Blackheart class

[drano]

Is anyone else disappointed in the choice of the mummy bust for the Blackheart painting class? I would love to do this class, I mean it is a sweet deal and god knows I could use some airbrush lessons. I just don't see why they chose the mummy to center a lesson on. It seems like there isn't much painting there (I do like the bust it just seems like a bad choice for this class). I wish they would do a more challenging subject such as the curse of the werewolf or dracula. I want to learn how to paint eyes, flesh tones, fur, teeth, gums, you know the kind of things you run into in this hobby. Instead this class is providing me with the much needed skill of painting badages and that's it.

Does anyone else feel this way? How about offering two options so people have more of a choice? Cough* werewolf cough*

[Lonnie James]

You could always take the Garagekits.us paint class instead.


Lonnie James

[camper]

Hey drano,

To be totally honest, I thought the same thing when I was told that we were going to be painting “The Mummy” for the class. Then I thought about it and realized how many cool technics we could do! Just think… a live and in-person step-by-step instruction on air brushing, washes, dry brushing and more! Plus, you will be able to actually walk out of the class with a fully finished piece.

Don’t get me wrong, I love painting eyes. Unfortunately they take so much time to finish. It’s very difficult to finish a piece in a days class, although a few do. People just work at different paces then others. Thats ok though, Gordie and I just hope that everyone walks out of the class feeling like they learned a few new tricks.

Gordie and I really enjoyed instructing the classes at Wonderfest and Resintopia last year. We had a really great response from many of the students too. Little do they know how much we learned from them.

We are really looking forward to this years class at Wonderfest, We get to make new friends, and see old ones while sling’n some paint on an old crusty mummy!

I will be offering instruction on how to paint your Mummy in gray scale “Silver Screen” style. Plus Gordie and I will cover a crusty sand/beige color option too.

°Jeff Camp

CAMPer

I would love to instruct a class some time on just “How to Paint Eyes”! it would have to be at least a 2+ hour class though.

[drano]

Thanks for weighing in Camper. I figured that being able to complete the bust in a day had a lot to do with the choice of the mummy. It just seems like a let down after seeing some of the previous classes busts.

The class description says there are deals on other blackheart products when you take this class but it never says what those deals might be. Can you elaborate?

John

[Fauberoptic]

I took the class last year and it i thought jeff and gordon did a great job on the time frame they had.
I do believe it went something like this... everyone stop what your doing and gather around we are going through a quick run down on how to paint the eyes, and it actually was pretty quick and to the point on the eyes

[gordman43]

Great points, Jeff

I think the Mummy bust is packed with tons of sculptural detail, even though there are no eyes or fur to deal with. In the two previous classes Jeff and I taught, a lot of the techniques were skimmed over, in order to fit all of the information into the class.This was due to the complexity of the busts.

This bust, however, will allow Jeff and I to really focus on the techniques necessary to make these details pop and for the bust to be completed during the class, which is a big plus.

I know we're both looking forward to spending the day with our students bringing this guy to "life"

-G

[dcole]

Hey John,

Not going to Wonderfest but this will be the third year in a row that I've attended the Blackheart/Badger Airbrush Asylum class at Monsterpalooza in Burbank (end of this month.)

My advice if you've never been to one of their classes: take it - you'll love it!

At first I was also hoping for a different bust to paint (since I've already painted the Earthbound Mummy) but like everyone else has pointed out - this time I'll actually be leaving the class with a finished piece - something that's never come close to happening before! I've painted a few 1:1 scale eyes now and, at least for me, that is a lengthy process. Just not something that can be crammed into a five hour class. In fact last year, they did try to focus on detailing the eyes and had us work on that aspect of the bust. I gave it the old college try but it felt rushed and I hated the results. First thing I did when I got home was paint over 'em and start again!

Jeff, too bad you're not coming to Burbank this year. I would love to get your input on painting it silver-screen style. Although I'm sure that Anthony and Mike will do a bang-up job instructing.

[shakey dave 187]

Thanks for weighing in Camper. I figured that being able to complete the bust in a day had a lot to do with the choice of the mummy. It just seems like a let down after seeing some of the previous classes busts.

The class description says there are deals on other blackheart products when you take this class but it never says what those deals might be. Can you elaborate?

John

Oh Drano, gather round my son and I shall tell you a tale about a "LET DOWN".

Cast your imagination way back to a time of yore, to Wonderfest 2010.
I had signed up for the badger painting class,formerly put on by Kitbuilders.
Years before I had seen great busst done in that class, by Hobby favorite's such as Mark Vantine and Gabe Perna just to name a few.
So I thought I'd really like to take this class, I get a compressor,airbrush,paint and a great Bust to boot, along with professional instruction.
So I see the add, SIGN UP NOW, THIS YEAR WILL BE FLESH TONE'S. BUT HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS WE'RE DOING MALE AND FEMALE FLESH TONE'S!! THAT'S RIGHT TRUE BELIEVER FOR THE USUAL CLASS PRICE OF 300 BUCKS YOU RECEIVE NOT ONE,BUT TWO THAT'S RIGHT 2 PIECE'S TO PAINT AND LEARN NEW TECHNIQUE'S WITH!!
Now these piece's were not to be revealed until the class, But hey,how could I lose with what I had seen at previous WF'S....right?
I drop my 300 bucks, show up bright and early ready to learn some new Yoda sh!t with an airbrush, only to find the paint subject's are a Jimmy Flinstone Ygor head and a Jimmy Flinstone hunk of poop Vamperella cartoony thing. Both could be purchased at his table for under 20 dollars each!!!!!!!
Now that's a let down...

So just look on the bright side man, atleast you know what you're getting into...LOL And it's a cool bust!!!

[gordman43]

Now THAT's funny, Dave! I could hear your drawl the whole time I read it LOL!

[george stephenson]

Hey, John. I think you'd be surprised by what folks will be doing with our Mummy in this class. I understand that, at first blush, the Mummy might look like you'd just be painting bandages. But there's a lot more going into this class than you think.

The headliners at all of our classes show the basics of airbrushing, and a few airbrushing tricks they've learned and mastered over the years. But the majority of the painting and finishing most modelers do is NOT with an airbrush. The airbrush takes you so far and then the detailing work that brings the model to life begins. One of the challenges with the Mummy is how to add life and color and subtle distinction to an otherwise monochromatic paint scheme. This Mummy is so ridiculously textured that, once that base work is done with the airbrush (lots of subtle variations in color and airbrushed effects), folks are going to have fun with how much you can add and bring out with the techniques Jeff Camp and Gordon Oberman will demonstrate. It is their third time working with us and they work so well together. When folks are done, I assure you, no one is going to feel like we were just painting bandages. I'll refund the cost of the bust to anyone who feels they didn't get their money's worth.

Gordon will be doing the color version of the Mummy but Jeff, the master of gray scale finishing, will be giving folks the option of learning his techniques for gray scale. The classic characters are perfect for that kind of treatment. I'm hoping I'll be able to paint during the class myself just to learn how Jeff does it.

Another of the challenges for us in organizing these classes is using a model that hasn't already made the rounds in our classes or through our mail order sales; we've done about 10 classes now with 10 different headliners, 10 different models, and over 150 participants. We've already used our werewolves in four different classes. So we want to offer something new. We also want to use a model that folks can complete or substantially complete in the time allotted for the class. Many of the folks who sign up for our classes don't have the confidence to finish a 1:1 scale bust on their own. Many of them have never used an airbrush, many have never done a 1:1 scale kit, and we find that many have never done a model of any kind. So, we are trying to bring something that will appeal to a lot of different folks. And we want folks to walk out of the class having learned some new stuff that will improve all of their modeling skills and to walk out with a finished piece.

The Mummy presents an opportunity to teach and/or perfect some new techniques. That's what we try to do with all of the classes, bring something new or different to folks whether it is a different texture or effect to be painted, a different color scheme or color theory or a different pattern or a different technique. The Mummy is different than anything we've done so far in our classes.

I'm glad you brought this up though because a quick blurb about the class doesn't really let folks know what we are planning. Sorry if you aren't digging on doing the Mummy at the class; you probably aren't the only one. But I have to tell you that we had a lot of folks at our San Francisco class last month who, after seeing what Casey Love showed us, regretted not having signed up. We certainly welcome other suggestions you or anyone else might have re how to make our classes better or more attractive. Hopefully we'll drag you into next year's class with something you dig. But, I don't think anyone will be disappointed with what they get at this year's class.

GeoS

P.S. We are still finalizing exactly what kind of deals on Black Heart and Badger stuff will be offered to class participants. Stay tuned.

[jasonjaconetti]

I have taken two of these classes at the last two Jerseyfests and they both were awesome. But we did not finish the MS Gillman because we just ran out of time. But it was a great time. The COTW we finished except the blood effects. It depends on the kit.

Would I love to paint the Bride this summer at JF14, heck yeah! But if it is the Mummy that would be awesome as well.

[drano]

Dave- that does sound like an ultimate let down

George- thanks so much for giving me a better idea of the thought that went in to this class. I think that these classes are an awesome idea and I am still on the fence about this one, you guys make some convincing points I would like a lesson on painting in greyscale.

[george stephenson]

George- thanks so much for giving me a better idea of the thought that went in to this class. I think that these classes are an awesome idea and I am still on the fence about this one, you guys make some convincing points I would like a lesson on painting in greyscale.

John: I don't see us doing another class or kit with this kind of approach, an approach which is unique among the characters we will do over the next few years. I don't need to mention how great a bargain the class is.

Regarding Jeff's gray scale tutorial, you just aren't going to find a class that can demo gray scale better than our WFest class. And who is going to do that in 1:1 scale? This is going to be awesome.

GeoS

[Nalissa2]

I'll just add that while some techniques are better for certain types of models, you can pretty much use them to some extent in any model or bust you paint.
You just have to make some adjustments to fit your piece, like the hue or color pallet. I guess what I'm trying to say is that don't let the subject dictate the method you use to paint it.

Washes, glazes everything that would probably make The Mummy come to life can also work with your Werewolf busts. I know I've used washes on all my BH busts and I've done a few.

Just some food for thought.

[tseevers]

I've been going to WF since 1996, and have taken multiple classes (heck, the first one I took featured David Fisher and Tom Gilliland!). Last year my son took the Blackheart class at Resintopia, and both he and I took George's class at Wonderfest. Believe me when I tell you you'll get your money's worth no matter WHAT the bust is. Jeff and Gordon are both great guys I'm proud to call my friends, as well as uber talented painters. They are both great instructors too (even though Gordy said it was good I sat in the back of the room so it'd be easier to boot me out the door if I got out of line! )

George is one of the best people I've ever met in the hobby, and you can trust what he says...

(OK George, I'll PM you my mailing addy for the kickback.... )

[moonlightdrive21]

...Would I love to paint the Bride this summer at JF14, heck yeah! ...

George might throw tomatoes at me for saying so, but I'm right with you on this suggestion Jay! Keep torturing George until he agrees to do "The Bride" at his Jerseyfest 2014 class !

Jeff and Gordon are awesome and there is much to be learned from those guys no matter what kit is used. I have yet to hear about anyone walking out of a Blackheart/Badger Class at Wonderfest and not be extremely satisfied.

Dave

[gothiken]

...Would I love to paint the Bride this summer at JF14, heck yeah! ...

George might throw tomatoes at me for saying so, but I'm right with you on this suggestion Jay! Keep torturing George until he agrees to do "The Bride" at his Jerseyfest 2014 class !

Jeff and Gordon are awesome and there is much to be learned from those guys no matter what kit is used. I have yet to hear about anyone walking out of a Blackheart/Badger Class at Wonderfest and not be extremely satisfied.

Dave

+ 10000000000000 !!!!



Kenny

[smithdl69]

I somewhat in the same boat. I really wanted something that had open eyes to paint as I need more help in that area for stuff larger than 1/4 scale. I still signed up and "figure" there is always something to learn and then forget by the same time next year: rise and repeat LOL. I've taken the CultTVman class as well. I've done airplanes, tanks, sci-fi, and now figures. There's a lot of crossover between the groups and I also have learned a lot from watching videos of 2D airbrush artists. I've found that someone always has a different take techniques. There's always something new to learn.

[Avall15]

...Would I love to paint the Bride this summer at JF14, heck yeah! ...

George might throw tomatoes at me for saying so, but I'm right with you on this suggestion Jay! Keep torturing George until he agrees to do "The Bride" at his Jerseyfest 2014 class !

Jeff and Gordon are awesome and there is much to be learned from those guys no matter what kit is used. I have yet to hear about anyone walking out of a Blackheart/Badger Class at Wonderfest and not be extremely satisfied.

Dave

+ 10000000000000 !!!!



Kenny

Ditto!!

[george stephenson]

I will take that under advisement!