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After spending a horrific amount of time on this model, I really mean it this time; I’m not painting him again.

This is my favourite model in the entire GW line up. Just everything about it resonates with me. The head sculpt/character. The armour and flow of the capes, the pose as he strides with purpose. Dad’s shield… the whole 9 yards. In most sculpts/models there is a point in the painting process where I just want to rush through an element. Not on Lion El’Johnson.

With that said, here’s how my latest version looks. Finally ready to lead his sons into a punishing meta full of Xenos poop.

I usually do not add much text to my gallery pictures but I took my time with this version of the lion. Probably the longest it has ever taken me to call a model ‘done’. So I’ve added some of my thoughts below.

A lot of additional care was taken this time to make the armour more lively. It’s using the light sourcing a lot more this time, and the washing/highlighting and stippling really helped to accent the knight element that’s been sculpted on this guy.

I think it’s easy to get carried away with the cape. And I may have been guilty of that last time. For me at least, I wanted the lion mane to pop and the contrast of his cool back pack to be the focus of the viewer.

A closer shot of the armour. The focus of light was to be the upper left side of the picture. There was an intent to show a fair amount of wear to the armour as well without it looking too… ‘green’.

The shield is a story in itself. I also wanted to put more into the uniquely shaped litanies on his sword. The element of the ‘key’ is present on much of the litany work.

Fealty, the sword, is something I did very differently last time. I wanted it to look pure. The sun of Caliban perhaps or a more true-ish gold. I felt I did the sword too dark last time which lacked the pop against the dark baroque armour.

Another angle with the shield. (It’s hard to get a good picture of it with the hobbit carrying all the bits and bobbles.)

Finally some of the face. I wanted to age it, but keep it strong, and noble. The eyes had to be blue.

As big as I could get without blurring to show the mistakes and finer brush work. Sometimes the imperfections work in your favour. Hopefully he looks adequately aged, but someone you really don’t want to mess with! (Ask Angron about that!!)

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for looking and checking out the Lion.

-prot.