As far as the painting is concerned, I tried to stretch my abilities with this model by using more glazes and learning two brush blending. I tried two brush blending for the first time on the blue cloth and red leather. So let me know what you guys think of those areas in particular. (EDIT: those didn't photograph too well, they do look better in RL. I might try to get more accurate photos tomorrow)
I also delved into TMM for the first time, and I have to say that I'm pretty happy with the results.
Sadly some of the imperfections of the model only really stood out after I started painting so I had to kinda leave them and move on, not too happy about that :/ .
Backstory: (for those interested. This will be rather lengthy; It is posted mainly for Kuro)
Standing 6' 10” and weighing in at 305 lbs, Fargus is virtually a giant among men. He grew up in a port town as the son of a blacksmith and oldest of four children. This taxing line of work and rough environment did much to prepare him for what lay ahead, but not even he could have been prepared for what fate had in store for him.
Fargus's father had long been on the “hit list” of a local noblemen for crafting and selling weapons to local rebels and anarchists who opposed his reign. It was nearing Fargus's 20th birthday when this nobleman made his move.
Fargus was out collecting supplies and taking an order for a local shipbuilder when he was taken by one of the nobleman's press-gangs. While the ship was being loaded, Fargus's young sister saw him chained and ready to be taken aboard a large vessel. His sister told him that she would run and find their father and brothers. Slipping him her necklace (a gold pendent with a star ruby inset, an heirloom of the family) she said, "If we don't come in time, this star will guide you home." Though it took a while to load the vessel, help never came. Fargus doubted if he would ever see his father, sister, or two brothers again.
Fargus was soon put to work as a slave aboard the vessel as one of the oarsmen. He was strong and hardy and performed this task quite well. The taskmasters left him alone, until they discovered the “purty jewel” he stilll maintained possession of. When they attempted to take it, Fargus would fly into uncontrollable rages. After Fargus nearly killed one of these men with his bare hands, the captain gave orders to “leave the chained madman alone, you'll get your trinket when he's been worked to death” . Figuring they could speed this process along, they used the whips on Fargus far more then they had before. Fargus still bears many scars and gashes from these ruthless beatings. He, however, endured longer than he held their interest. (This part is tentative to change based on how far along the DM deems that boats would have been at this time. If ships were far enough along, Fargus will still have served as a sailor in slavery aboard this vessel, but still with similar dealings with those aboard)
One fateful night, nearly three years since he was first enslaved, Fargus escaped while the ship was docked at a port. Fargus shattered his weakened chains with his raw strength, stole a prize weapon from the captain's quarters (the ax he still bears), killed the few sailors who opposed him, and slipped ashore. In retrospect, Fargus regrets that he didn't free the others, but at the time he reasoned that he couldn't afford to start enough of a disturbance to warrant the local law and the captain having to search the surrounding area for slaves.
Afterward, Fargus lived several months in the wild before returning to the port town to buy passage on a ship. He is now homeward bound, dreading to learn the fates of those he left behind, and hungering to exact revenge on those who have wronged him....
