LOST IN LIMBO

There will be some painted figures appearing soon I hope. Progress (albeit very slow) is being made on restoring some of Joe Dever's units to full strength. In the meantime let me show you this wonderful piece of art I acquired recently, just back from the framers.

An original preliminary sketch in charcoal by Rodney Matthews of Elric, for his painting Elric Lost in Limbo. 

I've been a devotee of Rodney Matthews' work since my early teenage years, collecting his calendars in my youth and then cutting them up to stick all over my bedroom wall, so I was thrilled to obtain an original sketch by him. It will be hung on the stairs which lead up the the attic/mancave/growlery.

FRAGILE LIFE

I've just read this post  over at Mark Hides blog which sums up pretty much how I feel all the time. Mr Hides is of a similar age to myself (47) and has captures that past-mid-life spectre that is hovering over all of us...the old enemy Time chipping away as our measured span. One of the many things on my 'must do and see before I cark it' is now beyond reach with the sad death of YES bassist and co-founder Chris Squire at the age of 67.  I'm not sure when I was going to see YES , but I had a vague idea I would in the next couple of years.

Inevitably with the constant feeling of a limited life span, time seems to pass even quicker and I have a Damoclean sword continually hanging over me about all the gaming projects I want to complete but know I never will ( as well as important stuff to worry about like bringing the kids up, keeping the Mrs. in her usual good mood etc.). Faced with a bloody mountain of figures it all seems rather futile. I am currently ploughing through several hundred 54mm Toy Soldier style ECW figures to help with a school project next year, but once they are finished I hope to fling myself back into Fantasy stuff, with Oldhammer, Prehammer and Skinthammer projects brewing (or rather looming).

How I feel most of the time.

 (This picture, along with the rest of the gatefold pics in my brother's copy of the Yes album Fragile, used to fascinate me. In fact I think it's safe to say poring over the Roger Dean illustrations and designs aged about 8, had a lot to do with my future Fantasy leanings)

In the meantime I'll be raising a glass To The Heart of the Sunrise and drinking to Chis Squires memory and musical legacy.

RUSS NICHOLSON AND THE FIEND FOLIO

Back in the 1980's the wonderful art of Russ Nicholson featured heavily in White Dwarf, Fighting Fantasy gamebooks (what fun they were) and The Fiend Folio. Following a recent post on Russ' blog I thought I would dig out a few figures that seem to have been based on his work (he confirmed my comment that he remembers Citadel sending him some samples).

First up, one of my favourite figures produced by Citadel in the good old days The Dark Creeper (sold as a Gnome assassin in the Fiend Factory range). What a great sneaky pose

The Skeleton warrior is in a different pose, but wearing exactly the same armour tunic and headband

 The Styx Devil (marketed as a Satanic angel). I remember this was produced way before the Fiend Folio was published,

A quick flick through the Fiend Folio and I can't find any more directly relating to Russ' art (except the Grell perhaps?).