Kevin Dallimore is AWESOME!

My wife and I just returned from a vacation in the UK.  We had a terrific time, but one of the major highlights had to be my meeting with Kevin Dallimore.

Unbeknownst to me, last year for my birthday, my wife (God bless her!) emailed Mr Dallimore and arranged for me to have a private 'painting lesson'.  We had discussed a trip to the UK, but this sealed the deal!  Im sure most of you who view my blog know who Kevin Dallimore is, either through his books:

or from his painting (you see his figures all over the web - Foundry, Copplestone, Front Rank (I think) any many, many others).  Here are a couple random figures from Kevin's website:

So, with much excitement, and a little trepidation (after all, I didnt really KNOW anything about Kevin), I got on the train from London to the outskirts of town headed for Kevin's house.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a huge smile, and we immediately got to work!  Kevin, as it turns out, is a GREAT guy - great sense of humor, very welcoming (a foreigner in his home for God's sake!), and an incredible painter.  I met his lovely wife Caroline, who served me my first cup of English tea, and she makes a helluva good biscuit!

I brought several figures of my own that I had recently painted to be critiqued, as well as several primed, but not begun, so Kevin could demonstrate.  After all, all I really wanted was to watch how he worked to try to pick up a few things.

He repainted a face or two on one of my 'completed' figs - one of my biggest complaints of my own work was that my paint didnt 'pop' enough, and he seemed to agree.  Here is one of the repaints - a tough figure to work on:

He also painted a face (and skin) on this fallshirmjager (wow!):

He then began work on one of of the figures I brought - a sci fi chick from new startup company Effigy Miniatures.  When he was done, not only had I learned a ton of stuff (I hope!), but I also had a totally painted figure:

But if that wasnt enough....

My wife was dying to meet Kevin.  We made sure we were in the UK during Salute, so I made sure we got my wife a ticket too.  While there, even though he was busy running the cool looking Captain Scarlet game, as well as judging painting entries, Kevin made the time to meet my wife, talk to us a bit, and take pictures (me left, Kevin right):

We also talked to Caroline a bit more, who handed my wife a box, and said 'give this to Jay once you get home'.  Of course, I was dying to crack it open, but my wife managed to hold me off during the 12 hour trip home.  Inside, were several figures from Kevin's own personal collection.  I was absolutely stunned, and very proud that he thought enough of me to send them on to a new home!  They know have a place of honor in the front of my collection!

The master and the apprentice (Kev's left, mine right)

15mm Barbarians from Copplestone

He also sent a very cool looking Goblin archer, whose picture I have somehow already lost!  Finally, he sent an incredible 'diorama' of some AMAZING Prussian soldiers.  Seriously?????

If you ever get the chance to meet Mr Dallimore at a show, etc, you should definitely do it.  Also, if you arent the painter type and need stuff done, you should definitely give him a shout!

Tomorrow, I will be posting a little about my trip, including some stuff on crazy Scottish drivers, the Angry Lurker (who actually doesnt seem all that angry at all!), and a few other random thoughts!