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Time for something new. The journey with Vlka Fenryka (http://ironsleet.com/category/vlka-fenryka/) was more rewarding and more productive than I could have ever imagined. After like 5 years with the Legion, to come out and make 2000pts of Fenrisian madness in a year to the level I wanted surprised me pretty fundamentally. Turns out sticking to regular half and hour or an hour of modeling can yield pretty amazing results. And I don't have to give up on armies with a crazy job and two small kids. The support I got here and at Iron Sleet was completely critical to maintaining the momentum. So huge thanks for that!

So recently at Iron Sleet we hit our 100th pots and decided to do something together. Four unique takes on Eldar was decided upon.

I’ve taken this project pretty seriously. The Eldar hold a very special place in my heart. For two decades I’ve decided to start an Army and then not make it, unable to see enough of the madness I need to interpret the art and background into something unique. Something that pushes the vision for the race further.

I thought hard what to make and played with several ideas. Then decided that I really don’t need another army project, so the model should work as a standalone piece. And individual. I wanted to study something Eldritch that was an outsider of the Craftworld archetypes, something that could fit in the Inquisitorial worlds and warrior bands I create with my friends. I’ve always been fascinated by the Black Library, the floating prison of information traveling the web way to avoid visitors. And which individual would ever have access?

With my imagination running riot, I settled on a Solitaire of sorts, one of the guardians of the library, a special one, carrying the death masks of his slain Masque with him, by his own hand? A Rogue? A Pariah assassin?

Having touched a solitaire, the curse is upon me and ideas of further models are hitting me left and right, very unorthodox takes on constructs that maintain the library and a small elite on foot and bikes and walkers only force of lithe Eldar to strike from the web way…. All based on incredible craftworld/webway basing…




Beyond perfection, madness awaits.

The greatest of all master of solitude, Agaith Arebennian,

Black wind of death and no soul

The legend of foul





More images at high res: http://ironsleet.com/2015/11/02/agaith-arebennian-the-black-librarian/

Stay tuned!

Oooh this is fixing to get good. I'll be keeping an eye on this.

 War Kitten wrote:
Oooh this is fixing to get good. I'll be keeping an eye on this.

What War Kitten said, except in my voice.

Just typed out a long spiel before deleting it. No words do a better job of expressing my hype.

It's exactly what I was hoping for when I clicked. Bring on the awesome.

Very cool. Love how you've done that staircase.

EDC

Thanks guys!!

Painting commences this weekend. Collected some of my favorite Eldar art for inspiration: http://ironsleet.com/2015/11/07/getting-in-the-mood-to-paint-the-dying/

I am really excited to see what will come of this. The conversion is excellent and the background snippets really set the tone and add atmosphere.

Can't wait for more!

Pictures!

All of my miniature creation is driven by the background and artwork, to create something that moves the imagery to new unexpected directions, while being completely aligned to the essence of a given army, race or archetype.

I've mentioned my deep affection to the Eldar race before. Reading the Codexes growing up, admiring the art and pondering the mysteries of their technology, the Eldar were in a league of elegance and mastery of a whole other level. Take Wraithbone, the organic super material shaped and grown in to Eldar products using psychic powers as an example.

"Wraithbone is the primary construction material used by the Eldar, and the staple of their psycho-technical engineering. It is a form of crystallized psychic energy that can exist as a solid in realspacebrought forth from the Warp and shaped by an Eldar concentrating his thoughts and intent upon it. All Eldars are able to influence Wraithbone to a certain extent; for instance, most Eldars walking the Path of the Artisan will use Wraithbone in order to create the pieces of art or instruments they desire. However, truely complex constructions (such as functional weapons or whole voidships) can only be brought into existence by the Eldar Bonesingers; those specialised craftsmen who focus on understanding and mastering the intricacies of creating, growing and shaping the Wraithbone through the application of their innate psychic power." (http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Wraithbone)

It's this sort of creation I'm trying to tune in to.

In the Recent Eldar Codexes, the studio artists have gone back to color old black and white art digitally, an imagery and color world very fittingly ethereal, mysterious and alien for this Race. I wanted to explore this crazy idea in miniatures to once more shake away from how I've done things in the past.

The heaviness of mastering the Vlka Fenryka, storm clouds, oil paints and steel, has been replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, stars, psycho-technical engineering and wraith bone. I painted a Black and white miniature, quite carefully, then made a sacrifice to the Laughing God, and inking, shading, and general experimentation craziness ensued - trying hard to be bold, and not suffocate the miniature with technique and norm. Each and every model will help define this approach, but the impact is here now, on the very first one. The plan is to produce and exquisite collection of Eldar models that each bring a fresh take to familiar archetypes or create a completely new one, like the next model I am working on.

I could go on for quite a bit, but better let the photos do the talking. I should note the Base took quite some time to figure out to get enough of the hues of the figure, enough menace to be a hidden craft world and still provide a neutral non overpowering platform for the model.

Agaith Arebennian is finished and to quote my son who is drawing next to me. "I put a lot of love in to my work."










and more at IRON SLEET

Aroo? Migsula doing Eldar stuff?

SUBSCRIBED!

Stunning. Beautiful dark take on the Eldar.

Stunning!

So glad I clicked on this post, great take on the solitaire.

Wow. Quite literally a work of art.

EDC

Thanks guys!! I've started building the next one - a completely new concept for another librarian, this one in a more literal sense, of the black library.

I would love to see your take on a Ranger Autarch.

A Starstrider ranger is definitely on the list and I already have an idea for him

Man, you're on a whole other level. Absolutely bangarang. Can't wait to see what's next.

Everything you do is fantastic... hope this log turns out to be a productive one!

You always do incredible work, this is no exception.

I constantly refer people to your blog for awesome examples of conversions and painting. Seems as though I will continue to do so.

Thanks for the support guys, it has really given me a jolt of energy after a summer (outside) away from the hobby.!! I will aim for weekly updates now. One week to build and share the conversion and concept, and another week to finish the model.

Cannot wait to see how this develops. Agaith Arebennian oozes deadly character.

Looking forward to see where this goes. Your work is inspiring to say the least!

Visceral foreboding and ancient menace are the first things I think seeing this.

It's great!

I like the stripes on the gown/robes. They recalls the robes of a samurai stalking through the winter woods. Totes apropes, as the kids would say, for eldar. And the red OSL-like parts are a masterstroke that makes it seem like we are looking at it through some clinging mist. Oh, and the base is beautiful decrepit.

Top notch stuff, as always.

Subscribed! Both beautiful and disturbing. Very rare combination.

Thanks guys, the second one is nearly ready for paint, but I run into an Inquisitorial land mine

IRON SLEET illuminati aquila update

The second habitant of the Black Library is an actual book keeper. Guardian of truth and singer of wraith-bone. One of the more complex conversions I’ve ever done, I want to build a bizarre, ancient, Eldritch thing that is one with the library, very elder and distinctly eldar, but somehow also able to interact with tomes and artifacts of lesser races stored in the Library. He has taken the Path of Blackness, a rare and completely secret side of Path of Shaping.

“Path of Shaping – The Path of Shaping is a specialisation of the Path of the Artisan, closely linked to the Path of the Seer. It is undertaken by those Eldar who become Bonesingers, the skilled artisans who are part psyker, part artist and part engineer. Bonesingers train their innate psychic powers to create and mend all of the constructs of Wraithbone used by the Eldar. Wraithbone is a soldified substance crafted out of the psychic energy of the Warp that is the primary substance used to construct almost all Eldar edifices, artifacts and starships.” (source)

Rules wise, I think he will be a count as Shadow Seer – not much other options, and really it doesn’t matter at all…

Reversing the tech priest Dominus' robes is an inspired move, Migs! Cannot wait to see this model finished. I am very much enjoying the snippets of background and story you intermingle with your blog too.

That is superb migs. I love the way the robes flow into the rounded armor plates, but are countered by the skittering mechanical legs and projections below.

Many runes the cold has told me,
Many lays the rain has brought me,
Other songs the winds have sung me.
Many birds from many forests,
Oft have sung me lays n concord
Waves of sea, and ocean billows,
Music from the many waters,
Music from the whole creation,
Oft have been my guide and master

-Kalevala

Oldest living Eldar, donning a living instrument, fused into his body after a millennia of use, the Ward Seer of the Library floats forward.

Thanks for the feedback guys!!