I recently sent out an invitation for people to recommend artists that have been an inspiration to them. The first one mentioned was @Malekith_Rising, from my buddy Adrian Curtis. I had never seen any of this person's work, so before I sent the request, I hit up the ol' Instagram and had a look. The first thing that caught my eye was the professional quality of the photographs. When I say professional, I don't mean it in the traditional sense of someone trying to show all the details and minutia of their work. I mean it as treating the mini's as if they were people, using lighting and shadows to accentuate their poses. This blew me away. Here I am, trying to find all the "correct" angles and lighting to show off every little nook and cranny of my miniature...but now I realize even if you can see it well, and it looks good.....it doesn't look "Cool". @Malekith_Rising's photos look AWESOME! Go check him out!
After you read about him, of course.
1. How long have you been involved in the hobby in general?
"3 Years and 36 days - I started my journey in Tabletop gaming / miniatures late in the game on 17 May 2017 (I am now 40 years old). Yes, I keep track of this because I feel it's important to take into consideration where I started and where I am now". 2. How long have you been actively promoting your content on social media?
"I was introduced to Instagram not long after I started my tabletop journey. But I didn't seriously hone my Instagram on hobby stuff specifically until April 2019 - prior to that, it was just a mishmash of stuff from my life". 3. What initially drew you to the miniature model hobby realm?
"Hmmm...what drew me in was a combination of things. My career path probably led me to painting miniatures (odd, I know!). I started working for a magazine, then became a traditional animator, then a digital illustrator back in the 90s / early 2000s, before finally becoming an architect for several years. From there, I moved to Tokyo and forayed into luxury fashion and finally, landed on my current career in Australia - working in corporate change and transformation. Needless to say, I am innately creative-oriented and my current corporate role affords little opportunity to stretch my creative muscles. So I began searching for ways to let my creativity loose - walked past a Games Workshop, discovered miniature painting, fell in love with it and here I am!"
4. What tabletop game would you say is your favorite? What particular faction within that game is your favorite and why?
"Having gotten into it so late in the game, Age of Sigmar was what first piqued my interest. But after delving deep in the lore, I quickly became obsessed with the old Warhammer Fantasy games. The deeply intertwined stories and characters really elevated my appreciation of the models - they went from pieces of plastic / metal / resin to living, breathing personalities. If there was one thing I learnt from my experiences across so many different careers, it was that the "why" is what gives meaning to something. I am particularly drawn to elves (or Aelves!) for personal reasons - I identify wholly with elves physically and philosophically (but not always agree with)".Â
5. What is more enjoyable for you personally: painting or playing the game?
"I'm not a particularly competitive gamer and definitely prefer a more narrative-driven approach to gaming...but painting is the critical moment where you breathe life into the minis. Definitely enjoy painting a bit more than gaming".
6. If money or time weren’t a consideration, what single purchase/upgrade/expansion would you make to further your hobby enjoyment?
"You know what they say; you either have money or time, but never both. So if I had more time, I would paint more Warhammer Fantasy minis / armies - and if I could go BACK in time, I would buy more Warhammer Fantasy stuff". 7. Where do you get the inspiration for your particular army theme or style?
"My inspiration comes from everything in life - from couches that have interesting fabrics / patterns / textures, to the color combos in the way a steak is arranged on a plate with peas and carrots. Literally everything can be a source of inspiration if you open your third eye to it. But generally speaking, I always find loads of inspiration from traditional artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Wassily Kandinsky and JC Leyendecker; fantasy artists such as Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazetta and Hajime Sorayama; contemporary artists / designers such as Matthew Barney, Nick Knight and Thierry Mugler; and finally, what you're probably looking for - miniature painters such as David Arroba and Jaime de Garnica. 8. What tips or advice would you give someone just starting out in the hobby?
"Achieving your creative vision is an endless task and you will never reach your ultimate, definitive vision. So don't put pressure on yourself, and don't be afraid of failures and bumps in the road. For every failure you achieve, you will learn infinitely more. Flex and exercise your creativity regularly and in unexpected ways - don't be afraid to challenge yourself. Creative agility is probably more important than technical skills. Everyone is creative, whether you think you are or not - you just have to unleash it and let it flourish. And most importantly, know and understand the difference between painting miniatures you intend to game with, and miniatures you intend as a painting exercise. This will help you have more painted minis on the table!"
Thank you so much Malekith_Rising for answering my questions and sharing a bit about yourself! To everyone else, go check his instagram out RIGHT NOW! His work is excellent, but his photography and ability to capture the "life" of his minis are truly what sets him apart!
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