Thursday March 20 2008
Just a note: I’ll be out from 1pm to 5pm today, Mountain Time.
I will be in the studio after that.
–Shawn
Wednesday March 19 2008
Picture: a Cadwallon Militia by Rackham. Rackham is a French company that produces some very, very nice figurines. Unfortuneately, their distribution in the US is not very reliable. But they are far and away some of the most exquisite figures ever. See more.
Yet again I didn’t get through all the digital photography. Just to put your mind at ease, here is what is DONE and ready to get pics:
Deathguard 01 PE (almost done, should be Friday)
Menoth 12 GQ
Eldar 01 GS HQ
Praetorians 01 RJ
Ravenwing 01 JP
Space Marines 01 EO
Necrons 01 NG
Vorador (you know who you are)
What else? I’ve got three armies for sale (these prices for limited time only):
Dragons of Moloch $1200 (2300 pts of Chaos)
Tau Drones $600 (1500 pts of Tau)
Lions Rampant $1200 (3000 pts of Imperial Guard)
More later!
Tuesday March 18 2008
You should really try it. You might like it. Plus they have some good sponsors (wink).
First off, I’m running the Vampire Counts Core-tastic special (L2 infantry core for $2.75 each painting). It saves a lot of money. Email me for a spreadsheet.
You’ll notice that I’ve not done any Youtube for a while. Don’t worry, something’s coming soon. I’ll be back in the groove.
I feel like talking tonight.
First, the news around the studio. There are a bunch of projects in digital photography. I could have stayed late to get them processed, but I told the good woman that I would be home by 6pm.
As most of you have guessed, I’ve been having a hard time of it. It’s not something I can talk about, really. But I can say this: things are not always as they seem. Usually, through adversity things come out better in the end.
These are projects that are due to be finished this week:
Deathguard 01 PE
Menoth 12 GQ
Road Warrior Orc Trays
Eldar 01 GS HQ
Angry Goats 01 (will take 2-3 weeks more)
Undead 01 CW done!
Ultramarines 01 JR
Eldar 01 GS Harlequins
Praetorians 01 RJ done
Ravenwing 01 JP
Urban Tau 01 AF –> This 3000 point Tau army will be for sale, it’s being refurbished nicely
Space Marines 01 EO
Eldar 01 GS Vehicles
Necrons 01 NG
Vampire Counts 01 PB vorador
High Elves 03 CA
Um, also in digital photography is a War Machine project (cryx, pirates) and a Trollbloods box set.
What do I have cooking? A whole lot of nothing. I’m not working on any personal projects. I do have about fifty
And now the ramble. My wife and I are following American Idol this season. It’s pretty interesting, but we really have to skip through the boring parts. That’s about half the show. We’re watching New Amsterdam right now. I’ve never seen it before. I’ll tell you if it’s any good.
Anyone else have trouble getting their kids to bed? They just won’t stay down. Griffin is ever so cute. He’s potty training right now, and doing very well with that. It’s like an all night musical chairs. I have no idea where the kids will be every morning. It’s crazy.
Did you know that I speak fluent Spanish! I spent two years in Chile on my mission. I spent about half in the capital city of Santiago and the other half in rural areas. Best two years of my life. Aside from the 13 glorious years with my wife!
Actually, I’m really tired. No more ramble.
Monday March 17 2008
Picture: Orc Bust by Forge World. See more pics. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Fortunately, I put on my green shirt this morning.
Last night was pretty rough. I’m on some wicked anti-biotics and I spent like four hours actually sleeping. Wah.
I haven’t update Youtube because I’m really in a funk. I just get home and lay on the couch. It’s all right everything will be OK in the end. So, please excuse me. I’m still performing my full range of duties, never you worry. Your project will get taken care of.
This morning I got up bright and early, swept the drive and headed out for a walk. I had a banana for breakfast. Did you know those things are really good for you. It’s like a power meal with a peel. Very nice creation.
In other good news I managed to plow two episodes of Stargate.
I’m making a Forge World order tomorrow. Two projects are coming up: a Marauder Destroyer and nine Broadsides. Very nice. I have a wishlist for FW as long as my arm.
Don’t we all.
I heard from an old client in the SF Bay area (DW) and that was really a breath of fresh air. His project was one of the first things I did on commission: an Undead army. I don’t think I have the pics for that any more. But I do remember that I took pics of it in my driveway (I started working in my garage).
It was a normal day, getting projects together, and keeping things flowing smoothly.
When I got home, my lovely wife had prepared the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal: cabbage and corned beef. It was delicious. For Family Home Evening we played Talisman with the kids.
Sunday March 16 2008
All this week I’ve been picking away at the giant ice slab in the driveway. It started as a fifteen foot square monstrosity. Each day I spent a little time hacking at it with a chisel/shovel thing. At first it seemed like a hopeless task. Then I got it down to two large piles– four inches of solid ice with snow packed on top of that.
The sun and rain made my work easier.
Then I got it down to the size of a kiddie pool, then a pizza plate, then it was gone. Then I started sweeping.
It’s a metaphor for my soul.
It’s been a typical Sunday. I got up bright an early and headed out for a walk. It snowed about an inch last night. I shoveled the entire walk and put some salt down.
Here’s what’s on my mind:
Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us.
– Joseph Smith
And this passage from Matthew:
23 ΒΆ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Aaaaand, in other news, my buddy Greg lent me Season 10 of Stargate and “The Ark of Truth” (Stargate Movie). So, it’s all Stargate all the time at the Gately house. I put the kids on notice then made up a huge batch of rice krispie treats.
Saturday March 15 2008
Picture: a winged Hive Tyrant.
Hey all.
Still alive and kicking. Most of the pics are back up on the website (I lost about 7% of the albums when the website went down).
Be assured that everything is running smoothly.
Today I went to the studio to work on a super top secret project– possibly the most complicated terrain project ever.
I came home “early” at 6pm and basically hung out with the kids and watched like five episodes of Stargate. I crashed on the couch then woke up around midnight, ready to go. Except now it’s time to go asleep again.
It’s been a loooong week.
Wednesday March 12 2008
Picture: An Emperor’s Children Land Raider. See the other models from this set.
It’s been a rough week. I have had troubles from all sides, not the least of which is the website being down. It is finally back up, but several months of picture uploads are now dead links. Over the next few days I’ll be working at getting those up.
The following projects are under the brush and will be completed in the next 5-10 days. A few are exceptionally large (you know who you are) and will be longer:
Deathguard 01 PE
Menoth 12 GQ
Road Warrior Orc Trays
Eldar 01 GS (split into various parts– vehicles lagging)
Angry Goats 01
Undead 01 CW
Ultramarines 01 JR +assembly
Praetorians 01 RJ
Ravenwing 01 JP
Urban Tau (this will be for sale soon– a studio army)
Space Marines 01 EO
Lizardmen 01 JH
Eldar 01 GS Vehicles
Necrons 01 NG
Vampire Counts 01 PB vorador
High Elves 03 CA
As usual, if you want to know the status of your project, just contact me.
Blue Table Painting Website Still Down
UPDATE: the website has been resolved but still should be 24 hours to… well, something they said. I don’t understand it. Not liking my hosting service right now.
In the meantime I have all pics of new stuff up here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24692050@N08/
Hey all. Don’t be alarmed that the website is down. My hosting service is getting around to restoring my backup.
Pictures from the last four months will take longer to get back up.
Client Testimonial
Shawn,
I received my Empire and Witch Hunter armies last week. I have to say that you and your artists have forced me to reconsider how I view well-painted figures. By this I mean that I’ve been conditioned to think that a model has to be painted to the display standard shown on certain online catalogs. I was skeptical of your philosophy that figures need to look good on the table even if they show minor imperfections within 6-12″.
Now that my armies have been unpacked, arranged, and battle-tested, I’m converted. The armies look absolutely gorgeous. More importantly, every step of the process in working with Bluetable has been professional, friendly, detail-oriented, and efficient. You did exactly what you said you would do, you did it on time, and you kept me informed throughout. I could not be happier and I will not hesitate to recommend you to my friends or to work with you again myself.
Please pass kudos along to your artists as well, who took their artistic license far enough to achieve great results without getting crazy.
On a side note, I have one more Empire mortar with crew that I’d like to send you to paint to match the rest of the army you did. Can I go ahead and send it along with instructions?
Best regards,
Ryan Hollingsworth
Blue Table Painting Website Down Temporarily
My server is down for a little bit. Don’t worry about it.