I mentioned the other day that I have been working on the Spartacus portrait series for about a month now.  It is my intention to produce a set of head & shoulder portraits for twelve of the characters depicted in the series.  This is quite a project and if I was not deeply inspired by this group of characters I'd never consider investing the time and attention. It is not my intention to produce portraits of the actors in the series but rather impressions of the characterizations crafted by their performances.  Before I began working extensively on any one portrait I focused upon generating rough concepts of how I intended to portray all of the characters.  In certain instances this process flowed smoothly. Crixus, for instance, can hardly wait to get through the creative process and so I've a strong sense of how he appears.  It is much the same for Doctore whose solidly powerful presence sharply defines his character and appearance. You have already seen Sura.  Lucretia and Batiatus are just as clear to me.  Even Glaber gave me less trouble than expected. All has been progressing well ... with just one impediment.  I have not been able to get through and connect with Spartacus.  There is no going around the primary figure or delaying his development.  He must follow Sura in the progression of the portraits or the rhythm of the entire set will be undone. Yet, who is Spartacus?  Beyond the lore and legend there is a real man back there in history; we may be lacking many facts but we do know there was a man the Romans called Spartacus .. well, at least that's how we pronounce it.  Since completing the portrait of Sura what I have been trying to do is take hold of the character which Andy Whitfield has brought to life and with my other hand reach back in time to make some connection with the actual man at the origin of the Spartacus legend. I'd already realized that there is no existing M4 character that matches the Spartacus already in my mind's eye.  I know I have to craft him myself .. but first I have to develop some rough studies in order to see him clearly. A practice I have employed for many years with Photography, when developing characterizations for illustration work, is to create a series of rough test images, often in low light with long time exposures.  This is an improvisational exercise which holds out a hope of capturing an inspiration on film which is, by its nature, invisible to the naked eye.  Since I tend to use Poser much like a camera, I thought "why not try the old ways?" and that is where I went wandering late into the morning hours .. hoping beyond hope to catch a glimpse of the actual man they called Spartacus. It was several hours later with nothing much to show when a particular render caught my weary attention.  I thought I saw something I could work with in Photoshop employing some of the painterly techniques I have been recently exploring.  The result, which actually gave me chills at first, is what you see above.  There is something, or someone, in there which/who I can build with in concert.  I've a long way to go yet, but this is a breakthough for sure ... and I thought some of you might like a look at the first studies. Feel welcome to share your impressions, whatever they may be. Now I must go purchase some sleep from the new day. Warm regards, Terry