This was painted after attending a class on OSL and night lighting taught by Roman Gruba and in response to a challenge where a randomly drawn tarot card was given to provide thematic and visual inspiration. I drew the five of pentacles which typically depicts an image of two people in the snow with a stained glass window. Reading up on the card (knowing nothing of tarot) I had the impression of it representing themes of the outcast and rejected and/or a state of misfortune and tribulation along with the loss of that which might previously have provided support, safety and comfort. From that I constructed a story around the figure to provide inspiration, picturing her as some member of a militant order or elite guard associated with the temple in the background. perhaps after discovering some form of corruption among the high ranking priesthood she has been unjustly debased and expelled in order to discredit her knowledge of the wrongdoing (possibly after being framed for some misdeed or more likely the very corrupt activity which she herself uncovered). Cut off from the support of her only home and family she must retreat and stoically endure alone while she perseveres to somehow turn the tables and bring vengeance and justice to her powerful adversaries.

  • Christophe Salesse

    Great job! Fantastic light.

  • Martin Vermeulen (Nighthawk)

    I very much like the play of light in this piece! Lovely work!

  • Marc MussatPLUS

    Love it ! Gold as your lights !

    • Josh_Underhill

      Thanks Marc! I’m happy you and others are appreciating the lighting

  • Matthieu Roueche - "Blabla"PLUS

    Great lightning for this scene !

    • Josh_Underhill

      Thanks Matthieu! I’m glad you like it. I was afraid the photos wouldn’t convey the light - It’s one of the very few things I’ve painted which to me at least looks better in hand than in pictures

  • ArtNiak

    Piece of Art

  • Kyle Maitland

    Nice work.  I think Rin lighting could come a bit farther forward to cast shadows that sharp or light that heavy on colour tone, but a fun idea.

    • Josh_Underhill

      Thanks Kyle. It’s a cool idea and the obvious thing to do with this kind of scene but I wanted to be able to display the model from any angle and still have the light make sense (hence the round plinth). As I was painting the back it seemed to make sense to stop where it was..bringing it forward might have meant it would become too bright at the extremities when viewed from other angles. Also strictly speaking the direct light cast from the window shouldn’t extend past her head which is where it would look best and maintain focus on the face..something to consider next time if the figure is closer to the window

  • Roman LappatPLUS

    Would love to see this photographed on a black background. Really nice!

    • Josh_Underhill

      Thanks Roman! I will take some (hopefully improved) photos with a black background. I had some trouble getting good images with black and white so went with grey but it’s not ideal. I’ve also been advised to paint the plinth black which I might do If I can get the rest of it safely masked.

  • Marco Ruano Miniature Painter

    Great job, gold

  • Josh_Underhill

    Edit: (added some photo’s taken against a dark background)

  • Theodoros Giannakopoulos

    Great job in light/shadow effect !

  • fabrizio1969PLUS

    Great

  • Pierre Balmette

    Very nice lights and atmosphere, gold!