But among the many kinds of art I do, I also study military history and make military dioramas. I decided that I liked that picture that my daughter’s boyfriend took of my Civil War diorama so much that I took some pictures of it this morning…
My camera isn’t really good for close-ups.
But the blurriness almost makes them look more realistic.
And I held it up outside so the sky is real.
And the lighting is sort of cool too.
I made the gun and cannon blasts and explosions with cotton and then painted it.
I sort of like the guy being blown off his horse by a cannon-load of grape shot. I stuck a wire through his foot and into the saddle to make him just hang there.
See, there he is, flying into the air.
It looks like the Rebel line is about to break…
Like any kind of art, dioramas are all about the details.
I melted holes in those guys with a hot needle so the sword and the bayonet could actually go all the way through and stick out the other side. I am a sick man. But I am also a hell of an artist.
Pouring My Art Out 
I used to do similar dioramas of WW2 scenes, typically the Eastern Front. I still have a German Panzer V Panther and SdKfz 251/1 half track, and a couple of Soviet T-34/85s with probably 40-50 various soldiers from either side. I just never finished them for the diorama I had planned. Maybe one day when I am finished with school. It was very therapeutic.
I have a few WW2 dioramas also… smaller ones… and a Zulu war one. I have the stuff to do Viet Nam. Oh, I have a Romans vs Germanic tribesmen too. Someday I might do one with all the extras men fighting each other. I didn’t know this post would get so much response.
I think it really touches a lot of people who appreciate the combination of art and history.
When I was young, military history buffs and modelers were sort of considered freaks.
If you’re gonna have a guy getting bayoneted…have him getting bayoneted!
That’s what I always say.
I used to do miniatures for model train sets. My uncle and I, we’d sit in the basement for hours, just setting these things up. He was a seasoned pro. But I never saw detail and “movement” like you’ve got here. Crazy stuff, man. Great job.
Thanks.
I like these a lot, it takes me back a number of years when
my brother and I used to build sceneries, battle fields with
authentic trees and buildings, then afterwards have war games
on them, not kid stuff… I mean proper war games with rulers
and dice, and how brilliant that was 🙂 Well I used to like it 🙂
Have a fun Monday…
Andro
I made a war board game…
You should try selling it, there is a market for new ideas in the gaming industry 🙂 Could be a money spinner 🙂
ooohhh…
War is terrible
It is terrible.
Jeez with this lyrical ability we could write songs for Boy George!
Ha.
That is a Big Country line – right there! Ha!
Ha indeed!!!
Mooselicker? So, if you boil down a moose in a REALLY BIG pot, remove it and strain the liquid through a china cap, continue boiling the bones, strain once more and then continue with a reduction is that the pot liquor you end up with? Just askin’.
Inquiring minds want to know… sort of…
Cool! You’re very talented 😀
Thanks.
Your war art has always been great in whatever format. My grandpa was a big Civil War buff and this reminded me of all of the memorabilia he had. I’d like to see stuff like this more frequently on this here blog.
I will bear that in mind…
Bear wars! Do it.
hmmmmmmmm…..
very cool!
Thanks.
Like it!
Thank you.
This is fantastic. I’m wondering if you could still-life animate this using movie maker for a small video. Even like this though, it is too cool.
I could take one or two guys out and animate them. Doing it against the whole backdrop would be really hard. But thanks.
You have talent. Very detail oriented.
That is a nice way to put it.
I like these! They remind me of the displays at Jamestown with the great details on a such a small scale.
Thank you. It is just another one of the weird art things I do like the tiki carving.