadowy, despite being on the side of good.  I hoped this would throw further questions into the narrative: is the story of good vs. evil quite as it seems?  The altar is on the brighter side, while the spilt blood from the chalice points towards the Hunter.

 

I’m particularly pleased with the pages of the book.  I’ve never been great at thinking up runes and sigils, but I think this works well… I probably copied them.  Painted with a very thin brush with inks I managed it first time.  I’d not have wanted to paint it twice.

 

 

The nice marble base is one from a long forgotten trophy which provides a nice frame for the scene and also makes the overall piece seem a little brighter.

 

This was one of the last pieces I entered into a competition before life, work and kids took over and I quit that ‘rat race’.  It was entered into a Golden Daemon and didn’t make it past the first cut.  It’s a shame people never got to see it… until now… I hope you like it as much as I do.

Thanks for reading... thoughts, tips, questions and comments are welcomed :)

P.S. How does the story of the Witch Hunter and the Vampiress end?  It doesn’t…  They are still there in my cabinet, frozen in time.