The Garden of Kama

Who? Hmmm, not sure if that applies in this case..."me", I guess, or Andrew May, as he has done the sculpting so far; and others, who haven't yet done any for it, but shall...

What? A sort of Fantasy India and South-East Asia with elements of Hindu and Buddhist Mythology; Thai, Burmese, Cambodian folklore; and Tibetan Sacred Art. Plus some inspiration from the Hari Siri komix.

When? It's set in a mythical "Time of Heroes" when gods and men walked together and fought demons and each other. Before the events in the Ramayana or the Mahabharata, or perhaps around the same time. Who knows? Time sorta tends to flow together in Myths anyway!

Where? Good question! On the back a turtle swimming in the World Ocean, or was it the back of an elephant? Or tucked in next to Venhya, maybe? Who knows - go through that pass in the mountains to the north and you might end up on the Hyrkanian plains, or on the shores of an inland sea...

I think the Hari Ragat setting is just off the map to the east.

Why? Because, Cletus, I'm bored! Ok, not really. What really happened is that I have liked the frontispiece to an old book of pseudo-Indian love poems called "The Garden of Kama" since I first saw it - that's it pictured above. And over the holidays the local rag published a Tibetan folklore story which was illustrated by these and I thought - hmm, "wouldn't those be cool!"

And then Andrew got me hooked on Tibetan sacred art and it sort of went from there!

Projects for 2012...

At the right I have listed my proposed projects for 2012. This is pretty ambitious for me, as I am notorious for not being able to finish anything! But, inspired by the ever industrious Matakishi, this year I am making a special effort.

These projects are, in no particular order:

The Garden of Kama
Inspired by the painting shown, this is a range of exotic 28mm fantasy figures I hope to have commissioned. The theme is the exotic East; a sort of India long before the Raj, but also including regions farther east than that...

Sporewood
Sporewood is a fungus forest located in Dagori Inkarth, also known as the Shadows Dance. This is a Troll realm in Glorantha. Home to both Trolls and Voralan - or Black Elves; that is, Mushroom Men!

Violence is Always an Option!
That is Orlanth's First Law! Orlanth is the Heortling Storm God and King of the Gods (in their Pantheon.) This is another Gloranthan themed project, building a warband in 28mm to depict the muster of the Colymar tribe for the Hero Wars. I've already ordered the bulk of the figures...

Put the Kettle On!
I have slowly been putting together factions for a Very British Civil War. This year I would like to finally get them on the table! The intent is to battle it out over Barsetshire...

Vive Le Empereur!
Perry Miniatures and Victrix have been banging out some very nice 28mm plastic Napoleonics. A lot of my friends are putting together Waterloo armies. I already have some of the boxes of figures, I just haven't decided on historical colours or to go all black and green for the"Army of Sinistra"...

Retro Sci/fi
A late addition (I almost forgot!):
I picked up some of Hydra Miniatures Valkeeri figures at Fall In and I am going to try and put together a War Host or raiding party for our Retro Sci/fi games (using Fantastic Worlds, by Rattrap Productions.) I can finish off my Galacteer squads at the same time, along with my Blue Moon aliens...