Another diversion – Painting Flats

Here are two flats/zinnfigurens painted as WoRs cavalry – with a nod to Neville colours.

Flats have always fascinated me. There is something exotic about them. They are so Continental European in tradition and subject matter – Peasants War, the Thirty Years’ War and the like. And, the way they are crafted from line drawings which are then transferred and revered carved into two pieces of slate that have to marry for the cast to work. And the way under a real master a near two-dimensional figure works of art, such as these by Bistulfi.

I finally started collecting flats – some painted, some not - , when I was living in Vienna, Here there is a small, arcane but vibrant scene shops opening at odd hours run as much a hobby and clubs as  businesses.  I even managed a painting class at Atelier Harlequin with the master painter of flats, Norbert Heyse. This is one of my favourite pieces by him Henry VIII  – the undulating carpet is amazing. 

I had my first dabble with oils, painting this landsknecht captain , though Heyse managed to achieve more with a few corrective brush strokes than I did the rest of the day. I deliberately left the figure as WIP.

These two cavalry figures, are however a bit more modest in execution, and a bit of an experiment, using acrylics - frowned upon in the flat painting community – and the Wargame Foundry/Dallimore method.  One was undercoated black, the other white and they do have a different finish. I’m happy with the end result, even if they don’t make the cut of Heyse or Bistulfi. If you are interested in knowing more do look at British Flat Figures Society or Michael Taylor’s Art of the Flat Tin Figure.