Sky Kosa.

On my bench. Work in progress: I have a vague concept coming together here with silver, rose gold and two gorgeous rose cut sapphires. 🌺🌺 -- #summerstyle #summervibes #summerfashion2022 #springfashion2022 #sprintimejewelry #countrystyle #womenowned #professionalwoman #ladyartist #ladyartists #ladysmithy #riojeweler #riojewelers #oneartistjewelry #ladyentrapenur #workinggirl #shopsmallbusinesses #jewelryinfluencer #jewelrylover #jewelrycollector #workinggirl #jewelryobsessed #customjewelrydesigner https://www.instagram.com/p/CdKRQh6uAUh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Chieftain tanks are my happy place

I grew up in Germany in the 1980s, a time of the cold war, Chernobyl and the Chieftain tank. Sadly, only one of these things has turned into something fun to play with at the weekend.

I have loved the Chieftain tank since childhood and had more than one chance to crawl across one, while still an overly excited pre-teen, visiting the Tank Museum in Bovington. Obviously, as soon as I hit my teenage years, I immediately stopped loving something as loud, obnoxious and heavy as a tank and instead got into music, namely Heavy Metal music.

Along with my love of Heavy Metal music, came my delight in the peace movement and even now aged horribly close to fifty, I am still involved in the peace movement, albeit, while wishing that I had the disposable income and large area of unused farmland upon which I could dabble in my interest in Chieftain tanks.

As we all know, the venerable old Chieftain had something of an Achilles heel out back, in the form the Leyland L60 engine. However, when it did work, the nineteen litre, opposing piston, two stroke multi-fuel engine had a glorious howl to it, despite being chronically underpowered for the vehicle it was propelling. Luckily the pack was easy to pull out and replace while in the field... Every cloud etc.

You can now buy your own Chieftain tank, providing that you have £60K to play with. However you also need a thousand pounds to fill the tank, every time you want to go for a drive of more than half a mile. If you want to know more about this kind of thing, why not go and have a look at the Mr Hewes YouTube channel. If you love tanks, you will not be disappointed.

Now of late, I have of course got into my art in a big way and when I say a big way, I now have a room in the house entirely dedicated to my making art. I have some of my art displayed in our home and the wife even likes some of it! However, I have wanted to make a Chieftain Tank Diorama for a while now and always put it off because of the cost of a decent sized set. Now obviously, the kindly folk at Google would never listen in to my conversations through their monitoring devices in my phones and computers, so it was by pure chance that they displayed to me one day, a whole host of cheap model tanks... It would have been rude to ignore it, so I snapped up a Tamiya 1/35 scale model set for a penny short of £17. The bastard Post Office added their own stab in the back for delivery and four days later, it arrived in my disgustingly sweaty paws. Thus, the plan came together and I got my magic bucket out of the shed. I cut the wood for a base and dropped it in the bucket. I also slapped in some ripped up newspaper and a bottle of glue, then tickled the lot with a paintbrush and then dropped in the bits of tank. I put the lid on the bucket, gave it a hearty shake as I said the magic words (do you really think that I am going to tell you my magic words?) and what do you know? A load of spilled paint, sticky glue, broken plastic and ripped up newspaper fell out of the bucket!

So with a new model set delivered to my desk and the magic bucket on toilet cleaning duty, I set about doing it properly. The base was a piece of off cut chipboard donated by a friend. The newspaper came from my Mother in law, while Wifypoozles supplied the PVA glue. Knowing the dimensions of the tank, I was able to map out the diorama and then start designing the landscape. I knew that I wanted a rocky bank and a drainage ditch either side of the vehicle, with a fence and some grass. Using a cardboard tube and flower arranging foam, I quickly modelled the bank and then using a drill and a Dremel I cut the ditch into the base board.

The base board was then coated with newspaper and a mix of paint and PVA, sealing the tube and foam into place. I also placed a couple of pretty stones and a larger rock into place to give me a rocky bank with an exposed rock face.

With the base dry, it was time to add the soil and substrate, for which I used a mix of builders sand, gravel and pebbles, mixed with PVA. It took a couple of days to dry, but when it did, it was as hard as rock. Using my airbrush, I gave it a quick coat of burnt umber paint, which just deepened the already very brown of the sand and gravel. I used some lichen that had fallen from one of our trees to simulate bushes and shrubs and used some sheet grass from a model railway to make the grassy tufts I wanted at the edge of my gravel road.

I used cocktail sticks and super glue to knock up a fence and then found the measurements for a stile and added one of them too. A quick on line check sourced an army range sign warning about the dangers of picking up used ordnance.

With the base done, I turned to the model tank and began the construction with painting and building of twelve road wheels, two front guide wheels, two rear sprockets and six return rollers. Five hours later, each wheel was assembled, painted and ready for fitting to the bogies. By the end of day one on the tank build, I had assembled the lower hull, with tracks.

Day two saw me make a start on the upper section of the tank, also known as the Glacis Plate and engine deck. This took barely more than an hour and the boxes looked great assembled and fitted. Moving onto the turret was where things got complicated as several tiny parts needed to be located and fitted. The crew doors had to be functional, so that if I decided to use them, I could add the figures for a heads out driving of the vehicle. I also had to fit the barrel lock, which again had to be functional to allow the main gun to be locked into the rearward position. With all of these parts functional, it was fun to add the first coats of paint, a dark green acrylic ink designed for use with an air brush. With the dark green base coat of the plastic, it needed only thin coverage to give the wanted effect, however as the paint dried, it took on the usual glossy finish, totally unsuitable for NATO camouflage. Luckily, when I bought the model set, I also purchased a bottle of clear mat varnish.

Some parts of the set were extremely well made and thus it went together beautifully, not needing anything more than a light sanding to remove moulding marks. Sat on the shelf behind me in my room was two jars of experimental spru-goo and not once did I need it. However some parts were quite poorly made. Actually, that is unfair. The plastic tow cables were brittle and did not lay like real steel cable, so I raided the mountain bike spares and pulled out a stainless steel brake cable, which I unwound to find the wire core. At point eight of a millimetre, this was the exact size to replace the plastic tow cables. However the eyelets that connect the cable to the tank were another story. Using some of the spru-goo, I attempted to model some eyelets. However at the time of writing, the spru-goo has not yet reached full hardness. So with a heavy heart, I cut the eyelets off of the plastic tow cable and with a micro-drill, made a 0.5mm hole and then enlarged it to just under one millimetre. This was just big enough for take a tight fitting steel cable and thus the tow cables were made.

The final pieces to be assembled were the crew and in the instruction guide, all three of the crew are to be painted as white European men. This grated against my more egalitarian heart and so when I started to paint the figures, I painted the tank Commander with a skin tone that matched a photograph of Grand Tour level cyclist, Biniam Girmay, the first Black African cyclist to win a stage in a grand tour. The young man is an extremely talented professional cyclist, who was unfortunately taken out of the 2022 Gyro d'Italia after winning a stage, when the cork from a podium celebration bottle hit him in the eye.

With my crew painted, I fitted them and then decided that they needed a back story, so here it is. The Driver is a Gay man, out and proud. The Gunner is a Trans Man, brave and strong and then the Commander is a young Black man. The sad truth is that during the years of service for this vehicle, it is extremely unlikely that such people would ever get into the army, let alone command of a main battle tank.

Thus my project came to an end, with a large stone holding the tank hull down to the base board as I waited for the glue to dry. So while I wait for the glues, paints and resins to harden, I must find another project to distract me from the unending pain I suffer every day. I know, I will design and scratch build from paper stock an entire model of my motorbike! I am a fucking idiot.

••+• MAGICK VASE •+•• Acrylic & tea stains on arche paper✨ I have other paintings on the way & am opened to commissions if you are into it ♥︎ Slide in my Dms for details! Also, should I make prints with this one?! Maybe just a limited run?! Let me know in the comments! ♥︎♥︎♥︎ + + + + + #prints #magick #painting #blackwork #cosmic #cosmicart #moon #witchvibes #ladytattooers #ladyartist #art #walldecor #roomdecor #ornamental #ornamentalika #canadianartist #painter #painterofthenight https://www.instagram.com/p/CoFePZnrG6y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Octofication takes in a subtle tone this #SundayDrawing this is my scene. #Dynamism remains intact ready to swirl n thrash in #chalkoastel #drawing #art #floral #inspiration . The never ending flowing and unfolding of everything #Kali #mysticartist #ladyartist #Greekartist (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiqNW9XvxMH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Squirrel rider 🐿 /SOLD OUT

drawing #illuatration #art #surfboard #skate #passion #artlover #myart #mydrawing #myidea #squirrel #animal #humananimal #redhead #curlyhair #girl #tshirt #funtime #sport #vans #fur #longhair #skateboard #surfboards #artistoninstagram #ladyartist #womanartist #girlpower #girldrawing #babe

Motivational Memories

________

WOW 🙌 I want to say a heartfelt thank you once again to @malcolmriddle I was really touched by your amazingly kind words 🙏❤️🖼️🤗

It’s been an amazing few years, so many amazing opportunities have come my way. It means so much to be appreciated and supported in this way 🎉🤗

I promise I do sleep sometimes 🤣🤣🤣 I’ll continue do whatever I can to support and highlight amazing artists 👩‍🎨

@madurgency Move as a team 🙌

Shouts to @djlord and @djlord_apparel for the collaboration opportunity 🎉

#ladyartist #myjourney #myway #hardworkpaysoffs #artist #grateful #bigthings

Inktober Day I dunno: I had an Idea so I did it ~ Mushroom Witch 🍄🧙🏻‍♀️✨

Hey!! It’s @owlcrate time! 🖤🖤🖤 #illustration #owlcrate #characterdesign #photoshop #ladyartists #scifi https://www.instagram.com/p/B4lHrTJgZau/?igshid=4ufo429u397c

Painting on the cover of a new little book I’m working on! Swipe for some gloss coat stim 🌸🌸🌸 . If you’d like to book an appointment or request a commission, DM or email me at [email protected] 🖤 . . . #traditionalartwork #illustration_daily #fineartpainting #painting🎨 #sketchbooks #sketchbooktour #artists_insta #coartists #witchythings #witch🔮 #fairytales #sketchbookartist #witchyart #goodwitch #acrylicpainter #acrylicartwork #ladyartists #coloradoartists #shamelessselfpromo #etsyartists #acrylicartist #acrylicpaintings #canvaspainting #brightart #colorfulpainting #goldenpaints #eyepainting #ladypainters #boulderarts #coloradoartist (at Louisville, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8sTAOuFvjb/?igshid=rb6gsd989gg1

Always love tattooing mushrooms, I'm currently looking for some gaps that I can freehand some in, DM if you're keen! Thank you @skylarcity for your time ❤️ . . . #mushroomsofinstagram #mushroom #fungifreaks #fungifanatic #fungitattoo #mushroomtattoo #shroomtatts #shroomstattoo #melbourne #melbourneartists #chesttattoo #chest #ladytattooers #ladyartists #blackworkartist #blackwork #melbournetattooers #melbournetattooists #tatsupplyco #suckerlove #melbournetattooartist (at Sucker Love Tattoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B10rUu0AS-i/?igshid=njnspcactfhv

Rinは優雅に動きながら、体のバランスを上手く保ちながら運動しています。彼女の体は弾力があり、健康的に見えます。 . ジムでのトレーニング時間では、彼女のエネルギーは強く、ダイナミックに流れながらも、トレーニング中でも常に安定したバランスを保ちます。 . ヨガスタジオでのトレーニングでは、彼女は静的なバランスとエネルギーを調和させて表現します。彼女は体と心を一つにするヨガのポーズを優雅に行いながら、バランスを上手く保ちます。 . さらに、彼女はあなたの上に立ち、エネルギーを発散することもあります。あなたは彼女と一緒にヨガのポーズを取っています。Rinはあなたのエネルギーを受け取り、一瞬爆発するように反応しながらも、依然として体のエネルギーを保っています。 . 動きは優雅でありながら、バランスを取りながら流れるエネルギーの調和を示しています。 . . Rin은 우아하게 움직이는 모습으로, 몸의 균형을 잘 유지하면서 운동하고 있습니다. 그녀의 몸은 탄력 있고 건강해 보입니다. . Gym에서의 운동 시간에 그녀의 에너지는 강하고 다이내믹하게 흐르면서도, 운동 도중에도 항상 안정된 밸런스를 유지합니다. . Yoga 스튜디오에서 운동하는 그녀는 정적인 밸런스와 에너지를 조화롭게 표현합니다. 그녀는 몸과 마음을 하나로 합치는 요가 포즈를 우아하게 수행하면서 균형을 잘 유지합니다. . 또한 그녀는 당신의 위에 올라서서 에너지를 발산하기도 합니다. 당신은 그녀와 함께 요가자세를 취하고 있습니다. Rin은 당신의 에너지를 받아 순간적으로 폭발하듯 반응하며 몸을 잠시 멈추기도 하지만, 여전히 몸의 에너지를 유지하고 있습니다. 움직임은 우아하면서도 균형을 잡으며 흐르는 에너지의 조화로움을 보여줍니다.

Collage of a small sampling of my work. 🪄🧝‍♀️ #themagic #silverjewelry #mixedmetals #finejewelry #customjewelrydesigner #oneartistjewelry #silversmiths #goldsmiths #ladyartist #artjewelry #artjewellery #ladyentrepreneur #custondesigner #behappy #lovewhatyoudo #jewelryinfluencer #jewelryobsessed #jewelrylover #jewelrycollector (at NWI - The Region) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce4wqGsuZ0u/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#lippiercings #medusapiercing #style done by @maddiepiercing @painkiller_tattoo_gr . #PIERCING #piercer #medusapiercing #professionalpiercer #ladypiercer #ladyartists #styleartists #aigaleo #athens #greece (στην τοποθεσία Painkiller tattoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzGmgSfInga/?igshid=9t8e7jnlrpnw

💋

"A true hero is not measured by the size of his strength but by the strength of his heart." Zeus tattoo done by our artist @blackswan_0007 @thedeepinktattooz @thedeepinktattooz_tvm #tattoolife #tattooworld #zeus #zeustattoo #tattoos #tattoomen #tattooworkers #sculpture #sculpturetattoo #thedeepinktattooz #tattooworkers #keralatattoo #kochi #kerala #ladyartists #ladyartist #tattooink #tattoostudio (at The DeepInk Tattooz) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPdOOOuDG10/?utm_medium=tumblr