Here is my painted version of the Forest Encounter mini from Nordlys Miniatures based on the old Trollskog painting. I experimented with a painted back drop and strong cast shadows from trees laying across the model for visual interest.

  • Bastien Dupont "El_Gwakamol"

    The cast shadow work very good on this ! amazing job !

    • Nate Boyles

      Thank you! I took reference pictures for myself of a few paintbrushes close to a flashlight of mine to maintain those shadows across the troll. So they are brush-tree-trunks

  • OrigalumPLUS

    Very ambient work! Just feel walking the forest. Gold!

    • Nate Boyles

      Thank you! That is one of my favorite things to do on summer days here in the PNW. I’m gladnit got that feeling across!

  • Roman LappatPLUS

    What a beautiful version of this lovely diorama! Great work on the full scene, it really feels like being in the forest with these two. The cast tree shadows are a great detail! Keep on happy painting!

    • Nate Boyles

      Thanks Roman! That means a lot coming from you. I’m glad that feeling of the forest came through to the final result!

  • Eamon Connerty

    Wow! Those cast shadows are wonderful! Gold!

    • Nate Boyles

      Thanks so much! I do have some behind the scenes/ wip photos of this project over on IG if you’d like to see those

    • Eamon Connerty

      Thanks, gave you a follow.

  • Martin Vermeulen (Nighthawk)

    Beautiful work! Especially the play with light and shadow works enthralling, I love it!

    • Nate Boyles

      Thank you! Painting light is my favorite way to approach all my projects

  • Sergey PopovichenkoPLUS

    Super!!!

  • Jakob VPLUS

    Absolutely fantastic!

    • Nate Boyles

      Thanks Jakob! Wouldn’t be possible without you and all your work at Nordlys. Seriously so grateful for you and your store

  • Josh_Underhill

    The forced shadows are very effective and contribute to a great cool forest atmosphere. I have a copy of this and it’s difficult to imagine painting it in anything other than muted colours close to the original illustration. To do otherwise is a brave choice imo as it could go very wrong and you’ve done a great job here.

    • Nate Boyles

      Thank you! I had a lot of fun painting the backdrop to have those trees in the distance. I hope you post a version too, it really was a fun project to work on

  • Josh "Zozimus" Pattison

    I love this model, and I love what you’ve done to give it even more atmosphere!  Well done!

    • Nate Boyles

      Thanks! I saw some folks online doing some great stuff with atmospheric fall-off that tints objects blue as they get further away and wanted to give it a shot on the background while implying there are invisible trees casting their shadows across the figures