Print & Paint Project #2 – Aboleth

OK, so I’ll admit…before starting this D&D Monster Manual Print & Paint project, I had no idea what an aboleth was…this “fun little project” is already becoming a learning tool for finding out more about the history and lore of some of the creatures that inhabit the Dungeons & Dragons worlds!

An Aboleth, as pictured in the Monster Manual

I found it very interesting that aboleths essentially pre-dated almost all living creatures, and as other life-forms evolved, the aboleths reached out with their minds to seize control making them all their slaves. This dominance made them like gods.

When the real gods appeared, they destroyed the aboleths’ empire, and freed their slaves.

The aboleths have never forgotten…thanks to their eternal memories that they pass down from generation to generation.

I’ll just say that I don’t think I would ever want to come across an aboleth lair…for a creature I’d never heard of, they are definitely worth their Challenge Rating of 10 (I think that is understated).

So my rendition of the aboleth is a self-printed design by none other than mz4250 who is an awesome sculptor of all things D&D (and some even more “fanciful”)! My shameless plug for him is simply if you have a 3D printer and want some great minis to feed your hobby needs, give him a look and support his great work!

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I actually found this one harder to get good paint results than I’d thought…nothing against the model at all as I do think it’s very true to the Monster Manual artist’s rendition above…I just had trouble getting the shading and texturing I wanted…didn’t help that couple of my key Citadel paint pots had dried up due to non-use over the past couple of years…guess it’s time to make a curbside pickup order at Forbes Hobbies here in town and replace some older paints!

Even though I’m not that happy with this one, if on the off chance I ever had the opportunity to challenge a party in a campaign…hey, I’m ready! Definitely won’t be using this guy in any painting contests though LOL!

Thanks for the look and read…stay tuned for the third installment that will be coming up, and that will start into the Angels section of the Monster Manual…starting with the Deva! Stay tuned!

It’s been a while…new direction for site

Not sure if anyone’s still following or checking out the site, but it was definitely an extremely busy winter with work and managing through pandemic with lockdowns, etc. in our region.

I have, however, gotten into a new hobby that is extremely satisfying – 3D resin printing! I decided to pull the trigger on an Elegoo Mars Pro 3D Resin Printer a couple months back to print my own miniatures for D&D and such, and WOW, have I been having a blast!

I think what I’m going to do, is work my way through the 5e D&D Monster Manual and try printing and painting each creature and showcasing here, maybe with some comments on printing challenges, settings used, etc. in the printing process, and then the types of paint used, etc. I’ll likely throw some player-type characters in there too from time to time as our groups’ adventures progress and change!

I’m hoping to get a bit of a community following going, so will promote it a bit once I get the first one done! May also feature some Patreons, Kickstarters and designers that I like. I likely will not get into sculpting much on my own as my brain-space probably wouldn’t allow for it LOL

Watch here soon if you’re into printing and/ or painting fantasy miniatures! Look forward to meeting some folks!

Thanks,
Kev